“I feel as if God is preparing them to tell the world, ‘Change really is possible.’

...but he also states in the same article…

“There are times, as Christians, we claim we have been set free from our temptations. But while I have been delivered, it is still something I struggle with,” Auvenshine said.

So while Mr. Auvenshine may have learned to “control” his feelings of same sex attraction he has not apparently changed from gay to straight. 

So what “change” is EXACTLY possible?

Do you still struggle with pride or lying even if you are saved? We are all struggling against the sin nature. God’s transformation occurs on a moment to moment basis and is never fully realized until we join Him in Glory.

You ask, “So what “change” is EXACTLY possible?”

I’m of the opinion that sexuality is in no special category of human preference—in other words, like everything else, it’s the result of a complex mix of predisposition, personal experience and social factors.

So, I have no problem believing that God and affect change in this person’s life.

HOWEVER, that’s not so say it’s easy!  We’ve seen enough supposedly “changed” homosexuals going back to know that.

So, while I can believe that homosexuals can “go straight” (so to speak) I am concerned as to why.  If a gay person honestly concludes that this God’s will for them—that’s fime.  However, I think a lot of people put pressure on gays to change out of bigotry or prejudice against homosexuals. That’s not fine.

Before any gay person decided to try changing, I’d suggest they’d get some spiritual direction from those who honestly interpret scripture differently.

I am not a Hebrew scholar so I can’t comment about the original text of Lev. 18:22. My version says “You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable.” The next verse prohibits other forms of “sexual intercourse.” To me, scripture is clear that homosexuality is not part of God’s plan for us.

NLT: (New Living Translation): “The penalty for homosexual acts is death to both parties. They have committed a detestable act, and are guilty of a capital offense.”

Now I am not a Hebrew scholar either but that’s what Leviticus has to say on the matter. 

Is Scripture clear to you that we gay people are to be punished with our very lives for finding love and companionship in the arms of someone of the same gender? 

Who is to carry out said capital punishment, the state, the Church, or mob rule?  This is what happens to gays in Iraq, Iran and Egypt.  This is America.  Gays are equally free.

I think it’s time for reasonable people to re-examine the legalism and literalism of the Bible. 

You are welcome to believe what you want, but public policy should not be influenced by this kind of homophobic inflammatory rhetoric.

Every reference makes that clear.

Since Israel was at that time a theocracy and the United States is a democracy - or more accurately a republic - this argument makes no sense. Comparing the U.S. to fanatically Islamic regimes is somewhat disingenuous.

I’ve been involved in ministry to those wanting out of homosexuality for over 14 years. I’ve never heard anyone - certainly no reasonable person - even suggest such a thing.

The passage in Leviticus as well as other passages in the Bible provide proof (for me, at least) that God does not intend for human beings to participate in homosexuality. So, a person who is interested in living life the way God intends will seek to obey His will, despite the struggles or challenges this may present.

Either you abide by His word or you don’t. If you choose not to (as you have in this area of your life) don’t expect others who see it differently to applaud or re-interpret the Bible to fit your lifestyle.

Katie didn’t discuss retribution, Leviticus does. 

It’s strange how some in the church like to point out Leviticus as foundational for their belief that homosexuality is immoral,however, they do not hold to the passage that I quote. 

Katie suggests that I am the one reinterpreting the Bible for my own ends, however I am the one quoting the Bible too.  So is one passage more valid that the other.  It’s the same book after all.

The Bible says....

Leviticus 20:13

NLT: (New Living Translation): “The penalty for homosexual acts is death to both parties. They have committed a detestable act, and are guilty of a capital offense.”

Those are not my words.

“Since Israel was at that time a theocracy and the United States is a democracy - or more accurately a republic - this argument makes no sense.” in reference to Leviticus 20:13, so does that mean that since we are a different nation at a different time that some Biblical TRUTH is temporal?

I thought the argument went that ALL Biblical TRUTH is eternal.  That the Bible is the literal word of God.

When did it stop being true?  How can we know if some parts are true and some stop being true? 

I thought the argument was that what God set up in Adam and Eve was the single and only model for humanity, the family and sexuality. 

So if Genesis is true, why is Leviticus only partially true?  Does our government conform to the word or does the WORD conform to democracy?

If you put all the gays on one island and all the lesbians on another, in less than 100 years the planet would no longer be occupied with any human beings.

Case closed!

If you put all the gays on one island and all the lesbians on another island....in less than 100 years you would have more gays and lesbians born from the general population. 

Where in the world do you think we come from in the first place?

Dan

Now if the whole story of Sodom and Gomorrah is about how bad homosexuality is, what does that further say about the value of women vs. men, rape of women, paternal protection vs. protecting unknown visitors to our home and perhaps most importantly self sacrifice.

Jesus’ definition of love in Matthew 22 has absolutely nothing to do with sexual activity. There is nothing in the Bible to support the idea that David and Jonathan had a homosexual relationship. In John 15:13 Jesus says “greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” He is not talking here about “eros” (Greek for sexual love) but agape (Greek for a self-sacrificing kind of love). You cannot twist Jesus’ command to love one another to mean that homosexual activity is permissible in the Bible.

You might find secular resources helpful at PFLAG (parents and friends of lesbians and gays) pflag.org or if you would like to hear an alternate Baptist point of view check out the affirming baptist ministry of rainbowbaptists.org.

You may also find the United Church of Christ or some United Methodist Churches perspectives helpful in your discernment. 

There are lots of Christ centered resources out there besides those who would have one believe that being gay equals broken spiritually or less than the plan God has for our lives.

Good luck and God Bless.
dan valdes