Comments on: Willow Creek Church breaks with Exodus International https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/07/21/willow-creek-church-breaks-with-exodus-international/ 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: Jayhuck https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/07/21/willow-creek-church-breaks-with-exodus-international/#comment-94532 Wed, 30 May 2018 21:37:34 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9752#comment-94532

He’s not saying it’s wrong to be celibate; he’s not saying everyone must turn into a married straight hetero…he’s saying it’s wrong to ‘live a celibate gay life’…identifying oneself by a sin while not engaging in the deed itself.

At issue here is what it means to “be gay” or “identify” as gay. I’m sure Mr Chamber’s understanding of this may differ from those of other people. Remember, this is just Alan’s opinion, he doesn’t have any real Biblical basis to back up these claims. I would, and all should, take what this man says with a grain, or two, of salt 😉

]]> By: Dave https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/07/21/willow-creek-church-breaks-with-exodus-international/#comment-94534 Wed, 30 May 2018 21:37:34 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9752#comment-94534 Ann,
To answer your question albeit somewhat briefly .. They may see their sexuality .. / identity as part of who they relate to best .. as representative of other apsects of their personalities .. as connected to some of their personal giftings .. and so forth. I suspect that for these folks .. attempts at oreintation change or identity change ultimately feel harmful to themselves because of how they internally connect everything together. In other words if a person sees there sexuality as broken and apart from all other aspects of themselves .. as an undesired blip on the radar .. then perhaps the “change” route works for them. However .. if they see this as an integral part of their whole being then, to throw it away or count it as evil affects their view of themselves as a whole … Different peope think and process differently. One solution does not fit all persons and circumstances. I don’t have a problem with people finding unique soliutions that fit them personally ..I have a problem with the ‘my way or the highway’ approach that Alan and others like him seem to push as an absolute moral imperative. Scripture has no such imperative on how we internally process this.
More on this later as I am out of time for now…
Dave

]]> By: Ann https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/07/21/willow-creek-church-breaks-with-exodus-international/#comment-94529 Wed, 30 May 2018 21:37:34 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9752#comment-94529 Jayhuck,
What Alan Chambers or Wayne Besen say is just that – it is what they say. Each of us has to take responsibility for our own lives and determine how we want to live it – for some religion plays a large part in this decision, for others a personal faith and belief that transcends religion is what guides them, and then for some it comes down to just what they value and want to protect. I hear so much talk and terms and pharases, etc. and it all starts sounding like noise to me. Little is definitive or conclusive about this issue and often one is left with more questions than answers.

]]> By: AJ https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/07/21/willow-creek-church-breaks-with-exodus-international/#comment-94528 Wed, 30 May 2018 21:37:34 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9752#comment-94528 Eddy,
I am a homosexual man who believes that sexual relations with a man are against God’s law, so I choose celibacy. I am still gay. I do not go to gay bars. I do not have any gay friends. Am I sining by calling myself a homosexual?
Ann,
My “gayness” is about much more than desiring sex with men. I will really like a song, or a TV show, or a neighborhood, or a type of house, and almost inevitably, I end up finding out that this song, TV show, neighborhood, or house is a favorite of gay men. As I said before, I don’t have any gay friends, so I’m not making decisions socially. Whatever it is that causes me to desire men sexually also seems to run deeply throughout all aspects of my personality. Even if I took some kind of drug to lose all sexual attractions to anyone, I would still be “gay.”

]]> By: Ann https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/07/21/willow-creek-church-breaks-with-exodus-international/#comment-94533 Wed, 30 May 2018 21:37:34 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9752#comment-94533

Sexuality means how we relate to the ‘other’, who that ‘other’ will be, and how all that plays out in … personality, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually.

Teresa,
Ok, I understand this about romantic relationships, however, how does the word sexuality affect other parts of who we are and how we live? Does it enter into how we make pancakes, take out the garbage, what bank we choose, or what groceries we buy? Other than who we pursue in a romantic relationship, how does the word “sexuality” guide our lives? Or does it?

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