a heartfelt response to Jennifer Knapp

It has been making headlines of media all over the country and has been no lighthearted subject. As of April 13, 2010 Grammy nominated Christian singer-songwriter Jennifer Knapp, returning from a seven-year long hiatus, publicly came out as a Lesbian and admitted to being involved in a same-sex relationship for the past 8 years in number of publications.

A shock to many in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) industry and conservative Evangelical community, Knapp has received both grace and rebuke from her fellow (and “former”) fans, followers, and clergy. While this blog could easily discuss the issues of homosexuality at length and whether it is right or wrong and what the scripture says about the issue, I want to focus mainly on how evangelicals relate with those who would identify themselves as homosexual or with homosexual feelings and how the church engages homosexuals. With that, I think there should be a few stereotypical facts about homosexuals/homosexuality that should be cleared up so as not to lead to unnecessary debate.

1) Individuals who identify themselves as homosexual or as having homosexual feelings are human beings made in the image of God, whom Christ died for.

2) Homosexual feelings in and of themselves cannot and are not sinful. No human being can control the feelings and urges he/she has. Feelings are not voluntary.

3) Homosexual feelings and homosexual orientation are not objective choices. No individual objectively chooses to be straight or gay. There are always external circumstances that influence one’s homosexual feelings or behavior.

4) Scripture does not ever speak of homosexuality in terms of an identity or lifestyle. Homosexuality is only condemned in scripture in the context of sexually immoral practices.

5) Homosexual behavior is no more sinful than heterosexual adultery and fornication. Homosexuality should not be elevated to a higher position than other sexual sins.

6) Homosexual feelings are not external entities and cannot be “turned off” automatically. They are true human emotions just like any other human emotions, good or bad.

Knapp came out most notably in an extensive interview with Christianity Today, a well-noted conservative Evangelical publication. The interview, however, was not slanted in a victimizing fashion but was more concerned with letting Knapp give her honest answers and share her true thoughts and feelings.

Regardless of your take on Jennifer Knapp’s sexuality, she definitely raises some good questions regarding how the church engages homosexuals and alludes to the attitudes the church presents regarding homosexuality.

Jennifer Knapp contends:

…if you remove the social problem that homosexuality brings to the church—and the debate as to whether or not it should be called a "struggle," because there are proponents on both sides—you remove the notion that I am living my life with a great deal of joy. It never occurred to me that I was in something that should be labeled as a "struggle." The struggle I've had has been with the church, acknowledging me as a human being, trying to live the spiritual life that I've been called to, in whatever ramshackled, broken, frustrated way that I've always approached my faith.

Knapp is quick to say that she has never felt she was involved in an internal struggle regarding her sexuality, but insists that some have automatically made it appear that way. The question ultimately is raised, are we as Christians create an inner struggle for homosexuals that may not even exist? She points out that she has felt that she is required to “choose” between her Christianity and her feelings, and Knapp stresses that her real struggle was with trying to find genuine human acceptance in the church as someone who desires love and grace. Too often I think Christians write of homosexuals first as homosexuals, and forget that they are first people just like everyone else. Knapp goes deeper, later in the interview, saying:

… everyone around me made it absolutely clear that this is not an option for me, to invest in this other person—and for me to choose to do so would be a denial of my faith…

...there are people I care about within the church community who would seek to throw me out simply because of who I've chosen to spend my life with.

Jennifer Knapp senses that the Church is giving her the age old “clean up or get out” message that at one time or another has permeated American evangelicalism. It’s as if the church will anything else to exist and let someone “wrestle with it” within the body of Christ, but with homosexuality, you must “check yourself” at the door. The reality is that homosexuality is not an objective thing that can be removed from someone but an issue that involves one’s emotional feelings and identity. Yet for some reason Christians have forgotten that aspect of it.

Notice that Knapp does not refer to her relationship in primarily sexual or romantic terms, but simply uses relational language. “Invest in” “spend my life.” These are words that are not generally associated with sexual immorality. In speaking of sexual purity and sexual immorality scripture is clear, but when speaking of relationality and choosing to invest in another individual and love them unconditionally, scripture is also clear. Love your neighbor. There is nothing sexual about investing in another person so as to build them up and love them. Or to put it another way, if I as a heterosexual male have a close relationship with my good friends who are men and invest in them, there is nothing wrong with that. But if someone struggles with or identifies himself or herself as a homosexual, suddenly that investment in another person becomes a sin. How are we to know what aspects of a relationship are sexual in nature? Where and how do we draw the line that says this emotional relationship is now sinful? It is merely impossible to make such a distinction.

On the other hand it is clear that Jennifer Knapp is involved in a romantic relationship with another woman, but that does not negate the importance of her acceptance as a child of God and her desire to sacrificially invest in someone she loves dearly. This raises the question, is her sexuality all that matters or is there other aspects to her?

Knapp states, with utmost sincerity, …if God expects me, in order to be a Christian, to be able to theologically justify every move that I make, I'm sorry. I'm going to be a miserable failure.

It appears that Jennifer Knapp is aware that she is incapable of achieve success with Christianity alone apart from God and that she is asking for love, understanding, and grace. If this is her true desire, why are we neglecting her of it? It is my understanding that the gospel is about redemption and reconciliation. God redeemed Jennifer Knapp on the cross and she has clearly accepted His free gift of grace. Yet, God desires to continue to redeem and restore Jennifer Knapp and it is our job as the church, the visible hands and feet of Christ, to join God in that redemption story. Why is it, then, that we are so reluctant to join Him concerning Jennifer Knapp?

If anything we must remember that Jennifer Knapp is a child of God who has been redeemed by Grace, loves God and is loved by God. We cannot let her sexuality be the only thing that defines her. The church must be her home.

The excerpts from the article referenced first appeared in the April 2010 issue of Christianity Today. Used by permission of Christianity Today International, Carol Stream, IL 60188. Click here to read the entire interview.