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How do you love Jesus? — ADvindicate

Thu, 08 May 2014 04:52:06 GMT

collins
Thu, 08 May 2014 04:53:09 GMT

Amen. Thank-you, Mr. Blakely. "Why do we seek to invent our own truths?" One of the excellent questions we will ponder...

Elizabeth Iskander, M.D.
Thu, 08 May 2014 16:40:48 GMT

Thank-you Wayne, your words are always uplifting. If you were to brainstorm programs the SDA church could offer to help same-sex strugglers (SSS), and $ were abundant, what church programs would you like to see tried? Are you aware of any programs in other churches that you could comment on, whether helpful or not. Is grouping SSS together for any program wise or not? How about every conference having a husband-wife team, or someone like yourself-with a celibate lesbian of similar testimony counseling with SSS? I wish you would write a whole article on how the church might help SSS commenting on: 1. what has been done unwisely 2. what you have seen help 3. what you wish would be tried.

Wayne Blakely
Fri, 09 May 2014 05:22:37 GMT

Thank you Dr. Iskander. It's always so perplexing to me how little attention a call to Jesus gets. Seems like people really like to engage in controversy. It is because of the great and continued controversy that I was impressed to write this piece. I know God puts it before those whose hearts are seeking Him. When something is controversial ... there are a ton of comments about not being judgmental. And when it is all about Jesus... the views really drop. Seems to me there is something very telling about this world. Exodus International has gotten a lot of flack. In it's early days, they had the focus on being straight. And there were huge failures. When the presidency changed, it was recognized that this should be about "Jesus" and developing a relationship with Him and His Word, not about becoming straight. When the reparative therapy books got thrown out, all kinds of unnecessary reactions took place, putting Alan Chambers on the defensive. He began to apologize for things that were not even happening in recent years ast Exodus. The focus was on Jesus. Under the pressure from the gay community and from those who wanted to maintain this "straight" change, He weakened and Exodus came to an end. I am not aware of any "main" organizations who are maintaining a message of "Redemption" and surrendering to Jesus. There are some that fly under the radar a bit... like Pure Passion. Yes, I believe you are on the right track. 'Coming Out' Ministries which I am a part of makes itself available to churches, schools and organizations. We are celibate men and women who point to Jesus and His Word. We teach about His deep love for us... as that is truly the only love that can change us. Becoming surrendered and choosing to abide in Christ. As you might well imagine, this reaches beyond the scope of homosexuality. We teach about developing intimacy with God and seeking His will rather than our own. Some church leaders are recognizing this and making invitations to us. We are developing more resources and I would say that we and our resources will grow. There actually are a number in leadership at the conference level and also some dedicated people in churches making strides to reach out. Teaching needs to take place so that the idea and reflection of "love" is not misread as permission to sin. But actually by contrast demonstrating how His pure love invites us to leave sin and heal in Him. There are materials that are being developed that will help point to God's redemptive ways. We were blessed a year ago to have been part of the "Gays in The Family" conference. (www.gaysinthefamily.com) This is a start and we wil continue to speak out and point to Christ and His ways. In our ministry, I 'm probably the most impatient. I would like to see more loving outreaches being made by opening dialogs on campuses with an invitaion for us to share our testimonies as evidence that God will change lives if we will invite Him in. Not by point to ourselves. But by pointing to what He can do for anyone who chooses to follow Him and His truth and love for us. I would like to see a conference take place, put on by 'Coming Out' Ministries that equips pastors, teachers and interested parties partake in the practical gospel rather than a focus on the academic. But the climate today pretty much demands that a certain amount o f academic be incorporated in order to give a basis for the practical. I would like to see more churches and schools open invitations. Churches with congregations of over 400 don't make invitations very often because the congregations today are so diverse. More and more are not seeing homosexual behavior as sin. But we will continue to pray and I know that God will open doors and windows of opportunity wherever there are those who will respond to His call on our hearts. We know that "all things are possible" with Him.

George Evans
Fri, 09 May 2014 17:07:43 GMT

Wayne, I appreciated your article very much and hope your ministry grows. I just have a few reactions to some things you wrote. >Races, belief systems, denominations, sexually-oriented people—they have all segregated themselves in order to be more content in life.  Are these segregations how God designed us to be? It is a wonderful insight to discover that segregation is involved in abnormal gender attractions. It was a recent eye opener for me that boys segregate themselves before girls are very much in the picture. They seem to segregate along an axis with homosexual at one end and homophobe at the other end, with the majority clustered nearer the middle. Individuals are driven out of the normal group in opposite directions due to multiple repulsion events. An event happens when one boy becomes uncomfortable and pushes the other boy away, usually calling him a name at the same time. The two recoil in opposite direction toward opposite poles. Damage happens in the hearts of both as a result. >If we know Him and understand His great love for us, why won’t we allow Him to be in charge of every decision we make? It's because we are two rooms. What you are describing happens in the front room which we are conscious of. But in the back room which we don't see, things are different. In that room exists anger and enmity toward God. >Lets’ be honest. Can we rewrite God’s Word and make allowances for homosexual behavior? No. But we can acknowledge the history of repulsion and ask God to heal the damage in our hearts. >Through social injustices toward gays and women, can’t we bring it into an equal rightness without having to consult God? There is little similarity between social injustices toward gays and women. Gays tend to be rejected by society while women tend to be desired but used by society. Traditionally the dynamic is far different for the two groups. I would suggest it is counterproductive to confuse the two.

collins
Fri, 09 May 2014 18:44:11 GMT

"Races, belief systems, denominations, sexually-oriented people—they have all segregated themselves in order to be more content in life. Are these segregations how God designed us to be?" To a point, yes. Because of sin and its results. But it was not His original plan, of course. With sin existing, countermeasures become a necessity. And truth is more important than friendship. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3) Not all segregation is wrong. Much is, but not all. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

Elizabeth Iskander, M.D.
Fri, 09 May 2014 20:03:53 GMT

Wayne, If a gay or lesbian wanted help developing more appropriate mannerisms, or biblical counseling/education is there anyone who sells this service on an individual basis that you feel is helpful? I have heard of "life coaches" and I am not sure what they are or what they do or how they are regulated if at all. If a gay person wanted help moving out of homosexual practice and was willing to pay for this help, what is available that you consider possibly helpful? Have you ever considered "life coaching" via phone or Skype?

defunct account
Fri, 09 May 2014 21:47:54 GMT

Wayne, thank you for this article, and for your consistent focus on Christ as the answer to our deepest needs. May God continue to richly bless you and your ministry.

Wayne Blakely
Sat, 10 May 2014 02:04:52 GMT

Well Elizabeth. .. mannerisms and what we call "residue" are more a heterosexual issue rather than a "redemptive" consideration. I am far more interested in someone's intimacy with Christ than I am a sociological observation about whether someone appears "straight" or not. May I suggest watching some Sy Rogers on YouTube.

Wayne Blakely
Sat, 10 May 2014 02:09:14 GMT

George Evans. .. Not sure I can post twice in a row. I should have clarified about gays/women. .. I was making a cross connection to women's ordination/equal rights. Thanks for your observations.

Doug Yowell
Sat, 10 May 2014 15:02:46 GMT

Wayne, thank you for again reminding us where the real battle lies for each one of us. It is not homosexuality alone that requires a full dedication to Jesus and God's saving power, it is every sinful practice in everyone's life. Keeping the commandments of God, especially in these troubling times, seems simple enough. "You must love the Lord your God with ALL YOUR HEART, with ALL YOUR SOUL, with ALL YOUR MIND, and with ALL YOUR STRENGTH..." Simple enough? Impossible for anyone if we are not first born again from above. Expecting change from a homosexual ( or anyone else) apart from this experience is expecting the impossible. Thanks again for keeping the focus straight.

Elizabeth Iskander, M.D.
Sun, 11 May 2014 21:12:15 GMT

Thanks Wayne, The Sy Rogers interview was very inspiring. I think everyone should check out his interviews. It is amazing to me how the "born that way" can be touted when there is so much evidence for early childhood mistreatment and sexual abuse. Thanks Wayne, I was unaware of what good help Pure Passion and Sy offers.

Elizabeth Iskander, M.D.
Tue, 13 May 2014 00:14:25 GMT

Could someone who is a Hope TV watcher tell me if they have every seen an ex-gay guest like Sy Rogers etc. on the Hope Channel? Wayne, do you know what exposure persons who have overcome gay practice have on any SDA media? I am sensing there is not enough testimonies of "and such were some of you" victories over homosexual practice celebrated and proclaimed to encourage same sex strugglers.

Wayne Blakely
Thu, 15 May 2014 10:55:45 GMT

I can only think of one person, my colleauge, Ron Woolsey who has been on Hope. But I am currently on the road, and am told by someone where I am visiting in West Virgina, that they say an interview with me that was done in Australia last July broadcast on Hope. As Adventists, we are very slow in embracing the "homosexual redemption" message. But I do know that there are efforts by many who believe in God's redeeming power to promote such redemption. It's just a slow process. There is a lot of "fear" still taking place in our denomination. Fear is in the unknown. If you don't know what we (former gays) are going to say, then there is a lot of skepticism. What we have experienced is God's deep love that changes lives. Whether it be homosexuality or anything other sin problem that challenges us, engaging in a deep relationship with Jesus brings about change. There are not a lot of testimonies because of the hurt, confusion, ignorance, skepticism and adversity that comes for many in publicly declaring freedom from bondage in Jesus. However we are encountering more and more who are considering a public declaration of their walk with God and the healing He promises. Not from gay to straight, but from gay to healing in Jesus and seeking His will rather than living after the flesh.