Overcoming Secret Sin

I get encouraging emails sent to me through "LIFE Today" with James and Betty Robison and the following message I felt was very well written and should be added to this blog.

Jennifer



Grace in the Face of Secret Sin
with Kirk Talley

And then He added, “It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, and deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.”
(Matthew 7:20-21)


On the very day that the media broke the shocking news of Ted Haggard’s secret life, LIFE Today featured the story of another high-profile man who struggles with same-sex attraction. Kirk Talley, former member of the Southern Gospel group “The Cathedrals,” told of his lifelong battle and the destruction that it brought when the truth came to light. Talley’s journey illustrates an issue that the church must learn to face, even while we fight to preserve traditional marriage.

Talley was saved at fourteen and lived fully immersed in his parent’s music ministry. His singing talent was recognized by the age of fifteen and he toured with a gospel group when he graduated from high school.

During his teen years, he began having thought patterns and feelings of same sex attraction. Those things were never discussed in his church, so he didn’t know who to talk to about his secret feelings. When he did confide in someone, he became the object of ridicule.
He married his high school sweetheart believing it would make his sinful thoughts go away, but the torment continued into his marriage. After seven years, he confessed to his wife. She quickly divorced him. He understood how she felt and didn’t blame her.

Every time he confided in someone, the relationship ended, so he sought the safety and anonymity of the internet to find others with the same struggles. But an online confidant discovered that Kirk was an award-winning gospel singer and vowed to reveal his secrets unless Kirk paid him money. He stalked the singer, harassing him with phone calls and threats. Kirk refused to pay and worked with the FBI to catch the extortionist, so the man went to the media.
The Associated Press picked it up and the story (a juicy bit of gossip and a victory for those who detest Christianity) went nationwide. Vicious emails poured in, concert dates were canceled and Kirk’s record company and booking agency dropped him. One person told him they were praying for God to take his voice away. Some churches asked him to return their love offering.

Talley admitted, “If it had not been for my best friend and his wife who physically came and took me to their house, I would have killed myself. I felt I deserved the treatment I was getting. They knew I was suicidal, so for weeks they didn’t let me out of their sight.”

Another friend took Talley to see a man who ministered to him for three intense days while a pastor and deacons and their wives prayed in rooms nearby.

“As I lay on the floor,” Kirk said, “I felt I was physically lying on the body of Christ stretched out on the cross. God did some supernatural things in my mind that day. I felt the arms of Christ come up off of that cross and slip around my neck and I heard him whisper in my ear, ‘Kirk Talley, I love you! I'm doing this for you.’

“He showed me a vision of us walking up a steep embankment, and I saw how rough it was going to be, but He kept saying, ‘Go on, I'm right here behind you.’"

Six pastors committed to stand with Kirk. Over the next year, Kirk experienced grace -- the unmerited favor of God handed to him through caring people. In times of deep despair, he received encouraging phone calls all hours of the night. None of the people approved of his sin, but they lifted him out of his hopelessness through the pure love of God.

Kirk told James and Betty, “I still struggle daily, but every morning I lay on the cross of Calvary again and I stretch out my arms and say, ‘Okay Lord, keep me focused today on what you want me to see.’”

Talley has found the freedom to suit up as a soldier in the army of the Lord. He is fighting the good fight the one to overcome his own sin. Now he has others backing him up. He won’t be silenced by shame or fear. He fights every day and invites others to fight along side him. It time to suit up for battle and, like Kirk Talley, we need each other to win this fight.

This Week
Just as Kirk Talley felt Jesus’ arms around him, God wants to embrace you and demonstrate the His unmerited grace and love. Then he wants you to extend that grace and love to others who desperately need it.

Prayer
“Lord, help Kirk Talley to walk in victory today and every day. Help me show Christ’s love and grace to those around me who are overwhelmed in battle.”