What I Think About Vaughan Roberts’ Disclosure

There has been quite a bit of internet conversation recently about the interview with Vaughan Roberts that the magazine Evangelicals Now published. For those who don’t know, he is the Rector of St. Ebbes Church in Oxford and a prominent evangelical author of Christian books.

He has recently republished a book called ‘Battles Christians Face‘ with chapters on image, lust, guilt, doubt, depression, pride, homosexuality and keeping spiritually fresh.

The surprise came from him admitting that these were all battles that he has faced to a greater or lesser degree. In other words he was admitting that he had struggled with homosexuality.

In the interview he said that he is not defining himself as a homosexual, but rather acknowledging that he knows something of this battle.

He went on to say that the reason he included this in the preface despite knowing that he’d probably be labelled by people, is that he feels there needs to be ‘more openness in this area among evangelical Christians, given the rapidly changing culture we live in – and the resulting increased pressure on believers who face this battle’.

Some people immediately (and wrongly) labelled him gay, others have criticised him for saying that practicing homosexuality as a Christian is wrong.

But I have to say that I was very glad to read his interview. I was happy that someone that is a well known evangelical would come out and say that they struggle with it, because I think Christians need to hear that it is a struggle for some.

We easily accept what the world says, which is that some people are born that way and should accept it. And many people make negative jokes about it, leading to the kind of environment where someone would be too ashamed to own up to any feelings that they entertained.

I think it is very good that he was clear about what the Bible says. He said that God loves everyone and welcomes all into his family, but at the same time the Bible is ‘consistently negative about homosexual sex, and, indeed, about any sex outside heterosexual marriage.’

He also gave some good advice of what to do if you struggle with it. For example, he said if you don’t feel you can talk to anyone about it, try to at least take the first step and find one mature believer you can trust and be open with. Otherwise it can continue to be a ‘lonely and private battle, which creates a fertile soil where temptation increases and compromise becomes more likely.’

I don’t usually recommend books I haven’t read but I have heard and liked Vaughan Roberts preaching, and having read an excerpt of his book I would recommend that if you struggle with any of those issues and need some help, you consider getting it. Also if you struggle with homosexuality in particular, he recommends a few books and organisations that may help you in his interview.

Finally I would say that this verse is always a great reminder to me that I should not be judgmental of the struggles and sins of others, ‘Let him who think he stands take heed lest he fall’ (1 Cor 10:12) – we may think we would never sin ‘that’ sin and then find ourselves in that position or very similar.

We need to have grace for others and realise that even if we are saved we are still sinners and all face daily fights with temptation of various kinds – it’s just that not all our battles are the same.