Posted on 11/23/2014 2:08:11 PM PST by Kaslin
Dr. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is one of the preeminent Christian leaders of our day. He is as clear-headed as he is courageous, always a source of truth and sanity in the midst of a deeply confused culture.
Dr. Mohler has also played a significant role in addressing the issue of homosexuality and the church, demonstrating both humility and conviction, thereby helping to set an example for pastors and leaders trying to navigate their way through an emotional and spiritual minefield.
How do we stand against gay activism in our society while at the same time reaching out with compassion and sensitivity to those who identify as LGBT?
Summarizing his comments at the recent national conference on “The Gospel, Homosexuality, and the Future of Marriage” held by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Mohler explained how his views have shifted on the subject of “sexual orientation.”
He wrote, “I had previously denied the existence of sexual orientation. I, along with many other evangelicals, did so because we did not want to accept the sexual identity structure that so often goes with sexual orientation. I still reject that notion of sexual identity. But I repented of denying the existence of sexual orientation because denying it was deeply confusing to people struggling with same-sex attraction. Biblical Christians properly resist any suggestion that our will can be totally separated from sexual desire, but we really do understand that the will is not a sufficient explanation for a pattern of sexual attraction. Put simply, most people experiencing a same-sex attraction tell of discovering it within themselves at a very early age, certainly within early puberty. As they experience it, a sexual attraction or interest simply ‘happens,’ and they come to know it.”
For Dr. Mohler, though, this presented no problem at all, given the biblical description of human beings as fallen and flawed: “In some sense, each of us finds within ourselves a pattern of desires — sexual and otherwise — we did not ask for, but for which we are then and now fully responsible. When it comes to a same-sex attraction, the orientation is sinful because it is defined by an improper object — someone of the same sex. Of course, those of us whose sexual orientation is directed toward the opposite sex are also sinners, but the sexual orientation is not itself sinful.”
How then should we deal with same-sex attraction?
According to Dr. Mohler, while refusing to agree with the world’s affirmation of same-sex attraction, “At the same time, our biblically-informed understanding of sexual orientation will chasten us from having any confidence that there is any rescue from same-sex attraction to be found in any secular approach, therapy, or treatment. Christians know that the only remedy for sin is the atonement of Christ and the gift of salvation. The only hopeful answer to sin, in any form, is the Gospel of Christ. Understanding the complexity of sexual orientation and sexual sin should make us all cling to the Gospel ever more closely, and to the authority and truthfulness of the Bible ever more faithfully.”
Of course, I categorically affirm Dr. Mohler’s statement that the “only hopeful answer to sin, in any form, is the Gospel of Christ,” but I question whether it is right to put homosexual attraction into a special category that is somehow averse to “any secular approach, therapy, or treatment.” Why should this be so?
People find themselves attracted to the same sex for many different reasons, some of which can be unpacked through counseling, including secular counseling. In fact, as countless gays and lesbians have shared with counselors, their attractions can often be traced back to sexual abuse or serious family crises.
Cannot a secular counselor deal with these issues too? Must we put homosexuality into a special category of its own?
Surely there are many other areas of our lives that are deeply affected by our sinful nature, yet we do not say that counseling cannot help us make progress in those areas, do we?
Like Dr. Mohler, I put my own energies and efforts into the proclamation of the gospel rather than secular counseling, but I have fine colleagues who have been helping LGBT people for decades, and some of them are not Christian believers.
One example would be JONAH, Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing, “a non-profit international organization dedicated to educating the world-wide Jewish community about the social, cultural and emotional factors which lead to same-sex attractions. JONAH works with those struggling with unwanted same-sex sexual attractions (SSA) and with families whose loved ones are involved in homosexuality.”
JONAH has many success stories as well, despite the fact that as a Jewish organization, they do not accept the gospel of Jesus.
Just this week, the Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity issued a statement on the integration of faith and professional counseling. (The Alliance is “a multi-disciplinary professional and scientific organization dedicated to preserving the right of individuals to obtain the services of a therapist who honors their values, advocating for integrity and objectivity in social science research, and ensuring that competent licensed, professional assistance is available for persons who experience unwanted homosexual [same-sex] attractions [SSA].”)
In the statement, the Alliance said that it “has great respect for the religious faith and spirituality that animates many individuals experiencing unwanted same-sex attractions and behaviors,” noting, however, that “some in the faith community have promoted a faith versus therapy dichotomy, we would respectfully disagree with such a limiting perspective. Rather, for many individuals, the interaction of their religious faith and their participation in a scientifically informed therapy for unwanted same-sex attractions and behavior is experienced as mutually beneficial.”
With all respect to Dr. Mohler (and with readiness to hear his reply), I submit that we make a mistake by putting homosexual orientation into a special category, one that is impervious to secular counseling or therapy, as if behavioral change can only come through discipleship and spiritual growth.
And while I wholeheartedly affirm the blood of Jesus as the only cure for sin, and while I have given my life to help make disciples in America and the nations, I do not discount the great help that many people, including gays and lesbians, have received through secular counseling as well.
To me, this is not much different than recognizing that the ultimate cause of sickness is spiritual – namely, the fall of man – yet that doesn’t mean we discount the good that non-Christian doctors can do.
Why not avail ourselves of everything God has given us to help those with unwanted same-sex attractions?
Beside, God's law doesn't require a person to have a heterosexual arounsal pattern. God's law reuires a person --- no matter what their "orientation --- to be chaste. Meaning, to refrain from sexual gratification outside of husband-and-wife marriage.
And to love the Lord their God with their whole heart, sould, mind, and strength.
Well said. As well, one should never say never here; some have indeed had this orientation “changed”. Maybe those are the ones who had it changed in the first place due to abuse or rape or other environmental “causes”, but at least people are recognizing the complexity of the situation homosexual Christians (or any homosexual) find themselves in.
So scientists and psychiatrists should just give up trying to help those who want relief from homosexual feelings because it “is probably impossible”?
How do we stand against gay activism in our society while at the same time reaching out with compassion and sensitivity to those who identify as LGBT?
Since you are dealing with a group that is “generally” one of the most intolerant and hate filled groups this will be a difficult thing to do. Since they claim anyone that does not agree with them, accept their homosexuality and even participate by performing weddings etcis a hater and the intolerant ones you have th deck stacked against you.
For Christians, it all comes down to Jesus’ Great Commission, which instructs Christians to make disciples of all nations.
This boils down to reaching out to everyone, including closed midnded homosexuals and their hetero defenders.
Yes, it’s basically a lost cause, but as Jesus taught his disciples, you gotta try, at least once, and if it doesn’t work, just brush off the dust, and move on.
Bump
What's being objected to, is the idea that people are morally required to pursue the extinction of same-sex attraction feelings, and the dominance of heterosexual feelings. Feelings can neither be bidden nor banished. It's how you react to feelings, which can be changed.
Leaders (or those who used to be leaders) in the major ex-gay and orientation-change organizations are more and more saying that what is needed is not the development of a heterosexual appetite, but the development of discipleship no matter what your appetite may be. The goal is to learn to live gracefully and chastely whether you think you're "gay" or "straight" or whatever your (usually unhelpful) appetitive label may be.
At least, that's my understanding of it.
Heterosexual Christian Singles are not supposed to give in to their lustful sexual desires. Homosexuals, some who may be Christians, likewise are not supposed to act upon their lustful sexual desires. It’s really that simple. Control your actions. Don’t give in to your lustful sexual feelings, whether heterosexual or homosexual.
Exactly.
The last real scientist to look at the etiology and possibilities of psychtherapy was Irving Bieber of the University of Houston, who published a multiyear “longitudinal” study of gay men in 1962 or so. Bieber wasn’t refuted as much as outmaneuvered and “handled” by the homosexual cabal that rolled all three APA’s and “took over” the definition and study of paraphilia in 1972.
Bieber concluded that about a third of male homosexuality was essential (hardwired), and the rest either psychological or habituated (oriented by seduction and initiation) and therefore reachable by reparative therapy.
Thank you -— very interesting information.
Sodomite lust is an indication that God has “given them over.” Reprobate, rejected. Except in rare circumstance (see 1 Corinthians 6:9—KJV) sodomite lust is an insurmountable barrier, because God has allowed it for the reprobate. See Romans 1.
I know it’s hard to accept this. We think that all people can be saved. But there are categories of people who have so rejected God, that God gives them over to their reprobate condition. See Romans 1:18ff for the process leading to this reprobate state.
Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is another unforgivable sin. See Mark 3.
Changing the words of the prophecy of the Revelation of Jesus Christ by adding to them or taking from them results in damnation. See Revelation 22.
Some have a gambling orientation. Some have a drinking orientation. Some have an adultery orientation. I have a pride orientation and an anger orientation. Overall, man has a sin orientation.
Oddly enough, we only seem to use the term ‘orientation’ as an excuse for homosexuality. I had a temper when I was a baby, I’m told. Still do in my 50s. That doesn’t excuse my temper. It just means I need to submit to God and be changed. It is also something that counseling can help.
I read a book years ago by a guy who specialized in counseling homosexuals. He said it was not genetic, but it was often rooted in the first years of life. He said it was a continuum - some chose to be homosexual, some could change to heterosexual, some would always deal with homosexual desires, on down to some who would remain active homosexuals and were glad to be that way. His counseling focused on helping those who wanted to change.
Mohler is wrong, according to this guy. I cannot speak to it from a counseling viewpoint, but I do think Mohler comes too close to excusing it when he talks about an orientation.
We don’t know if it’s possible to get rid of faggtory via medical or psychiatric means because the mainstream medical community quit trying decades ago (when treatment of mental illness was in the dark ages). If you ask me, they should start again.
To give up on anybody's salvation, which is possible up to the point of their last dying breath is also a Sin against the Holy Spirit: the sin of despair.
I disagree that Mohler is excusing homosexuality, because I think he would agree 100% with what you said about everybody having an orientation toward sin. I have read other selectons of his writings, and he is very strong on the need of the grace of Christ to break through sin-patterns which might be linked to inborn personality/temperament factors (like anger/temper!) or long habituation.
Very interesting. This correlates with the opinion of the Austrian "father of psychoanalysis", Sigmund Freud.
Thanks for your comment. I hadn’t known about that belief of Freud’s.
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