I (Wayne) grew up going to RA’s in my local church. The Royal Ambassadors are about teaching boys and young men about missions and encourages them to become involved in following the Great Commission of going into all the world and telling others about Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20). A key verse for this group of growing young people is 2 Corinthians 5:20, which says “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” NASB

I committed to live my life as an ambassador for Jesus for the rest of my life. The Christian life is not just about a boy’s program in a local church, but the teachings from the Royal Ambassador ministry was impactful, with me still having communication with several of those leaders today. But, I failed monumentally in keeping the commitment that I made and struggled for years with same sex attractions and behaviors. One way of bearing fruit in keeping with repentance is to invest the years I have left to being an ambassador for Christ, and I want to be a vessel who God appeals through, as I beg (offer) you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God, as 2 Corinthians 5:20 says (The 520 Offer).

Sometimes same sex romantic and sexual relationship sins, as well as what the culture calls gender identity issues, can become idols for those who are caught in them but want freedom through Christ, because there is the belief by so many that you cannot escape. The false belief that because you were “born this way,” you have to for the rest of your life explain to others that you are “same sex attracted,” a “celibate Christian,” or a “gay Christian” is one reason I felt hopelessness in my life years ago. Feeling trapped and like there is no escape can drive some to give up on life, and on having a relationship with Jesus, and definitely on having a biblical marriage and children.

Or, others say “I love Jesus, and He accepts me as a man, even though I have the chromosomes of a woman.” Unfortunately, there is no hope of freedom with this type of belief, that how someone feels is immutable and cannot be changed by God.

I even had a pastor when I was in the midst of my own sins to ask me, “If this is what you struggle with, why not just accept that and move on? Why fight it?” I don’t believe he was encouraging me to live in active sinful behavior, but to just accept this is a lifetime struggle and that it is just how it is.

In other words, “You’re stuck and you’ll be miserable and alone for the rest of your life. You’ll be this way forever.” The problem with this is 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. It stands in the way of this discouraging belief that you’re trapped. Read all of it here:

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (emphasis added) NASB

Notice that the Bible says “Such WERE some of you.” They had been changed through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, and the great news is that you can be changed in the same way.

The wonderful news with The 520 Offer is you do not have to stay where you are. I am not even going to argue whether or not you were “born this way.” The truth is being born again is greater than being born this way, regardless of how you may define “this way” to be. (John 3:1-21)

I have no prayer for you to pray to be delivered, or a sinner’s prayer for you to repeat. I simply offer you Jesus Christ, high and lifted up, crucified, dead, buried, and resurrected, seated at the right hand of God. If you will simply turn from your sin, and that means all of your sin, and deny yourself and your own desires, and follow Jesus, then you can and will be free. The Bible says, “So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.” John 8:36 NASB

If you want to hear more about following Jesus and finding freedom from LGBTQ+ related sins, reach out to us via our contact page and we will help you in understanding what following Christ is, and how to become a Christian.