'Gay'-rights leader quits homosexuality

[lovinlife4]

That is awesome! God does work in mysterious ways:)

[felixthecat]

If he's happy, more power to him, but the number of prominant "ex-gays" who have relapsed into the lifestyle seems to suggest that the change may not be as complete as some leaders would like us to believe.

It seems fairly obvious that the causes of homosexuality are numerous and complex and I'm leery of any group that claims that you can have complete change with simple religious counseling. I have no doubt that counseling can be very beneficial for some people, especially those with easily identifiable triggers (abuse or lack of role models), but as someone who underwent years of counseling and was "fixed" for some time, I really question the validity of these programs. My observations from within these programs lead me to believe that most of the people who leave the gay lifestyle do so out of fear shame, and convenience and rarely because they now have a physical desire for the opposite sex.

Physical attractions aside, I think the ex-gay movement has merit for people who feel that they need to lead a straight life to be happy. I'd classify Exodus and others as programs helping people cope with their feelings, but rarely change them.

It's really not so mysterious as to why some backslide and some don't. How they were healed is thorugh Christ.

You really have two choices in life for any sin - HIS will or your will. If you chose His will you will conquer your issue. If you backslide and stick with you will, you will not overcome the sin since you have chosen to remain in it, by choice.

Exodus in particular is known worldside for their successful program that relies on Christ. Helping folks chose to overcome homosexuality is what has made them famous. They have had much success. Success that offers a permanet change. Christ doesn't let His own down. If they are sincere and do His will; not their will, they will have success regardless of what the sin is. A "relapse" is doing your will rather than His will. Perhaps you will come to understand that.

[pobsn]

Exodus in particular is known worldside for their successful program that relies on Christ. Helping folks chose to overcome homosexuality is what has made them famous. They have had much success. Success that offers a permanet change. Christ doesn't let His own down. If they are sincere and do His will; not their will, they will have success regardless of what the sin is. A "relapse" is doing your will rather than His will. Perhaps you will come to understand that.

But the problem is that the change ISN'T permanent, as they claim. Quite a few high-profile "ex-gays" have not only stumbled (already discrediting the "complete change" talking point), but returned to a full-blown gay lifestyle. Mel White (former leader of Falwell's ex-gay wing), John Paulk (Focus on the Family), Michael Bussee (founder of Exodus), Gary Cooper (the other founder of Exodus), Jeremy Marks, and the list goes on.

I have nothing against Exodus and the work that they do, but it's extremely misleading to make people think that they will shed themselves of their same-sex desires. Exodus helps people cope with their desires, not overcome them. That's an EXTREMELY important distinction.

[forbygrace]

Lots of "reformed" addicts have to deal with their desires for a lifetime though. That does not invalidate the treatment or the healing they receive through Christ. Alcoholics, those who are drug dependent, shoplifters, lots of addictions are not "magically" healed and the temptation gone forever.
In fact, every single born again Christian in past history daily struggled with sin, and those who are alive now, ARE CURRENTLY struggling with some major temptation or sin, count on it.

I've always found it amazing that the homosexual lobby says that someone can suddenly discover their "true" orientation and change one way (toward homosexuality) but never the other way (a homosexual discovering they are really heterosexual).

[mikalikat]

Here is another story I saw on The 700 Club not long ago--VERY good story!

A Lesbian's Deliverance
By Charlene Israel
CBN News

CWNews.com–---After 29 years as a gay activist, former lesbian magazine publisher Charlene Cothran stunned the homosexual community when she announced she had become a Christian.

She has renounced her homosexuality, and changed the format of her magazine to spread the Gospel to the gay community.

As a gay rights activist, Cothran was never afraid to fight for what she believed in. For 30 years, she was as vocal and in your face as they come.

She organized and marched with other lesbians in gay rights parades. And as editor-in-chief of Venus magazine , a national gay and lesbian publication, she wasn't about to change -- until something happened at a gay pride celebration that she never expected.

"In 2003, I was in Chicago at a gay pride event, in the middle of this beautiful park," Cothran recalled. "I took a panoramic view, and as far as I could see there were men with men and women with women, all just partying and having a good time. But a shame fell on me, I felt so out of place. I knew something in my spirit spoke that, 'this is that road that leads to destruction, and you're on it.'"

It took several years to come to terms with this vision, and during that time Cothran continued to publish her gay and lesbian magazine. But she couldn't escape the message she'd heard that day in 2003.

She said, "I kept myself busy with marches and activism and public appearances. But in the still of the night when everything is over, there was still that little voice, "You're not right with God."

Cothran says she longed for peace, but even in the midst of a long-term relationship, she felt intense loneliness. She'd grown up in a Christian home, and had come into the lesbian lifestyle at 19, after several bad relationships with boys.

"I didn't want anything to do with men anymore," she said. "I was away at college and that was a whole new world, and in that world there were many, many women who were attracted to me, and, of course, I was attracted to them. And these women were nurturing, wanted to get to know me intellectually -- they were organizers whom I found a lot of comfort in. It felt good, it felt right."

But it didn't feel right anymore. Then in June 2006, local Pastor Vanessia Livingston of Miracle Deliverance Church called Cothran, regarding an article in one her publications. She didn't know anything about Cothran's life and proceeded to talk to her about God.

Livingston asked Cothran, "What are you going to do about your life?" Then she told her, "'You need to get your life together.' Cothran said, 'I'm in the life.' I said, 'Yes, I know, that's why I'm talking to you, but you don't have to stay in the life. You can be delivered today, right now, right where you are.'"

They talked for awhile and Cothran remembers her words: "I can tell that you want to come back to God, but you feel unworthy, you feel that God can't use you because you've been marching and publishing and you've been such a proud lesbian all these years, but that's not true. He's waiting."

That day changed everything for Charlene Cothran, as she finally asked Jesus Christ to come into her heart and forgive her.

It was a personal transformation that she immediately wanted to share with her gay and lesbian followers. She wrote a front page article in her magazine called, "Redeemed! Ten Ways to Get Out of the Gay Life, if You Want Out."

"When the Lord saved me, I knew everything would change," she said. "All of the ads, the editorials, the mission of the magazine had changed. We're going to be calling people out of homosexuality."

Most of the response from the gay and lesbian community has been fierce and negative. But she says she knows that many of them are just as conflicted as she was.

Cothran said, "In order to fill up this empty space, they pretend to put on this wonderful face, 'how gay and happy I am,' when in fact -- there's a lot of loneliness in the gay community that's not talked about, and it's real."

But there has been positive feedback as well. Cothran says she gets lots of e-mails from people who say they struggle with homosexuality and want out.

CBN News asked Cothran, "I know people probably ask you, do you still have feelings for women, and are you dating a man?"

Cothran replied, "I'm living a celibate life. I'm so focused on the spirit right now, that I have no urges for anyone -- man or woman."

With a new outlook about herself and life, Cothran is still on the frontlines of the gay rights battle, only now she sees it as a spiritual fight to lead others to the freedom she's found.

"Our mission now," she said, "is to educate and to turn people away from the homosexual lifestyle simply by presenting the truth. We simply want people to question what they've learned through the pages of Venus magazine over the past 13 years."

Prior to Cothran's conversion, Venus circulated about 35,000 copies per issue which ran four times a year. But after the issue featuring her testimony, the gay political machine pressured advertisers to drop the magazine. And gay pride events and college campuses no longer subscribe.

But in her own words, Cothran has no regrets about her change.

She said, "There is a joy and a peace that you can't find in a club, I don't care how good the music is. You can't find it in the middle of a gay pride parade, I don't care if you have the biggest, prettiest float. I have a joy and a peace that I wouldn't trade for anything."

[sophie]

I've often wrestled over the statement that homosexuals were "bron this way" due to a "chemical imbalance". Does this prove, or anyone else who has turned from the gay lifestyle, that this "being bron that way" is not true?:idunno

[adam423]

I would agree if the extent of their leaving the lifestyle is because of anything other than a transformed life, caused by a repentant heart asking Jesus to set them free. If they are Born Again, then Paul assures us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."


Amen! We can't forget John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." It is up to God to changes this man's life and we cannot judge.

I'm sure the angels are rejoicing in heaven for this man's salvation.

[PPLGetReady]

Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus! That's two major leaders in one year. There was the leader of a popular lesbian magazine who also became a Christian and told her story several months back. I love it when God beats the enemy back!!

[Jesuslover_2002]

Praise God thank you Jesus!

[felixthecat]

But the problem is that the change ISN'T permanent, as they claim. Quite a few high-profile "ex-gays" have not only stumbled (already discrediting the "complete change" talking point), but returned to a full-blown gay lifestyle. Mel White (former leader of Falwell's ex-gay wing), John Paulk (Focus on the Family), Michael Bussee (founder of Exodus), Gary Cooper (the other founder of Exodus), Jeremy Marks, and the list goes on.

I have nothing against Exodus and the work that they do, but it's extremely misleading to make people think that they will shed themselves of their same-sex desires. Exodus helps people cope with their desires, not overcome them. That's an EXTREMELY important distinction.

It is not misleading to state the fact that through Christ they END their bondage to homosexuality. No they don't "appease" their homosexual appetite. THe distinction you make is false. Exodus helps them OVERCOME their homosexuality. Perhaps you need to read what FORMER homosexuals have stated on the Exodus website. Christ doesn't let them linger in bondage - the very thought ... calls Him a liar. Christ will allow anyone, with His help to overcome any sin. That is also what the Bible says ... .

http://www.exodusinternational.org

Here is another organization that you might want to become acquainted with:

Americans for truth about homsexuality

Excerpt:

Part of the homosexual agenda is getting people to stop considering that conversion is even a viable question to be asked, let alone whether or not it works.

In my experience, “coming out” from under the influence of the homosexual mindset was the most liberating, beautiful and astonishing thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life….

I believe that all people, intrinsically, know the truth. I believe that is why Christianity scares people so much. It reminds them of their conscience, which we all possess….

As a leader in the “gay rights” movement, I was given the opportunity to address the public many times. If I could take back some of the things I said, I would. Now I know that homosexuality is lust and pornography wrapped into one. I’ll never let anybody try to convince me otherwise, no matter how slick their tongues or how sad their story. I have seen it. I know the truth.

http://www.americansfortruth.org/


The bottom line is this, homsexuality is a sin. The Bible is clear on this. How successful will a sinner be? It wlll depend on whose will they are pursuing. Are they pursuing THEIR will or HIS will? If it is HIS will, Christ's will, then they will be successful. If they are wishwashy and unsure they probably won't be successful -and this is true of ANY SIN. I wouldn't dream of compromising God's power on changing sinners. I'm always puzzled why CHristians don't want to believe that with Christ all things are possible and even when a former homosexual states Christ's intervention, some still dont' want to believe this is a permanet path away from this sin. OTOH, I have NO DOUBTS about Christ. He's in my life.

Here's a testimomny for you:

Jesus Met the Deepest Longings of My Soul
By Jonathan (India)

I was born in 1950 and raised as a Christian and attended Church and Sunday school. As both my Grandparents were "Ministers" of the Word, from early childhood I knew the Scriptures well and wanted to know the meaning of life.

Yet my father was a dominating person who caused a lot of hardship both to my mother, my brothers and sisters, but especially to me as the eldest son.

Then at age 5, I was sent to a relative’s house to study in a Public school in Delhi so as a child I did not experience the love of my parents.

By the time I grew up to my teens, I had been homosexually abused several times by men. I felt “filthy” and “used” inside. At the age of 13, I started to masturbate after accidentally reading an adult sex book.

I masturbated several times a day with fantasies from seeing pornographic books and pictures and it left me physically drained, feeling very guilty and with poor self-esteem.

I was committed to doing evil and sex was the most compelling force in my world. The more I got involved with it the more frustrated I became (like chasing a mirage). I thought Jesus was a killjoy and He did not want me to enjoy life.

As well I lacked confidence and avoided eye contact with girls so this led me into voyeurism.

So the next problem was that I started going to red-light areas and experimenting with prostitutes. This became a terrible addiction. After several sexual experiences with prostitutes I was left with chronic gonorrhoea. However, no one knew as I treated myself with massive dozes of Penicillin.

Amidst all this sin, God was still trying to reach me. Amazingly at age 23 I became a Christian.. Yet my sinful life continued.

When I was about 28, I got into an adulterous relationship with a female relative which I knew was wrong. It seemed that the Lord allowed “a legion of demons” to take over my mind and I was tormented for months and years. I was in a city, away from home with no job no money and no friends. Life was hell and for seven years I resisted God’s love.

In desperation I went to magicians, hypnotherapists and psychiatrists to find relief but they did not understand what I was going through. A psychiatrist told me I had a total psychosis of the mind and needed to stay in an Institution for the rest of my life. He allowed me to undergo Electro Convulsion Therapy (shock treatment). This only complicated matters. Later, while on an official trip as my job involved travelling, I got off a bus, climbed onto a railway bridge and jumped down about 40 feet, to a dry stream below. I fell on my left heel and broke my ankle. It was as if Satan was trying to destroy me.

Finally, after seven years of resisting God I cried out to the Lord Jesus to give me just ‘one more chance’ to heal my mind and save my life. I promised Him that I would obey Him and turn from all my wicked ways. The Lord Jesus heard my cry and slowly and surely the healing, spread over many years, came. I felt the presence of evil leaving me as daily I kept closely following the Lord Jesus and reading the Bible

Jesus changed my life as He pulled me out of a horrible pit, and put my feet upon a rock. He gave me a new song as He changed my attitudes and my immoral sexual behaviour. I was able to get a job, got married at 35 to a wonderful person and my lovely daughter and a son are now in their teens!I have everything the world calls a success – a home, a car and respect in society where I had been an outcast earlier. Yet it is only Jesus who met the deepest longings of my soul.

My work is now in an organization, counselling people. I can give insights from all the mistakes of my past life to bring meaning, joy and transformation in their lives. God uses everything for good.

Now, I know that true pleasure can only be found in Jesus as in Psalms 16:11 it says, “ In His presence there is fullness of Joy and on His right hand are pleasures for evermore”.

Do you believe this? Find out for yourself!

http://www.exodusglobalalliance.org/jesusmetthedeepestlongingsofmysoulp102.php

There are more testimonies here:

http://www.exodusglobalalliance.org/firstpersonc7.php

Each one credits Christ for this transformation. Christ will not only help you leave the homosexual lifestyle choice but with ANY sin.

Homosexuality runs in families as well - it's lan ugly family recipe passed down that consists of emotional and physical abuse. In our society today, any kind of abuse rarely has proper punishment so it thrives more. The victim gets victimized all over again via the lack of proper punishment. It's just another sign of the times ... homosexuality and our view of what is right mocked and looked down on - just another reason why homosexuality and other sins such as drowing all your children - Gates - they really aren't punished. Compassion is misused to celebrate sin - what's wrong is right and what's right is wrong.