Comments on: Al Mohler presents us with a conundrum https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/07/20/al-mohler-presents-us-with-a-conundrum/ A [retired] college psychology professor's observations about public policy, mental health, sexual identity, and religious issues Wed, 30 May 2018 21:37:34 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 By: Kyle https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/07/20/al-mohler-presents-us-with-a-conundrum/#comment-94531 Wed, 30 May 2018 21:37:34 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9744#comment-94531 It sure sounds like he is referring to a categorical re-ordering of desires, that is, replacing a homosexual orientation with a heterosexual one. Sure, God may desire this I suppose if we are intended to be heterosexual, but if it is a biological or early childhood thing, it cannot be expected to happen this side of the eschaton. Not to compare the moral statuses, but aren’t evangelicals familiar with alcoholism, and how though people’s behaviors may change in managing it, the desires remain for their whole lives? Sure God wants this to be changed, but the reality is that it often is not changed in this life, and alcoholics surely are not to be faulted for something they cannot change, or be expected to change it.
In these studies of married homosexuals, do these gay mean experience any sexual attraction with their other-sex spouses with whom they have fallen in love? I know that they remain basically gay, but do they develop any sexual attraction to their spouse in addition to their general gay orientation?

]]> By: Teresa https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/07/20/al-mohler-presents-us-with-a-conundrum/#comment-94530 Wed, 30 May 2018 21:37:34 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9744#comment-94530

Even if someone believes that same sex sexual activity is sinful and that the desire to do so is temptation .. I still see no reason to call temptation “sin”.
Afterall .. concerning Jesus Christ ..the scriptures say: .. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. (Heb 4:15)
No one has tried to play judge and jury with Jesus and claim him to be a sinner just for having temptations. So why do it now?

Dave, excellent, excellent statement, with a lovely quote from Scripture to support it.
Thanks for sharing this.

]]> By: Kyle https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/07/20/al-mohler-presents-us-with-a-conundrum/#comment-94449 Wed, 30 May 2018 21:33:31 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9744#comment-94449 Bernie: that’s fair, we don’t know the causes of homosexuality. My guess would be that it is a mix of genetic and environmental factors, like just about anything else. But let’s take the origin component out of the equation. Alcoholism and homosexuality at least share two similarities: they are usually unchangeable (in terms of the disposition), and they are considered sinful by traditional Christians when indulged.
So, my point was, a traditional Christian should not expect a homosexual to change orientation in order to be faithful, anymore than they should expect an alcoholic to change their proclivity to abuse alcohol. They can expect them to manage these desires, but they cannot expect them to change them if the evidence shows that this usually does not happen.
Of course, sometimes it does happen I imagine. But it cannot be the norm or the standard for traditional Christian discipleship. That would just be cruel.

]]> By: Kyle https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/07/20/al-mohler-presents-us-with-a-conundrum/#comment-94451 Wed, 30 May 2018 21:33:31 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9744#comment-94451 And I also wonder how many homosexuals experience smaller change: like experiencing sexual attraction for an other-sex person they fall in love with. With all of the talk of “changing orientation,” I feel like we sometimes miss the fluidity of sexual attraction. Perhaps replacing one orientation with another is not very likely, or eradicating SSA to a great degree, but what about changing to the degree that you have satisfying sexual experience and attraction with your spouse? I wonder how often this happens.
Of course all of this is predicated on the traditional Christian belief that heterosexual marriage is the norm. Not all Christians, and of course not all people agree.

]]> By: Bernie https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/07/20/al-mohler-presents-us-with-a-conundrum/#comment-94452 Wed, 30 May 2018 21:33:31 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9744#comment-94452 Kyle, Now we’re on the same page.
I can get polemic, and debunk the old canards regarding homosexuality, but that would take weeks of typing, plus it wouldn’t be germane to the topic at hand.
I would just like to add that I reject the proscribed notion that I should be condemned to a life of solitude. That, in of itself, is a cruelty beyond words, biblical or otherwise. Such an imposition is incongruent with the social and gregarious nature of humans, which are innate qualities.
God Bless, and Peace

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