Homophobic Stigmatization vs True Homophobia

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The previous post clearly involved a true case of homophobia and a general response on how to overcome it. In response on our Facebook page, Melissa said: Most who call homosexuality a sin or stand up against the gay agenda are called homophobic! There are many complex agendas and some powerful ones coalesce into pro-gay cultural momentum across the board in all sectors of society.  When people minimize the complexity of that reality (minimizing it to simply, "The Gay Agenda"), we set ourselves up to be easily stigmatized with false labels.  Maybe if we put down our pointing fingers/verbal … [Read more...]

Overcoming Homophobia

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B writes: I have a severe case of homophobia to the point of my body physically reacting to it.  I shake, I get angry and my heart beats very quickly even at the mention of it.  I know the issue isn't the sin itself it's repentance and those whom identify with homosexuality are no different from me. I know all the textbook answers but I'm struggling to fix myself and I can't seem to find any help or advice that doesn't involve the social annoyance with Christians. Hi B, thank you for sending in your message. With regards to the inordinate and even bodily reaction to the anger you feel, … [Read more...]

Jesus Likes Me This I Know

Jesus Likes Me

Jesus Likes Me This I Know Mike Goeke, October 2010 I am sort of a weird guy. I prefer the term quirky, but semantics aside, I am weird. My interests are not typical (or maybe I should say that they are not stereotypical) of your run-of-the-mill guy. I remember sensing that I was different at about age 5. In many ways, my early years were spent feeling odd and yearning for friends and some sort of acceptance. These days, I don’t worry so much about being weird. For the most part, I am comfortable with myself. I can still feel lonely at times, and I can feel like that little 5 … [Read more...]

Masturbation: Is it Sin?

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*Posted originally at Exodus Youth. About seven years ago I attended my first Exodus conference.  As I was looking at the multitude of workshops offered during the week I came across one entitled "Something, something...MASTURBATION".  I can't remember the whole title, because I just saw that "m" word.  I knew I had to go to that one.  But of course when the time came to go I was filled with so much trepidation and shame.  Would I be the only one in the workshop?  I got up enough courage to go, and to my amazement, the room was so full, there was barely any standing room.  It … [Read more...]

Some Thoughts On Church/Denominational Conflict

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This post was inspired by Matt Kaufman over at the Boundless Line.  He wrote, in response to the ELCA decision, a good question (emphasis mine): ... When should you leave a church on principle -- not for personal reasons (which we've talked about elsewhere on this blog), but for reasons of its doctrines or practices? And a follow-up question: Have you ever had to wrestle with this decision? That is definitely a tough question with plenty of potential variables.  In the 18 years I have been a Christian I haven't ever left a church on "principle" (when I have it has been for personal … [Read more...]

Follow Up Interview with Bradlee Dean

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Last week I posted about Bradlee Dean's controversial radio program where it seemed he was praising Muslim countries for how they handled the issue of homosexuality. He called me first thing the very next day. He shared his heart and agreed to do a follow up interview via email.  I promised him that I would publish his answers unedited. There were a total of five rounds of questions and an opportunity to share whatever else he wanted to share.  To date he has sent me responses to the first four rounds of questions and I will update this post with the final round of questions and his … [Read more...]

Eve Tushnet, “Gay and Celibate,” Featured in the New York Times

Photo Credit: Luke Sharrett/The New York Times

I still hold the perspective that we are headed, increasingly, into a post-gay reality.  A reality where gay vs. straight forced into the glbtqi? soup of labels fails to suffice as our (those who have or had same sex attractions) only context for a relational paradigm. Is Eve an example of that post-gay reality coming into being?  I don't believe I have ever met her and not sure she would agree with me since she does embrace a gay identity ... but her life doesn't really fit any of the conventional culture war stereotypes.  I find that intriguing. From the New York Times: WASHINGTON … [Read more...]

Responding to Bradlee Dean’s Condemning Comments – UPDATED

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I was alerted to Dr. Warren Throckmorton's post about Bradlee Dean's (pictured) public comments saying that Muslim countries who call for homosexuals to be killed are more "moral" than American Christians. I listened to the segment of Mr. Dean's radio program and was shocked. You will be too if you decide to listen: UPDATE: Audio added June 2, 2009. We called our contacts in Minnesota and apparently Mr. Dean is somewhat known in Christian circles there. They have run into him a couple of times but have not appreciated his strident tone. They were as upset by his statements as we are. … [Read more...]

Responding to Jennifer Knapp’s “Coming Out”

Click to visit JenniferKnapp.com

As you all are probably aware, Jennifer Knapp stated last week that she has embraced her same sex attraction and is now identifying as gay.  She has done a number of interviews including this one with Christian Today.  From the article (Parenthesis mine): Now, the finished product (her new album), titled Letting Go, is slated for a May 11 release and will be the first test of her fans’ loyalty given confirmation of her sexuality. While the decision to "come out" one month before her new album’s release is a risky one, The Advocate said Knapp chose to do so partly because she … [Read more...]

Why Easter Matters

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Why Easter Matters - Mike Goeke “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” Paul’s words in I Cor. 15 are powerful. Sometimes we look at Easter and the resurrection as just a part of Christianity – but the reality is it is the most important part of Christianity. Jesus died carrying the weight of our sin – and it is His resurrection that relieves us of the penalty of our sin. We have nothing without the resurrection. In fact, Paul says that if we … [Read more...]