HOPE^"

FOR

HOMOSEXUALS

Home Page www.british-israel.ca

By Dennis G. Luker

Some think that God could not call and convert someone who is homosexual. This is not true, of course.

God knows the causes of homosexuality and he is able to lead anyone he chooses to repentance. He is able to bring about change and healing in their lives.

I have counseled many hours with men and women whom God is calling out of homosexuality. I have baptized some of them because they were repentant and wanted to overcome and change.

My first counseling experience with homosexuals began in 1963, when my wife and I were sent to San Francisco, California, to serve in the ministry.

At that time San Francisco was called the homosexual capital of the United States. Some claimed that about one third of the men in the city were "gay," a term used by homosexuals to describe themselves. Homosexual women, also called lesbians, were a smaller percentage.

Today, medical authorities estimate that as many as 10 percent of U.S. men and 5 percent of U.S. women have homosexual tendencies. About half of these are active, practicing homosexuals. So we are talking about millions of people!

I came to realize that God was working in the lives of some of these people and was calling them out of homosexuality. But I didn't know how to help them with their struggle except to encourage them and pray for them.

Years later, in another church congregation, I mentioned in a sermon my experience of counseling and trying to help homosexuals in San Francisco. After services a member asked me if I would like to attend a seminar with him conducted by ex-gays on overcoming homosexuality. The member himself had been called out of this life-style and was willing to tell me his story.

I attended the seminar with him. It was the beginning of an education on how to help people who sincerely want help. Later I attended another seminar conducted by an ex-gay who had been a minister. The approach was biblical and he recommended some good books on the subject.

And they had repented of their sins and received the Holy Spirit. Verse 11 proves this. It says they were "washed" (or cleansed spiritually, "sanctified" (set apart for a holy purpose) and "justified" (forgiven past sins and made righteous) "in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." Only those who have repented, accepted Christ's sacrifice and been baptized have received the Spirit of God (Acts 2:38).

God in past ages has called homosexuals into his Church, and he is doing so today!

The big question is, Will you as a member of God's Church have the love, compassion and understanding to accept these brethren and help them grow spiritually?

Some may feel that homosexuality is the worst of sins. But notice what Christ said in Matthew 11:23-24: "And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

Christ meant it will be easier for homosexuals to repent of their sins when they are resurrected to physical life at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-12) than for many of the non-homosexual (heterosexual) people of Capernaum who witnessed Christ's miracles and did not repent.

We are not to sit in judgment of others regardless of their weaknesses. God says we should learn to hate sin. But he also emphasizes that we should love the sinner with unconditional love regardless of his sins (Matthew 5:44-46, John 13:34-35).

This is important because Jesus also said: "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15).

We all need forgiveness of our sins regardless of what they may be. Sin is sin, and the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God to all sinners who repent and come under the blood of Christ is eternal life (Romans 6:23).

Heartbreaking stories

One way that most helped me to understand homosexuals was counseling with them and listening to some of their heartbreaking stories.

Not all homosexuals have consciously chosen homosexuality as their preferred life-style. Not all homosexuals fit the description given in Romans 1 of men lusting for men and women lusting for women.

There are some who willingly and willfully chose this sinful life-style, of course. But most of those of whom I counseled were victims.

Some were victims of sexual abuse, both men and women. Some were just neglected and never received the love, affection and acceptance they needed growing up. They were sexually ignorant and starving for someone to love them.

Research has shown that emotional bonding with parents and sexual identity begin early in life, probably in the womb, so that by age 2 or 3 a child's sexual orientation is strongly established. One ex-gay counselor and author said some homosexuals feel they were born that way because they don't remember those early, formative years. Those early years are when they should have received that critical emotional bonding with their mother and father, but didn't.

Some children are born with a more sensitive and vulnerable temperament than others. If they have lacked love, affection and acceptance, they can more easily fall victim to homosexuality.

Other researchers say that genetic and glandular (hormonal) disorders play a role in the homosexual orientation. This may be true, but it has not been proven to be the main cause.

The root causes of homosexuality seem to lie in unhappy and broken marriages and dysfunctional family life. God created children to need love, security and acceptance from the very beginning of their lives. They need proper sexual role models. They need praise, encouragement and teaching more than correction. They need unconditional love at all times.

This is something that most of those struggling with homosexuality have never received-unconditional love and acceptance.

Will you help fill that need in their lives?

Some of these repentant homosexuals may unknowingly carry the AIDS virus. Some may actually have symptoms of the disease. What should we do? Notice what Pastor General Joseph W. Tkach has written to the whole Church concerning the AIDS virus:

"It should come as no surprise to us, then, that a small number of God's people are, and a few others no doubt will be, afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Some brethren became infected because of sins committed before God called them to repentance. Others, some hemophiliacs, some children, have become infected from tainted blood.

"So the question we must now face is how are God's people to fellowship with brethren who are either carriers or actually suffering from a disease that is thus far 100 percent fatal and to most people extremely frightening? How would God have us handle such a matter?

"The Bible does give us principles about how to deal with sicknesses that are easily spread by general or casual contact with the afflicted person. In such cases we practice quarantine. Godly love dictates that the infected person take whatever steps necessary to protect others from getting his or her sickness.

"But with AIDS, the matter is not that simple. From all indications available so far, the disease is not spread through the air, by sneezes or coughs or through direct contact with the skin. Research indicates that it is only spread through exchange of body fluids-primarily by direct sexual contact and sharing of infected needles, and a very few by blood transfusions with blood from infected donors. In addition, some people may have the AIDS virus and not even know it. Some people with the virus can carry on with a normal life for years without actually suffering from the disease.

"Does it make sense to have contact with people in the general public who have the AIDS virus, rub shoulders with them on the job, be served by them in restaurants, etc., but then to deny fellowship on the Sabbath to our own brethren who have the same virus?

"If there were real evidence that the AIDS virus is spread through casual contact, the situation would naturally need to be handled differently. But surely we must all realize that we are likely to unknowingly come into casual contact with people carrying the AIDS virus rather commonly in our day-to-day affairs on the job, in school, in the market, restaurant, theater or any other public location.

"Therefore, based upon the United States Surgeon General's Report on AIDS, unless or until additional information warrants the restriction of casual contact with victims of AIDS, the Church of God will not restrict its members or its members' children who suffer from AIDS from attendance at Church services or activities.

"Let's not be so unduly terrified about this disease that we lose our Christian perspective about extending the right hand of fellowship to our own brethren."

Homosexuals who are being called by God into his Church need friends-straight (heterosexual) friends. They need Christian friends, male and female, who have the love of God and are not afraid of them.

Of course, you will never know that someone is struggling with homosexuality if your attitude is wrong. The person would never open up to you or trust you.

In my experience I have found these brethren to be fearful because of the attitudes many, even in the Church, have toward homosexuals. It is time for all of us to change and grow in this area to have the mind of Jesus Christ!

Are you ready and willing to extend the right hand of fellowship to those whom God is calling out of homosexuality? God has a great purpose for them, just as he does for all of us.

Imagine how they will be able to help others who have similar problems, as they, themselves. overcome and grow. Imagine the many millions of homosexuals who will be resurrected in the Great White Throne Judgment. They will need help from others who understand homosexuality and who have overcome the problem themselves. God knows what he is doing. He has a plan for everyone.

I have experienced the joy of helping people who were once trapped by Satan in the homosexual life-style. A tremendous burden of guilt was removed from one woman who thought she had committed the unpardonable sin. Then there was the man who gave me a big hug after I baptized him. He said, "Thank you for baptizing me so that all my sins can be forgiven." I will never forget the look of joy and happiness on his face.

The purpose of this article is to encourage anyone struggling with homosexuality who wants to overcome. One who is homosexual is not alone. God is calling and working with others as well.

Parents who have children with this problem should not worry that the children are spiritually lost. They have not committed the unpardonable sin. God understands them and knows how to help them and, eventually, to save them.

And for those of you who are not directly affected by or involved with this problem, I pray that you will have open hearts and minds, so that God can use you as an instrument of his love to bring about hope and healing in the lives of homosexuals.