White Knuckles, Porn & Shame
By · Comments
A few of the gay gossip blogs are in a tizzy regarding my post concerning Covenant Eyes, a faith-based software company that filters sexual content on the web. They infer that because I use such a tool that must indicate that Jesus must be a helplessly, weak entity and that Christians experiencing temptation are all white-knuckling liars. I couldn’t disagree more.
The Lord imparts the fruit of His Spirit, including self-control, to prepare a safe space to be able to make what I think are biblical and appropriate decisions. The fact that I, as well as countless others, choose to submit to God and implement online accountability tools isn’t a point of shame or weakness. It’s a reality. I have chosen to experience the depth and beauty of real relationships over the momentary, worthless gratification of fake ones. Why? Life empowered by the Spirit to be lived in obedient free will is where true freedom is best expressed.
In addition, the porn industry ruins millions of lives including those in the image to those who view it. Exploiting men and women as a commodity instead of respecting them physically, emotionally and spiritually is not an industry I choose to invest in. It is truly a form of modern day slavery that spiritually enslaves some and quite literally enslaves others. Flirting with what many deem as harmless entertainment, but is truly fire is not in my or anyone else’s best interest and I make no apology for exercising caution by using Covenant Eyes.
2 Corinthians 12: 9 says it all: “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
My aim in life is not simply white knuckling behavioral modification … it’s to know Jesus Himself. Freedom is not found in what my struggles are, it is found in knowing and living life with Jesus Christ who empowers me to make decisions about my struggles in a way that honors Him . . . and there is no shame in that!
Healthy Vs. False Masculinity & Gender Complementarity
By · Comments
Mohler has a very thought provoking article up today. Below are the opening few paragraphs of NewsNote: Masculinity in a Can, Fight Club at Church, and the Crisis of Manhood:
You do not have to look far to find evidence of the fact that males are in trouble in these confused and confusing times. On the university campuses, women undergraduate students outnumber young men by a clear margin — 60% to 40%. A frightening percentage of young males are or have been behind bars, and the vast majority of young men are delaying their assumption of adult roles and responsibilities until well into their twenties or early thirties.
A crisis of fatherlessness marks the lives of millions of boys and young men, with boys growing up without fathers in the home now comprising a majority within some ethic groups and urban populations. At almost every grade level, boys are performing below girls, and are often left behind as girls go on to more advanced levels of learning. Then, adding insult to injury, reports from scientists indicate that both sperm counts and testosterone levels are falling among some boys and men — blamed on anything from hormone supplements in the food chain to chemical contamination of ground water.
In many churches, young men and older boys are simply missing. The absence of young men ages 18 to 30 is just a fact of life in many congregations. Though this is especially acute in the mainline Protestant denominations, it is increasingly true of many evangelical churches as well. …
Read the rest of NewsNote: Masculinity in a Can, Fight Club at Church, and the Crisis of Manhood.
While Mohler exposes the wound he doesn’t offer much (in this article) on how to define healthy masculinity and pass that information along to men today and in the future. Many of the Exodus Member Agencies have created teachings and resources concerning healthy Biblical masculinity and femininity and there are quite a variety of opinions out there even within our networks.
I personally have benefited from the teachings of Joe Dallas, Andy Comiskey and Sy Rogers. All three have really dug into what it means to be a man and while it is complicated … it is gloriously complicated. Men bear the Image of God in a unique manner as men. It is imperative to know what this means and abide in what it means to be created by God to be male. We do this not only to become mature and secure in our own gender identity but can come alongside women in a gender complementary witness to the fullness of God’s Image here on earth.
Men bear God’s Image uniquely. Women bear God’s Image uniquely. Together we bear His Image in full in such a way that neither of us could do alone.
What thoughts come to mind for you concerning this crisis in masculinity? Any feedback about the specific issues brought up in the article linked above? Feel free to leave a comment here, message me through the contact link above or on the facebook page (link to the page on the toolbar below.)
Thank you Mr. President and Secretary of State Clinton. Of course I don’t agree with them on a whole lot concerning issues surrounding homosexuality but it is nice to be able to agree with them about this.
MORE:
New York Times Picks up Uganda Story
Rick Warren Graciously and Strongly Denounces Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Rachel Maddow vs. Richard Cohen – Interview Review & Missing the Point About Uganda
Rachel Maddow, Uganda and Me – Guest Post by Don Schmierer
Don Schmierer Added to Letter Opposing Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Charisma News Online Picks Up Ugandan Story
Exodus International Sends Letter Opposing Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Martin Ssempa Should Renounce Support for Proposed Ugandan Criminalization of Homosexuality
Ugandan Government Poised to Harshly Prosecute Homosexuals
PLUS:
Dr. Warren Throckmorton has started a Facebook group as a central point for news and information on the subject.
Joy Behar, God bless her (and I mean that) … you never have to guess what she’s thinking. She recently made a statement on how she has heard that gay male couples do not hold to monogamous relationships like heterosexual couples.
Porn “Hijacks” The Male Brain Wired for Sexual Intimacy
By · Comments
Albert Mohler highlights the new book by William Struthers Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain:
To no one’s surprise, the vast majority of those who consume pornography are males. It is no trade secret that males are highly stimulated by visual images, whether still or video. That is not a new development, as ancient forms of pornography attest. What is new is all about access. Today’s men and boys are not looking at line pictures drawn on cave walls. They have almost instant access to countless forms of pornography in a myriad of forms.
But, even as technology has brought new avenues for the transmission of pornography, modern knowledge also brings a new understanding of how pornography works in the male brain. While this research does nothing to reduce the moral culpability of males who consume pornography, it does help to explain how the habit becomes so addictive.
As William M. Struthers of Wheaton College explains, “Men seem to be wired in such a way that pornography hijacks the proper functioning of their brains and has a long-lasting effect on their thoughts and lives.”
Struthers is a psychologist with a background in neuroscience and a teaching concentration in the biological bases of human behavior. In Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain, Struthers presents key insights from neuroscience that go a long way toward explaining why pornography is such a temptation for the male mind.
Excellent blog post by Steve Fuller. I say it is excellent because Mr. Fuller is honest and humble enough to challenge his own preconceived notions to press toward the truth of a heartfelt and difficult situation.
Plus, I think it is excellent because Jerry Armelli, featured in the post, is awesome. From Social Experiment #5: Prodigal Ministries:
In 2009, I visited 52 churches in 52 weeks in order to reconnect with God and redefine my faith. In 2010, I am stepping outside of the church to connect with people. During the Social Experiment, I will experience 52 random encounters in 52 weeks. Nothing is preplanned, but I trust that God will lead me to the right places and cross my path with the right people. This is reflection 5 of 52.
I am an ignorant fool.
A week ago, I considered leaving my home church because of their affiliation with Prodigal Ministries (an organization that provides holistic counseling to gays and lesbians). Today, I consider Prodigal Ministries (and its founder, Jerry Armelli) a loving voice in the midst of too much polarizing hatred.
I want to publicly apologize for anything I have written in the past about the organization (which I don’t think is much). I settled for ignorance, and that was wrong. Today, I hope to communicate a more complete picture of the heart behind Prodigal Ministries.
Last week, I met with Jerry Armelli to discuss his ministry. The conversation encouraged me that healthy dialogue about meaningful issues is still possible.
We spoke for nearly two hours. I’m not a journalist, so this post won’t be written as an interview. It’s best to simply tell the story of our encounter. So, here we go…
The Importance of Covenant Eyes
By · CommentsA while ago I wrote my testimony about how Covenant Eyes has greatly benefited my online accountability and facilitates a safe place online. I have tried various accountability software services out there and this is by far the best.
I have been using their service for almost three years. Maybe longer. We at Exodus have even partnered with Covenant Eyes. All of our staff at Exodus uses the service. Many of my friends outside of Exodus use it. I even use it on my personal computer at home. That said, I am running their banners (at the top of the blog mixed in with ours) because I honestly believe that it never hurts to be more transparent with trusted brothers and sisters in Christ about our online activity.
Read More→
Unapologetic About Prayer
By · Comments
Exodus is a Christian faith based organization. We do believe in a Living God who has His own opinions and will for our lives. We do believe that being in communication with Him is essential. It is essential to not only find and experience freedom in one area of life … our Communion with God is essential for all aspects of life. Engaging in dialog with a living God is why we call him Lord, Savior and Abba (our Father.)
Here is our doctrinal statement (emphasis mine for the purpose of this post):
Doctrinal Statement
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the inspired Word Of God, the final authority for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction for right living. We believe in one God, existing eternally in three Persons:Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, fully man and fully God, only begotten Son of the Father. he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, buried and rose physically from the dead. He ascended to the right hand of the Father and will come again in power and glory.We believe that faith alone in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord frees us from the mastery of sin, and its consequences of death and eternal damnation. He assumed the penalty of death Himself, and enables us to live out of His resurrected life unto eternity. We believe the Holy Spirit carries out this work of renewal in our lives, empowering us to grow in loving union with our Heavenly Father and to walk in obedience to His will. We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ is formed of all those who know Him as their Savior and Lord, regardless of denominational beliefs.
We pray for renewal of our lives, empowerment to grow in loving union with our Heavenly Father and to walk in obedience. I think that is a lot broader, more meaningful and a lot more complicated than the simplistic caricatures some try to paint of our Christian post-gay journey.
Russell Moore sounds like a very provocative seminary professor! I will quote the setup and question he posed to his Christian Ethics class at Southern Seminary. I will also link to his five part response. I am still considering his response and posting this to simply stir up thought.
Mr. Moore writes:
Every year at the conclusion of Christian ethics class here at Southern Seminary, I give my students a final ethical situation to answer for their final examination. They are graded not on their conclusion, but on how they arrived there. The question below is this year’s dilemma. They’ll answer, and then we’ll discuss it communally as a class on Thursday. Here it is:
This question takes place sometime in the future, in your ministry.
Joan is a fifty year-old woman who has been visiting your church for a little over a year. She sits on the third row from the back, and usually exits during the closing hymn, often with tears in her eyes. Joan approaches you after the service on Sunday to tell you that she wants to follow Jesus as her Lord.
You ask Joan a series of diagnostic questions about her faith, and it is clear she understands the gospel. She still seems distressed though. When you ask if she’s repented of her sin, she starts to cry and grit her teeth.
Charisma Magazine has published my article The Wounded Unseen. I conclude the article with:
I am convinced that we as a church must do all we can to speak to these issues – to not only reach out to the husband or wife who struggles with their sexuality, but to also put an arm around a heartbroken spouse and walk with a family in need. If we do not, the culture will speak where we are silent. As Gayle Haggard says, the ultimate question for her became, “Will I be the woman who washes her hands of the situation and walks away from Ted or will I be the woman who loves him and shows forgiveness? The choice was mine.” I believe a vital question for the church today is, “Will we be the church that gives in to fear and ignores those who need help, or will we be the church that demonstrates the love and compassion of Jesus Christ so that the truth will set captives free?” The choice is ours.
Please read the article and let me know your thoughts.
MORE:
Gayle Haggard Releases Memoir titled “Why I Stayed” – Interview with Renee Dallas
Catherine H
Will Johanning
White Knuckles, Porn & Shame :: Exodus International Blog
Sue
Frank Brignoli
SL
LJ
Jennifer Thorne
