VICKY BEECHING: A ‘GAY’ CHRISTIAN?

VICKY BEECHING: A ‘GAY’ CHRISTIAN?

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In recent days someone posted on my Facebook timeline a link to an article about a lady called Vicky Beeching who apparently is well-known in ‘Christian music circles’. This was the link and what appeared in the article –

http://christiannews.net/2014/08/14/uk-worship-artist-whose-songs-are-sung-in-american-churches-comes-out-as-lesbian/

 

UK Worship Artist Whose Songs Are Sung in American Churches Comes Out as Lesbian

August 14, 2014 | | By: Heather Clark

LONDON – Less than a year after announcing her support for same-sex ‘marriage,’ a UK-based worship artist whose songs are sung in American churches on any given Sunday has come out as a lesbian.

Vicky Beeching first was introduced in the Christian music industry in 2002, but became more prominent with the release of her worship album Yesterday, Today and Forever in 2005. The release featured songs such as Above All Else, Great is Your Glory, Search Me, and a new take on the hymn Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. She released two additional albums in 2007 and 2010, co-writing the song Glory to God Forever with fellow worship artist Steve Fee and touring with the band Delirious and singer/songwriter Rebecca St. James.

In 2012, Beeching outlined her feminist beliefs in an article entitled Jesus Was a Feminist and So Am I and appeared on BBC News to explain why she believed women should be permitted to serve as bishops in the Anglican church.

“My Christian friends chide me for my overtly feminist views, while the atheistfeminist circles I move in despair at my commitment to what they see as a patriarchal religion,” she wrote. “It would be much easier to choose one or the other—Christianity or feminism, but I believe they should be—and are—utterly compatible.”

In December of last year, Beeching came out in support of same-sex “marriage” in appearing on UK’s Good Morning Sunday hosted by Clare Balding. (Cecil – Clare Balding is herself in a lesbian relationship as you can read on http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/9851634/Why-I-am-going-to-marry-Clare-Balding.html) She later posted her thoughts more in-depth in three separate entries on her blog.

“Not many evangelical Christians hold the ‘theology hold’ that I do in affirming that same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage is acceptable to God and can be celebrated,” Beeching told Christianity Today in June. “Since speaking out and blogging about equal marriage, there’s been a boycott of my songs. My income comes from royalties, so unless they’re sung, I lose my income, which has been difficult. It’s been deeply painful to see people writing off 15 years of my work, saying that it’s now tarnished.”

Now, The Independent released an interview with Beeching on Wednesday, where the singer/songwriter/blogger came out as a lesbian herself.

“I felt like coming out was something I needed to do,” she said. “The [UK Anglican] Church has now voted to enable women to become bishops, literally almost a month ago today, on July 14th. The next big hurdle the church faces is the discussion around sexuality. So it felt important for me to add my voice to that debate as it will be the key topic for the decades to come. And my voice will make much more difference if I’m open about my sexuality, as I can share more honestly about what it’s like to be a gay Christian.”

She said that she had been struggling with same-sex attraction since she was twelve, and eventually decided to stop fighting it. “What Jesus taught was a radical message of welcome and inclusion and love,” Beeching stated. “I feel certain God loves me just the way I am, and I have a huge sense of calling to communicate that to young people.”

And now, she says she wants to work to change the beliefs of those in the Church.

“I am not angry with the Church even though it’s been a painful journey. I still hold as tightly to my Christian faith as ever,” Beeching said. “I have a lot of hope for the future of the Church—that we can see a move towards inclusion, welcome and love for LGBT people.”

Reaction to Beeching’s announcement has been mixed. “Wow, what an example of being covered by the blood of the Lamb!” one commenter wrote. “So sad,” another stated. “God loves the way that we are, but not our sins. Please remember that. [Just] because we think that we’re right [doesn’t] mean that God is okay with our decision.” “It’s amazing how people can justify what Christ is against. We do sin and ask for forgiveness for making that mistake. Then we make the change to become stronger so we don’t do it again,” a third commenter wrote. “And you wonder why people think Christians are hypocrites. Start standing up for what Christ teaches. Black or white. Hot or cold. There’s no grey or warm in Gods eyes!”

On the same day that this article was published, Vicky Beeching appeared on Channel 4 TV News along with Pastor Scott Lively who was polite, gracious and biblical. You can watch this interview on –

It is not my intention at this point to ‘unpick’ any points made either in the article or during the TV news item BUT I would now invite readers to watch another TV debate between a ‘Lesbian Bishop’ and an ‘Evangelical Free Presbyterian Minister’. I believe that what they debate will more than adequately show what God in His Word has to say on this issue and will answer the question that Pastor Scott Lively put several times – ‘Vicky – don’t you care what God thinks?’

The TV debate can be viewed on these links

Just a few general thoughts: Vicky Beeching doesn’t seem to appreciate the truth of what God tells us in Ephesians 2:1-3 – that by nature we are spiritually “dead in trespasses and sins” and that our natural inclination when born into this world is to follow the leadings of “the prince of the power of the air”. The result of this is that we walk as “children of disobedience” and we “fulfil the desires of the flesh and the mind” because as Paul further teaches in 2 Corinthians 4:4 “the god of this world has blinded minds”. She claims that for 35 years she has had to ‘fight against herself’ and has now come to the conclusion that ‘God loves us as we are’. Again the Apostle Paul shows clearly in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 that true Christians are to “fight” against ‘bodily temptations’ – three chapters earlier (chapter 6) Paul had stated clearly that “fornicators shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (v9) and later in the chapter he states “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man (or woman) doeth is without the body; but he (or she) that committeth fornication sinneth against his (or her) own body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost who is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (verses 18-20).

Another resource that I would like to direct readers to is a message that I gave 4 years ago in Peel Baptist Church on the Isle of Man where I challenged the notion of the ‘Gay Christian’ by organisations and individuals claiming to be ‘Christian’. The first 12 minutes of my talk biblically prepare the ground and lead in to the portion where I identify these organisations and individuals. This talk can be heard on –

Like so many, Vicky Beeching fails to grasp the full extent of what happened to ‘human will’ subsequent to Adam’s ‘fall’ in the Garden of Eden. She is ‘choosing’ a ‘God’ of her own making and imagination and would not appear to truly ‘know’ the God of the bible. These words of Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones seem apt in this case –

“There has been no such thing as freedom since Adam fell. Adam was free. Not a single child of Adam has ever been free… Man’s will has been bound ever since the fall of Adam. By nature man is not free to choose God.” Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Much was made by the TV station of Vicky Beeching’s place and role in the ‘Christian’ music/entertainment industry and she herself stated how that role had given her an income and she now expects that to drop as a result of her ‘coming out’. Sadly today many professing Christians have lost sight of the clear distinction between ‘entertainment’ and what constitutes true ‘worship’. I like this quote –

“We should not be entertained by the sins for which Christ died.” John MacArthur

In that context a final resource (from 13:30) is a Radio ‘Podcast’ of a programme broadcast on ‘Megiddo Radio’ (16 August 2014) that focused on this ‘coming out’ as a ‘lesbian’ by Vicky Beeching (as told in the Channel 4 news item). It can be listened to on –

In conclusion, can we know how the professing ‘Church’ should react to this decision by Vicky Beeching? Once more I return to the Apostle Paul and his writings to the church at Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 Paul writes – “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you… and ye are puffed up… I… have judged already as though I were present… In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ… deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Whilst the particular “fornication” at Corinth was of a different variety (incest) to that now being openly confessed and embraced by Vicky Beeching I believe the principle of these verses has application in Vicky’s case. So how should the professing ‘Church’ react? First of all they must not be “puffed up” – they should not take ‘pride’ at what was happening in their midst as appeared to be the case in Corinth (Sadly today there are professing ‘Christians’ who are ‘puffed up’ as shown by their participation in so-called ‘Gay Pride’ marches in various cities around the world). Secondly a course of ‘discipline’ is clearly outlined by Paul and it virtually amounts to what could be termed ‘excommunication’.

Pastor John MacArthur writes in his Study Bible notes – ‘”Deliver” is a strong term, used of judicial sentencing. This is equal to excommunicating the professed believer. It amounts to putting that person out of the blessing of Christian worship and fellowship by thrusting him (or her) into Satan’s realm, the world system’.

Matthew Henry writes (extracts) – ‘Here the apostle states the case; and, lets them know what was the common or general report concerning them, that one of their community was guilty of fornication. It was told in all places, to their dishonour, and the reproach of Christians. And it was the more reproachful because it could not be denied… They were puffed up, they gloried, instead of mourning for his fall, and their own reproach upon his account, and renouncing him and removing him from the society, they continued to applaud him and pride themselves in him.

Note: Pride or self-esteem often lies at the bottom of our immoderate esteem of others, and this makes us as blind to their faults as to our own… We have the apostle’s direction to them how they should now proceed with this scandalous sinner. He would have him excommunicated and delivered to Satan…

Note: In dealing with scandalous sinners, not only are they to be charged with the fact, but the aggravating circumstances of it. Paul had judged that he should be delivered to Satan, and this was to be done in the name of Christ, … Some think that this is to be understood of a mere ordinary excommunication, and that delivering him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh is only meant of disowning him, and casting him out of the church, that by this means he might be brought to repentance, and his flesh might be mortified. Christ and Satan divide the world: and those that live in sin, when they profess relation to Christ, belong to another master, and by excommunication should be delivered up to him; and this in the name of Christ.

Note: Church-censures are Christ’s ordinances, and should be dispensed in his name. It was to be done also when they were gathered together, in full assembly. The more public the more solemn and the more solemn the more likely to have a good effect on the offender… It was an extraordinary instance: and the church was to proceed against him by just censure; the apostle, when they did so, put forth an act of extraordinary power, and gave him up to Satan, not for his destruction, but for his deliverance, at least for the destruction of the flesh, that the soul might be saved.

Note: The great end of church-censures is the good of those who fall under them, their spiritual and eternal good. It is that their spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus … Concern for their purity and preservation should engage Christian churches to remove gross and scandalous sinners’.

Final thought – early in the TV interview Vicky Beeching made reference to ‘Sodom and Gomorrah’ – cities known for their sinful gross immorality. It’s interesting that the Lord Jesus Christ when speaking of ‘signs’ of His soon return said that conditions just prior to that momentous event would be “as it was in the days of Lot” (Luke 17:28). Lot had the good sense to “flee fornication” – may Vicky Beeching, by the grace of God, be enabled to do likewise.

Cecil Andrews – ‘Take Heed’ Ministries – 25 August 2014

 

APPENDIX 27 August 2014

An article giving further information on the American pastor, Scott Lively and this particular issue ‘in general’ can be found on –

http://www.wnd.com/2014/08/churches-warned-tidal-wave-of-gay-theology-looming/#SAqJIhYySChU6JF3.01