I've been following a story that has been unfolding over on Joe. My God. surrounding a prominent "ex-gay" Christian blogger named Matt Moore and his most recent fall from grace. Matt has been held up by the Christan Post as being proof positive that we hideous homos can stop being homos and act right. Yet a recent move to New Orleans proved too much temptation and he got a Grindr account. Folks who pay attention to such things are rightfully jumping up and down, pointing out his rank hypocrisy. This evening he owned it.
The grindr profile was really mine. I’ve been on it on and off for the last couple of weeks. Like I told the guy who sent you the picture, I am wrong in having been on grindr. I haven’t changed my views on homosexuality, the bible, etc. Creating a grindr profile and talking to guys on it was major disobedience on my part….disobedience to Christ. Disobedience to a loving and gracious God. Thankfully, I believe that He forgives me for this disobedience. I believe the blood of Christ covers this disobedience. And I won’t be on grindr again….ever. The pastor of my church and the church body I am a part of were informed about me being on grindr (I told them) before all of this came out, publicly.
My first reaction to the story was disgust. To be honest, I have never heard of Matt Moore even though his "conversion" was celebrated and held as an example by zealots who have landed their brands on the SPLC hate list. Simply put, Matt Moore has fallen in with a very bad crowd.
He has hitched his wagon to the star of people who have him snookered into believing that because he is gay, he is damaged and deserves only to either know himself or know their god. They have him convinced that this black and white choice is theirs to dictate and his to accept. If anyone ever needed to be liberated from anything, Matt Moore needs to be liberated from these sadistic, hateful people.
Read his words from a post from August of last year.
Yes, their attraction toward the same sex is unnatural and some of them may be extremely promiscuous (as are some heterosexual people) and being indulgent in sexual immorality— but their desire for love and affection is still very real and very much a driving force in their life.
The Lord has used my own thoughts and desires recently to show this to me. There have been instances lately where I have started to feel an emotional pull toward someone of the same sex. Before these recent experiences, I had forgotten that I had ever felt that way before… emotionally drawn toward men (I’m superb at blocking out emotions— so it makes sense to me I would naturally forget certain ones I’ve experienced in the past), but recently, for whatever reasons, I have had an awakening in the cravings of my heart. Not for sex, not for mere physical interaction— but for love and affection.
I challenge you to read my bolded sentence and not feel some measure of pity for his unnecessary struggle. He is, after all, a human being. This young man should be encouraged to discover himself, to find personal happiness and share it with someone he loves and will love him back. I have that myself and I really do wish it for everybody.
His last blog entry doesn't show much hope for enlightenment.
What gives me assurance, and what I believe speaks volumes of the grace of God and the power of the gospel, is that year by year, month by month, week by week, day by day—-I continue to fight the fight of faith. I have sought after Jesus and I have turned from sin daily. Throughout all the ups and downs, the fluctuation of my circumstances and emotions, the frustrations of having to build a completely new life, and the often very real and sometimes overwhelming loneliness of this path I’m on—I stand firm and with my whole, imperfect and sin-tainted heart say, “Jesus Christ is everything.”
Many, many days I have failed to fight perfectly. I have at many times in my walk stooped down and willingly spoon-fed myself the familiar, vile vomit that is sin. Yet, in each and every one of my failures— I was given grace; grace to repent and to keep following after Jesus. The Lord gives me grace each and every day, despite the failures or successes of the day, to believe the truth that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that despite my inablity to offer God anything, He offers me everyhing—He offers me His Son. And in believing this truth, the truth above all truths— I am able to wage war against the hopelessness that fights to consume my heart and destroy my soul. The life-enabling grace given to me because of Jesus Christ, and only because of Jesus Christ, sustains me—to the surprise of many. And even often to the surprise of myself.
It saddens me to know that as he continues to dig his own hole, those who once celebrated when he denied himself will once again be standing over him with a shovel unless he starts to "act right" again.