Date: Tue, 25 Jul 1995 09:17:20 -0500 (EST) From: CasaCristo@aol.com >THE AUTHOR GIVES PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE PROVIDED THAT >IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY, INCLUDING AUTHOR'S NAME, POST OFFICE BOX, >AND ALL FOOTNOTES. > >Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson, President >Phoenix Evangelical Bible Institute >Post Office Box 7469 >Phoenix, AZ 85011 > > > > Do Homosexuals Need to be Healed of their >Homosexuality?(1) > > (as answered by a gay Christian biologist) > > by Joseph Adam Pearson, Ph.D. > >I have written this for those whose guilt has been etched deeply by the >official positions of various Christian denominations as well as for those >whose pain has been exacerbated by the unkindnesses shown to them through the >actions and reactions of church-goers. It is my hope and prayer that the >seeming dilemma between homosexuality and Christianity be resolved and a >higher spiritual understanding of sexuality be settled within their minds >once and for all, both now and throughout the rest of their earthly days. > >The overwhelming majority of people believe that homosexuality is immoral. I >do not. I believe that homosexuality is amoral and that homosexuals >individually are either moral or immoral. > >Within the Bible, we are informed that "God is no respecter of persons."(2) > I believe that. And, I believe it applies not only to earthly appearance >but also to physical expression, personality, and sexual orientation. I >believe that the Creator cares not one jot, iota, or yod about any aspect of >our being human except that we try to reflect Him and His loving ways in all >that we do. Metaphysically speaking, love is the only real thing that can be >multiplied and bear fruit.(3) I do not believe that any sexuality >(heterosexuality or homosexuality) is an expression of God. Rather, I >believe that sexuality is, at worst, a parody of --- or, at best, a parable >of --- the creative powers of the Lord God Almighty and the communion His >saints have with one another in their at-one-ment with Him. > >Some time back, while pondering the idea that I had a spiritual message to >convey, this malingering thought would press to the forefront of my >consciousness: "Who will believe what you have to say? You are a >homosexual." I was troubled, because, although I felt comfortable with my >sexuality, I felt most others would be uncomfortable with it (to put it >mildly). I felt sure that any good that I might try to do would be prefaced >by: "Dr. Pearson, an acknowledged homosexual . . . " I knew people would >erroneously use what I was to try to define who I was, and am. > >I remember mentally working out arguments to justify and vindicate my >homosexuality should I ever come to public or private trial concerning it >until --- one day after earnestly praying to the Lord for an answer to give >my then-imagined, but perhaps now-real, detractors --- I inwardly heard >(writing while hearing) these words from the Holy Spirit: "If I am cursed, >then I am joined to my Master, who was cursed of all men. In this, then, do >I rejoice that I am cursed of men, for in that curse I receive the blessing >of God wherewith I am received into the body of Christ: rejected by man but >accepted by God, and delivered by Him from the hand of my own iniquity and >sin." > >Yes, it's true, the Lord God Almighty answered my prayer! Not only that, but >the answer swept over and settled in my soul. I understood. I heard. It >spoke to me as no biological, psychological or sociological argument had. > Later, in Bible study, I came to better understand the scriptural >foundations for the answer I received: > >In his letter to the Corinthians in Galatia, St. Paul wrote: "Christ has >redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is >written, 'Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree.'"(4) Paul was referring >to the Old Testament passage that states: "He that is hanged is cursed of >God."(5) While we all know that Jesus was not hanged in the now-common sense >of the word --- and certainly was not lifted up to the limb of a sycamore >tree --- he was hanged in the sense that the ancients understood the word, >that is, "hanged up" for all to see. You see, hanging was viewed primarily >as a warning to potential wrongdoers. In many cases, bodies were hung up > after execution rather than for execution. Both the Apostles Paul and >Peter independently affirm their acceptance of that usage through their >allusions to the hanging of Christ.(6) In other words, Jesus also --- which >is to say, like homosexuals --- had been cursed by the letter of Mosaic law. > >Thus, as I now understand it, what the Lord's Holy Spirit said to me was >this: >In that Christ Jesus, God's Chosen, was made a mock for us that we might be >reconciled to the Creator, and that His crucifixion won us pardon (if we so >believe), so then does God's mercy extend to all souls in dust who feel the >scorn of the lion (that is, the Devil) through the unkindnesses of humankind. > The Creator will not turn His love away from any who suffer --- even if they >suffer only a fraction of the passion of His firstborn --- for they remind >Him of His Son. In other words, in the Creator's sight all reviled are >joined to the one who suffered the ultimate rejection. > >On a number of occassions, I have heard the following statement uttered by >so-called Christian fundamentalists to combat the possible social acceptance >of homosexuality: "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." The >ignorance of that statement astounds me both as a Christian and as a >biologist. Because it is simplistic and reductionist, the statement fails to >take into consideration the multivariate nature of this world. It fails to >take into consideration that there might be a third kind or gender, not >neuter but "gay." > >Many unusual phenomena related to sexual identity occur within the natural >world. For example: 1) Certain avians and fish undergo spontaneous sex >reversals and are even capable of reproduction in their newfound gender. 2) >Various unfertilized insect eggs develop into males. 3) The females of >specific flying insects possess "XY" sex chromosomes and the males possess >"XX," and even some human anamolies exist in which anatomic females have "XY" >chromosomes and anatomic males have "XX" chromosomes. 4) An all-female >species of fish has been discovered, the Amazon molly, whose eggs develop >through parthenogenesis (stimulation of ova without the customary fusion of >male and female cells). And, most importantly, 5) a whole range of human >intersex states exist that fit on a continuum between normal male and female >anatomical sex (normal used here in the sense of "population-normed," or >"that which occurs most frequently"). > >The issue of human sex identity is a complex one. There are many legitimate >questions regarding the genetic (or, chromosomal) status, phenotypic (or, >anatomical) status, psychological (or, gender identification) status, and >sociological (or, society-assigned) status of sex identity. In humans, sex >identity may be determined by chromosome composition (46,XX for female and >46,XY for male). However, genetic testing is not always the best indicator >of sex. Why? There are a fair number of individuals who fall into intersex >categories. For instance: 1) those with abnormal chromosome composition >(including 47,XXY; 45,X; and, 45,X/46,XY mosaics); 2) genetic males who >differentiate into anatomical females due to androgen inaction or >insensitivity; and, 3) genetic females who differentiate into anatomical >males from exposure to abnormally high amounts of androgens either in utero > from their mothers' hyperactive adrenal glands or post partum from their >own hyperactive adrenal glands. > >Since as many as 0.1% of the population fall into intersex status >categories,(7) there may be more than 6,000,000 people on earth whose sexual >identities are in question using one basis for classification or another. > Since these people are not "real" Adams or "real" Eves (the definition of > real here left in question), are we to assume that intersex individuals >were not created by God? No. We should never use the presence, absence, or >size of external genitalia; numbers and kinds of chromosomes; sex hormone >blood levels; or muscle dimensions to classify "real" men and "real" women. > >Though sex identity is not equivocal with sexual preference (however, from a >statistical standpoint, the two are positively correlated), the point I am >trying to make is that not all things are as black and white as some >Christian fundamentalists would like them to be. Today, within the >biological community there is legitimate debate about the biological basis of >homosexuality in the light of recent scientific work that links brain >morphology and sexual preference as well as research on identitical and >fraternal twins that demonstrates statistical significance in favor of a >genetic contribution to sexual orientation. Thus, it is more than likely >that some seemingly unnatural and sinful behavior ("unnatural" and "sinful" >from the standpoint of Christian Fundamentalism) is part of nature. Then, >are we to assume that God makes only some people and not others? Or, are we >to assume that some Christians are ignorant of truth? To be sure, it is >somewhat queer to me that so many have abandoned the foundational Christian >principle of love in order to judge and condemn others about whom they know >so little. The only way that Christian Fundamentalism proves that some people >are not really of God is through the hatred it has engendered. > >Yes, there was a time when no blemished thing could come before the Lord, as >indicated by the following passage from the Bible: "He that is wounded in >the stones [testicles] or has his private member [penis] cut off, shall not >enter into the congregation of the Lord."(8) > >However, during Old Covenant times, the Lord God Almighty was trying to >establish within the hearts and minds of some very primitive people that He >is sovereign and that He is worthy of perfect sacrifice (of which Christ >Jesus was to become, and remain, the only embodiment), much the same as He >established His tabernacle and its appointments as a figure of things in >heaven.(9) Remember, according to the Old Testament, the people of that day >were "sticknecked" and "rebellious," ungrateful for the things that the Lord >was doing for them, and gross with regard to spiritual understanding. > Concerning them, even Moses had this to say: "'Ye have been rebellious >against the Lord from the [first] day that I knew you.'"(10) Thus, in order >to help them subdue an unyielding spirit, they were subjected to various >rules, regulations, and ordinances by the Lord. > >In the Book of Acts, it is recorded that St. Philip was directed by an Angel >of the Lord, >as well as by God's Holy Spirit, to minister the gospel to an Ethiopian >eunuch so that he could accept Jesus as the Messiah.(11) If during the early >days of the New Testament, a eunuch (who would have been prohibited by the >letter of Mosaic law from approaching the Lord) could receive salvation, then >surely during these latter days homosexuals (also cut off from the >congregation of the Lord by the letter of Mosaic law) can be saved --- that >is, received by Christ into His Kingdom. To be sure, homosexuals do not need >to be saved from their homosexuality, unless of course they are indulging in >a hedonistic and sinful lifestyle, just as any heterosexual in bondage to >lust of the flesh needs to be saved from that appetite. It is spiritually >and emotionally unhealthy for anyone to view others as objects for self- >gratification. > >St. Luke wrote, "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time >the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone presses into it."(12) St. John >wrote, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus >Christ."(13) And, St. Paul wrote: 1) "You are not under the law, but under >grace;" 2) "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is >nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteems one thing to be unclean, >to him it is unclean;" 3) "The letter [of the law] kills, but the spirit [of >love] gives life;" and, 4) "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even >in this: 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.'"(14) Keep in mind that >it was those who were legalistically-minded (that is, strict adherents to the >letter of Mosaic law) that were offended by Jesus' deeds and eventually saw >to it that he was condemned to death. Also, those who call themselves >Christian should remember that at one time even the Gentiles were not part of >God's chosen.(15) >From: IN%"CasaCristo@aol.com" 24-JUL-1995 00:49:49.94 >Why can't more believers in Christ be like St. Peter, who said, "God has >showed me that I should not call any man 'common' or 'unclean.'"(16) No one >is permitted by the Lord God to judge or condemn another: "You are not >pardoned, O man, whoever you are that judges: for wherein you judge another, >you condemn yourself."(17) > >I am saddened that, for many Christians, the issue of AIDS has been turned >into an issue of homosexuality. Why am I saddened? I think homosexuality is >one area in which the organized Christian Church has given sanction to >anti-Christian attitudes of condemnation and judgment as well as behaviors >that are offensive to Christ, all of which turn many away from where they >might be looking during their final days. The spirit of condemnation now >operates through many who profess that Jesus is their Savior. It runs >rampant through their hearts and minds and souls. For some strange reason, >it "sets right" with many Christians --- at least many that I have heard and >seen--- to take such a stand. > >Once, when visiting a self-identified "spirit-filled" church, I heard the >pastor make a joke about homosexuals during his sermon. It received a good >laugh from the audience; however, it made me feel badly for those homosexuals >who may have been in the congregation and who had already suffered rejection >by many and were seeking the Lord, only to be rejected (that is, made fun of) >by one of His "servants." Brothers and sisters, believe me, whenever cruelty >raises its ugly head, you can be sure that whoever raises it is not >testifying of Jesus' love and power to save. > >Like King David --- who chose to have retribution meted out by pestilence >rather than by the hand of man(18) --- I think that the Human >Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) should be feared less than men. Viruses come >nowhere near the power of evil that can be generated through human beings who >have given themselves over to malice, malevolence, and condemnation. > Certainly, humans are responsible for more damage and suffering than any >infectious agent. > >Yes, there are those Christians who would agree that homosexuals may be >"saved" but only on the condition that they repent and change their ways >(that is, not act on their sexual orientation). From my vantage point, it is >plain that such as these believe corporeal flesh to be the true reflection >and likeness of God as well as believe that the carnal nature, which animates >that flesh, to be His Nature, --- ideas that I see as entirely incongruous >and erroneous. Really, there is little I can say to clarify my views on >homosexuality for them, because, for as long as they hold to such thinking, >their understanding of sexuality (among other things) will remain earthbound: >they will not be able to grasp God's indifference to sexual orientation. (Do >not misinterpret here that I am saying the Lord is indifferent to human >behavior.) > >For those who are genuinely struggling to reconcile what they feel inside is >true concerning homosexuality with the views of the Christianity they love so >much (such views seemingly at variance with those feelings), I need to add >this: > >When I pretended that I was a heterosexual so others might accept me, I was >in effect rejecting God because I was living a lie. It was not until I >became honest with myself and others that I was able to come to the real >truth, which is to say, to the reality of Christ. That is not to say that I >believe homosexuals have a licence to licentiousness. Quite to the contrary, >no. Unless one has been called to celibacy, I believe in the unadulterated >sharing of the life and love of the Lord within the sanctity of a monogamous >relationship. I believe that one of the highest relationships that can be >achieved among souls within this earthly flesh is the one attained between >two faithful helpmates who put God first and each other second. My mate and >I have been with each other for 18 years and neither one of us has been >unfaithful to the other. This is one of the "secrets" to the longevity of >our relationship. > >What determines whether an individual is homosexual or heterosexual, I do not >know. As a biologist, I believe that the cause may be different for >different individuals. Perhaps there are some cases that are >environmentally-caused, some emotionally-caused, others genetically- and/or >hormonally-caused, and still others caused by a combination of any or all of >those factors. However, with some psychotherapeutic exceptions, I don't >think the cause should really matter. What I do think should matter is that >no one become enslaved to sexuality or to fears concerning it. I even think >that the so-called "curse" of homosexuality can be turned into a blessing for >those homosexuals who do not become involved in a frenetic escape from it in >sexual addiction or in unhealthy repression of their own homosexual feelings. > How? Through the challenge it presents. To perceive that one does not fit >into an accepted mold or pattern can help lead one to the conclusion that >people who are spiritually-minded are really strangers, foreigners, and >pilgrims in this world. Such recogntion is necessary, I think, before we can >be fully returned to a heavenly home, where God expresses Himself through us >without measure. With adversity, rejection, and suffering often comes >enlightenment; however, generally speaking, the gifts of adversity, >rejection, and suffering are not often gratefully received by souls in dust >nor viewed as spiritual gifts. (I am not saying here that we should abrogate >our responsibility to be active politically, demonstrate publicly, and stand >up for our rights in outrageous ways.) > >To those Christians who grieve because of how they perceive their own >homosexuality or the homosexuality of someone they truly love, I would like >to call their attention to something else St. Paul wrote: "God has chosen >the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the >weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base >things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and >things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh >should glory in His Presence.(19) > >I challenge them to evaluate that word of wisdom in the context of >homosexuality and today's world. Also, to evaluate the relationship of this >world to the sphere in which God operates and His true Shekinah-glory is >manifested. The Lord God Almighty does not care that narrow-minded >heterosexuals playing religion might be offended if He accepts homosexuals >into His Kingdom. In fact, God often chooses to confound people who think >they have all of the answers. "No flesh should glory" also means that >neither heterosexuals nor homosexuals should think that one sexual >orientation is better than the other: Though it is perfectly alright to >celebrate our sexuality, no human being should revel in animal instincts. > >Now, some of the things that the Apostle Paul has written must be understood >in terms of their historical and cultural contexts. For example, that which >concerns a woman's long hair being "a glory to her," or that which commands >women to "keep silence in the churches."(20) Such is not the case in his >absolutism about God choosing to exalt things that are despised by men. It >reminds me of God saying to Moses: "I WILL BE GRACIOUS TO WHOM I WILL BE >GRACIOUS, AND WILL BESTOW MERCY UPON WHOM I WILL BESTOW MERCY."(21) It >reminds me of this praise that Nebuchadnezzar offered God: "And all the >inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He does according to His >Will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and no >one can stay His hand, or say unto Him, 'What doest Thou?'"(22) It reminds >me of Christ Jesus' saying to Peter concerning that Apostle's speculation >about what would happen to "John the beloved" (the man that Jesus loved): > "'If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you?'"(23) It >reminds me of the heavenly voice which spoke to Peter and said, "'What God >has cleansed, call not unclean.'"(24) Finally, it reminds me of the Lord's >response to Paul when besought by that man to remove a thorn from his flesh: >"'My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in >weakness.'"(25) > >If the Lord God Almighty has chosen to extend His dispensation to homosexuals >(and I believe He has), then who are mere mortals to tell Him that He cannot >or that He should not? The Lord chooses to whom He is merciful (thank >goodness mankind does not choose, for no one would have ever become a >Christian). Who are any of us to question the authority or the sovereignty >of the Lord God Almighty. What audacity! How full of self-pride and >willfulness that is! > >To my friends who happen to be homosexual, I write this: Because the world >is afraid of us (it always fears what it does not understand), it has tried >to suppress the natural development of our affections and emotions. And, >since it has tried to repress the healthy expression of our sexual >orientation as well as suppress knowledge of our existence, many of us --- >without positive role models of any kind --- were consigned by society to >lead lives in sordid, backroom-type, sinful activities. Because our >personalities were fragmented, we were eaten up from the inside out by >unhealthy sexual desires. However, it is time for us to break from the >bondage of such a mental, emotional, and spiritual miasma. We need to resist >the unhealthiness and sinfulness engendered by prevailing attitudes and >actions propelled by Satan's spirit of condemnation. We need to take charge >of our lives. We need to understand that our Creator loves us and that He >couldn't care less about our sexual orientation (unless we have not come to >terms with it). > >What are the responsibilities of homosexuals? They are the same as >heterosexuals. In Romans we read, "I beseech you, therefore, brothers, by >the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, >acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."(26) Thus, we should >accept our rejection by mankind as well as our acceptance by God, taking time >to be holy all the while. (Again, this is not to say that we should be >passive in our struggle for justice and equality.) > >When they feel especially sad and lonely, shouldn't homosexuals be able to >turn to the one who knew the ultimate rejection, Christ, that their burdens >might be shared? Can not Christians who happen to be homosexual have the >same hope as Christians who happen to be heterosexual? Are homosexuals >covered by God's grace? Yes, yes, and yes. Believe me, daily I prove God's >saving grace and I witness of it to you. > >If you happen to be heterosexual, perhaps none of what I have written here >makes sense to you. That's all right. Just remember to keep your judgments >to yourself, to refain from unkindness to me and others like me, and to try >and not be too surprised when you meet many of us in heaven. And, if the >idea of "faggots"(27) burning brightly for God is repugnant to you, then >perhaps you are not yet fit for the Kingdom of God. For this reason, I pray >that you permit God to change you. > FOOTNOTES >(1) c 1994 by Joseph Adam Pearson (TXU 643-369 United States Copyright >Office). > From an earlier, unpublished version c 1992 by Joseph Adam Pearson, >Ph.D. (TXU > 528 551). >(2) Acts 10:34. See also: 2 Samuel 14:14, 2 Chronicles 19:7, Romans 2:11, >Ephesians > 6:9, and 1 Peter 1:17. >(3) Read Genesis 1:28 and Mark 12:28-31. >(4) Galatians 3:13. >(5) Deuteronomy 21:23. >(6) With regard to Paul, see Acts 13:39; and, concerning Peter, see Acts >5:30, Acts > 10:39, and 1 Peter 2:24. >(7) Jean D. Wilson, M.D., 1992, "Sex Testing in International Athletics," >Journal of > the American Medical Association, Vol. 267, No. 6, page 853. >(8) Deuteronomy 23:1. See also Leviticus 21:16-20. >(9) Refer to Hebrews, especially Chapters 9 and 10. >(10) Deuteronomy 9:24. >(11) Acts 8:26-39. >(12) Luke 16:16. >(13) John 1:17. >(14) Romans 6:14 & 14:14; 2 Corinthians 3:6; and, Galatians 5:14. >(15) Refer to Romans, Chapter 9. >(16) Acts 10:28. >(17) Romans 2:1. >(18) 2 Samuel 24:13-15. >(19) 1 Corinthians 1:27-29. >(20) 1 Corinthians 11:15 & 14:35. >(21) Exodus 33:19. >(22) Daniel 4:35. >(23) John 21:22. >(24) Acts 10:15. >(25) 2 Corinthians 12:9. >(26) Romans 12:1. Further pertinent verses are found in 1 Corinthians >3:16-17 and > 6:18-20. >(27) Metaphysically speaking, faggots are "embers." > > >THE AUTHOR GIVES PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THE ABOVE ARTICLE PROVIDED THAT IT >IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY, INCLUDING AUTHOR'S NAME, ADDRESS, AND ALL >FOOTNOTES.