5 posts tagged “ex-gay”
I personally don't like describing myself as "ex-gay," however; it communicates a quick sound bite of the reality and a direction of many. So while others might be disturbed by the term, "ex-gay" I feel it is a waste of time to wrangle over words that work in concisely communicating. Yes, folks I am “ex-gay” though I do not find my identity in being “ex-gay.” I am also very concerned that there are many great stories of “ex-gays” which are being browbeaten into silence.
I have been made aware of the growing hostility towards ex-gays in the past
couple of years in the media, and recently on many blogs. Even the very popular
Bill
O'Reilly (here’s an article here where Bill wanted to sue an ex-gay
minister) continues to communicate snide chuckles on his program at the idea
of ex-gays. Fox News is somewhat fair and balanced to Judeo-Christian
values, yet they do a better job with conservative political news. I like and
watch Fox News, and even watch O’Reilly a lot, because most of the other cable
news outlets are very hostile to the idea of Christian values, never-mind the
idea of ex-gays. Our culture
is completely buying into the hoax of being born gay
and has accepted the idea of being gay as normality.
The hostility is really growing to the message of leaving
homosexuality behind. It could actually become illegal in the near future
to minister the gospel of Jesus Christ in helping people find freedom from of
homosexuality. Even well-meaning Christians scoff at the idea, perhaps
they should view the documentary: SPEECHLESS
- SILENCING the CHRISTIANS.
Perhaps we should remember our history of Nazi
Germany. We should at least read the recent news from our Canadian
neighbors to the north. In Canada it is
illegal to speak out that homosexuality is sin. It is now legislatively
considered hate speech and prosecutable; a topic worth Googling. Perhaps
well-meaning, well-educated yet misinformed Christians wouldn't scoff at this
knowledge.
I came across this article yesterday "Ex-Gays Afraid
to Come Out for Fear of Persecution" and thought this would be a good
post in light of this discussion. Ex-gays are in fact, afraid
to make themselves known. I have met with MANY people who are influential in my
community and others who have church communities that would make it very
difficult to talk about their recovery from homosexuality. Yet there is
even a larger and growing threatening group of gay activists who are fueling
the fire of fear and oppression in our culture. They wish to silence the
freedom of choice when it comes to leaving homosexuality. The idea of leaving
homosexuality is very threatening to their gay insecure existence and their
political agendas. Wayne Besen,
a self-proclaimed activist, is one of these very loud voices, he is cruel and
mean-spirited. These groups are receiving too much attention, just like the
school yard bully or another picture that comes to mind, it's like the
elementary kid throwing himself down on the floor throwing the hissy-fit.
I know what I want to do to that kid, but Dr. Spock wouldn’t like it! Yet
our culture is deceived by Darwinian-ism and humanistic beliefs. Our society is vacillating
from being increasingly afraid of these bullies or being in love with them!
There are growing numbers of political gay groups that are very disturbing to
me. They are actual GAY hate groups who wish to silence the voices of ex-gays.
These groups are like the brazenly named "Ex-Gay
Watch" and their club of bloggers who use hatefully sarcastic words in
addressing ex-gays. There are even more
radical groups that are extra hateful with their narcissistic sarcasms which
reveal vicious vitriol fueled by people like Wayne Besen. I have had my
own personal encounters with these groups. These people have actually posted
ideas of how to stalk and harm ex-gay ministries and their leaders. They
sarcastically mock and hope for the demise of any ex-gay ministry leader.
They write books and plays applauding, scoffing and laughing at any relapse of
any individual leaving homosexuality. If someone did this with other addicts
like alcoholics or other human weaknesses the media would crucify them and then
completely dismiss them as cruel hateful people, like Rev. Phelps and his gang; not so for
gay activists.
A very successful attorney friend of mine recently told me he felt it was like
1933 in Nazi
Germany for Christians and Exodus type
ministries in the USA. He seriously joked with me and said,
"Stephen it is like 1933 and your last name isn't Black, but Bernstein.
Your ministries will be on the front-line of the next demonic wave of an
anti-Christ movement
in history. It is coming." WOW! It was a sobering moment.
One merely need to lightly read over blogs like the "Ex-GAY WATCH" and/or Wayne Besen's
blog and you will know we are living in very dark days. In the news
just yesterday, at WorldNetDaily,
Wayne Besen is revealed in an article that exposes his tactics and lies. The article by
Bob Unruh describes Wayne Besen “as the Fred Phelps of the left.” Pretty scary!
It is sad how many people are afraid of gay
activists, liberal blog bullies and the liberal anti-Christ media machine. They
are silencing their great stories about overcoming homosexuality.
Yet in closing, we need to have hope, as Charles Dickens
said, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” and so shall it be
right before the great and terrible day of the Lord. He is coming and HE will
set things STRAIGHT!
by Pete Winn
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
April 08, 2008
(CNSNews.com) - Public officials have the right to bring their religious convictions into the public square, but that right is under assault when Christians mention their deeply held beliefs about homosexuality, according to former homosexual Stephen Black.
"If you hold to strong Judeo-Christian values and you do not believe that homosexuality is God's intention for sexuality, (that is) going to be labeled as 'intolerant,' and 'hate speech,' and you yourself will be labeled as a 'bigot' and 'uncaring' and...'hateful,' with some of the most vulgar and vigorous communication," Black told Cybercast News Service.
View The Freedom Video at First Stone Ministries!
Testimonies from the lives of Dennis Jernigan, Laura Leigh Stanlake and Stephen Black
Links:
Dennis Jernigan
Exodus International:World's Largest Resource in ministering to people who desire to overcome homosexuality.
I am looking forward to the Exodus Conference in just a few days. I am sure we will hear more about all this there as leaders. However I wanted to post a comment I made on another web site.
This was a post as to this article at OneNewsNow.Com <- READ THIS ARTICLE!
WOW! After reading what I posted... feeling somewhat provoked by the Montel show, the media buzz around slamming ex-gay ministry etc. I have reposted here my comments from Randy Thomas' blog concerning Richard Cohen's (I guess bizarre appearance on Jon Stewarts Comedy Central, I did not see it) appearance on the Daily Show.
REPOST:
Hey Randy! I agree with your thoughts completely! AND CAN I JUST RANT A LITTLE HERE? I don’t make it out here often in the blog world, too busy helping people who want help! Okay, so here I go! I want to RANT about Montel, the media buzz this week, Cohen and gay activists who are mockers!
I am so tired of the ridiculous arguments put forth by people like Wayne Besen. (I agree with you, one does not have to look too far to understand that Wayne is a mocker and a very mean spirited person…). They – the gay activists, just don’t get IT, and they will not get IT(change) without their eyes being opened; sad, but true. However, we are to proclaim it for those who will hear.
The issue of change for most people in our ministries is IT – change – IS about a relationship of FAITH in a God whom no one has physically seen, but they KNOW He exists! Our rights to have faith in God are constitutionally protected! THANK GOD! He does exist and He changes hearts and lives!
Change – a different direction in life; turning or the biblical word is repent by BELIEVING… Why is it so difficult and threatening to the gay community? Could it be that there really is a God and they know it? Could it be that there really is only a few, a minority, who will actually follow Christ fully and they hate it? If they only knew who their father was in believing the lie. It is written! It has been foretold! Where? In the Bible! AND OF COURSE there are going to be people who fall back into sin and brokenness! If they only understood the beauty of the Cross of Jesus Christ, but alas that is revealed divinely as well. You have to want it. Could it be that it is very threatening in their brokenness and living in an immoral life as described by the Holy Scriptures? It only takes a 5th grade education to read it in black and white; the Scriptures are CLEAR concerning a condemnation of living in a sinful lifestyle of any kind of sexual impurity. Exodus ministries are about believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel and the New Testament are clear about the last days… men will be mockers and lovers of themselves… lovers of pleasure. They will actually acquire teachers, even PhDs who will appeal to their appetites, their DESIRES. I will NOT be afraid to speak the good news, the Biblical truths. I will not be cornered into silence; I MUST continue to proclaim liberty and freedom through Jesus Christ our Lord even if it does seem ridiculous. Freedom and liberty is NEVER without struggle… even if it is an entire life time… SO WHAT! We were never promised a life absent of struggle! Quite the opposite ~ tribulation. I think they are ridiculous to think otherwise and so does God… HE LAUGHS! Now that is a fearful thought!
“If they hated Me they will hate you.” – Jesus Christ. Doesn’t sound like good news, but the final chapter to THE Book is great!
This really is their crisis; it is a crisis of their own FAITH. This really is NOT about having a great amount of faith. It is about having faith to begin. They do not understand, and saying they do understand, they are still blind. You really do have to feel sorry for the many who are believing “THE LIE” – “hath God really said.” (Gen 3, Rom. 1) And they mock HIM, even as they mock us who want to follow Christ fully. There is coming a day when they will become violent, calling bitter – sweet, sweet – bitter and then their sweet revenge will grow to a dark hatred and violence; the very people who preach no to hate and say tolerance!
It is unfortunate that Cohen portrays reparative therapy very goofy. I think he means well. However, it is so strange! The only thing that is remotely close to his touch therapy would be normal holy relational bonding with safe people… this is certainly beneficial to those who are touched deprived or only relate in a sexual ways to touch. This is better in the family or the community in the Church, not in therapy. I still like him; I just wish he would listen to you!
About Montel, no doubt from reading Alan’s blog it was a spiritually and an emotionally negative environment to say the least. Alan Chambers did a great job! (I sure love you guys! You are terrific!) As Exodus ministries we should be reminded to serve / minister to those who WANT help, and turn away those who do not… just like Christ, especially when they are young. I was sad about the young man’s story forced into ministry. I have found it takes YEARS to mature and fully understand root issues, and the anatomy of temptation and sin; there is always time, even if parents are grieving. We must always pray and wait.
Oh! I so wanted to ask the Ms. Abomination Lady on Montel if she has ever had a practice or known of a practice in therapy and/or counseling where there weren’t any complainers? Again, it seems ridiculous, and it was so slighted on Montel, it was so stacked against our view. OF COURSE! You are going to have people who don’t make it or follow Christ, or turn away from destructive homosexual practices or any other life destructive practices for by which someone goes to therapy. There are always going to be critics to ever practice, ministry, church or people care giving institutions! Get a grip gay community… there are those who don’t want to be gay anymore! I left homosexuality 25 years ago! There are many more people out here who have left who never testify! They are living heterosexual lives, going on in life and not looking back… PEOPLE CAN CHANGE WHATEVER THEY WANT TOO, even gender by surgery, so why not homosexuality to heterosexuality. Oh they applaud those who go through gender reassignment, as radical as it is, but condemn and mock those who embrace a change of direction in life to follow God. I thought it was ridiculous of Montel to embrace a practicing prostitute as a legitimate occupation, but scoff at ministries helping those who desire help.
Okay so this was my random rant for the month! I know it was long... will you forgive me?
Christians should not be quick to judge one another. Stephen Bennett is being too prophetic and too black and white. I have also been this in the past. I can appreciate his zeal, but perhaps it really does lack love and patience to a brother in the Lord. (from the article: "Bennett called Chambers' comments "irresponsible and false public statements."") Having walked out this walk of faith for 25 years myself, and leaving a homosexual identity; I can assure you testing does indeed come in life, the old past ways of coping can and does remind us of how weak we can become without the grace of God. Especially in terrible grief in life, shattered dreams. I hope neither men are tested to the very limits. (with horrible grief and with many shattered dreams). (The right heart and attitude: Gal. 6:1-7 & 1 Cor. 8:1-2) "Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know."
Love believes the best, and I was pretty sure when I first heard the disturbing remarks in the LA Times and the CNN interview that it wasn't Alan's complete thoughts. You only have to be around the Exodus staff for a short time to know that they are true followers of Jesus Christ and desire His ways above all. (Yet anyone left to himself can fall.) 1 Cor. 10:12.
We are also given minds to think and process with and the Father does reveal things about the fallen-ness of our nature and physical state in science and medicine (or medically). DNA mapping is a fairly new discovery. What more to developments are to come in the future??? can only underscore that genetics are also out of sync with God's Divine Intention, as with other physical and mental disorders. It does not give Civil Rights Status to the gay community, IF in some remote chance there is a genetic link. However, it could give us understanding and potentially more compassion. I personally put the focusing in ministering on living a life of faith, complete trust in God and will stress this rather than what science has to say about sexual orientation and genetics, especially in hypotheticals. I was very glad to see this clarification in the news.
(I hope we continue to put focus on the Gospel and not appeasement to the world or gay community for being exgay or any other descriptor used. I really hope we stay away from the wrangling of words. It does not bother me at all to be exgay, but I am with Alan, I am not identified in my personal life as exgay... it merely serves as a sound bite to describe where I have been and where I am... and certainly where I am not going back).
Check out the Exodus Freedom Conference! I look forward to see lots of friends in this great ministry work!
WOW... just went back to where I posted my comment... and there are MANY more comments now... check it out.