Is the apology for saying that the Bible says that God frowns upon homosexuality, or is it for the way they approached the issue?
Well the way Alan appears to see it is that he believes “Reparative Therapy” caused pain which is what he is apologizing for. John Paulk also has expressed this view. Alan appears to still believe the idea that homosexual behavior is wrong but he appears to believe that the onus is on Christians to be accepting. He admits to being disengaged in the fight to maintain traditional marriage and I think that is where he has fallen short.
It may be that he is just simply trying to get ahead of the curve and try a different tack but it is dangerously close to being outright endorsement of homosexual behavior which is simply not biblical. There is no room for a Christian endorsed union between homosexuals from a New or Old Testament standpoint. Christ couldn’t have been clearer when he reiterated support of traditional marriage as being that a man leave his parents and cleave to his wife. There are no other options.
As for ‘Reparative’ therapy it is essentially no more harmful than drug rehab. No scientific study has shown otherwise and simple analysis of the techniques used do not indicate any implicit harm. I do believe that in many cases there may have been an overstatement of case towards how completely someone can be free of temptations whether they be homosexual or not. Even the Bible is clear that these sins must be taken to the cross through grace and that its not a one battle fight. What Alan seems oblivious to is the actions of the militant homosexual activists and their attempts to create a world hostile to Christianity and to ideas of sexual restraint.
The whole idea that one is ‘born this way’ runs contrary to the Bible in the sense that to submit to our flesh is exactly the opposite Biblical teaching. Those that don’t see a problem with this are heretics of the highest order. They are not just being accepting to homosexuals they are disregarding the whole concept of the sinful nature that Christ died on the cross to redeem and cover with grace.
This is very serious. Even with the increase in adultery and divorce there has never been this degree of attack on the core of Christian faith.
It doesn’t mean that we should not open ourselves to share the good news with all regardless of their sin but proud sin is not something that should ever be accepted in the church nor the proud indulgence of the flesh. Would we want to celebrate adulterous relationships in the church? Would we want to have people reading pornography in the pews or collecting and placing bets on football teams in Sunday School?
Alan may have a point about how sometimes homosexuals have been treated badly by some who call themselves Christians but he needs to be careful because much of this idea and shifting of blame to Christians is not supported by facts. Most Christians I know and I’ve been to a wide variety of churches across this nation seldom discuss homosexuality. I can barely remember it being covered and it certainly wasn’t obsessed on. I grew up in a semi-rural area and I went to school with a handful of guys who decided they were gay and I know of at least 1 girl who is now a lesbian cop and 1 girl who is a transsexual. None of them were out in school and none had major problems with bullying and people tended to be more religious than not. I dated a girl whose sister was raising her and she was in a lesbian relationship and they had no problems but they were not overt. The point is that most of the social problems with homosexuality derives from the pride part of it.
The only violent episode I know of personally involved a situation with grooming. One of the guys I went to school with was plying two young teens with alcohol and drugs and it eventually came to a head and they killed him. This is something that is far more common and far too causally accepted in parts of the gay community. Homosexuals that simply live their lives quietly and respectfully have seldom had problems. Most of the problems arise from bad behavior or overt sexual impropriety. That is where the line is and that is the point that produces unwelcoming responses.
We are all sinners but when someone is expecting that a church endorse fleshly weakness/imperfection that is heresy whether it be homosexuality, adultery, or any number of other sins. Christ protected the adulteress from stoning but he then said ‘go and sin no more’. That is the example we should all take and that doesn’t seem good enough to many homosexuals. They want a stamp of approval and a get out of sin free card. That isn’t what Christianity is about. Christianity is about redemption of sin through grace not acceptance of sin as good through grace. Too many are confused on this and many issues.
[[Is the apology for saying that the Bible says that God frowns upon homosexuality, or is it for the way they approached the issue?]]
yopu might as well say that it’s for the bible statign homosexuality is an abomination because thsi is exactly how the gasy agenda is goign to play htis up- Alan did a TREMENDOUS amount of damage to God’s cause by essentially capitulating to the gay agenda by insinuating, however slightly, that people are ‘born gay’ and that Christians have no right ‘prayign htat they betray soemthign they can’t help’ accordign to them-
The gay agenda has been furious- foamign at htem outh furious for many years because peopel who turn to God find out htey are NOT born gay- and now Alan has surrendered this FACT to the gay agenda in one fell swoop-
NO longer will a group be able to claim “Jesus can help you overcome your unnatural desires’ because now everytime a group tries to do so, they will be mercilessly attackesd and this decision by Alan will be referred to as their ‘proof’ that Christians are heteful biggots who try to force peopel to act agaisnt hteir ‘true nature’
But perhaps all this is moot because it’s very possible that the man of lawlessness is beign let loose and God is gettign ready to pass judgement- Everywhere we look, morality is being attacked, assailed and dismantled, and Alan was just another pawn in the overall scheme of htings- Just the boy scouts of America were- just like gay clergy beign allowedi n certain denominatiosn were- just like gay marriage is- just likew the homosexual agenda beign forced on kids in public schools is- The damage he has done to the Cause of God’s word can’t be understated, however, God knew it was goign to happen and He has a purpose for such betrayals