October 2013

The following excerpts are from the article “Leaving My Lesbian Past” written by Charlene E. Hios and published on the Christianity Today website: “… The folks at CPBC [College Park Baptist Church] never initiated the discussion of homosexuality. It was always me who wanted to discuss it. They were more interested in my personal walk with God and my relationship with Jesus. Though they were concerned about my homosexuality, they explained that God would be the one to work on my homosexuality and my belief that God made me that way.”

“… They were the people who talked to me about homosexuality by taking me deeper into the Word of God. They knew they could not argue me out of my homosexuality. The first matter at hand was to introduce me to Jesus Christ, to the Word of God, not to introduce me to heterosexuality. Though I did not realize it at the time, I was in a huge spiritual battle that went on for at least a year, if not longer.” (more…)

October 9, 2013

The following excerpts are from the blog “The Times They Are a Changin. And —?” on Joe Dallas’s website: “But it’s not just the culture that’s shifting. I’m honestly starting to think we have two general Christian populations, co-existing and sometimes overlapping, both claiming to be evangelical Bible believers but not really on the same page. One is black and white regarding scripture, so its doctrinal and moral views are traditional and predictable. The other claims a Biblical base and does, in fact, acknowledge the Bible. But it gets fuzzy on questions of what salvation is and why it’s needed, what awaits us in the next life, and what’s moral versus what’s not. The first group prizes objective truth; the second says truth matters but, in fact, seems to primarily value experience. The first emphasizes the Word; the second considers any form of judging to be among the worst of crimes. And it’s not hard to guess which group gets the most and loudest kudos from the world.” (more…)

October 7, 2013

The following excerpts are from the blog “Cultivating Gay Christians” on Andrew Comiskey’s website: “… I came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ amid the afflicting power of homosexual attraction and conduct. In those years, shame veiled such struggles. I was fortunate to find Christian guides who helped me to discover Jesus as the basis for a new and true humanity.”

“Today, we arise out of shame and into the evolving community known as LGBTQ. Such a community may appear to afford some a kind of corporate identity and defense against a heterosexist world. What it actually does is bar Christians from the grace (and clarity of identity) that could be theirs.” (more…)

October 7, 2013

The following excerpt is from the article “Bishop Harry Jackson Shares Story of Survival at Ex-Gay Awareness Event” written by Tyler O’Neil and published on the Christian Post website: “… ‘Your sins may be different than mine, but at the end of the day we’ve got to go to the same cross and get the same blood, and if we don’t go that way, whatever temporary victory we think we have will soon erode before our eyes,’ declared Jackson, senior pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Md. and chairman of the High Impact Leadership Coalition.”

“Ex-Gays, those who once proclaimed themselves homosexual and lived the gay lifestyle but have turned from it to follow Jesus’ plan, need to rededicate themselves to Christ, said Jackson at the first annual event. He argued that those who secretly struggle with same-sex attraction need not fear – they can overcome it with the power of Christ. Echoing the words of the Apostle Paul, he said ‘Lord, I stand in weakness, but You stand in power!’ …”

September 30, 2013

The following excerpts are from the blog “The New Pharisee 3” on Andrew Comiskey’s website: “…I am witnessing a new Pharisaic tendency in Christian spokespeople for ‘GLBT’ (etc.) communities. Instead of surrendering the sexually broken ‘selves’ to Jesus, these ones make huge efforts to justify their homosexuality. Though some claim orthodoxy (no sex outside of marriage), they nevertheless seek to integrate the gay self and ‘celebrate the grace of God in homosexual terms.’”

“Precepts of the new Pharisee include: Exempting themselves from a theological anthropology that defines humanity as made in God’s image as male and female. … Jesus chooses to not effect much, if any, change of their sexual inclinations. … A new narrative in which one has little if any psychological brokenness undergirding their SSA. … Scandalizing reparative therapy. …”

September 24, 2013

The following blog “Who Really Stays Pure?” on Joe Dallas’s website: “Sexual purity for the Christian is a mandate, goal and achievement. It’s a mandate because it’s expected by God and reasonably so; it’s a goal in that we strive towards it, and an achievement when we both attain and then maintain it. It’s also a way of being and living that runs contrary to so much of what we’re exposed to daily.”

“The fact that we’re sexual creatures with natural responses can be enough of a struggle, but add to that the ongoing stimulation of billboards, immodestly dressed women and men, suggestive content on television ads and countless other stimulants, and the goal of a pure mind and body can seem like Quixote’s Impossible Dream – lofty, but virtually unreachable.” (more…)

September 23, 2013

The following excerpts are from Andy Comisky’s article “New Pharasee 2” on his blog: … “Could it be that the enemy of our souls has blinded our eyes to the Mercy that is there for us? Perhaps the reason that we cling to dehumanizing attitudes and behaviors is because we do not believe that there is anything for us in their place.”

“How else can you explain the irrational power at work in the weaknesses of those who insist that the ‘gay self’ or any other number of ‘selves’ is their deepest, truest expression? Cut off from Mercy, these ones construct fortresses to defend them from the threat of non-being. (more…)

September 19, 2013

The following excerpts are from Randy Thomas’ blog “Ask-It Basket: What Will You Do When I Don’t Live Up To Your Expectations?”: “Recently, I was disowned by a few conservative Christians because of my views about the finished work of Christ (in general), and how that applies to people who call themselves gay Christians. I affirmed that if a gay Christian professes that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior (and all of what that means) I believe they are truly saved. I don’t know the true condition of their heart just like they don’t know mine. If they say they are saved, and because I am only mortal, I simply assume they are telling the truth.”

“I have a different view of sexuality, and identity, than many who call themselves gay Christians. Because of that, I do not personally apply sexual identity labels as modifiers of my being a Christian. I do not pursue sexual activity with either gender. Along with that, I am not going to tell someone else how they should live their lives. (more…)

September 16, 2013

The following excerpts are from Andy Comisky’s article “New Pharisee” on his blog: “I could not believe it. A quiet acquaintance began to bring along a remarkably younger same-gender ‘partner’ to the gym; their evident attraction disgusted me. I felt angry at them for messing up my morning ritual with their mutual adoration and also superior for being ‘healed’ enough to disdain rather than to envy them.”

“Jesus addressed my perverted heart in The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Luke starts out strong: ‘To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable.’ (18: 9) Busted. Jesus got my attention.” (more…)

September 13, 2013

The following excerpts are from the article “Your safe, alternate Boy Scout is …” by Matt Barber on the World Net Daily website: … “A brief summary from the new scouting-like organization’s website (TrailLifeUSA.com) reads as follows: ‘Most guys want exciting outdoor adventure with their friends. We’ve got that! Trips and travel? That, too. Camping. Check. Physical and mental challenge? Yep. And awards? Of course!’”

“‘Trail Life USA is a Christian adventure, character and leadership movement for young men. The K-12 program centers on outdoor experiences that build a young man’s skills and allow him to grow on a personal level and as a role model and leader for his peers. Living the Trail Life is a journey established on timeless values derived from the Bible.’” (more…)