I got an email a little while ago from a friend down under — that’s Australia, by the way — urging me to be gentler in my treatment of Dan. He may not have had the choice, she said…

I believe the beautiful boy I used to love was denied his choice by age 14 when the selfish bastard seduced him. Maybe there was even a selfish bastard before the one I knew about.

Just what culpability Dan faces for his homosexuality is known only to God, Who is a just God as well as a merciful One, Who alone has the true and full knowledge and perfect understanding of all the factors that cause us to do the things we do.

I don’t believe Dan will get off scott free simply because of some verbal assent of Who Jesus Is; salvation requires more of us in return to His sacrifice. But I trust God to be fair — to Dan, and to me.

I do blame Dan for what has happened since. Maybe that’s uncharitable, maybe it’s unfair. But it’s the way I see it, and it’s the way I’m calling it.