Still Love Jennifer Knapp

This week Jennifer made the decision to open up her personal life and reveal that she is a lesbian. Not only that, but she is in a relationship (with a woman, duh!) and has been for several years. My first reaction? My heart broke. I wanted to cry. I have enjoyed her music since her first album and this felt like a betrayal, like I had never even known her (crazy, because I didn't - I just thought I did because of her beautiful and powerful lyrics and melodies). I felt like I had lost a friend.

So I talked to my husband. He was shocked as well, but being a man and my rock on earth, he was less emotional. We talked a lot, especially about whether or not GOD would still be able to use her - she is sooo gifted!!! We talked about how far GOD's grace would reach before HIS holiness prevented contact. We didn't come up with many answers.

So reading in Romans last night, I think I got a greater inkling into GOD's great grace. Romans 14 says this (NCV) "Accept into your group one who is weak in faith, and do not argue about opinions. One person believes it is right to eat all kinds of food. But another, who is weak, believes it is right to eat only vegetables. The one who knows that it is right to eat any kind of food must not reject the one who eats only vegetables. And the person who eats only vegetables must not think that the one who eats all foods is wrong, because GOD has accepted that person."

GOD's acceptance reaches beyond the rules. So should mine. So when my friend says she is gay and lives that lifestyle without repentance, I will choose to accept her and love her. It is for her and her Lord to figure it out, without judgment from me. (HE accepts me despite my gossiping tongue and my nearly gluttonous love of chocolate.)

I believe Jennifer still loves GOD and respects her fans. I know this because she has an album out next month and news like this could kill her sales from her Christian fans. But she didn't want them to find out later and have it affect how loudly they sing along with her music. She didn't want them to feel deceived or to question her motives.

So I still love Jennifer. I can only imagine the struggle she grapples with, even now, after the news has come out. I see her courage on a whole new level. I may not agree with the spiritual rules she lives by, but I will choose not to judge. I choose instead to love and accept her the way that GOD has asked.