Posted on 09/26/2006 4:04:59 PM PDT by wagglebee
Linda Harvey is the Founder and President of Mission America, which focuses on homosexuality and its destructive impact on youth. Linda told LifeSiteNews.com she is a convert to Christianity and left her former life as a liberal during which she was even a volunteer for Planned Parenthood. This message is primarily directed to Christian familiies and youth and is given from the perspective of a believer in traditional, authentic Christian moral and spiritual principles.
It may already be too late. As students return to school this fall, we are sadly reminded that the campaign to normalize homosexuality in their minds continues incessantly. But Christian kids will be okay, because they know its wrong. Or so we think.
Its not necessarily so. What is your church doing to equip kids about this specific issue? Is there any time we are suppressing the truth through silence? How are we teaching them to deal with the onslaught of misinformation available to them everywhere, from what they believe are trustworthy sources?
Theres a lot at stake. Everyday, the following scenes are being played out in the lives of ordinary American kids:
An emotionally-vulnerable boy or girl is seduced into participating in homosexual acts by a peer or an older homosexual
A confused young person dwells on and begins to believe privately he/she was born homosexual, after hearing it implied endlessly in our culture.
An adolescent turns way from authentic Christian faith, becoming convinced the Bibles message on homosexuality is hateful, primitive or an incorrect translation.
A boy or girl wrongly advises a friend that its okay to be gay and a Christian at the same time.
A troubled teen believes a sex change would solve his or her problems, and begins to dress and act as the opposite sex.
A curious, poorly supervised teen discovers, and becomes sexually aroused by, homosexual pornography on the Internet. He/she incorrectly concludes that such arousal reveals an inborn homosexual nature.
These arent the unchurched kids. Were talking about the private interior lives of pre-teens and teens who are sitting in youth groups in Christian churches all over this country. Theyre hearing one distorted message from the culture. The truth that could rescue them from the darkest and the most destructive of beliefs, concerns, and stresses over this issue, is a rare jewel, seldom revealed to them.
Homosexuality is secretly destroying the Christian faith of millions of teens, whether they are involved in the behavior or not, and adult Christians seem to be oblivious. Our silence spells the final spiritual death sentence for many of them.
If we are to save this generation, we must act now.
Heres our Seven Point Plan for equipping Christian youth on the issue of homosexuality:
1. Begin a serious Bible study for your youth group on homosexuality, reading and discussing the Scriptures that pertain to this issue. They are:
Genesis, chapters 18 and 19 (chapter 18 is helpful for a broader context); Leviticus 18: 22 and 20: 13; Deuteronomy 23: 17; 1 Kings 15:12; Matthew 19:3-9; Romans 1: 18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-8; 2 Peter 2 (whole chapter); Jude 7-8; Revelation 22:15.
2. Repeat, and repeat again, and repeat again, that there is no evidence in Scripture or in science that homosexuality is inborn. This is not an inevitable condition for certain unlucky people, but is a developmental desire that may feel natural to some but ultimately is changeable. Scripture implies this many times. This is critically important to state unequivocally and often, that God created people as males and females and this created order is foundational to human life, to the revelation of God and to having a spirit that can be in close relationship with Christ. If you need more scientific ammunition, there are many fine sources available on the Internet. One very good summary of the scientific findings (and lack of evidence of genetic factors), is called Born or Bred? Science Does Not Support the Claim that Homosexuality is Genetic, from Concerned Women for Americas Culture and Family Institute, at http://www.cwfa.org/articledisplay.asp?id=5458&departmen...
3. Put homosexuality in the broader context of sexual sin in general, showing how Scripture points to the weakness for sin all humans have especially as we stray from Gods created order and His teachings. For instance, Leviticus 18 describes the decadent sexual practices of Israels neighboring idolatrous cultures, and its not a simple matter of gay and straight. A wide range of sexual corruption lies outside the commandment against adultery. Increasingly today, pansexuality is being encouraged and this is consistent with pagan, ungodly sexuality as depicted both in Scripture and in ancient pagan history and archaeology. This provides one more evidence that Scripture reveals timeless truths. Without the light of Christ, many things begin to seem acceptable, but His truth brings it into focus.
4. Make sure your youth know that no one is condemned forever through homosexual behavior or any other sin. What condemns a person is refusing to accept Christ as Saviour and lack of repentance, while willfully, deliberately continuing to sin. This is a good place to discuss the number of former homosexuals who are now publicly telling their stories.
5.Also emphasize that Christians do not have to apologize for what the Bible says about homosexuality. All Christians should be kind, polite, and civil to others, but we need to stop apologizing and giving special recognition to homosexual sin or those involved. Sentences that start with, Im not homophobic, but.... are concessions to a framework of thinking that those advocating homosexuality have developed and our culture often now accepts, but Christians should not. Those who are forcing homosexuality into our schools, laws and churches -- especially those who claim to be Christian-- are twisting the truth and will be held responsible for seriously damaging peoples lives and the body of Christ. The message prohibiting homosexuality is not only good, but necessary as part of Gods careful, protective provision for us.
6. Now, heres the tricky part. Teens need to have some idea about what homosexuals do, and how physically destructive and high risk this behavior often is. How can this be communicated without getting overly graphic? Its important to cover HIV risks, the lack of protection of condoms, the risks of oral sex, and the risks of anal sex. Also, one should mention the highly promiscuous nature of adult, homosexual lifestyles as most live them. Nowhow is your church going to do this? Pray about what amount of detail you feel is appropriate, but given the astonishingly low amount of useful information our kids get from schools and the media on the physical risks of homosexuality, some of this needs to be addressed.
7. Finally, we need to caution our kids against friendships with people practicing homosexual behavior, and with those who condone it, particularly those who call themselves Christians. Acquaintances are fine, but this is too explosive an issue on a same sex basis, and too great a spiritual test, for young people to be immersed in. Its a serious mistake to believe they are mature enough to be thrust into situations which the enemy will use to confuse them. And the Bible cautions even adults of such friendships. The pertinent Scripture here is 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
Good find, btw.
bttt
I thought part of being a Christian was never saying that you are more or less holy than another. As they seem to do in the last paragraph.
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I thought part of being a Christian was never saying that you are more or less holy than another. As they seem to do in the last paragraph.
I think it's good to remind teens that we don't have one standard of behavior for them and another standard for ourselves in regards to the friendships we have.
However, I would submit that being friends with a nonbeliever who's homosexual is less dangerous than being friends with a so-called believer who is homosexual. From what I have read in Paul's writings, he would agree with that assessment.
Actually, it says the opposite of what you're implying. The author is saying that a Christian should never think he is immune to the temptation of any sin, and therefore he should avoid exposure to temptation, if possible.
Ok maybe I'm pretty naive about homosexuality creeping into the Christian Culture of teens, but does anybody else think that the statistic of millions of teens is pretty high, way above the reality.
No, I think that statistic is very accurate and quite possibly low.
Good point. If we knew how many teenagers were in the United States, and what percentage were Christian, then we could guesstimate maybe 5-10% would have some involvement with homosexuality? No telling how many that is.
I suspect many more are led astray by heterosexuality!
My fave is #6
The last paragraph is a restatement of the proverb: "Bad company corrupts good morals." Look it up using the concordance in the back of your Bible.
Christians are "holy", set apart for God by God and their conduct should reflect that. Christians are also to correct in love errant brothers and sisters, to encourage restoration to the holy state they were called to.
ping
bump for future reference
Very Awesome!! I pray Pastors and Priests all over our nation see it, and act accordingly!
bump for later read.
I volunteer to watch it for them.
+
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