This article, "Facts, Not Flattery, About Same-Sex Attraction," is another outstanding example of the battle for the truth on a really sensitive issue -- homosexuality. An excerpt says:

Defenders and promoters of homosexuality try to cover up the scientifically documented serious promiscuity, inability to maintain sexual fidelity, partner abuse and psychological and medical illnesses associated with the lifestyle. Also, they tell persons with same-sex attractions (SSA) that "It's genetic," "You were born that way," or worse "God made you gay."

The article reveals plenty of truths about homosexuality and backs it up with references to scientific data that you and I can verify and check.

Gay activists and mental health professionals tell our society, why fix something that’s not broken, and that being open and honest about one’s homosexuality leads to a healthier and happier life. Unfortunately, these assertions are seldom backed up by strong scientific studies.

The truth is thousands of men and women found their homosexuality or SSA either unnatural or not compatible with their faith and are now living a happy, healthy and honest life because they didn't pursue their SSA or they left the homosexual lifestyle. They turned their back on SSA and homosexuality not mainly because these things were bad, but because they found something better: a chosen alternative of living based on one's faith and godly purpose and not on sexual feelings.

Comments

[Randy]

The truth is thousands of men and women found their homosexuality or SSA either unnatural or not compatible with their faith and are now living a happy, healthy and honest life because they didn't pursue their SSA or they left the homosexual lifestyle. They turned their back on SSA and homosexuality not mainly because these things were bad, but because they found something better: a chosen alternative of living based on one's faith and godly purpose and not on sexual feelings.

Well put and amen. Thank you for highlighting the reality for many of us who are living the life you eloquently describe above.

Happy Memorial Day!

[Brian]

I don't even know where to begin in expressing my hurt.

In this article alone, I am inferred to have "serious promiscuity, inability to maintain sexual fidelity, partner abuse and psychological and medical illnesses." When I read the article referenced... wow.

It has taken me 24 hours to even begin thinking about responding to this post because I am still reeling. I pray to God that a GLBT Christian who is suffering in the closet does not read this post.

I'd like to lead with a question. What is this "homosexual lifestyle" you speak of (and is referenced in the article)?

I'm concerned that the particular section you posted has no citations. In regards to the supposed mental illness associated with being gay, the American Medical Association says that “Most of the emotional disturbance experienced by gay men and lesbians around their sexual identity is not based on physiological causes but rather is due more to a sense of alienation in an unaccepting environment.”

I am a gay man. I do not have a mental illness. And I am very hurt by the inference (from my brothers in Christ no less!) that I do.

In regards to the claim that "thousands of men and women" have changed their sexual orientation, I would ask Can you please show me documentation of this claim? In a post and article grounded on "the facts" I'm a little disappointed that this fact isn't backed up. From what I have found, there is virtually no empirical evidence for the success of ex-gay conversion therapy.

In fact, Rev. John Smid, director of Love In Action, said that he does not track the success rate of his program (which costs from $2,000-$4,500 for only a few weeks) (1)

I'm also curious as to what "change" means. It seems that there is no clear definition for that amongst ex-gay advocates. Smid also said “There isn’t a cure for homosexuality.” (2)

I have yet to meet an ex-gay who has been out of the programs for more than 5 years who is not still involved directly with the ministry (no offense, Randy!)

In a seven-year, peer-reviewed project, Dr. Ariel Shidlo and Dr. Michael Schroeder surveyed 202 individuals. Only 26 (13%) self-reported success; however, only 8 of those reported that they were not experiencing "slips" or needed to frequently use coping mechanisms to control their same-sex behaviors or attractions. Of those 8... 7 were providers of ex-gay counseling and 4 were actually being paid to do such. (3)

The Spitzer study which was cited in the article has come under immense criticism from his peers in the community for problematic methodology. Including, but not limited to, the fact that nearly half (43%) of the subjects were provided to him by ex-gay organizations, with 23% coming directly from NARTH (more on NARTH later). 78% were public advocates for ex-gay therapy. Spitzer's subjects were also overwhelming white, Christian, and married. There is a clear bias amongst subjects towards the "success" of these programs. It doesn't seem fair to generalize this to the entire GLBT community.

In fact, Spitzer made sure to clarify “...it would be a serious mistake to conclude from my study that any highly motivated homosexual can change his or her sexual orientation, or that my study shows that homosexuality is a ‘choice.’" (4)

I think I'm going to stop there. Hopefully that will give you some food for thought, for now.

I put together a post about myself. I want you to look at me, a person, a fellow Christian. I want to give you a look, if only a glimpse, into my life. I want you to know who you are speaking about.

Pleas take a look: http://allpointsinbetween.blogspot.com/2007/05/this-is-my-lifestyle.html

(1) Williams, A. (2005, July 17) Gay Teenager Stirs a Storm, The New York Times.
(2) Feyerick, D. (2005, July 28).
(3) Shidlo, A & Schroeder, M. (2002). Changing sexual orientation: A consumer’s report. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33(3), 249-259.
(4) 225. Spitzer, R. L. (2001, September 24). Open e-mail letter to Kari Karkkainen, MP.

[Brian]

I would also like to add, that I do not attempt to discredit the personal stories of individuals like Randy. He says that this program has helped to give him a happy and healthy life. I am thankful for at least that. Too many of God's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender never find such joy.

Rather I ask, why are we asking people to change? And in doing so, why are we asking them to run in the face of every medical, psychological, and psychiatric association. And what are the effects of our words when we toss around anti-gay advocacy.

There is dissension. There is discussion. Let us continue that Christ-centered conversation together, rather than malign with broad strokes our brothers and our sisters and Christ and those of God's GLBT children who have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus Christ.

[Michael Redmond]

"As I live, declares the Lord GOD, Sodom, your sister, and her daughters, have not done as you (Jerusalem) and your daughters have done. Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it."
-- Ezekiel 16: 48-50.

In other words: Sexual immorality was an aggravating factor, but it wasn't the issue.

Let's cut to the chase.

1. If male homosexuality = "serious promiscuity, inability to maintain sexual fidelity, partner abuse and psychological and medical illnesses associated with the lifestyle," are we then to conclude that male heterosexuality ipso facto = monogamy, fidelity, partner support, and psychological and medical health? Do "studies show" that this is the case?

2. There are Web sites featuring people with very impressive letters after their names and very impressive professional and institutional affiliations that would have us believe that the earth is 6,000 years old, that Noah took dinosaurs aboard the ark, and that biological evolution by natural selection is a fiction. What sets the NARTH site apart from those other "researchers" who started out with a fixed conclusion and proceeded to "prove" its truth by tendentious studies, etc.?

Am I asserting that the practice of homosexuality is consistent with the Christian confession and the living out of the Christian life? No, I am not.

[Chris Clukey]

Brian wrote:

Rather I ask, why are we asking people to change?

Why do we ask anyone to change, Brian? Christ and His disciples only ask people to change what is unchristlike, and homosexual practice is not, in any way, shape or form Christlike. How you feel, what hurt you're caused by hearing that or whether a particular "cure for gayness" is really such a thing...none of those things have any bearing on the fact that same sex relationships are immoral and outside of Christ.

Perhaps you should focus less on why we're asking people to change, and ask yourself what purpose the world has in acting as if every emotion and attraction one experiences should be acted on.

Do those things hurt? Well, the wounds of a friend or brother are better than the kiss of an enemy. Ignore my words if you want, but your greatest Friend, the one who hung on a cross for you, condemned porneia as a thing that leads people to Hell. Go ahead and look porneia up in a Greek lexicon, and ask yourself if those eyewitnesses who wrote the New testament used that term because they wanted to be hurtful to you, or because they wanted to communicate vital spiritual truth.

[Brian]

Chris, you wrote:

"Christ and His disciples only ask people to change what is unchristlike, and homosexual practice is not, in any way, shape or form Christlike. [...] none of those things have any bearing on the fact that same sex relationships are immoral and outside of Christ."

In a literal sense, heterosexual practice is not Christlike either, as Jesus was never married. Am I correct in judging that you mean moral?

This is precisely the question I mean to be asking. Because so many people have heard for so long "Homosexuality is sinful" and yet few can say exactly why.

And so I ask again, why do you say that my homosexuality is sinful?

Jesus, my savior and comforter, NEVER condemned homosexuality. I take comfort in Him when others would seek to exclude me. Scriptures condemn many things: rape, incest, adultery, prostitution, temple sex... they do not condemn homosexuality.

I am not a sex act. My love is not a temptation.