Let me begin by saying that I have struggled with homosexuality since I was 11 years old. I am now 26, still a virgin, and am living my life for God and view this as my "thorn in the flesh". I can assure you that people do not choose to be gay, if it was a choice I wouldn't cry every night begging God to change me. I have a wonderful relationship with my parents and agree with much of what the author has to say. Where I differ is that there is no hope of me being free. I desire to be free and God promised to work all things to my good and to reward those who truly seek him. I will be healed eventually rather here or in heaven. Try to imagine never being able to fulfill your physical desires and you will no what is facing Christian gays. Have a little compassion its not as easy as just trusting God. You literally have to lay down everything. Preaching at people will never get them to do that it has to be a touch from God. It's not our job to clean them just lead them to him.

i believe that a man is not just subject to animal instincts. Gen: says 'he found none like him'; so, we are not just a collection of genetics or soley creatures of our environments or treatments. God says we have self knowledge, will and choice. if any person concerning anything, makes a choice then all other arguments are off; if truly a Jesus type choice was made. If we just typically live by Jesus' rules then we'll all be o.k.. i personally always ask same sex participants to seriously consider that they may have been an unlearned enunich in the first place.

If the problem is genetic, these people were created that way. If they were created that way, how can they be condemned? Gays might be described as similar to people with other birth anomalies. I do not think anyone would say that a Downs Syndrome affected person cannot enter the Kingdom of God simply because she is not competent to make the decision to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. I think that these people are welcome in the Kingdom regardless of their genetic circumstances. God looks at the heart to find faith in the saving action of Jesus Christ, and does so with all people of all varying genetic makeup. Those who choose a lifestyle that is abusive or promiscuous remain in their sin, until they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

It just seems to me that God might not condemn a relationship based on commitment and love just because the manner by which the love is expressed is unattractive or unappealing to some. I recognize that there are people who abuse others in the name of love. This is not love, it is abuse. I also recognize that Scripture teaches that a sexual relationship is to be between two people within a God included covenant relationship. Sex for fun, then, seems to be a sin, at least when outside such a covenant relationship. I also recognize that Jesus stated that marriage, as he defined it, is between a man and a woman. It appears that two people of the same sex cannot be married as that institution is defined in scripture, but it does not say some other covenantal relationship is not possible.

I am not so bold as to say that I am certain of my views. Nevertheless, I am certain that God is merciful to all those who seek him. Christians need to keep talking and praying about this issue so at least we can stand before God and tell him we did our best to get it right, even if in the end we are wrong.

What is sexual conduct? Is sex as designed by God solely to produce children? Any other sexual contact which cannot produce children, or is not intended to produce children, must then be sinful. What of those who use birth control? What of those who have had surgical procedures done to prevent childbirth? What of those who have been rendered sterile by some illness or physical distortion. Is sex always sinful to them? It seems to me this is what any argument that is anti gay requires as a conclusion. But Jesus tells us that we are to love each other. He does not say how that love is to be expressed. Why can it not be expressed in a manner that gives physical and emotional pleasure to the people involved? We are to love each other. How we express that love seems irrelevant.

The term “homosexual” is nowhere found in Scripture, though I agree some descriptions of sinful behavior might be interpreted as homosexual behavior. I am simply not convinced that the descriptions are directed against all loving relationships between two people of the same sex. Sexual addiction and promiscuity are certainly sinful whether homosexual or heterosexual. These activities abuse our bodies. By my reading, Paul, in Romans, simply says that abusive and deceitful behavior is sinful. But more importantly, Paul goes on to say that the saving act of Jesus Christ changed things and that even these abusive and deceitful sinful behaviors are covered by Jesus’ sacrifice. I would not say that this passage makes those deceitful and abusive actions no longer sinful. However, it does not say that such conduct, after Christ's death, is not unforgivable nor bars these people from the Kingdom. They are forgiven! If they do it again, they are forgiven again! Was Jesus' death insufficient in some way?

If we find that sexual orientation is genetic, such that it is not the choice of the individual, what do we do with the theology that rejects the homosexual community for their un-chosen actions? If

If Christ isn't enough to change a person with any kind of sin... then... what are we doing? Paul says that we should die to self so that we may live in HIM. Saying NO to any sin is what christians do "not of ourselves less we boast" but claim victory through HIM. God's word is real and true! He gives us the power to overcome sin of all sorts and we all deal with our sin and temptations. But as christians we have the power to overcome!!!!

I believe this man has leaned unto his own understanding! He's trying to fit modern day thinking into the Bible and well, it just has no place. God does call us to love and bear witness. I do love the souls of people and I pray for anyone who in anyway is affected by homosexuality. I pray for all of us whose sin keep us from the relationship that God wants and long to have with us.

I do agree with his first point. Homosexuality is not always caused by a nonexistant relationship with the same-sex parent. It can be caused by an abnormally close relationship to the same-sex parent. Ultimately, homosexuality is an identity issue. It is caused by a broken self image and is driven by jealousy of other men.

[Edited for personal attack directed at another member] In essense, he is saying that Christ doesn't have the power to remove our stains and make us as white as snow. He is saying that the cross wasn't enough and that all things AREN'T possible with God. He is virtually making our sin more powerful than God's power. To tell people they "cannot change" is a trap that leaves them hopeless, when God clearly sent Christ to give us hope. Jeremiah 29:11 assures us that God knows his plans for us. To give us a future and a hope." I don't know who made this man a professor, but they need to take his degree back.

I happen to agree with the majority of what
Dr. Throckmorton has to say.
I just wanted to mention that infidelity is
is mentioned far more than homosexuality in the
bible. It is too bad people are so much more
interested in hurting people loving the wrong sex,
than they are in stopping someone that is hurting
his/her marriage partner. Emotionally and sometimes
physically from careless sex with someone other
than their spouse. As the Lord says, let he who is
without sin cast the first stone. When you can
look at the 10 commandments and honestly before God
say you do not commit any of them. Then you can
aim your disgust and hatred toward homosexuals.
Oh, but wait, doesn't it say something about loving
your neighbor? And forgiving them as the Lord
forgave you? Tolerance is a virtue. You don't have
to condone the behavior to love the person.
As our pastor once said. Of course homosexuals
are welcome here. They will fit right in with the
liars, cheaters, and gossips.

It frightens me that this man is a professor and a counselor. I am a counselor and have counseled many homosexuals. Most of them were sexually abused. I'm not saying that EVERY homosexual was abused, but you cannot deny the correlation.

His second point is true, gays cannot change by trying. However, he fails to mention that none of us can stop sinning by trying. It is the finished work of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to live the Christian life.

His third point sickened me to my stomach. Change IS possible, because with God ALL things are possible. That includes freedom from homosexuality. His assertion that we should treat homosexuality with kid gloves is appalling. We should treat ALL sin like the abomination that is. We are to speak the truth (homosexuality is sin.) in love.

This guy has either never read the Bible or is "too close" to the issue to make clear judgments.

God's word is His word.... do you believe what the word of God says about you or do you believe what the world says about you...Scientific research studies into the life of those who live in sin, gives the sinner a way to justify their sin. Sin is sin. Have I had desires to sin in this area? as a matter of fact, yes. Did I act on it... no.

Every sin, and every opportunity we have to repent of that sin is a choice we make. I'm not by any measure saying that it is simple or easy, but it is basicly that. A choice to accept what God says about you, over what your flesh says about you. Yes I agree, that we should not shun people because of the sin they find themselves in. We are called to love one another... God called the sin an abomination, not the sinner.

So on some level I agree, that you can not force someone to change, but I don't say that because research proves that people don't tent to change...You must choose to change... it can't be forced. You need to choose to believe God

I am only starting to look at the issue of the Christian response to homosexuality. I've been a Christian now for over 25 years and never really went below the surface of the Biblical teaching on this subject. I took the easy option and went with the theological flow - basically it's a no-no. I have never had to deal with it head on and personally, however, now I do. Earlier this year my son 'came out' and it was a shock, I wasn't expecting this. He is 30 and living in Australia. I now need to look seriously and in depth to find out what way God wants me to respond. It hasn't changed my love for himbut it has completely thrown me spiritually. I would appreciate some ggd reliable and trustworthy teaching and any articles or books that may launch me in the right direction.

All sinners (homosexuals included) are unrepentant sinners. We all were sinners and spiritually dead at one point in our life apart from Jesus Christ. If you read Romans Chapter 1 it helps to explain homosexuality and why it happens. Those who sin in their thoughts are just as guilty as those who sin in the form of action. Only God knows the thoughts and the hearts of man. We are to love people enough to tell them the truth according to God's word and homosexuality is a sin just like any other as it is stated in God's word. Romans Chapter 1 explains homosexuality as being a result of sin. Humanity can study this subject all they want and by God's Grace come to an understanding that will parallel the Word. Like the latest study that supports a collation between abortion and mental disorders. The same grace we have received we should give to others and in love share the truth of God's Word. Remember the story the man who had his debt forgiven but chose to choke the other guy.

When I first read through your article, the last section about not trying to change their orientation gave me the impression of accepting homosexuality as is, but now that I've read it over a couple more times, I think I see your point more clearly- that just switching a mentality is not a simple thing, so encouraging a celibate lifestyle or counseling in heterosexual relationship may help them adopt a more Christ-like view. Sorry about that, didn't mean to jump all over you; just making sure stuff matches up with scripture. : )