Fruit of the Spirit: The Testimony of a Gay Christian by Zack Ridenoure

Before Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, God affirmed his identity. It prepared him to move in the calling God had on his life; the calling of salvation and reconciliation for you and me. That affirmation paired with three decades of the deep knowledge and understanding he had in his heavenly father equipped Jesus with confidence to walk towards the cross.

As members of the LGBTQ+ community, world opinion has dictated we must forsake our identities to possess a relationship with God. For a lot of gay people, it has prevented us from having that relationship. Denying who we are not only excludes us from the grace and love of our creator, but also the chance to walk in the purpose He has for our lives. As our Lord and Savior, God gives restoration and meaning to who we are through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. All we have to do is accept it.

Fruit of the Spirit is an autobiographical testimony of a gay Christian as he confronts stereotypes, navigates romantic relationships, pursues his faith in Jesus, and finds confidence in his God-given identity. Witness the refining process of sanctification and the life lessons he learns along the way.

ABOUT THE BOOK

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EXCERPTS

FROM FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

“The early years of being a teenager are undeniably difficult for a lot of people, not just gay men. Before I hit the awkward stages of puberty, I’d taken pride in my appearance and tried to express myself in my clothing choices. Once I hit junior high, I don’t think anything, not even a cool outfit could have helped. I had a middle part in my hair. I had a unibrow and the sad beginnings of a mustache; both of which my mother would not let me remove. And I had firmly denied being gay for a few years even though I was conflicted about being attracted to the same sex. All this before I even got braces!”
That night as we were getting ready at his apartment, he gave me a birthday gift. It was a black striped shirt with French cuffs and across the shoulders was embroidered the head of a tiger surrounded by flowers. The shirt was more his style than mine, but it was a gift and if I had learned a lesson from my fourth birthday it was to be polite when accepting anything. I said thank you and he asked if I liked it. I told him I did, and he replied, “You better it was a hundred dollars.” I thought the comment was as tacky as the shirt.
“I walked over to the shoe department to find the Christian woman who worked there. I told her I needed some advice and I explained to her everything that had happened. She listened with intent and after a few minutes told me that she really needed to pray about it and for me to come back later. She said she wanted whatever advice she gave to come from the Holy Spirit and not herself. It was only through Him that she knew the advice would be sound and specific for me.”
“One night after work and hanging out with some friends in the city, I got on the L train to head home to Brooklyn. I sat down at the end of the subway bench right next to the door and a guy got on at the last stop in Manhattan. He was tall, olive skin, dark hair with a long full beard. I thought he was so cute, and he thought the same about me. We locked eyes and he walked over to me and introduced himself.“
“For a long time, I said I wore my heart on my sleeve or that I led with my heart. Even after getting my heartbroken time and time again, I would put it out there first thinking that’s how love happens. You have to be open and out there to receive it. That’s how I thought it was supposed to work. In Proverbs 4:23 the Bible states, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” It wasn’t until I understood this scripture and the many layers it actually addresses that I could address the broken pieces of my own.”