Posted on 06/30/2014 7:00:37 AM PDT by Olog-hai
And this is why I have been such a bug here insisting that an ounce of evangelism is worth a pound of politicking.
Evangelism isn’t selling a “religion.” Even though I worship with Baptists, this isn’t about getting people to “go to a church of a certain denomination.” This is about introducing them to the Lord in such a way His power and grace is unmistakable and urging the embrace. If and when the embrace occurs, the church question comes up but that is secondary. The Lord can minister through an amazing variety of congregations.
The Lord is not stupid nor is He weak. Even as we see morals slide, they aren’t sliding in any old way. The snare of sin can double as the room in which Christ works His rescue. If God was proud He would never consent to anything like that; but God is not proud.
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Agreed.
The title is misleading, which isn’t unusual these days.
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That's a good thing, actually.
Screaming demons have demonized it.
Yes, this is better... it leaves room for different precedents in different districts. Then the USSC is more likely to hear it in a context that is furnished with better arguments.
I’d also wonder if it can stop therapists OUTSIDE of California from seeing California clients. With modern technology, virtual meetings can be arranged — one could Skype to a therapist.
It may even be that they regret that they are unable at this time to accept this challenge to this bad law.
That’s an interesting thought.
There are other ways around the issue — therapists outside of California are one possibility. Self help groups are not forbidden either.
Homosexuality is a problem that is not without context. In fact it is a kind of canary in a spiritual mine. Ventilate the mine and the canaries stop keeling over. There are probably other approaches to “ventilating the mine” that could get around this as well.
Ultimately... I boldly assert... this is an issue embedded in a spiritual problem. It may be the thing that gets the person concerned with other spiritual issues.
And yes, evangelism needs to be part of it... in the sense of making introductions with the Lord. If I were doing this, I could not in good conscience ask someone to stop with a “higher power.”
The Lord knows how to deal with such issues. It may be that the prayer is lacking to ask Him to do that. And it would truly be an interdenominational effort, as long as we are speaking of Christian denominations.
Homosexuality is a problem that is not without context. In fact it is a kind of canary in a spiritual mine. Ventilate the mine and the canaries stop keeling over. There are probably other approaches to “ventilating the mine” that could get around this
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Yes, excellent points, and there is hope.
Ultimately, it takes beseeching the Lord. He is the Healer, He is the Great Physician. He is the power behind all truly effective “self help.”
I certainly do not want to let the devil get away with dancing all over the place without shooting as many gospel guns as possible at him.
I would clarify something against a caricature that has sometimes gained prevalence. Rep. Michelle Bachmann and her husband are in this counseling business, from a Lutheran point of view. She’s been accused of counseling people to “pray the gay away.” I do want to point out that this is approaching the problem from the wrong end. The recovery is more like “praying the straight to yourself.” To vastly oversimplify.
And yes, evangelism needs to be part of it... in the sense of making introductions with the Lord. If I were doing this, I could not in good conscience ask someone to stop with a “higher power.”
The Lord knows how to deal with such issues. It may be that the prayer is lacking to ask Him to do that. And it would truly be an interdenominational effort, as long as we are speaking of Christian denominations.
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I have a sister who is a lesbian, for reasons that are very clear to me. We recently talked, after having been apart for a few years, and all that she asked of me was to be honest with her, and so I was. Was it a spiritual problem? Yes, I think that was part of it. Our entire family failed her. I think that may be true in many cases.
Often families are caught with their spiritual pants down, so to speak, when someone prone to such issues appears as a member of them.
There may be dysfunctional reactions that make the situation worse, not better.
Ultimately, yes a personal Lord can and if earnestly sought will solve the issues. C. S. Lewis had an excellent insight in his “Screwtape Letters.” Screwtape pointed out that the devil’s best work is done by keeping things OUT of people’s minds. And I believe this is the dynamic behind sexual perversion. A key element or elements of love go missing in the person’s mind, and the “love circuitry” collapses into grotesque forms. Now Satan has something to pump.
I have nothing but the greatest sympathy for anyone who is in such a situation who retains the slightest wish to be beyond it. Some people, sadly, “turn the lemon into lemonade” in a manner that only forms a big demon nest in their lives. And it is obvious: “gays” often show some very dysfunctional social behavior and it is generally worse where society is more permissive (which knocks out the theory that it is due to “homophobia.”)
It does not sound as if there were a ruling, but rather a denial without comment of a cert petition.
Faith in God and therapy can be a blessing. We can’t change the past, but we may be able to influence the future.
Therapy would actually turn out to be spiritual counseling.
There are secular approaches at it, but I would say they are iffy. They depend on certain spiritual factors being aligned. Here is where the Lord can pull miracles out of even a hat with a hole in it.
Finding the right person to conduct therapy isn’t easy, but it does happen.
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