Our friends over at True Freedom Trust do some great work. They teach and provide training on the historic Christian view on sexuality in a wide range of contexts and provide pastoral support to same-sex attracted Christians and those around them. If you’re not already aware of TFT, take some time to head over to their website to find out more.
TFT also have a podcast called Ascend Higher, and I loved one of their recent episodes: ‘He Thinks He Might Be Gay’. In this episode, Jamie, a same-sex attracted guy, has a conversation with Matt, one of his best friends. The pair talk about friendship, coming out, navigating temptation, true discipleship and more.
I love how Jesus is clearly and deliberately at the centre of their friendship.
What I loved most about the podcast is the way that Jamie and Matt illustrate what healthy, intimate friendship between two guys can look like. As you listen, you can sense the deep affection they have for each other. We get a great insight into how Matt has been able to support Jamie as he’s sought to faithfully follow Jesus in the midst of experiencing same-sex attraction and how watching Jamie do so has been an encouragement and challenge to Matt. We get to hear how they have navigated the reality of temptation and the complications that same-sex attraction can bring into a friendship. I also love how Jesus is clearly and deliberately at the centre of their friendship.
If you’re a guy who is same-sex attracted, there’s lots to be encouraged about in this example of what male friendship can look like for us. If you’re a guy who is friends with someone who’s same-sex attracted there’s lots of encouragement and challenge to be received from this conversation. For all of us, the podcast can help us wrestle with the question, ‘How can I be a better friend?’
Big thanks to Jamie and Matt for giving us this insight into their friendship. You can listen to the episode on the player below, or you can head over to the TFT website or search for Ascend Higher on your favourite podcast platform.
