Difference between revisions of "Overcoming homosexuality"

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[[Image:St Paul Preaching.jpg|right|thumb|250px|St. [[Paul]] defends his preaching (Giovanni Ricco)]]
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Why should two people who love each other be forced to overcome their "choice?"  50 years ago, black people and white people couldn't marry legally.  Is there a problem with that?
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'''Overcoming homosexuality''' is definitely possible for those who wish to abandon [[homosexuality]], and the testimonies of [[ex-homosexuals]] attest to this matter. Today people still report overcoming homosexuality and becoming heterosexuals or celibate through their Christian faith. In 1980, a study was published in the ''American Journal of Psychiatry'' and eleven men participated in this study.  The aforementioned study stated that eleven homosexual men became heterosexuals "without explicit treatment and/or long-term psychotherapy"  through their participation in a [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] church.<ref>E.M. Pattison and M.L. Pattison, "'Ex-Gays': Religiously Mediated Change in Homosexuals," American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 137, pp. 1553-1562, 1980</ref>
 
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Many people do not understand the [[Causes of Homosexuality|causes of homosexuality]] so they mistakenly believe that overcoming homosexuality is not an available option. However, the the [[Apostle Paul]] offered great hope to those who wish to overcome homosexuality when he wrote the following:
 
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{{cquote|Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were [[Justification (theology)|justified]] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." - I Corinthians 6:9-11 (NIV)}}
 
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==Testimony of an Ex-Homosexual Pastor Darryl L. Foster==
 
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[[Image:Pastorfostergso1_op_444x600.jpg‎|right|thumb|200px|Pastor [[D.L. Foster]]]]
 
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Pastor [[D. L. Foster]], an [[Ex-homosexuals|ex-homosexual]], states the following regarding overcoming homosexuality:
 
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{{cquote|Former homosexuals joyfully point to one definitive Scripture that mentions them and the redemptive process they are embracing: "Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites ... will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" ([http://nasb.scripturetext.com/1_corinthians/6.htm 1 Cor. 6:9-11]).
 
  
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When I met and married my wife, Dee, almost 12 years ago, she and I both were clueless about what my post-homosexual life would be like. As painful as my past sin was to me, my wife was not the cause of my change; rather, she was the fruit of my change...
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A loving God does not care about who loves who, just that love exists.
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Our responsibility as Christians is to pour love out without measure on those who struggle to overcome homosexuality. Compassion was the hallmark of the Chief Shepherd, and as His disciples, we should be characterized by it too as we encourage them to embrace the freedom Christ offers.<ref>http://www.charismamag.com/display.php?id=9019</ref>}}
 
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==Testimony of an Ex-Lesbian Jeanette Howard Regarding Overcoming Homosexuality==
 
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Below is a portion of a testimonial from the ex-lesbian Jeanette Howard in regards to her overcoming homosexuality:
 
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{{cquote|Growing up, I felt strangely alienated from other girls. But I couldn't identify with boys either. I didn't seem to belong anywhere. Who was I, anyway?
 
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"Jeanette, stand in front of the mirror every morning and thank God that He's made you a woman." This challenge came from a teacher at the Bible school I attended as a young Christian. What a ridiculous task! I thought, but reluctantly agreed. The next morning I got up and struggled to look at myself in the mirror. Try as I would, I could not acknowledge myself as a female....
 
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Then came a breakthrough during a retreat in February, 1989. "You have believed a lie", [[God]] told me, "but I'm going to change your name". From now on, He showed me, I was to be called "woman". This was God's intention for me from my conception.
 
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In faith I received my new name. Almost immediately I felt a weight fall away from me. In amazement, I looked around at the other women. No longer did I feel distanced from them; we were united by a common bond in Jesus Christ.
 
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That day, the wall I had erected as a child came tumbling down. I entered into my rightful role as a woman of Christ. I felt as though I belonged-at long last.
 
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As I have entered into my identity as a woman, God is healing my views on men. Now I see them as having a major role in my life. We complement each other, and I realize now that my life has been enriched because of them...<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/stonewall/pages/jeanette.html</ref>}}
 
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==Testimony of Ex-Lesbian Luanna Hansberger==
 
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Ex-Lesbian Luanna Hasberger stated the following regarding conquering homosexuality:
 
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{{cquote|I prayed every night for years that God would undo the mistake He had made: "God, please make me a boy."
 
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Most of the people who knew me when I was growing up would probably have a hard time believing what my life was like during my twenties, when I became involved in the seemingly hopeless morass of a lesbian relationship...
 
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My friends encouraged me to contact Regeneration, a local ministry which reaches out to those seeking a way out of homosexuality. Thus, in January 1981, the healing process was accelerated.
 
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When I first came to the ministry I was extremely shy and introverted. I bounced back and forth between a masculine and a feminine identity...
 
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The friends I first shared with continue to be a great help and support for me. That support has carried on literally from around the world as they have moved about with the military. At the end of March 1985, I got out of the Army to go to work for Regeneration. During the time since entering full time Christian service, I can really see the changes the Lord has made in me. Through Him I can now not only accept, but rejoice in, my femininity. I am now joyfully preparing for marriage. I praise the Lord for the work He has done in my life. When I was born female, God didn't make a mistake!<ref>http://www.stonewallrevisited.com/pages/luanna.html</ref>}}
 
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==Concerned Women of American Regarding Overcoming Homosexuality==
 
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The organization [[Concerned Women of America]] states the following regarding overcoming homosexuality:
 
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{{cquote|Homosexual behavior can be conquered, as evidenced by the thousands of people who have completely given up the lifestyle...
 
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If homosexual behavior [[Homosexuality and Genetics|were thought to be inborn]], Scripture would not have said, "Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another." (Romans 1:[http://scripturetext.com/romans/1-26.htm 26]-[http://scripturetext.com/romans/1-27.htm 27]). The clear implication is that the homosexual acts were deliberate choices.
 
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If homosexual behavior were thought to be unchangeable, Scripture would not have said, "And that is what some of you were [past tense]. But you have been washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:[http://scripturetext.com/1_corinthians/6-11.htm 11])<ref>http://www.cwfa.org/articles/3456/CFI/cfreport/index.htm</ref>}}
 
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==Christians and Helping Others in Respect to Overcoming Homosexuality==
 
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[[Image:Mark_copeland.jpg‎|right|thumb|200px|Pastor [[Mark A. Copeland]]]]
 
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Pastor Mark A. Copeland states the following regarding Christians helping others in regards to overcoming homosexuality:
 
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{{cquote|BE READY TO ASSIST THOSE WHO DESIRE TO OVERCOME HOMOSEXUALITY
 
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Even as Jesus was quick to receive sinners and to lead them to the way of righteousness and life
 
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everlasting, so should those who claim to be His disciples. Again, the challenge will be to do it in the
 
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proper way.
 
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Paul's instructions to the Galatians can serve as good beginning:
 
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"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Ga 6:[http://scripturetext.com/galatians/6-1.htm 1]-[http://scripturetext.com/galatians/6-2.htm 2])
 
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In a spirit of gentleness we need to be able to show them how, and to provide the encouragement they will
 
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need along the way.<ref>http://christianlibrary.org/authors/Mark_A_Copeland/hom/hom.pdf</ref>}}
 
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==Television Show Cuts Message of Christian Who Overcame Homosexuality==
 
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[[Image:StephenBennett.jpg‎|left|thumb|150px|[[Stephen Bennett]]]]
 
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The organization [[Concerned Women of America]] states the following regarding an instance of [[Homosexuality in the Media|how the media and covers ex-homosexuals and the homosexuality issue]]:
 
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{{cquote|[[Stephen Bennett]], a former homosexual and Christian recording artist who runs a ministry to free people from homosexuality, saw his testimony cut from an appearance on The Ananda Lewis Show, a syndicated TV talk program that airs on [[WB]], [[NBC]] and [[CBS]] affiliates. The program in question aired on Tuesday (February 19, 2002) in several markets.
 
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Not only was any mention of [[Jesus]] dropped from Bennett's six-minute segment, but he charges that the show had a misleading caption on the screen while he and his wife Irene were featured. The title read: "Says he and his wife pray daily that he doesn't revert to being gay."
 
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This gave the impression that Mr. Bennett had told them he was still struggling with homosexuality. But Bennett, who left homosexuality behind when he accepted Jesus Christ years ago, had said during pre-interviews that he was completely healed and had no homosexual temptations. He said that neither he nor Irene told anyone on the show that he was struggling...
 
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"I just can't get over how this completely misrepresented me," Bennett told C&F Report. He said he knew that the show's lineup would be lopsided, but, "they completely lied about my story" by leaving out how he overcame homosexuality.<ref>http://www.cultureandfamily.org/articledisplay.asp?id=450&department=CFI&categoryid=cfreport</ref>}}
 
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==Criticism==
 
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Some people who claimed to have overcome homosexuality have reverted back or continued to dabble in aspects of the homosexual lifestyle. However, the same can be said of any sin.  For example, people with illegal drug use problems who leave that lifestyle can later relapse and start taking illegal drugs again.
 
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==References==
 
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{{reflist|2}}
 
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==See Also==
 
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*[[Ex-Homosexuals]]
 
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*[[Teenager Homosexuality]]
 
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*[[Homosexuality]]
 
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==External Links==
 
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*[http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/hom/hom_06.htm Homosexuality - A Christian Perspective - Helping Homosexuals To Overcome]
 
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{{homosexualityb}}
 
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[[Category:Homosexuality]]
 

Revision as of 00:10, December 7, 2008

Why should two people who love each other be forced to overcome their "choice?" 50 years ago, black people and white people couldn't marry legally. Is there a problem with that?

A loving God does not care about who loves who, just that love exists.

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