The GOSPEL OF JESUS: The Power of GOD for Gays Too

The LORD has burned into the very fiber of my spirit His truth found in Matthew 16:13-19 and Romans 1:16 and how different “this” gospel is from that which has been shared by many churches and by many believers today and in past decades.

The gospel of “cheap grace” and “easy believe-ism” and “Jesus plus something” is not the same gospel JESUS spoke of in Matthew 10 and Matthew 16:13-19, or that Paul spoke of in Romans 1:16. 

It is important to understand that the biblical teaching of the security of the believer and walking in the grace of GOD never embodies the practice of antinomianism. 

The biblical truth of the security of the believer embraces the reality that JESUS’ death, burial and resurrection fully satisfied the redemptive plan of GOD for all who truly believe once and for all (Hebrews 10).

If one thinks that GOD’s grace gives us a license to continue on in sin then they clearly do not comprehend GOD’s grace at all (Romans 6).

For many reasons a large percentage the Church has cheapened the GOSPEL OF JESUS.  The primary reason perhaps is because we have not fully grasped the power of it.  Due to our unbelief we have been forced to scramble to find substitutes for the GOSPEL OF JESUS:  church growth strategies, works, human effort and ingenuity, church programs and events to draw people into the church building, evangelistic presentations that manipulate and attempt to “sell” Jesus to the lost. 

If JESUS preached the message that ministers preach today He would have never been crucified (Lenard Ravenwood).

We are forced to enter into the political arena due to our unbelief in the power of the GOSPEL OF JESUS.  Our culture has become incredibly decadent because the Church has failed to be “salt and light.”  We pitifully strive to preserve what we believe to be a Christian culture within a kingdom that is not our own.

When JESUS responded to Peter’s confession in Matthew 16 He did not say that political debate is the rock upon which He would build His Church.  JESUS did not say church growth strategies is the rock, or that works of the Law is the rock, or that human effort and ingenuity is the rock, or that church programs and entertainment is the rock, or that shallow evangelistic presentations is the rock.  JESUS said the rock upon which He is building His Church is the confession that "He is the Christ, the Son of the Living GOD."

What the church has been doing to respond to our culture has not worked well.  This is evident by the state of the Church today.  It is weak and full of strife, conflict and division.  The lifestyles of Christians today basically mimic the lifestyles of our godless culture.  If we could see past the masks and walls of many believers and peer into their secret closets we would see that there really isn’t a lot of difference.  Many believers are caught up in debate over the most frivolous issues you can imagine.  Pride and self-centeredness are rampant.  There is a thick cloud of self-righteousness that breeds a judgmental condemning attitude toward unbelievers. Those outside of faith are simply living out of who they are and what they were born into (the Adamic nature/sinful nature/the old man).

Also, look at our culture.  Why would we expect people who do not know JESUS and, therefore, who do not possess HOLY SPIRIT, to act differently?  Do we actually believe we are going to gain ground or usher in GOD’s Kingdom through cultural battles?

The call of GOD to His Church is to “go and makes disciples” (Matthew 28:18-20).  JESUS shows us what it looks like to be His disciple in Matthew 10.  That looks radically different from the watered-down, compromised, cheap grace, "easy believe-ism" gospel which is the gospel often shared today.

Believing the GOSPEL OF JESUS:  “. . . upon this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18) and believing that the GOSEPL OF JESUS is the power of GOD unto salvation to all who believe” (Romans 1:16), I choose to be provoked by the GOSPEL OF JESUS to engage our culture rather than to be offended and withdraw from it.  Prophets were developed in the wilderness, not in the temple.  

I choose to follow the example of JESUS who radically loved sinners, harlots, prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers and the outcasts of His day.  The leper of today is the gay community and people like me who follow JESUS though we may continue dealing with same-sex attractions.

I will continue to engage the gay community with “His kindness, tolerance and patience . . . because it is the kindness of GOD that leads to repentance” (Romans 2:4) not self-righteousness and condemnation, debate and politics.  I totally renounce and resist any offer of Law rather than JESUS’ complete and finished redemptive work.  

I am not a heretic and I have not renounced GOD’s word.  I am a follower of JESUS and I embrace the GOSPEL OF JESUS.

Exodus, Sight Ministry & Gays . . . On the Brink of the Promised Land

For the past two weeks life has been like a world wind for me!  Whew!  But it’s been incredibly exciting.  These have been two of the most intensive seasons of my life in the way the LORD has spoken so clearly to me and how He has confirmed and affirmed that I am his beloved son.  I have been astounded beyond measure and beyond comprehension.

I am entering into an intentional & intensive time of prayer & fasting concerning all that is happening with Exodus. I desire to clearly understand what the LORD would have Sight Ministry do and what direction He is leading me.

I am processing everything with scripture as my primary filter & I'm seeking counsel from those who have been closely walking with me in this great adventure for many years.  I will guarantee you I am committed to the best of my ability to be faithful to GOD’s word & to GOD’s plans & purposes. 

Our views about what scriptures teach about human sexuality have not changed & will not change.  But I can tell you this, the LORD has profoundly impacted my spirit and my heart about Who He is, who I am in Christ, and about the authority & power of the GOSPEL OF JESUS [I will always capitalize & “bold” this statement to set it apart from the traditional understanding of the gospel . . . “sinner’s prayer” & traditional evangelism for example] based on Matthew 16:13-19 & Romans 1:16.

I literally feel we are standing on the brink of the Promised Land and I cannot move in any direction unless the presence of the LORD goes before me. Today the LORD has directed me to Exodus 33. This is just the beginning. 

My desire is that every decision we make about every dynamic in this arena will be totally & completely controlled & directed by HOLY SPIRIT.

I will not be making any decisions about any of this until I feel completely at peace that it is what the LORD would have me do. This will take much praying, much time, much research, and much understanding. I have no idea what the LORD's timing in all of this will be.  Actually, I don’t think it will all come to a measureable end.  I sense this will be an ongoing process the LORD has me in for the rest of my life in this foreign land.  I am resting patiently in Him & trusting His plans and purposes.

“And He said, ‘My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.’ Then he said to Him, ‘If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here’” (Exodus 33:14-15).


I invite you to join me in this great adventure.  It’s going to be exciting & life changing!

“Gays, Pharisees, Politics and the Gospel of Christ”

As Christians continue involving themselves in the public policy arena and in political debate concerning gay issues they may discover they are contributing to widening the “great divide” between the church, and it’s GOD-given mission, and a large group of people whom God loves.

Let me first clear the air about what I believe about the Bible before you turn me off.  I believe the Bible is ultimate truth and authority.  I believe everything GOD says as He addresses His purposes concerning human sexuality.  I also believe it is critically important for both sides on the gay debate to enter into authentic relationships and to dialogue with one another in nonthreatening ways.

As I processed the senseless acts of terror in Boston recently I tried to understand what terrorists hoped to gain or accomplish by their horrific cowardly acts of indiscriminate violence on innocent people.  In the end it seems terrorism does not gain the sought after results.  It seems when Americans are attacked in these ways we are brought closer together; we become more unified and patriotic; we seem to rise up with even greater resolve; we are made stronger not weaker.

This observation made me think about the tactics and methods some churches and Christians use in trying to sway unbelievers and gay people to embrace biblical standards (I’m not suggesting churches or Christians are terrorists).  Some of these tactics and methods are impersonal evangelism, politics, and debate, etc.  Very often these tactics are carried out  with an attitude of judgmentalism, condemnation and religious self-righteousness.   These methods and attitudes will not be productive in reaching our culture.

Why would we expect unbelievers, who do not possess HOLY SPIRIT, to embrace GOD’s purposes and truths when the things of GOD can only be spiritually understood (1 Corinthians 2:14).  Unbelievers or “a natural man/woman” are simply acting out of their nature . . . who they are apart from Christ.  The “natural man” believes the things of GOD are foolish.  The “natural man” responds to the methods and attitudes of many Christians with anger and they recoil away from Christ and the church.  Solomon understood this spiritual truth when he wrote:  “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”  (Proverbs 15:1).  They will seek out others who will love them and accept them and support them. 

It seems the Church and Christian community would learn from Jesus’ experiences and examples.  It is clear throughout the gospels (there are numerous examples) that Jesus attracted sinners, tax collectors, immoral people and outcasts of His day though He never embraced their sinful behavior.  The people Jesus had problems with were the self-righteous religious zealots who were condemning and making judgments against the very same people Jesus engaged.  Unfortunately, many in the church today have missed this and have become guilty of making the same mistakes of the Pharisees.  As a result, what I call “the great divide,” between the lost unbelieving culture and GOD’s redemptive message has greatly widened and deepened. 

It is important that the followers of Jesus embrace His method of reaching a belligerent culture . . . authentic unconditional self-sacrificing love (agape) coupled with the message of the Gospel of Christ.

It is important to understand what the Gospel of Christ is and what it is not.  It is not simply getting people to recite a “sinner’s prayer” so that when they die they will go to heaven.  The Gospel of Christ . . . GOD’s redemptive work . . .  affects every part of our lives here and now.  Though it includes our eternal destiny it impacts our lives as we live in this difficult world.  How can anyone survive or keep their sanity in this world of pain and suffering without embracing the authentic Gospel of Jesus and without walking in faith that trusts in the goodness and faithfulness of a loving and present GOD?

Paul said: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for [IT] is the power of GOD for salvation to everyone who believes . . . “ (Romans 1:16).  The power of GOD to impact lives and to redeem a lost soul both now and for eternity is the Gospel of Christ . . . not politics, arguments, debate, protests, judgmentalism or a condemning attitude.  All of these methods and attitudes cheapen the gospel and its power.

When asked by Jesus, “Who do [you] say that I am?” Peter cried out, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living GOD!”  Jesus replied, “I also say to you that you are Peter (Petros—rock-man), and upon this rock (Petra—a feminine word for “rock” not a name; Jesus was using a play on words) I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:13-19).  This is the gospel message of Christ.

The most effective way to confront our culture with this amazing truth of GOD is to be pro-active and intentional in cultivating authentic relationships with people in our community where we live; not simply having an acquaintance type relationship but an authentic transparent intimate relationship with our neighbors (Matthew 5:43-44; Luke 10:29-37; Galatians 5:14).  As we experience authentic relationships with lost people next door we will then have many opportunities to share with them what we have heard Jesus teach us and what we have seen Jesus do in our lives. (Matthew 11:2-6). 

As we cultivate these authentic relationships with lost neighbors and as we have opportunity to share the authentic gospel of Christ, HOLY SPIRIT will have opportunity to work the work that only He can perform . . . and the very gates of hell will not be able to resist.  This is the Good News . . . this is the power of the Gospel of Christ Jesus . . . this is the Church being the Church.

"GOD's Love and Grace is for Gay People Too"

IF YOU ARE TRULY IN CHRIST . . . not only have all your sins been forgiven . . . past, present & future . . . because SIN has been dealt a final blow of defeat once & for all (Hebrews 10) . . . but you are already seated with Jesus at the right hand of the Father: "Even when we were dead in our transgressions, [GOD] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and SEATED US WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS," (Ephesians 2:5,6).

Through the finished, completed, once for all redemptive work of Jesus, GOD immediately seated us with Jesus at His right hand! WOW! INCOMPREHENSIBLE!!!

Praise GOD for His amazing grace & work of redemption! GOD's grace NEVER motivates me to want to continue on in sinful behavior. GOD's INCOMPREHENSIBLE grace ALWAYS motivates me to walk in obedience & to walk in an intimate relationship with Him!

Sight Ministry Spring Support Group Details

The Sight Ministry spring semester support groups/classes will begin during the second week of February.  If you are interested in getting involved OR if you know someone who might be interested please reply or call me and we can talk about the details.  Please pass this information forward to your contacts.  You never know who might be interested is our ministry.

Any individual who personally battles against same-sex attraction (SSA) issues and wants to be involved in this part of Sight Ministry must first make an initial appointment with me.  A prerequisite for continuing in the group process is to go through the book study, “Lifetime Guarantee.” 

Any spouse of someone who battles against SSA issues or any family member or friend who has a loved one who battles against SSA issues must also set up an initial appointment with me before they can become eligible to participate in our group process.

The following is a brief description of our current groups:

Family & Friends:  This group is open to anyone who has a family member or friend who has a loved one who is either embracing a gay identity or is battling against SSA issues.

Women’s Group:  This group is open ONLY to women who are battling against SSA issues and who have graduated from Lifetime Guarantee.

Lifetime Guarantee:  This group is open to anyone who battles against SSA issues and is a pre-requisite for continuing participation in Sight Ministry.  Book:  “Lifetime Guarantee,” by Bill Gillham ($12.00).  Book description:  If you are exhausted in your efforts to fix your SSA issues or to fix other problems in your life this may be a great group experience for you.  It’s not your “problems” that need to be fixed—it’s your life!  The good news is that GOD doesn’t ask you to live your life for Christ, but to let Him live His life through you.  We will help you understand how you have programmed your brain with earthly techniques for satisfying your needs for love and self-esteem and help you to discover the ultimate solution through the exchanged life!  Someone has said, “Your problem is that you don’t really know what your problem is.  What you think is your problem is merely a symptom of your real problem.”  Come and discover what your problem really is and the Ultimate Solution!

Wives:  This group is open to anyone whose husband is gay identified or who battles against SSA issues.

4Streams:  This group is open ONLY to men who battle against SSA issues and who have graduated from Lifetime Guarantee.  Book:  “Not a Fan,” by Kyle Idleman – Book description:  The dictionary defines a fan as “an enthusiastic admirer.”  Fans want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires sacrifice.  Fans may be fine with repeating a prayer, attending church on the weekend, and slapping a Jesus fish on their bumpers.  But is that really the extent of the relationship Jesus wants?  Jesus was never interested in having admirers.  It’s not fans He is looking for.  “Not a Fan” will challenge you to consider what it really means to call yourself a Christian.  With a direct frankness that you’re not likely to hear in Sunday school class, Kyle invites you to take an honest look at your relationship with Jesus.  His call to follow may seem radical to us, but Jesus desires it for every believer.

If you are interested in learning more about Sight Ministry please feel free to contact me.

Richard Holloman

Sight Ministry

PO Box 140808

Nashville, TN  37214

615-509-0782

www.thesightministry.org

The Supremacy of the Gospel over Politics & Defiled Religion: Reaching the Gay Community

We strongly believe that the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST is THE absolute key in changing the lives of all people regardless of what their sin issues might be.  I’m not referring to the compromised watered down version that is popular today.  I’m talking about the complete, radical, powerful, authentic GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST that was GOD’s plan from the foundation of the world.

Paul said in Romans 1:16:  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for IT is the power of GOD for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." 

Therefore we intentionally choose not to trust in politics or man's agenda to work change from the outside in (behavior modification).  We desire to rest in and trust totally in the authentic, life impacting, power of the Gospel of Jesus that profoundly changes lives from the inside out.

We are challenged by GOD and convicted by HOLY SPIRIT to examine our own personal lives to discover our own sinfulness that falls short of GOD’s glory and that might become a stumbling block to those who are outside of GOD’s family.  We cannot continue to live a life of defiled religion, hypocrisy and compromise.

We are called to yield to the work of HOLY SPIRIT within us as He conforms us to very image of Jesus Christ.  The measure we use that shows us spiritual maturity is the fruit of the Spirit not the good works of a man (Galatians 5:22-23). 

We are so fully convinced this is GOD’s plan we feel compelled to engage the culture around us rather than being offended by it and withdrawing from it.  We believe so strongly that the authentic unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of GOD for salvation that we feel humbled and broken if we become the focus and the causation for others to stumble.  If someone stumbles may Jesus and Jesus alone be the Stone of Stumbling, not us (1 Peter 2:6-8).

Those who are unbelievers are simply living out of their unbelief.  Why would we expect them to act or to behave otherwise?  Politics, defiled religion, works of man, etc., will only divide and create barriers.  But the Gospel of Jesus Christ is GOD's power for total absolute redemption and change.

I battled against this concept for many years because I did not truly believe in the power of The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I felt I needed to assist GOD in His redemptive work to protect our society by entering into the political arena and by “fighting” to protect moral values.  Now I have found peace and rest as I continue to embrace the truth that GOD doesn’t need me to be His champion of the faith.  He is quite able to take care of that Himself.  That is why He humbled Himself to become a man and to die on a cross.  His resurrection is the proclamation to all people everywhere there is hope, life and freedom through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  What GOD has accomplished in His redemptive work is far greater & more powerful than anything else to bring radical and lasting change to any person.  And GOD accomplishes His work from the inside out by creating within the redeemed person a new heart (Ezekiel 11:19; Matthew 15:10-20).

As followers of Jesus Christ we hold on to His promise of total absolute redemption and we embrace Jesus’ bold declaration, “. . . and upon this rock (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) I will build My Church; and the very gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18).  Therefore we know we have been given the “keys of the Kingdom of Heaven” and through the power of GOD Himself, “whatever [we] have bound on earth shall have been bound in Heaven, and whatever [we] loose on earth shall have been loosed in Heaven” (Matthew 16:19).

Do we dare think that politics, humanism, defiled religion, works of man and our weak, powerless programs can match the “GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST?”  “Go therefore and make disciples . . . I AM with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).  “You will receive power when HOLY SPIRIT has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

The Mission of Sight Ministry - "How to Change a Gay Man or Woman"

While Christ’s work on the cross, the shedding of His blood, was the only way to settle the problem of guilt, sin, and condemnation, the coming of the promised HOLY SPIRIT was GOD’s way of changing human beings from the inside out.  The law given to Moses had failed on this very point.  It was in itself holy and just, but the problem was the sinful nature within people.  Now HOLY SPIRIT dwelling in the hearts of believers would conquer the age-old dilemma of “I want to be different but can’t.  I know what’s wrong—but I keep doing it anyway.”  This empowerment by HOLY SPIRIT would be the dynamic source throughout time for all who live and labor for Jesus Christ.

[From the book, “Fresh Power,” by Jim Cymbala]

By-the-way, this is the way change comes to any man or woman, regardless of the sin issue, temptations or longings.