I encourage you to join us for our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Accepting My True Identity in Christ” with guest Rosaria Champagne Butterfield.
This college on its way to academia and a earned Ph.D. in English literature, that Rosaria first noticed his interest in women. At the age of 28, he came out as a homosexual. Like many – perhaps most – who identify as homosexual, his statement did not come with a political agenda.
But that soon changed.
He is a self-described “historical materialist” who completely rejects the idea of supernatural authority. Having removed God from her worldview, she built her life on the principles of feminism. In fact, as a professor at Syracuse University, she required her students to interpret the world through the lens of feminism or to attend class elsewhere.
One year, she wrote a scathing article exposing – from her position – the evil agenda of the Promise Keepers organization to oppress women. He filed similar charges against another group he was a part of Promise Keepers: Focus on the Family.
In 1999, she took a leave of absence from her professorship to research a book she intended to write as a critique of religion from a lesbian feminist perspective. His argument is that Christians see themselves as morally and intellectually superior to the people they hope to reach.
For example, most of the people he met in the Christian community treated the Bible as a weapon against him to win arguments rather than as an invitation to deeper discussions.
A couple is willing to talk with him instead of on to him. Ken and Floy Smith, a local pastor and his wife, offered to help Rosaria research her book and deepen her understanding of Christianity. Instead of witty one-liners, they answered Rosaria’s scholarly questions with thoughtful conversation.
What Ken and Floy also offer Rosaria – to her surprise – is unconditional love and respect. They treat Rosaria not as a project, but as their friend. They spend time with him. They invested in him. They “neighbored” her and gave grace to her by valuing her as a person instead of a potential convert from lesbianism.
If you find yourself wondering, “Does God really reach some people?”, I hope you’ll join us for “Accepting My True Identity in Christ” to your local radio station, onlineon Apple Podcasts, Google Podcastsor ours free phone app. I believe Rosaria’s story will inspire you and remind you that God can reach everyone.
While you’re here, you might be interested in a free online booklet we wrote called, “Reconciliation: An Invitation to Join the Family of God,” which explains what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Before I end, I would like to extend an invitation for you to become a special partner with us through our monthly “Friends of Family Focus” program. If you do, I’ll send you a copy of Rosaria Champagne Butterfield’s book The Secret Mind of an Unable to Convert: An English Professor’s Journey to Christian Faith as a way of saying thank you for touching others with the love of Christ. You’ll also receive member-exclusive benefits. To make your pledge, or for more information, click HERE or call 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).