Posted on 10/20/2005 4:46:43 PM PDT by wagglebee
A former homosexual turned Baptist minister recently spoke at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. There, he told students that although having same-sex attractions is not a choice, acting on those feelings by engaging in homosexual behavior is; but freedom from homosexuality is available through Jesus Christ.
Ex-homosexual Tim Wilkins was invited by the Apologetics Association to speak on the campus of UW-Milwaukee to offer a Christian response to the issue of homosexuality. His speech was repeatedly interrupted by cell phone noise and audience comments as well as a fight, which he believes was intentionally staged.
Wilkins, who heads North Carolina-based Cross Ministry told students that, when he was in junior high school, the thought of heterosexuality was physically nauseating to him. "I did not choose to be attracted to the same sex," he noted. "One of life's mysteries is we don't get to choose what we're tempted by. But I did consciously choose at some point in time to give in to those same-sex attractions."
That, according to the Christian speaker, is "where the differentiation must be made" between homosexual orientation and behavior. While same-sex attraction may be involuntary, he insists that homosexual behavior can be resisted -- and that same-sex attraction can be overcome through obedience to biblical commands and steadfast pursuit of a relationship with Jesus.
However, Wilkins does not claim all those struggling with homosexual sin who give their hearts to Christ will necessarily find freedom overnight. Although he became a Christian at age nine, he says homosexual activity continued into his early twenties, up until he reached a turning point.
At that time, Wilkins says, "I decided that although I honestly did not know how to become heterosexual, I did know how to be obedient."
A Gradual Process of Re-Orientation
Cross Ministry's founder says his own same-sex attractions continued, though to a lesser degree, throughout his young adult, college and seminary years, but he remained steadfast in refusing to give in and committed himself to prayer, scriptural study, and pursuing the heart of Christ. He advises homosexuals who find themselves unable to make the conversion to heterosexuality to do what he did -- that is, to remain celibate and seek a relationship with Jesus.
After a number of years, the former homosexual minister says he found healing and deliverance, experiencing what he called "dramatic, ecstatic and romantic" heterosexual attraction for the first time in his life. Today he is happily married to a supportive Christian woman, and he and his wife have three children.
Wilkins says although some students displayed disrespect and rudeness during his talk at UW-Milwaukee, the vast majority in attendance responded to his presentation in a positive manner. However, he is somewhat upset with what he feels was biased coverage of the event by a campus student newspaper.
An article in the UWM Post accused the Christian speaker of being "unable to produce much that could be verified" other than "second-hand accounts of stories involving homosexuals." But he contends that he made some 2 to 15 specific citations to back up statements in his speech.
"I've learned long ago that if you're speaking on a university campus, it is insufficient to simply say 'Someone said' or 'This periodical said,'" Wilkins points out. "So, specifically, at this event I stated the title of the book or the magazine, stated the date that it was published, the author of the publication, the page number of the publication."
Also, Wilkins asserts that the title of the UWM Post article attacking his presentation appears to have been plagiarized from the Arizona Daily Star.
A concept which surely baffled the pro-homosexual leftists who believe that any sexual desire should be acted upon.
This is a great story that will make the pro-homosexuals really angry!
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THE MARKETING OF EVIL How 'gay rights' is being sold to America
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Whatever happened to tolerance and respect for those with different opinions on campus?
Evidently, you didn't get the memo:
That only applies to us being tolerant of the left's ideology.
Sex Positive advocates believe that ALL sexual desires should be acted upon. It is why they oppose abstinence. It is a supression of desires (they consider that unhealthy, not unworkable).
The homosexual agenda is merely the battering ram to society's laws and morals for the larger Sex Positive agenda (which seeks to have even kids sexually active, they've already won the argument over teen sex by getting condoms in schools, now it is just a question of "when").
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Sex-positive+movement
It seeks to end all moral judgements from sex (regardless of age, relation, sex, or species of partner). As long as you have fun getting off.
I've noticed that a lot of people on FR will not even accept this as a fact. They argue instead that one is not homosexual unless actually engaging in gay sex.
He advises homosexuals who find themselves unable to make the conversion to heterosexuality to do what he did -- that is, to remain celibate and seek a relationship with Jesus.
In other words Rev. Wilkins believes that there is such thing as a celibate homosexual, which many here have argued against.
You are completely correct. Whether it is genetic or based on
the early childhood environment it is not a choice. The exception, would be those who acquire homosexual addictions while incarcerated.
It does not exist among indulgent liberal perspectives.
All the spam I receive on one of my websites is all of the porn nature and it all involves homosexual and bestiality acts.
Any site that identifies as Christian can anticipate receiving this type of harassment on the internet, as with cryptic and perverse messages combined with outright aggressive ones with threats and ridicule.
It seems that the issue of "homosexual acts" to those who indulge and believe in them include a high degree of violence and destruction to and about themselves as with others.
About the Baptist's statements that "homosexuality" is inherent -- not something chosen but moreorless inherent to people -- I disagree as do many others.
Perhaps what the Baptist means but is not being clear about is that compulsions and obsessive-compulsive behavior isn't chosen but moreorless inherent...and that the issue of controlling OCD is a choice (to seek help in doing so).
But I commend his message. Although we cannot "choose what we are tempted by," we can choose to denounce the temptation. And recognize temptation as what it is: not of God. That significant point is not included here by the Baptist messenger.
In my experience, the Left is also intolerant of their own.
It seems to be you and person's who insist as you do about the importance, issue of "celibacy among priests."
PRIESTLY VOWS, what it takes, so to speak, to become a member of the Priesthood, vows declared and affirmed by individuals before God, declare an acceptance and dedication to celibacy AND CHASTITY.
They are two different issues.
Celibacy to many without chastity is simply an issue of mechanical function. And, as many of us have been discussing here, celibacy to many homosexuals in their approach to and about the priesthood simply means they agree not to marry. They do not honor the vows as to chastity and continue to affirm and insist upon an identity (and for many, behaviors) as to "homosexual" and "homosexuality."
If CHASTITY is present in a person, that entire issue would not be present, either.
Celibacy AND CHASTITY. To most -- at least who I continue to read from and about -- who declare themselves as homosexuals, they continue to denigrate and completely ignore the entire issue of chastity. CHASTITY is a significant aspect to the vows for the Priesthood.
It seems to be you and person's who insist as you do about the importance, issue of "celibacy among priests."
PRIESTLY VOWS, what it takes, so to speak, to become a member of the Priesthood, vows declared and affirmed by individuals before God, declare an acceptance and dedication to celibacy AND CHASTITY.
They are two different issues.
Celibacy to many without chastity is simply an issue of mechanical function. And, as many of us have been discussing here, celibacy to many homosexuals in their approach to and about the priesthood simply means they agree not to marry. They do not honor the vows as to chastity and continue to affirm and insist upon an identity (and for many, behaviors) as to "homosexual" and "homosexuality."
If CHASTITY is present in a person, that entire issue would not be present, either.
Celibacy AND CHASTITY. To most -- at least who I continue to read from and about -- who declare themselves as homosexuals, they continue to denigrate and completely ignore the entire issue of chastity. CHASTITY is a significant aspect to the vows for the Priesthood.
It seems to be you and person's who insist as you do about the importance, issue of "celibacy among priests."
PRIESTLY VOWS, what it takes, so to speak, to become a member of the Priesthood, vows declared and affirmed by individuals before God, declare an acceptance and dedication to celibacy AND CHASTITY.
They are two different issues.
Celibacy to many without chastity is simply an issue of mechanical function. And, as many of us have been discussing here, celibacy to many homosexuals in their approach to and about the priesthood simply means they agree not to marry. They do not honor the vows as to chastity and continue to affirm and insist upon an identity (and for many, behaviors) as to "homosexual" and "homosexuality."
If CHASTITY is present in a person, that entire issue would not be present, either.
Celibacy AND CHASTITY. To most -- at least who I continue to read from and about -- who declare themselves as homosexuals, they continue to denigrate and completely ignore the entire issue of chastity. CHASTITY is a significant aspect to the vows for the Priesthood.
I am suggesting, also, that you include in your figuring there the very important position of the Catholic Church and that is that homosexuality represents a disorded state of reasoning. It's DISORDED in personality and thought within the Christian reference.
So, this calls into question the character of those who identify as homosexuals and with homosexuality and behaviors as to their character.
It does not mean that persons with that or any disordered state in person are turned away from the faith. It means that they are not considered qualified for the Priesthood. Or should not be, as per what Pope Benedict has said. Also as per earlier positions from the Church, although various bishops have by self determination refused to abide by the position and taken it upon themselves to affirm a defilement of the position itself, as with the Church, accordingly.
Most adults engaged in homosexuality who later reveal their childhood, share about an exposure to or indoctrination into homosexuality at some time in their childhood.
I agree, in that environmental context, that homosexuality can become later so integrated into a personality as to be (unrealistically) believed to be "inherent" or uncontrollable.
What the Baptist here is saying is that Christ can and does liberate. Jesus Christ will and does triumph, but he isn't a rapist, an abuser and won't force His way into someone's existence. Instead, Christ is available and waits the invitation to help, to save.
That's the message, right there, that the Baptist is saying: ask Christ to save you.
Because, in this context, yes, it is a matter of choice.
Most adults engaged in homosexuality who later reveal their childhood, share about an exposure to or indoctrination into homosexuality at some time in their childhood.
I agree, in that environmental context, that homosexuality can become later so integrated into a personality as to be (unrealistically) believed to be "inherent" or uncontrollable.
What the Baptist here is saying is that Christ can and does liberate. Jesus Christ will and does triumph, but he isn't a rapist, an abuser and won't force His way into someone's existence. Instead, Christ is available and waits the invitation to help, to save.
That's the message, right there, that the Baptist is saying: ask Christ to save you.
Because, in this context, yes, it is a matter of choice.
Most adults engaged in homosexuality who later reveal their childhood, share about an exposure to or indoctrination into homosexuality at some time in their childhood.
I agree, in that environmental context, that homosexuality can become later so integrated into a personality as to be (unrealistically) believed to be "inherent" or uncontrollable.
What the Baptist here is saying is that Christ can and does liberate. Jesus Christ will and does triumph, but he isn't a rapist, an abuser and won't force His way into someone's existence. Instead, Christ is available and waits the invitation to help, to save.
That's the message, right there, that the Baptist is saying: ask Christ to save you.
Because, in this context, yes, it is a matter of choice.
Wow - there have been an onslaught of articles about homosexuality lately. They're really on the attack. I am glad to see the side of truth getting energetic.
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