Search Results

For years, the phrase “pray the gay away” has been associated with the idea that same-sex attraction (SSA) can be erased through prayer alone. But what if the real issue isn’t just the expectation of change, but how the church’s approach to prayer has actually driven LGBT/SSA individuals out of Christian community? Many churches have prayed for LGBT individuals to be “delivered” without realizing they’ve also prayed them out the doors. Instead of creating a space where SSA believers can grow in holiness alongside the body of Christ, the church has often replaced discipleship with distance, love with discomfort, and real relationships with silent exclusion. Here are ten ways the church has, knowingly or unknowingly, prayed LGBT/SSA people away instead of drawing them in: Praying for Change Without Presence Churches pray for LGBT individuals to experience transformation but fail to engage them in meaningful relationships. Prayer without discipleship makes people feel like projects rather than valued members of the body. Weaponizing Prayer as a Fix Many are told that if they just pray hard enough, their same-sex attraction will disappear. This mindset treats prayer like a transaction rather than a tool for spiritual endurance. Ignoring the Struggles of SSA Christians Churches often assume that SSA individuals are uninterested in holiness, focusing on changing their attraction instead of supporting their commitment to faithfulness. Unwelcoming Culture in Small Groups Many small groups celebrate vulnerability but grow silent when SSA believers share their struggles. This unspoken discomfort pushes people to find community elsewhere. Avoiding Conversations About Sexuality When churches ignore biblical discussions on sexuality, SSA Christians feel invisible, uncertain of where they belong, and unsure how to live out their faith. Public Condemnation Without Private Care Some churches boldly preach against LGBT identities but fail to personally disciple those wrestling with SSA, leaving them without spiritual guidance or support. Overemphasizing Marriage as the Ideal Christian Life Churches often treat marriage as the highest calling, making SSA believers feel incomplete rather than affirming singleness as a meaningful, God-honoring path. Offering “Freedom” Without Teaching Holiness Testimonies of heterosexual transformation are celebrated, while stories of faithful celibacy or obedience are ignored, discouraging those who are still navigating their journey. Creating a Culture of Fear Around Honest Testimonies SSA believers fear rejection, gossip, or exclusion when sharing their struggles, leading them to withdraw rather than risk vulnerability in Christian spaces. Assuming SSA Means Acting on It Many assume that SSA individuals are actively sinning, failing to acknowledge those who are striving to live faithfully in obedience to Christ. The church is called to be a place of truth and grace. Instead of praying people away, we need to pray with them, walk alongside them, and disciple them in the faith. LGBT/SSA believers, like all Christians, need community, accountability, and encouragement to pursue holiness—not distance and dismissal. We must ask: Are we creating a church where people can confess, grow, and remain, or are we passively praying them out the doors? It’s time to stop praying people away—and start welcoming them into true, Christ-centered discipleship. If this post resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it—it truly means a lot. If we were sitting down together and you asked, Micah, what’s your dream?  I’d tell you: This.  My dream is to one day see my name on the cover of a book filled with my deepest thoughts, inspiring others to ask their hardest questions without fear. I dream of a world where we learn to hope fiercely. If you’d like to learn more or support me—whether through prayer or financially to help share this message with a wider audience—check out the link below!

This is one of the most asked—and most sensitive—questions in conversations about faith and sexuality. Behind it is often a deeper concern: Does God love me? Is there hope for me? To answer this well, we need to zoom out and ask: Who goes to heaven? The Bible is clear—eternal life is not about whether someone is gay, straight, or anything else. It is about whether they have been reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation Is Through Christ Alone Scripture teaches that every person—regardless of their background—has sinned and falls short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). No one earns heaven by their own merit. That’s why Jesus came: to offer salvation as a gift to all who repent and believe (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9). A person’s identity or past does not disqualify them from grace. What matters is whether they trust in Christ, surrendering their life to Him. The gospel is an invitation to all people, including those who experience same-sex attraction. What About Sin? Some might ask: But what if someone (or myself) is actively engaging in a same-sex relationship? The Bible affirms that God’s design for sexuality is between a man and a woman in marriage (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6). Like all sin—whether greed, lust, pride, or anything else—living outside of God’s will without repentance is dangerous (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The call of Christ is always to turn from sin and follow Him (Luke 9:23). But this does not mean that experiencing same-sex attraction itself is sinful. Sin is not in what we feel, but in how we respond to those feelings. A person who experiences SSA yet submits their desires to Christ and seeks to walk in holiness is living faithfully—just as a straight believer must resist sexual sin. The Hope of the Gospel So, will gay people go to heaven? The answer is the same for all people: Those who put their faith in Jesus, repent of their sin, and follow Him will be saved. The promise of the gospel is not just avoiding hell—it’s being made new in Christ, walking in the power of the Spirit, and finding life in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17). Heaven is not for the “good” people. It is for the redeemed. And that invitation is open to everyone. If you’re wrestling with this question personally, know that God sees you, loves you, and is calling you to Himself. If you want to talk, I’d love to listen. If this post resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it—it truly means a lot. If we were sitting down together and you asked, Micah, what’s your dream?  I’d tell you: This.  My dream is to one day see my name on the cover of a book filled with my deepest thoughts, inspiring others to ask their hardest questions without fear. I dream of a world where we learn to hope fiercely. If you’d like to learn more or support me—whether through prayer or financially to help share this message with a wider audience—check out the link below!

Setting the Scene As I sit in my light brown leather chair, candles flicker softly in the background, their warm light dancing to the quiet hum of music, setting the tone as I return once again to click open my pen and unfurl my paper (well, it’s just my keyboard, but you get the idea.) You all—or y’all, if I’m speaking to my local Virginians—deserve an explanation for my sudden and rather unexpected disappearance from both social media and my semi-consistent writing on this blog, The Path Toward Holiness .   Introducing New Readers But before diving into that, to all the new readers in the room—or rather, this digital coffee shop I’ve attempted to create—I feel the need to explain a bit about myself. Where I’ve been is essential to understanding the future of The Path Toward Holiness and what it means for us today.   Reintroducing Myself Some of you know me personally—maybe from one of my (often random) classes at Liberty, brushing shoulders at Golf Park Coffee (which I frequent), or during Gospel Community Church’s notorious “relational intermission” before the Sunday sermon. Others of you might not have met me but are familiar with my small (yet growing) digital footprint. Perhaps you’ve listened to my podcast episode with One80 or watched my testimony video on Instagram Reels through the Office of Spiritual Development. However you have come to know me, allow me to reintroduce myself:   My name is Micah Syswerda. I’m 22 years old and a senior at Liberty University. (Oh, how the time has flown!) I became a Christian shortly after turning 18, realizing that the façade of faith I once hid behind was nothing like the real thing. Early Christian Journey and Struggles But my journey since then has been far from the rosy, idealized path I had envisioned. Although my faith became real and alive, I wrestled with the expectation that my life would immediately become easier—that my struggles with same-sex attraction (SSA) and depressive episodes would simply vanish. Yet they didn’t, and I found myself planting roots in rocky soil, believing God would deliver me from these struggles as long as I remained faithful.   Over many discouraging coffee dates and weekly counseling sessions, I wrestled with my inability to overcome these struggles. My depressive tendencies persisted, and my SSA remained. I accused God of giving me a yoke that seemed heavier than those around me. After all, I attended what many call “Christian Disney World”—a place where convocation speakers often make it sound like finding a spouse is as easy as putting two quarters in a vending machine. Without realizing it, I grew bitter toward God. I felt I would always be a hopeless romantic, living a life that, in my eyes, was destined to feel incomplete compared to my Christian peers.   Developing a Flawed Theology Although I knew, at least intellectually, that singleness is a gift, I struggled to view it as anything more than a steppingstone to marriage. I began to develop a theology resembling the “holiness movement,” believing God would grant my desires if I pursued Him wholeheartedly. This belief unfortunately shaped the beginnings of The Path Toward Holiness blog—praise God that He can still use our mistakes for His glory.   I envisioned holiness as a mountaintop, with a path leading upward. While this image captured the idea of faithful progression, it also introduced an unhealthy element of striving. I thought that by reaching the “top” of the mountain, I would be free myself from SSA and find constant peace; I would finally achieve what I desired.   So, I wrote. I tackled questions like, “Is homosexuality a sin?” and “Will gay people go to heaven?” Though I tried to approach these topics with humility, I now see that I was desperately trying to write my way out of my struggles, hoping God would one day “wake up” and take them away.   The Challenges with Growth In June 2024, everything on the blog ramped up. My readership grew, I was featured on a podcast, and my inbox filled with messages from Christians and non-Christians alike. At first, this was encouraging—it felt like God was using my story for His glory. But over time, the pressure to provide polished answers to deeply personal and theological questions weighed heavily on me. The blog, which once overflowed from my walk with the Lord, began to hinder my ability to abide in Him.   The Birth of a Dangerous Question The criticism came next. Some accused me of faking my testimony, living a double life, or denying my “true” sexual identity. Others mocked my appearance, my voice, and even blamed me for the pain and decisions of others. It was brutal, but it brought a necessary reminder: persecution, even emotional, is to be expected.   But in the silence of my own heart, I eventually asked myself a dangerous question—a question that almost broke me: Would I still praise God even if He never took away my SSA? My answer, at the time, was no.   (Re)entering the Wilderness This realization brought me to my knees. I closed my laptop, archived my Instagram posts, and removed the blog link from my profile. What God needed to do in me had to happen in the wilderness, away from the noise and expectations from others…But let me tell you—in my darkest valley, the Lord drew near.   A Glimpse of New Wine As I began this post, I initially planned to fully explain the treasures God revealed to me in this season of darkness, but as my candle flickers low, I realize the true depth (and breadth) of what He’s taught me would be difficult to write, and I don’t want to miss anything. So, expect many more posts going forward—and feel free to continue to ask me questions—I am finally ready to receive them once again. Before this season, I sang the lyrics to “New Wine” casually: “In the crushing, in the pressing, you are making new wine.” Now, having experienced a glimpse of that crushing and pressing, I can say it was hard—but if it was good for me, maybe the same could be true for you.   And no, nothing has “changed.” I am still same-sex attracted. I still face depressive episodes. I still wrestle with anxiety. But someone has begun to change me.   God's Gentle Whisper In the quiet, God spoke to me with a gentle whisper, asking: Micah, am I worthy of praise? Through tears, I answered: “Yes, Lord—but it’s hard. Why can’t I have what others have? Are you good? Will the ache of loneliness ever end? Will you heal me?   And in response, I imagined Jesus reaching for my hand, asking: Will you allow me to help you?   I won’t tell you how I answered, but I will say this: I now walk with scars—beautiful scars that remind me that God’s healing surpasses all expectations. For I have found healing, and it has been far better than anything I could ever imagine…it has produced hope.   A New Season So, I rededicate this blog to all the doubters, the skeptics, and those with dangerous questions that have been left unspoken. I pray you cry out to God with your questions and wait expectantly for His response.   “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”   To a new season of Path Toward Holiness: May God remain the center and may many come to know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, but on top of that, as a friend. If this post resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it—it truly means a lot. If we were sitting down together and you asked, Micah, what’s your dream?  I’d tell you: This.  My dream is to one day see my name on the cover of a book filled with my deepest thoughts, inspiring others to ask their hardest questions without fear. I dream of a world where we learn to hope fiercely. If you’d like to learn more or support me—whether through prayer or financially to help share this message with a wider audience—check out the link below!

What is Dangerous? As I mentioned in my first blog post after a long but much-needed rest, I have come to see the importance of bringing our deep, dangerous questions before the Lord. But before diving into this post (and hopefully starting a series of similar articles), let me explain what I mean by “dangerous.” Merriam-Webster defines dangerous as something involving possible injury, pain, harm, or loss. This could include driving a car, going on a jungle safari, or attempting skydiving with a group of 70 men (a real story and perhaps a future reality). These activities are considered dangerous because they involve risk—the potential for injury, pain, harm, and in some cases, even death. Yet, in these situations, we often take precautions to reduce the danger. We wear seatbelts in cars to protect ourselves. We keep our arms inside the vehicle while observing the beauty of an African lion. We ensure we’re harnessed and tethered when skydiving with an expert. Life is full of danger, but would it truly be life if we stayed cooped up, avoiding risk entirely for fear of what might happen? In 2020, we all experienced a life centered around risk mitigation, and most of us despised it. While we could spend hours swapping stories about how we navigated COVID (not recommended for family gatherings), the consensus is clear: people were preoccupied with avoiding potential danger. We debated vaccines, masks, and distancing mandates, but the uniting theme was a desire for safety. We feared contracting a virus with no cure, struggling with mental illness in isolation, or facing the unknown effects of new vaccines. Our love for mitigating risk—even amid division—revealed something universal: we are deeply concerned with safety. When we don’t feel safe, we live in a state of chronic stress, which can have long-term health consequences if left unresolved. In light of the dangers posed by untreated mental health struggles, conversations about counseling, mental health resources, and open dialogue have steadily increased. Athletes and public figures have come forward to share their stories, reducing stigma and fostering community. These developments are good, and I hope they continue. However—and here is the heart of this post—when will we begin addressing our spiritual health with the same urgency? We Are Addicted to Numbness Let me explain. When everything in life is stable and stress is low, we thrive. But when questions arise that feel too big for the Bible to answer, trust wavers. When trust is shaken, faith becomes difficult. And when faith falters, hope can be lost amidst the storm. Losing hope is one of the most dangerous outcomes imaginable. From hopelessness comes isolation and despair. When the brokenness of our flesh, cultural pressures, and the enemy’s lies align just right, hopelessness can lead to death—whether through self-harm, substance abuse, or giving up entirely. So what do we do? We avoid the questions. We’re afraid that some questions might not have answers, so we bury them. Instead of facing them, we numb ourselves—desperately trying to forget, to distract, to play it safe. You might say, “Micah, I’m not numbing myself! I’ve never gotten drunk, taken pills, or sought comfort in harmful ways.” And maybe you haven’t. But let me ask you this: how long do you scroll on your phone at night to drown out unaddressed thoughts before you fall asleep? How many reps in the gym do you push through, hoping to replace loneliness with a fleeting sense of self-sufficiency? How high do you raise your hands during worship, and how loudly do you sing, trying to convince yourself that you believe what you’ve been told your whole life? We all numb ourselves in different ways, but the root is the same: the dangerous questions we’re too afraid to ask. When it comes to Christianity, losing hope means losing everything, because hope is the foundation for faith, trust, and love—the essence of what it means to be human. Avoiding dangerous questions may feel natural. After all, why risk shaking the fragile foundation of hope if you don’t have to? But there’s a problem with avoiding these questions: God didn’t give us a spirit of fear. If we’re unwilling to ask, it’s because deep down, we’re afraid. Afraid of pain, harm, and loss. Afraid of what might happen if the answers don’t align with what we’ve always believed. But here’s the truth: avoiding these questions doesn’t make us safer—it only prolongs our fears. Pros and Cons of Beginning a Pursuit of Truth  Let’s approach these questions like we would a skydiving trip, starting with a pros and cons list. The cons: You might find out that God isn’t real, that Christianity is false, or that your faith has been built on lies. You might realize that Christian morality held you back from pleasures you could have experienced. But the pros? You could find answers to your deepest questions. You could discover a life of contentment amidst pain and suffering. You could experience peace in the midst of storms. You could develop a deeper, more authentic relationship with God. You could share the gospel with renewed confidence, knowing it to be true, beautiful, and good. No matter who you are—Christian or non-Christian, gay or straight, male or female—we all fear danger. But we also love mitigating risk. We love seatbelts, harnesses, and guardrails. Yet by avoiding our dangerous questions, we create a false sense of security that isn’t truly safe. Lingering doubts lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and fear. When it comes to mental health, we champion counseling, community, and vulnerability. But when it comes to spiritual health, we encourage silence. We settle for checking a box on Sundays, raising our hands in worship while ignoring the screams of pain in our hearts. Church, brothers and sisters: we are not healthy. We are stressed, anxious, and afraid because we have lost our one true hope. Without hope, there is no faith. Without faith, there is no trust. Without trust, there is no love. And without love, what’s the point? Does your foundation feel unsteady? Does your chest ache with the weight of unanswered questions? Mine did. But just as athletes have sparked a mental health revolution, I want to call for a spiritual revolution—a renewal and revival of faith built on trust, not fear. A Glimpse Into My Unfinished Journey Despite my fear of the unknown, I chose to step out of my safe box of faith and ask the questions I was avoiding. My first was this: “God, if my same-sex attraction never fades, can I still praise you?” What followed was silence—painful, deafening silence. I screamed in anger, accused God, and hated Him. Out of my heart’s darkness, I nailed Him to the cross. My hands were covered in His blood, and I condemned myself. But in my despair, as I teetered on the edge of asking, “God, am I alone?” something miraculous happened. He spoke—not audibly, but deep within my soul. I saw glimpses of His faithfulness: the parting of the sea, the pillar of fire, walls tumbling down, and rushing wind. I saw Jesus—pulling Peter from the water, healing a severed ear, standing on the shore. And in the quiet between my sobs, I heard His gentle whisper: “Micah, you didn’t kill me. I gave myself for you. I am big enough for your doubts, fears, and sins. I will never let you go.” In that moment, I took His hand, and I found something I had never experienced before: trust restored, faith renewed, and hope overflowing. This is the God who invites us to ask dangerous questions, to bring our pain and doubts to Him, and to discover that He is big enough to handle it all. He is our living water, and He will never let us go. And the cool thing about this season in the wilderness is that He kept His promise. He never let me go. Trust me—if there were ever a reason for Him to do so, He would have. I hurled some pretty horrible accusations against Him. But the amazing thing is that by asking my “unanswerable question,” I was able to taste and see that God’s love is authentic. Through the grip of our interlocked hands, I now have a trust that has been restored with a firmness I have never known. From this trust came faith—a faith that assures me what Jesus said will truly come to pass. And faith, oh, how powerful it is! Faith allows us to gaze upon an ocean of hope, infinite in breadth and depth. It is the living water. He is that water. Jesus is hope. The Spirit produces faith, and God calls us to trust Him. By trusting Him, I can now pour out the very same love I have received from the infinite ocean of God’s heart. That ocean is now within me. God is Our Safety System My question was never dangerous in the eyes of God. He knew I had it. He knew I had struggled to ask it for years. He understood the ways I numbed myself—through pornography and promiscuity—just to avoid confronting it. But when I finally asked, I was baptized in love and grace like never before. He filled me anew and reminded me of hope. He is hope, and in His gentle kindness, He reminded me of Himself. He will keep me safe. He is the seatbelt that secures me as I drive through a world that is uncertain and often frightening. He is the harness and the instructor who comforts me amidst both the terrifying free fall and the smooth gliding of life. He is the handrail that steadies me, allowing me to marvel at the beauty even when surrounded by evil and pain. But this is just my conclusion. This is my story and ever-growing testimony. I can tell you how God’s love has produced trust, faith, and hope in me—how it allows me to live contentedly in a life that is often hard and difficult. But my prayer is this: that you would ask your questions so you could say this for yourself with confidence. Praise Amidst Any Circumstance This transformation and deepening of my faith came from just one question being answered—or rather, not answered in the way I expected. God didn’t sit me down and tell me, “Micah, you’ll be able to praise Me with your SSA in five years.” No, He didn’t do that. Instead, He answered me by showing me Himself. He hid me behind a rock and let me catch a glimpse of His glory. I still don’t fully understand how my SSA and my future will intertwine, but I know this: I could only ever give Jesus my praise. Not because He might eventually take away my SSA or bless me with a wife who will endure the struggle alongside me, but because He washed me clean from guilt. He holds me, even when I come to Him with dangerous questions. God is so, so good. If you’re reading this and you’ve never put your faith in Jesus, I commend you to do so. He will produce hope if you let Him. But if you’re not there yet, start by asking Him your dangerous questions. Ask Him: “If You are real, God, show me that You are loving.” Or, “God, if You are loving, show me that You love me.” Then wait—wait patiently and in silence. Start noticing what happens around you. I believe with every fiber of my being that God will reveal to you how much He loves you. That is my hope. Hope changes everything. It changed me. And if it’s true for me, could it be true for you too? Even if you’re not a Christian, I encourage you to pray. Pray that God would buckle you in as you navigate this journey of discovery and questions. Pray that He keeps you safe as you pursue truth, wherever that search may lead you. Because with the buckle on, our dangerous questions become just questions. If the God of the universe is real, He will never let us go—no matter how big our questions may be. After all, if He was willing to die for us, suffer for us, and wash the blood from our hands, then surely, He can handle our questions. Tending the Holy Fire of Our Hearts | Personally and Corporately So let’s do this together. Let’s ask our questions—to God and within community. Maybe you don’t have questions that keep you up at night, but someone you know might. A coworker, a neighbor, a spouse, a family member, a gas station worker, the person with the cool outfit, the guy sitting alone—someone around you has a question. Ask on their behalf, and when you get an answer, don’t hold it in. Share it. I pray that we tend the holy fire of our souls with a prayerful supplication with thanksgiving, godly community, and time spent with the God who is always with us. I pray for a spark. I pray for His rushing wind. Because when wind hits fire, it burns brighter. And Satan would hate nothing more than to see those he has tormented for decades grow bold, courageous, and ready to fight him. Let's go to war. If this post resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it—it truly means a lot. If we were sitting down together and you asked, Micah, what’s your dream?  I’d tell you: This.  My dream is to one day see my name on the cover of a book filled with my deepest thoughts, inspiring others to ask their hardest questions without fear. I dream of a world where we learn to hope fiercely. If you’d like to learn more or support me—whether through prayer or financially to help share this message with a wider audience—check out the link below!

Understanding Homosexuality: Defining Terms Before Discussing Sin Discussions about homosexuality and faith are often complicated by language. Many ask some form of the question, “Does God condemn homosexuality?” but answering that question requires defining what we mean by homosexuality . Without clarity, we risk misunderstanding both the Bible and each other. Homosexuality: An Umbrella Term Covering Form and Function The word homosexuality is an umbrella term that can refer to different aspects of human experience: Same-Sex Attraction (Form) – The experience of being drawn to the same sex, whether romantically, emotionally, or sexually. Same-Sex Behavior (Function) – Engaging in sexual activity with someone of the same sex. Same-Sex Identity – Defining oneself by one’s attractions or relationships. Throughout history, the meaning of homosexuality has shifted. The biblical texts addressing same-sex behavior were written in a different linguistic and cultural context, where the term homosexuality as we understand it today did not exist. To faithfully interpret Scripture, we must recognize these distinctions. What Does God Condemn? When discussing whether God condemns homosexuality, we must clarify: Are we asking if God condemns same-sex attraction, same-sex actions, or the individuals experiencing them? Same-Sex Attraction – The Bible does not condemn feelings of attraction. Just as experiencing temptation is not sin, attraction alone is not inherently sinful. Same-Sex Behavior – Scripture consistently affirms God’s design for marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6). Passages such as Romans 1:26-27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 address same-sex behavior, distinguishing it from God’s intention for human sexuality. The Individual – Nowhere does Jesus condemn a person simply for experiencing same-sex attraction. His ministry was marked by grace, lifting people up and calling them into truth. God’s judgment in Scripture is directed at actions, not at people themselves. Jesus meets every person where they are, but He also calls them into a transformed life (John 8:11). Why Language Matters in This Conversation When discussing faith, sexuality, and sin, clarity is crucial. Without defining terms, we risk misrepresenting both the biblical message and those we engage with. Conversations about homosexuality should be marked by truth and grace—upholding God’s design while treating people with dignity and love. Ultimately, Jesus’ focus was not on condemning individuals but on calling all people to build their identity on Him. Our words should reflect that same heart of truth and redemption. If this post resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it—it truly means a lot. If we were sitting down together and you asked, Micah, what’s your dream? I’d tell you: This. My dream is to one day see my name on the cover of a book filled with my deepest thoughts, inspiring others to ask their hardest questions without fear. I dream of a world where we learn to hope fiercely. If you’d like to learn more or support me—whether through prayer or financially to help share this message with a wider audience—check out the link below!