Says Alan Chambers’ comments about ‘sexual orientation’ change “unwittingly played into the enemy’s hands”

Andy Comiskey of Desert Stream Ministries.

The following letter was published by Desert Stream Ministries, led by former homosexual Andy Comiskey, in response to growing concerns over statements emanating from Exodus International:

April 2012

Dear Friends,

Several of you have requested my views on the current Exodus debate. As far as I can see, this fundamentally involves the question about changing sexual orientation, with an underlying concern about a compromised view of grace. It also is a structural issue: who is able to do best at what for Exodus.

Please forgive our late entry into sharing our views on these matters. I (Andrew) am a weak social networker who finds the flurry of opinions disorienting, at times more flesh than Spirit. Still, we love Exodus and must take seriously the fact that Living Waters is the most commonly employed ‘healing’ format in our network.

Like you, our goal is to equip the church to offer sound ministry to the sexually broken, with an emphasis on those dealing with SSA. We will continue to do that in and through all our disagreements and adjustments. The goal is preparing a people who please Jesus, the Bride who has made herself ready.

Regarding sexual orientation change, we at DSM will continue to uphold change as a reasonable goal for Christians with SSA who are earnestly seeking Him and who are willing to do the hard work of resolving their gender disintegration through Christ and His healing community. (We realize that not all will graduate into a state of readiness for marriage. However, that should not preclude anyone from seeking full sexual restoration.)

Alan’s comments about change unwittingly played into the enemy’s hands. To question sexual orientation change on the basis of residual struggles is weak theology and psychology. Very few who have overcome destructive, life-dominating issues live without a trace of the problem. To then describe that ‘trace’ as a reason to tone down the idea of change makes no sense to us.

The following is a reprint of the November 1987 article, “The Overhauling of Straight America,” which appeared in Guide Magazine, a homosexual publication. A few years later its authors, Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen (who wrote under the psuedonym “Erastes Pill” below), expanded it into a book: “After the Ball — How America will conquer its fear and hatred of Gays in the 1990s” (Plume, 1990). The article and book have frequently been cited by conservatives as the blueprint for how homosexual activists would ultimately successfully “market” homosexuality to the American public (emphasis added):

The Overhauling of Straight America

By Marshall Kirk and Erastes Pill [Hunter Madsen], The Guide Magazine

The first order of business is desensitization of the American public concerning gays and gay rights. To desensitize the public is to help it view homosexuality with indifference instead of with keen emotion. Ideally, we would have straights register differences in sexual preference the way they register different tastes for ice cream or sports games: she likes strawberry and I like vanilla; he follows baseball and I follow football. No big deal.

At least in the beginning, we are seeking public desensitization and nothing more. We do not need and cannot expect a full “appreciation” or “understanding” of homosexuality from the average American. You can forget about trying to persuade the masses that homosexuality is a good thing. But if only you can get them to think that it is just another thing, with a shrug of their shoulders, then your battle for legal and social rights is virtually won. And to get to shoulder-shrug stage, gays as a class must cease to appear mysterious, alien, loathsome and contrary. A large-scale media campaign will be required in order to change the image of gays in America. And any campaign to accomplish this turnaround should do six things.

[1] TALK ABOUT GAYS AND GAYNESS AS LOUDLY AND AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.

The principle behind this advice is simple: almost any behavior begins to look normal if you are exposed to enough of it at close quarters and among your acquaintances. The acceptability of the new behavior will ultimately hinge on the number of one’s fellows doing it or accepting it. One may be offended by its novelty at first–many, in times past, were momentarily scandalized by “streaking,” eating goldfish, and premarital sex. But as long as Joe Six-pack feels little pressure to perform likewise, and as long as the behavior in question presents little threat to his physical and financial security, he soon gets used to it and life goes on. The skeptic may still shake his head and think “people arc crazy these days,” but over time his objections are likely to become more reflective, more philosophical, less emotional.

The way to benumb raw sensitivities about homosexuality is to have a lot of people talk a great deal about the subject in a neutral or supportive way. Open and frank talk makes the subject seem less furtive, alien, and sinful, more above-board. Constant talk builds the impression that public opinion is at least divided on the subject, and that a sizable segment accepts or even practices homosexuality. Even rancorous debates between opponents and defenders serve the purpose of desensitization so long as “respectable” gays are front and center to make their own pitch. The main thing is to talk about gayness until the issue becomes thoroughly tiresome.

The following is a statement issued by First Stone Ministries, based in Oklahoma City, OK, and headed by Stephen Black, a former homosexual [click HERE to listen to Part One of AFTAH’s 2011 interview with Black; and HERE for Part Two]:

Many of you may know that for 36 years, First Stone Ministries has been affiliated with Exodus International, a network of ministries that all proclaim freedom from homosexuality through relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the last several months, the leadership of First Stone Ministries has become increasingly aware of some changes in Exodus’s ideology and leadership that have resulted in us feeling we are unable to continue as an Exodus Member ministry while maintaining Biblical integrity and a clear conscience before God. In April, First Stone officially resigned as an Exodus Member ministry. We remain dedicated to proclaiming Biblical truth in all sexual and relational matters, and to providing a safe place for those struggling with unwanted same-sex attractions to find healing and freedom in Christ and to be empowered to “go and sin no more.” Pray for us as we seek to remain connected with other Biblically-sound ministries and to maintain and even increase our influence to the Church and culture in Oklahoma and throughout the Midwest. Two sources which provide a prophetic and scholarly perspective of our decision:

“Time for a Change of Leadership at Exodus?” by Robert A. J. Gagnon, Ph.D.

“Desert Stream Ministries’ Response to Exodus” by Andrew Comiskey (PDF)

Rachel Held Evans says today’s younger Christians are uniting against legislative action (such as pro-traditional marriage amendments) opposing the homosexual agenda.

By Peter LaBarbera

Folks, there’s nothing that MSNBC and the Left-biased media love more than to highlight an evangelical Christian who has sold out on homosexuality (or abortion). That is essentially what evangelical blogger Rachel Held Evans has done on the homosexual “marriage” issue — hence she is featured prominently in this MSNBC piece titled, “Could marriage debate drive young christians from church?”

For the life of me I cannot fathom the shallowness of Held Evans’ thinking, beginning with her casual acceptance of personal identity (“gayness”) based on a sin (homosexuality) that God calls an abomination. Are today’s young Christians really that soft-headed and brainwashed (yes, brainwashed by the politically correct media, Hollywood and academia) that they believe that because they “know someone who’s gay,” they can no longer fight and speak out against something as evil as legalized homosexual “marriage”?

Is it beyond the comprehension of the under-35 crowd that perhaps out-and-proud “gayness” and other misguided secular ideas are prospering precisely because the influence of biblcal Christianity is waning in our culture?

Also note in bold below Held Evans’ particular aversion toward Christians opposing the political/legislative homosexual agenda — while presumably it is fine for the powerful Sin Movement that calls itself “gay” to use our American freedoms to push boldly toward achieving its radical goals. (Goals that include teaching homosexuality and gender confusion (transgenderism) to the very young in schools; blacklisting and silencing pro-family (Christian) voices in the media; and undermining religious freedom itself insofar as it conflicts with homosexuality-based “rights.”)

In other words, Held Evans and fellow “nicer-than-Jesus” evangelicals advocate a unilateral surrender in the Culture War.

Proud lesbian “christian” Kittredge Cherry prays to the “Erotic Christ”: “Free us from shame.”

The “queering” of Jesus Christ is perhaps one of the most outrageous and demented forms of homosexual activism in this spiritually confused age. Sinners throughout history have sought to remake God in their image. Below “lesbian Christian” author Kittredge Cherry offers her “Rainbow Christ Prayer” to honor “gay spirituality.” It appears on the pages of Huffington Post, which as a radically pro-homosexuality information source is becoming a leading website for such anti-biblical nonsense emanating from “gay christianity” (small ‘c’). For some solid teaching on the Bible and homosexuality from perhaps the world’s leading expert on the subject, see Prof. Robert Gagnon’s website. Meanwhile, here are some actual Bible verses about the rainbow. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH.

Here is Cherry’s blasphemous prayer (emphasis added):

Rainbow Christ, you embody all the colors of the world. Rainbows serve as bridges between different realms: Heaven and Earth, east and west, queer and non-queer. Inspire us to remember the values expressed in the rainbow flag of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community.

Red is for life, the root of spirit. Living and Self-Loving Christ, you are our Root. Free us from shame, and grant us the grace of healthy pride so we can follow our own inner light. With the red stripe in the rainbow, we give thanks that God created us just the way we are.

Orange is for sexuality, the fire of spirit. Erotic Christ, you are our Fire, the Word made flesh. Free us from exploitation, and grant us the grace of mutual relationships. With the orange stripe in the rainbow, kindle a fire of passion in us.

Yellow is for self-esteem, the core of spirit. Out Christ, you are our Core. Free us from closets of secrecy, and give us the guts and grace to come out. With the yellow stripe in the rainbow, build our confidence.

Read the rest of this article »

Meanwhile, Facebook censors Ohio pro-family advocate’s photo exposing lewdness of “gay pride” parade

Chris Hughes is leading Facebook’s campaign to destroy the family in Maine

The Bangor Daily News recently published an article about the huge Facebook donation:

PORTLAND, Maine — Supporters of same-sex marriage exceeded the $100,000 they needed to raise to receive a matching contribution from a co-founder of Facebook.

The Mainers United for Marriage campaign raised $121,197 as of Friday but topped $100,000 on Thursday, the deadline for raising the matching funds, David Farmer, spokesman for the campaign, said Monday.

Chris Hughes, editor-in-chief of the liberal magazine The New Republic, who owns 1 percent of Facebook, and his fiance, Sean Eldridge, president of Hudson River Ventures and senior adviser to the national organization Freedom to Marry, in May promised the campaign $100,000 if it raised matching funds in a month.

Mainers will vote Nov. 6 on whether to allow marriage licenses to be issued to same-sex couples. The referendum question in February was placed on the ballot after the secretary of state’s office validated the nearly 60,000 signatures on petitions submitted by supporters the previous month.  [Click here to view the entire article]

This picture was taken at the Columbus, Ohio “gay pride” parade. Children lined the parade route. Facebook would not allow the image in the private and personal account of Coach Dave Daubenmire.

Maine pro-family veteran Mike Heath (a Member of AFTAH’s Board of Advisors) comments:

At about the same time Facebook decided to block the speech of Coach Dave Daubenmire — who exposed the debauchery at Columbus, Ohio’s “gay pride” parade [see photo at left and click here] — one of its founders fulfilled his commitment to make a huge $100,000 donation to assure Maine enacts sodomy-based “marriage” in November of this year. I’ve been told hundreds of times in the past decade by churches, individuals and businesses in Maine that they cannot give money to defend marriage because it will hurt them.  More and more people each year decide to withhold funding for the defense of common sense because they are afraid of being bullied by the homosexual movement.

Editor’s Note:  While I’ve reposted a number of articles that Mike Heath has written over the years, I’m pleased to announce with this article that Mike is going to be a regular contributor to Americans for Truth.  Mike is an outstanding Christian father and leader in Maine — as the former executive director of the Maine Christian Civic League. He sent this article out to his e-mail list this morning.  I encourage you to read it all the way to the end.  Mike takes no prisoners in this article. He is uniquely qualified to provide this honest perspective from inside our movement.  He needs our support.  Click here to visit Mike’s website and subscribe to his email.  He was one of the first in the movement many years ago to see the value of using broadcast e-mails in communicating truth.  Thanks in advance for reading all the way to the end! — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH

The hero from the new movie “For Greater Glory”

____________________________

By Michael S. Heath

I apologize for taking so long to write. Click here to read my last email to you, which was sent on April 30, 2012.

In that article I write candidly about my history of ministry in Maine. I encourage you to take a few moments to click through to the link and read the article again. It is important to understanding what I am going to write to you today.

I don’t mention in that article a group formed by the Maine Legislature many years ago called “The Ethics Commission.” I need to write about that this morning. Their existence provides a bit of explanation for why I haven’t been writing to you as often as I would like.

The Ethics Commission

They exist, in part, to provide a guarantee to Maine people that corruption isn’t happening in government — that everything in politics is above board … ethical. They provide this service to the public by forcing lobbyists, politicians, Maine citizens, businesses, corporations — everybody in America really — to fill out many, many forms and meet lots of deadlines if they choose to influence Maine politics. The forms, some of them dozens of pages in length, and governed by language only a lawyer working with his accountant could love (or understand) require the disclosure of everything related to finances including the names, addresses and business connection of donors. The ACLU has argued in the past that this is unconstitutional. The National Organization for Marriage is making the same argument now in court. I haven’t checked recently but I think they are still in court fighting the State of Maine over the 2009 vote on “marriage.” Their attorney, Jim Bopp, charges hundreds of dollars an hour for his services. They’ve been in court for years, and the case hasn’t completed the appeal process.

I’ve been in the headlines before as leader of the Christian Civic League of Maine charged with being unethical. It’s impossible to win those headlines when you are a religious leader. The press prints the accusations, but not the results (when you are exonerated).

The following is Part Two of our interview with Peter Sprigg [click HERE to listen], Senior Fellow in Policy Studies at the Family Research Council. This was recorded June 21, 2012. [Go HERE for Part One and HERE for the archive section containing all AFTAH interviews.] Sprigg goes into further analysis of the Mark Regnerus study on homosexual parenting. He and AFTAH President Peter LaBarbera and Grace Gospel Fellowship pastor John Kirkwood also discuss the radical decision by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan not to defend the state’s marriage law.

CORRECTION note from program: In the beginning of this interview, there is a discussion of egregious, pro-homosexual media bias, focusing on CNN’s Soledad O’Brien. In the first of two CNN clips, we play O’Brien interviewing Dr. Fred Luter, the new — and first African American — president of the Southern Baptist Convention. LaBarbera mistakenly attributes a quote by libertarian Republican Margaret Hoover, another guest on the progam, to O’Brian. As you can see from the CNN clip HERE, it is Hoover, not O’Brien, who refers to homosexuality (“inclusiveness of gay Americans”) as “a new civil rights issue.” Then O’Brien condescendingly instructs Luter that his position on homosexual “marriage” puts him in “direct opposition to President Obama.” We apologize for the error.

HOW TO LISTEN: This is an mp3 file, supported in most operating systems by Windows Media Player, Quick Time and/or I-Tunes.  Real Player is not supported and there may be difficulty when attempting to listen with it.  Left click once on the link below to play. (Please be patient, depending upon the speed of your internet connection it may take a moment or two to load.)  OR right click the link then “save target as” to download the whole show.

6-21-12, Peter Sprigg, Part Two