Replies

I think you worded that very well. Nice job. I really can't agree with the part about not being morally culpable for so-called involuntary feelings. People don't necessarily choose to be jealous, greedy, angry or hateful. These things are the fruits of our sin nature. I think we become morally culpable when we have the ability to recognize them. We are born with a sin nature yet we are 100% morally culpable for it.

I think you offered great clarity on this. Don't Christians still think Jesus Christ is sufficient for overcoming all sin? If we don't, then what's this whole repentance/faith/salvation exercise all about? If the therapist offers a better plan, who needs Christ? That's where I am coming from. All the Christians I know say that Jesus saved them, not their therapist (And please, I am not saying Soulman is not a genuine Christian. I would have no way of knowing. I am just pointing out an important difference.)

The Christian message is that the Lord Jesus has the answer to our sin problem. He offers forgiveness and transformation. The transformation is from the inside, out.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it sin to seek therapy. I just think the concepts promoted are not scripturally sound. So I don't like the Christian label used, especially when it is touted as a necessary addition to faith in Christ. Faith can't do it. Therapy can. That is the dangerous message, yet they claim just the opposite.

A Few Points

Ghost wrote: Clearly she is not expecting to pray and have her feelings go away. She is expecting to pray and have her behavior controlled.

My response: Every homosexual passes through a stage where they pray to God to “take their homosexuality away” and make them “like everyone else.” This phase is an intrinsic part of homosexual psychological development. Trust me, Ms. Tushnet went through this phase at some point in her life.

Ghost wrote: I just wish you wouldn't promote the idea that faith isn't enough. It clearly was enough in the Apostle Paul's day.

My response: The Apostle Paul didn’t live in a complex, post-industrial society with a broken down family structure and 50% divorce rate. If you think about, people had it good in Bible days: strong families, strong interpersonal relationships. People today confront a host of ills and problems that would be unfathomable to people who lived in Bible times.

My next response: I am not promoting the idea that faith isn’t enough. Maybe it is enough for some people. It’s not for me to say.

I am reporting an objective, empirical FACT. I have seen countless people who believe that their faith will “save” them from homosexuality. They try to pray their way out of homosexuality. When it doesn’t work, they turn bitter and start attacking the “ex-gay” movement. The article by Ms. Tushnet that started this thread is a perfect example. Believe me, this article is not benign. People will read it, it will affirm their belief that homosexuality is innate and it can’t be changed and they will go deeper into homosexual fantasy and behavior. (Read the comment by Darkwolf377 on this thread).

Based on my observations of many years, I believe that to begin to counter the destructive social trend toward acceptance of the lie that homosexuality is innate and unchangeable, science and faith have to work together. The great irony here is of course that in this battle, science is on our side. If anyone else has a better idea, I am eager to hear it.