Topic : 06/06 "I'm Gay, OK?"

Quote From: julie1418

I posted a reply to you, but I guess it was deemed off topic :( 

  

I posted another on the Debating Different Religious Beliefs Board....you can find it under Beyond the News and Headlines on the Message Board main page. 

  

Julie 

Quote From: eden777

Sorry that I was unable to respond to you.  I must not have had the chance to read what you had written.  I do, with the best of my ability read every response that is written to me.  I just need a little time to read through them. 

  

I never deem any person's words as unimportant and invalid.  Everybody has a valid response and every person's feelings are valid.   

  

I haven't realy checked out other message boards because I have realy enjoyed what I have been learning through this message board.   

  

I will do my best to find what you had written and then respond the best way I know how. 

Quote From: irishmom

The Bible CLEARLY states that homosexuality is a sin.  However, the Bible also clearly states that we should love EVERYONE, as does Jesus.  There were many people in Biblical times that sinned, but Jesus himself said, "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone".  I do not agree with homosexuality, but I have my own sins to worry about.  Who am I to judge another when I walk imperfectly?  If one of my children were to come to me and tell me they were gay, I would be very sad for them (for many reasons, not just because of the fact that they are gay, but because it is such a hard lifestyle to live, in part because of all the hatred toward them), but I would LOVE them NO differently.   So-called Christians who HATE gays and treat them unkindly are not Christians at all in my opinion. 

Quote From: jayde287

Eden777,  

  

I didn't repost your whole message because is was just too long. I just wanted to ask you something. I know you believe you came out of your homosexuality, but why would anyone who is truly happy want to do that? What is the point? I know for me it would make me miserable. I couldn't stand to go through this life without my wife. She is my world, my life! She means more to me than anyone else, and I wouldn't give that up for a second!  

  

It makes me sad to hear your family supports you being gay, and you rebuke it. That's terrible. So many young gays and lesbians don't have that support.  

  

And one more thing, I know I asked this before, but I haven't gotten a solid answer. If it is so possible to "become straight", then how come the FOUNDERS of Exodus International left the company and went back into being homosexuals? I know people say, "oh, they're married...blah, blah, blah...." He was caught at a GAY BAR.....hmmmmmmm......how do we explain that??? 

  

It is one thing to completely change your sexuality....it's quite another to just be celibate. 

Quote From: eden777

I wasn't saying thank you to you for being so kind for re-posting my message on the right message board.  I thought I answered your question just fine.  

   

I know of John and Anne Paulk the founders of Love Won Out...today they are still married...they never renounced their affiliation with Focus On The Family.  

   

John was caught in a gay bar...and the gay community watch Focus On The Family like a hawlk to find out how John would be treated.    

   

Most of the studies that have been done over long period of time having to do with a person's healing journey if you will....most of the studies do show that most people do reach a certain level of heterosexual relating while still struggling with homosexuality.  However, their same-sex attractions no longer have the power if you will over their lives and have decreased in it's intensity while there has been an increase in oppisate-sex attraction.  

   

Do I expect full healing to come into my life..i.e a complete change in sexual orientation?    

   

I actualy don't expect a complete change in my sexual orientation but I don't limit the power of God to make that possable.  I do expect more healing to come into my life.  I never used to me attracted to me, I was the predominatly homosexual.  I am nearly 30 years old I am just now coming to sense an attraction towards men but am I still very attracted to women?  The answer would be yes.  

   

I can remember John and Anne Paulk being interviewed on the Oprah Winfrey show and Oprah asked Anne a question...are you still find yourself attracted to women?  Anne Paulk's response was...yes.  

   

It seems to me that most people coming out of homosexuality will always have homosexual tendencies but the person through Christ can be given the power to live above and beyond all that and experience a level of healing.  While, it is true, some do experience complete change.  I actualy know a couple of people who can proclaim complete healing in their lives and say that it's now become a foreign concept to them.  Given certain situations, I believe it might be possable for them to regress, much like an alcoholic will always have a possability to regress back into their addictions.    

   

At least, all of the studies that have been made watching a number of people through their healing process do show that for most cases there will always be a certain level of homosexual temptation but this by no means negates what healing has occured in their lives.  

   

As far as Exodus Global Alliance...there has been some false accusation...I mean, many people have their oppinions about me and it's not based upon truth.  Many people have judged me and have been wrong with what they have said about me.  And so I am not quick to take your word on it.  

   

However, even if the founder of Exodus went back into the gay community, that wouldn't affect my decision to keep following Christ and using the Bible as my moral guide through life.    

   

I will do some research though, and will get back to you with what I find out.  

   

   

Quote From: eden777

I wasn't saying thank you to you for being so kind for re-posting my message on the right message board.  I thought I answered your question just fine.  

   

I know of John and Anne Paulk the founders of Love Won Out...today they are still married...they never renounced their affiliation with Focus On The Family.  

   

John was caught in a gay bar...and the gay community watch Focus On The Family like a hawlk to find out how John would be treated.    

   

Most of the studies that have been done over long period of time having to do with a person's healing journey if you will....most of the studies do show that most people do reach a certain level of heterosexual relating while still struggling with homosexuality.  However, their same-sex attractions no longer have the power if you will over their lives and have decreased in it's intensity while there has been an increase in oppisate-sex attraction.  

   

Do I expect full healing to come into my life..i.e a complete change in sexual orientation?    

   

I actualy don't expect a complete change in my sexual orientation but I don't limit the power of God to make that possable.  I do expect more healing to come into my life.  I never used to me attracted to me, I was the predominatly homosexual.  I am nearly 30 years old I am just now coming to sense an attraction towards men but am I still very attracted to women?  The answer would be yes.  

   

I can remember John and Anne Paulk being interviewed on the Oprah Winfrey show and Oprah asked Anne a question...are you still find yourself attracted to women?  Anne Paulk's response was...yes.  

   

It seems to me that most people coming out of homosexuality will always have homosexual tendencies but the person through Christ can be given the power to live above and beyond all that and experience a level of healing.  While, it is true, some do experience complete change.  I actualy know a couple of people who can proclaim complete healing in their lives and say that it's now become a foreign concept to them.  Given certain situations, I believe it might be possable for them to regress, much like an alcoholic will always have a possability to regress back into their addictions.    

   

At least, all of the studies that have been made watching a number of people through their healing process do show that for most cases there will always be a certain level of homosexual temptation but this by no means negates what healing has occured in their lives.  

   

As far as Exodus Global Alliance...there has been some false accusation...I mean, many people have their oppinions about me and it's not based upon truth.  Many people have judged me and have been wrong with what they have said about me.  And so I am not quick to take your word on it.  

   

However, even if the founder of Exodus went back into the gay community, that wouldn't affect my decision to keep following Christ and using the Bible as my moral guide through life.    

   

I will do some research though, and will get back to you with what I find out.  

   

   

Quote From: jayde287

Well, you've just said it yourself. You said that even the most "healed" people still have homosexual tendencies. Therefore they are pushing and pushing very hard to hide deep inside themselves who they really are. This can only lead to two things: UNHAPPINESS AND SELF LOATHING. These are not good things to have in your life. Yes, there may be people out there who "claim" to be "healed" of their homosexual selves, but I can say, with 100% truth that they are just lying to themselves and everyone around them. Of course they have to say that! If you go around yelling about how you can change, you have to at least try to come across as having done so. Otherwise you will feel like a complete fool! 

  

For example, let's say I ran around all day shouting that the sky was purple. No one believed me, but I as so ADAMANT about it and I truly believed the sky was purple. And then I looked up and saw that the sky is actually blue, I would damn sure probably still insist it was purple as to not embarass myself!  

  

All these "ex-gay" groups do is add to the already extremely high suicide rate amoung gay youth! Not a very positive thing to do now, is it? 

Quote From: jayde287

Well, you've just said it yourself. You said that even the most "healed" people still have homosexual tendencies. Therefore they are pushing and pushing very hard to hide deep inside themselves who they really are. This can only lead to two things: UNHAPPINESS AND SELF LOATHING. These are not good things to have in your life. Yes, there may be people out there who "claim" to be "healed" of their homosexual selves, but I can say, with 100% truth that they are just lying to themselves and everyone around them. Of course they have to say that! If you go around yelling about how you can change, you have to at least try to come across as having done so. Otherwise you will feel like a complete fool! 

  

For example, let's say I ran around all day shouting that the sky was purple. No one believed me, but I as so ADAMANT about it and I truly believed the sky was purple. And then I looked up and saw that the sky is actually blue, I would damn sure probably still insist it was purple as to not embarass myself!  

  

All these "ex-gay" groups do is add to the already extremely high suicide rate amoung gay youth! Not a very positive thing to do now, is it? 

Quote From: judyblue22

Well, you've just said it yourself. You said that even the most "healed" people still have homosexual tendencies. Therefore they are pushing and pushing very hard to hide deep inside themselves who they really are. This can only lead to two things: UNHAPPINESS AND SELF LOATHING. These are not good things to have in your life.  

  

I think the biggest sin that arises from gay people pretending to be straight is that they marry straight people and screw up their lives.  I know of several instances of this and I can never accept that it is ok.   

  

One of my sisters was married to a great man-we all loved him dearly.  He always talked and gestured like a gay guy but it wasn't something we talked about much although we all noticed it.   He killed himself 8 years into their relationship. My sister has never really recovered from that. That was the outcome of all of this religious oppression and IMO THAT was a sin that the people who join in the oppression have to take responsibility for. 

  

  

Quote From: jayde287

Eden777,  

  

I didn't repost your whole message because is was just too long. I just wanted to ask you something. I know you believe you came out of your homosexuality, but why would anyone who is truly happy want to do that? What is the point? I know for me it would make me miserable. I couldn't stand to go through this life without my wife. She is my world, my life! She means more to me than anyone else, and I wouldn't give that up for a second!  

  

It makes me sad to hear your family supports you being gay, and you rebuke it. That's terrible. So many young gays and lesbians don't have that support.  

  

And one more thing, I know I asked this before, but I haven't gotten a solid answer. If it is so possible to "become straight", then how come the FOUNDERS of Exodus International left the company and went back into being homosexuals? I know people say, "oh, they're married...blah, blah, blah...." He was caught at a GAY BAR.....hmmmmmmm......how do we explain that??? 

  

It is one thing to completely change your sexuality....it's quite another to just be celibate.