Rosaria Butterfield was formerly a lesbian and Professor in the department of Queer Studies at the university of Syracuse. In the first video below, 47 minutes, she shares her conversion story, describing its elements so clearly that Christians are sure to gain understanding of their own conversions from listening to hers. The second video is an 8 minute version of her story.
Each video also gives the listener some understanding of her former lifestyle; one should come away with some new ideas about how to witness better for Christ.
Furthermore, I am certain that any Christian wanting to learn more about how to helpfully and lovingly interact with new converts while they make the transition from their former sinful lifestyle patterns into repentant lifestyle patterns, can gain much from all 4 videos below.
I hope you’re able to listen to the long version of her story, or both versions.
The following video is an 8 minute version of Rosaria Butterfield’s testimony.
In the following video, Dr. Butterfield speaks about matters of concern in her transition from her lesbian lifestyle to her Christian lifestyle. Please carefully note how she describes her interactions with the Christians that surrounded her in love.
In the following 3 minute video, Dr. Butterfield speaks to Christians about some fundamental points to consider in their interactions with LGBTs, and other neighbors.
In closing, I want to note how much I admire her openness. When I became a Christian, I imagined that Christians were like her, open about their failings, their sins, etc., but at this point in my walk, I realize that she is rare, and I appreciate her very much. I think that all Christians ought to be like her; the Bible seems to encourage that kind of sensitivity about personal sin, trust in God’s providence, honest dealings with God and man, and so on. My defenses have become stronger in the past decade, Christians like her encourage me to lower my walls again.
I learned in my long study of the beatitudes that Biblical mercy is a fruit of poverty of spirit and mourning for sin, the first two beatitudes (feigned mercy is very obvious and does not compare to Biblical mercy, see categories, Beatitude Life post 5). I, therefore, concluded that absence of mercy is an indicator that personal sin has been swept under the carpet of one’s life. That is, if one’s personal sin is repressed, denied…then one will not be able to have genuine mercy on another sinner; he will judge him because of his sin; exalt himself over the sinner…causing disunity in the body of Christ (that body of redeemed sinners–who all share that past, that they were sinners and they still struggle with sin).
I hope that all of the above has caused you to examine your own attitudes, behaviors, etc., regarding helping new converts in their transitions; your own level of sensitivity regarding personal sin; your own honesty regarding personal sin…as these are very foundational things to Christianity; in fact, Christ described them as being basic to the definition of a true kingdom citizen in Matthew 5:3ff.
She published several books: The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert; The Gospel comes with a House Key; and Openness Unhindered. They are all at Amazon.
There are other videos on YouTube wherein she is featured, answering questions that parents of gays children directed to her.