83% of LGBT people were raised in the Christian church in America. Wow. Within the church, it's easy to vilify the sins that we don't struggle with. Like one friend of mine heard from his parents, the worst thing that could ever happen is to be gay. At 15, it was going to end his life. He's like, it's better to be dead than to be gay in the church. If someone would come and say, hey, did God make me gay? How do you navigate that? Right to the defense, man.

The local.

The name.

All right. in the church. If someone were to come in you say, hey, did God make me gay? How do you navigate that?

Right into the defense, man. He's local. I remember there was a young lady and I had an opinion on something. She was like, I don't want to hear an opinion from a cisgendered male. I don't even know what a cisgender is. I'm lost. My son, he's about to graduate high school. We went on a college tour, and they kept asking a question at the beginning of every tour.

Do you have a preferred pronoun? How do you approach that? Well, I would say... I'm ping ponging a little bit. The woman who says, I love my pastor and she's great and she needs to be able to do what she wants to do. And then on one side I get, scripture says, women can't teach, women can't teach. What do you say to them? Oh, you don't have to tell us. It's fine. Save it. I can tell you. Okay. You asked me the question. I'll answer.

Based on the Bible, a thorough patient study of the Bible, I do land on the position, I think.

This is the Deep End with La Cray.

You don't catch me reading people's intros, but this guest has, like, I'm kind of impressed

with how casual and down the earth he is, but yet how lofty his resume is.

So this is what I want you to hear.

This is what I want you.

First of all, Dr. Preston Sprinkles, a biblical scholar and author, a podcaster, known for

engaging topics, both intellectual with intellectual rigor and pastoral compassion.

I totally agree with that.

Absolutely.

Co-founder and president of the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender holds a Ph.

PhD in New Testament with years of experience teaching theology.

Preston hits the hot button issues in a very intellectual but caring way, which is why I love it. I'm excited to have you here. Dr. Preston hits the hot button issues in a very intellectual but caring way, which is why I love it.

I'm excited to have you here. Dr. Preston Sprinkle.

Oh, man. It's an honor to be here, man. Thanks for having.

Oh, man. So, you know, I was a fanboying a little bit before we started a podcast because

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