CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST
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Point Five
We need to honestly acknowledge that though there are individuals in churches across the country who claim they are “ex-homosexual,” many of them will, in private conversation, admit to having homosexual thoughts and feelings...The reality is that they have not been changed as much as they have chosen to avoid behavior which they have been convinced will send them to hell. The avoidance behavior of many ex-gays eventually fails miserably which has been seen in many prominent cases in recent years.
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Being "ex-gay" simply means that one chooses to no longer live a homosexual lifestyle and is in a process wherein God is healing the underlying unnatural attraction. To follow the "avoidance behavior fails miserably" argument, one might as well just go ahead and indulge one's sinful nature and go out and commit any sin one chooses. Of course, the New Testament teaches us to put our sinful nature to death and to stop walking after the things of the flesh.
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Based on my experience growing up in the United Pentecostal Church, there are many “closeted” homosexual Pentecostals across the country who deny acting on their homosexual feelings for no other reason than to be welcomed and accepted by their family, friends, and local assembly and so that they may continue to exercise the good and perfect gifts they have been blessed with. I cannot understand how this sort of modification in behavior can accurately be labeled as “ex-homosexual.” I believe “non-practicing homosexual” would be a more acceptable term.
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Maybe they should choose not to act on their unnatural homosexual feelings because they know those feelings are contrary to God's created design for male and female. Maybe they should acknowledge that they have these unnatural feelings and seek God for healing of that unnatural attraction. Maybe they should walk in the Spirit so that they will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.
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Also, there is no more a distinction to be made between homosexual attraction and relations than there is between heterosexual attraction and relations. A homosexual who chooses not to actively engage in homosexual relationships is no more ex-homosexual than a heterosexual who chooses not to engage in heterosexual relationships is an ex-heterosexual.
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Well, in the sense that such a person is no longer identifying himself by that unnatural attraction and is no longer engaging in the sin, he is an ex-homosexual.
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This blinded misconception about sexual attraction and relations has a strong bias against homosexuals...The human needs of the gay Christian community have not only been abandoned by the Church but have been mocked and degraded. I fear for those who, on judgment day, will be required to give an account for those members of their congregation who have suffered homelessness, disease, and addiction simply because the church was unwilling to offer them the same support they offered the heterosexuals in their Church community.
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The "strong bias" exists because homosexual attraction is contrary to God's created design for male and female and acting on that unnatural attraction is sin. However, no one has ever been forced into a homosexual lifestyle and the need of homosexuals who want to be Christians is to repent of their sin and seek God for the healing of their unnatural attraction.