Josh Harris: I kissed dating goodbye
Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:48 pm
As some of you may have heard Josh Harris & his wife Shannon are separating. Harris posted about it recently on his Instagram account.
He also posted on Instagram about his views on LGBTQ people and his former opposition to marriage equality.
Harris is of course the author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye, a book about the courtship model that he wrote when he was 23. In 2016 he wrote a statement about his book and discontinued publication of the book. https://joshharris.com/statement/Joshua Harris wrote:We’re writing to share the news that we are separating and will continue our life together as friends. In recent years, some significant changes have taken place in both of us. It is with sincere love for one another and understanding of our unique story as a couple that we are moving forward with this decision. We hope to create a generous and supportive future for each other and for our three amazing children in the years ahead. Thank you for your understanding and for respecting our privacy during a difficult time.
He also posted on Instagram about his views on LGBTQ people and his former opposition to marriage equality.
I put this thread in the chapel because I don't want to debate this I want to spark a conversation about Harris' book and how our views change over time. I read I Kissed Dating Goodbye when it first came out, I believed that the courtship model was the right one. Did you read his book? What did you think of it? How have your views changed over time?Joshua Harris wrote:My heart is full of gratitude. I wish you could see all the messages people sent me after the announcement of my divorce. They are expressions of love though they are saddened or even strongly disapprove of the decision.
I am learning that no group has the market cornered on grace. This week I’ve received grace from Christians, atheists, evangelicals, exvangelicals, straight people, LGBTQ people, and everyone in-between. Of course there have also been strong words of rebuke from religious people. While not always pleasant, I know they are seeking to love me. (There have also been spiteful, hateful comments that angered and hurt me.)
The information that was left out of our announcement is that I have undergone a massive shift in regard to my faith in Jesus. The popular phrase for this is “deconstruction,” the biblical phrase is “falling away.” By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian. Many people tell me that there is a different way to practice faith and I want to remain open to this, but I’m not there now.
Martin Luther said that the entire life of believers should be repentance. There’s beauty in that sentiment regardless of your view of God. I have lived in repentance for the past several years—repenting of my self-righteousness, my fear-based approach to life, the teaching of my books, my views of women in the church, and my approach to parenting to name a few. But I specifically want to add to this list now: to the LGBTQ+ community, I want to say that I am sorry for the views that I taught in my books and as a pastor regarding sexuality. I regret standing against marriage equality, for not affirming you and your place in the church, and for any ways that my writing and speaking contributed to a culture of exclusion and bigotry. I hope you can forgive me.
To my Christians friends, I am grateful for your prayers. Don’t take it personally if I don’t immediately return calls. I can’t join in your mourning. I don’t view this moment negatively. I feel very much alive, and awake, and surprisingly hopeful. I believe with my sister Julian that, “All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”