Comments on: Alan Chambers Apologizes to the LGBTQ Community https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/06/19/alan-chambers-apologizes-to-the-lgbtq-community/ A [retired] college psychology professor's observations about public policy, mental health, sexual identity, and religious issues Wed, 30 May 2018 23:22:24 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 By: AJ https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/06/19/alan-chambers-apologizes-to-the-lgbtq-community/#comment-95363 Wed, 30 May 2018 23:22:24 +0000 https://www.wthrockmorton.com/?p=14592#comment-95363 In reply to William Birch.

If there is no Exodus, then Joe Dallas, Frank Worthen, etc. would have just as much right to speak for the former organization as Alan Chambers does.

]]> By: William Birch https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/06/19/alan-chambers-apologizes-to-the-lgbtq-community/#comment-93563 Wed, 30 May 2018 20:53:22 +0000 https://www.wthrockmorton.com/?p=14592#comment-93563 In reply to Michael Bussee.

I agree that Exodus should just shut down. But I’ll admit I see AJ’s point. If Exodus transformed solely into a ministry that sought to heal the damage it has done to others, that might just work. I don’t know, though — that’s tricky.

]]> By: AJ https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/06/19/alan-chambers-apologizes-to-the-lgbtq-community/#comment-93561 Wed, 30 May 2018 20:53:22 +0000 https://www.wthrockmorton.com/?p=14592#comment-93561 In reply to Michael Bussee.

I understand where you’re coming from, but I think I disagree. If Exodus is still around, using the Exodus name, but actively speaking out against orientation change, I think that could undo a lot more of the damage than just having Alan out there as a former leader of a now-defunct organization. I don’t want to leave too big of a vacuum to be filled by RHN. A truly transformed Exodus, even if very small, could be a very effective foil for the lies of RHN. Just my thoughts at the moment.

]]> By: ken https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/06/19/alan-chambers-apologizes-to-the-lgbtq-community/#comment-93534 Wed, 30 May 2018 20:52:14 +0000 https://www.wthrockmorton.com/?p=14592#comment-93534 In reply to Karen.

I’m not Michael but I’m going to respond to your questions.
In general, if someone wishes to be celibate I think that is their decision and I have no problem with it.
However, my concern is the “community” that wishes to support these people and the reasons why they are trying. Do they believe that gays who aren’t celibate will spend an eternity in hell; will die of aids, a drug OD or some other disease; will be doomed to live a lonely meaningless existence? If they are basing their “support” on a misguided and false narrative about homosexuality, then they aren’t helping.

]]> By: Stephen https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/06/19/alan-chambers-apologizes-to-the-lgbtq-community/#comment-79563 Wed, 30 May 2018 18:09:52 +0000 https://www.wthrockmorton.com/?p=14592#comment-79563 I wish he’d stop talking about ‘same sex attractions’. There’s no such thing. Being homosexual is an affectional orIentation of which sex is a part. To talk about ‘same sex attractions’ is as ludicrous as talking about ‘opposite sex attractions’ as being in any way descriptive of heterosexuality. Indeed, there’s still a lot ex-gay jargon in his letter. And I do wish he might try to understand that other people are not so enthrall led by his ‘beliefs’ as he seems to be. Still, a good start. Let’s see how it progresses. I look forward to the day that Tony Perkins and Maggie Gallagher do the same.

]]> By: William Birch https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/06/19/alan-chambers-apologizes-to-the-lgbtq-community/#comment-79561 Wed, 30 May 2018 18:09:51 +0000 https://www.wthrockmorton.com/?p=14592#comment-79561 Wow. I’ve been harping against the reparative drive therapy (RDT) nonsense myself lately on Will & Graced. Only when my therapist introduced me to RDT had I ever considered its claims. But then I began to see its crippling inconsistencies.
When I, last summer, finally rejected RDT as causation of homosexual orientation, my very conservative parents were actually, surprisingly, relieved. I apologized profusely for even implying to the smallest degree that my same-sex attraction had anything to do with their alleged deficiencies in parenting.
My dad, especially, admitted to being hurt and confused. He noted that, while he and I didn’t share all that much in common during my childhood, neither did he and my heterosexual brother. How do we account for the polar opposites of sexual attraction when both brothers had similar life-experiences with the same father? Shouldn’t my brother have “turned out” gay, too?
I’m glad for this apology. I’m eager for the program. I pray for healing.

]]> By: William Birch https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/06/19/alan-chambers-apologizes-to-the-lgbtq-community/#comment-79562 Wed, 30 May 2018 18:09:51 +0000 https://www.wthrockmorton.com/?p=14592#comment-79562 Wow. I’ve been harping against the reparative drive therapy (RDT) nonsense myself lately on Will & Graced. Only when my therapist introduced me to RDT had I ever considered its claims. But then I began to see its crippling inconsistencies.
When I, last summer, finally rejected RDT as causation of homosexual orientation, my very conservative parents were actually, surprisingly, relieved. I apologized profusely for even implying to the smallest degree that my same-sex attraction had anything to do with their alleged deficiencies in parenting.
My dad, especially, admitted to being hurt and confused. He noted that, while he and I didn’t share all that much in common during my childhood, neither did he and my heterosexual brother. How do we account for the polar opposites of sexual attraction when both brothers had similar life-experiences with the same father? Shouldn’t my brother have “turned out” gay, too?
I’m glad for this apology. I’m eager for the program. I pray for healing.

]]> By: Barry Burger https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/06/19/alan-chambers-apologizes-to-the-lgbtq-community/#comment-56410 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 20:12:46 +0000 https://www.wthrockmorton.com/?p=14592#comment-56410 The decision of Alan Chambers and the conversation surrounding is of course burdened by the same silliness and ignorance that burdens the entire discussion of homosexuality and religion today. Let me state my assumptions here and while they are assumptions, they are well grounded. First, the Christianity has always taught, based on the clear passages in Scripture that homosexuality, like gossip, lying, cheating, stealing, etc… is a sin. As Christians we are called to repent and trust that Christ’s blood covers our sins. Biblical repentance does not mean that we will never slip up, but it does mean that we call sin….sin and homosexuality is a sin. I have had sexual desire for men all my life, but like every other sinner who has sinful desires I know that they are just that…sin. At times I have fallen, especially in my thought life, but I have never been unrepentant or called something God’s deems sin ok. I trust in the grace of Christ and I bend the knee of my will to Him and this is the mark of a Christian. So yes, unrepentant homosexuals who do not call it a sin will, as far as God has revealed to us in pages of Scripture, go to hell. I can do anything to change that revelation, even if I wanted to, because I am no God….and neither are you.
I don’t know the ins and outs of the politics and compromise which I’m sure lie at the heart of this Alan Chambers business, but I do know that Christ’s church should support those of us sinners who have same sex desire to remain repentant on the issue. For some this may mean celibacy, for other perhaps some bit of counseling and support can help them to get marriage and have a family. No it might not change their desire, but it can mitigate it. I myself am happily married, despite my homosexual desires, which I considered a blessing. I know for all this might not be possible, but I have found that counseling and support have help to mitigate those desires and helped me to deal with them maturely when they do arise. I wish the LGBT thought police would leave Christian who want to be faithful to the call of Christ in peace.

]]> By: Barry Burger https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/06/19/alan-chambers-apologizes-to-the-lgbtq-community/#comment-79560 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 16:12:46 +0000 https://www.wthrockmorton.com/?p=14592#comment-79560 The decision of Alan Chambers and the conversation surrounding is of course burdened by the same silliness and ignorance that burdens the entire discussion of homosexuality and religion today. Let me state my assumptions here and while they are assumptions, they are well grounded. First, the Christianity has always taught, based on the clear passages in Scripture that homosexuality, like gossip, lying, cheating, stealing, etc… is a sin. As Christians we are called to repent and trust that Christ’s blood covers our sins. Biblical repentance does not mean that we will never slip up, but it does mean that we call sin….sin and homosexuality is a sin. I have had sexual desire for men all my life, but like every other sinner who has sinful desires I know that they are just that…sin. At times I have fallen, especially in my thought life, but I have never been unrepentant or called something God’s deems sin ok. I trust in the grace of Christ and I bend the knee of my will to Him and this is the mark of a Christian. So yes, unrepentant homosexuals who do not call it a sin will, as far as God has revealed to us in pages of Scripture, go to hell. I can do anything to change that revelation, even if I wanted to, because I am no God….and neither are you.
I don’t know the ins and outs of the politics and compromise which I’m sure lie at the heart of this Alan Chambers business, but I do know that Christ’s church should support those of us sinners who have same sex desire to remain repentant on the issue. For some this may mean celibacy, for other perhaps some bit of counseling and support can help them to get marriage and have a family. No it might not change their desire, but it can mitigate it. I myself am happily married, despite my homosexual desires, which I considered a blessing. I know for all this might not be possible, but I have found that counseling and support have help to mitigate those desires and helped me to deal with them maturely when they do arise. I wish the LGBT thought police would leave Christian who want to be faithful to the call of Christ in peace.

]]> By: ken https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/06/19/alan-chambers-apologizes-to-the-lgbtq-community/#comment-56409 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 20:09:07 +0000 https://www.wthrockmorton.com/?p=14592#comment-56409 In reply to Karen.

I’m not Michael but I’m going to respond to your questions.
In general, if someone wishes to be celibate I think that is their decision and I have no problem with it.
However, my concern is the “community” that wishes to support these people and the reasons why they are trying. Do they believe that gays who aren’t celibate will spend an eternity in hell; will die of aids, a drug OD or some other disease; will be doomed to live a lonely meaningless existence? If they are basing their “support” on a misguided and false narrative about homosexuality, then they aren’t helping.

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