A BLOG BY ALAN CHAMBERS

I Forgive You

In the early 1990's I was a participant in an Exodus Member Ministry and was negatively affected by Darlene Bogle's decision to go back into homosexuality.  To have a leader who had written a book, led a ministry and spoken at conferences make such a decision was challenging for me in those early days.  I was disappointed and mad.  But, I also understood as an adult that we all make mistakes and that just because Darlene went back didn't mean that I couldn't make it.  I appreciate the apology she made, but I don't think she was apologizing to people like me.  Nonetheless, I forgave her a long time ago for saying things that she now indicates she didn't mean and for causing many to doubt that change was possible.

As for Michael, a man that I genuinely like, I think you have said everything about Exodus that needs to be said.  You were involved in an integral part of Exodus in the early days and for that I will always honor you and be grateful as will thousands of others.  Exodus helped save my life and you are a hero for pioneering this great work.  But, you left very shortly after you came and truth be told, I have now been a part of Exodus far longer than you.  I, and so many others, are the ones who have chosen to remain faithful to the mission of this ministry.  I encourage you to move on--live your life.  People are choosing to live their lives how they see fit---just as you are.  You chose something different than me and so many others.  Like Darlene, I don't think your apology was for people like me, but I do think both of you  owe one to those you hurt when you left this ministry.

To all three of you: Darlene, Michael and Jeremy, your time with Exodus is over and you have said your peace.  I encourage all of you to serve the Lord, live your lives and respect the fact that others have, can and will continue to choose a path different than the one you all are on respectively.

I am thankful for Exodus International and the leaders like Frank Worthen, Bob Davies, Joe Dallas, Sy Rogers, Andy Comiskey, Pat Lawrence, and countless others who have shown that people can live beyond homosexuality and that freedom is possible.

International Day Against Homophobia

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia.  And, you might be surprised to learn that I support this effort.  Homophobia does exist.  Irrational fear of those who are gay or lesbian is a real problem in our culture.  While I believe we have come a long way, I still see true homophobia at work each and every day.

People often call me homophobic, which is ridiculous.  I am not afraid of gay people nor do I hate them.  I don't even dislike anyone based upon their sexual identity.  For that matter, I can't think of anyone that I even dislike.  Forgive me as I digress, I ran out of Ritalin last week.

One of the primary focuses of Exodus International and one of my missions in life is to help the Church come to see those who are gay -identified or who struggle with homosexuality  as people whom Christ died for and loves equally.  The Church should be more welcoming to these folks than the local gay bar.  Gay and lesbian identified people should be able to find more help within the Church than they can outside of it.  It has long been my goal to so impact the Church with the message of truth and grace that Exodus would be able to go out of business.

So, when it comes to the evils of  homophobia, bullying, name calling, hatred and violence where those affected by homosexuality are concerned, I stand with all decent human beings who are fighting and praying for an end to the ignorance and ungodliness that cause them.

Join me, won't you?

Jerry Falwell has Died

Dr. Jerry Falwell, Chancellor of Liberty University, Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church and dear friend of Exodus and me went to be with the Lord this morning after suffering from some type of cardiac arrhythmia.

We send our love and prayers to the Falwell family as well as the members of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University who have suffered a great loss today.

No Apology Necessary, General Pace

Unlike Ann Coulter's comments at the CPAC event earlier this month, General Peter Pace's personal beliefs about homosexual behavior as stated in an interview with the Chicago Tribune this week need no qualification or apology.  While I will defend Ann Coulter's right to say what she did to the death, I think our society needs to treat others like we'd like to be treated.  Ms. Coulter's remarks were rude and unnecessary.  General Pace's comments were true and firmly rooted in his upbringing and faith.

I am thankful for the fact that we still have leaders in high posts who are willing to be respectfully honest about their beliefs and opinions without regard for what is politically correct.  I am tired of our leaders caving into the intimidation that comes from the heavy handed gay activist community.  There is still room in the debate over homosexuality for the Judeo-Christian perspective.

Surgery to Prevent Homosexuality?

The 'Sheep Study' of 2005 has resurfaced.  For those of you who don't recall the 'Sheep Study' don't worry---I barely remember the details.  Suffice it to say, some researchers were trying to once again prove that homosexuality is genetic this time based upon a group of rams within the Corvallis herd that " consistently ignore females and bestow all their amorous attentions on members of their own sex".  This herd resides at Oregon State University.

Fast forward to 2007.  Not only has the study reared its baaaaad self  again, there are new questions being raised over whether or not in-utero surgery should be considered to manipulate a gay gene if it were found in a pre-born child.

WHAT?? 

Pardon me while I take a deep breath and try to remain calm. 

First of all, would we even be talking about this if a genetic link to heterosexual pornography had been found?  I think not.  There has been some credible evidence to support that there is a genetic link to alcoholism.  Have we seen any news articles discussing whether or not we should "fix" this problem in-utero?  Uh uh.

I am not sure whether or not homosexuality has a genetic link or not.  Frankly, I don't care.  What I do know is that I can logically look back at my development and understand why I struggled with homosexuality.  From my inborn personality traits to how I perceived and responded to the environment in which I was raised, I believe that most of my issues were developmental in nature.  Regardless of the roots, I believe that homosexuality is a sinful condition like so many others and my choice, based upon unchosen circumstances and feelings, was to pursue a life that lined up with my faith. 

I think that like everything else, homosexuality is multi-causal.  To simply pawn it off on genetics invalidates its complexity and my story.  To say that it is all developmental might invalidate your story and any sound genetic research that has or is being done.  To say that homosexuality is simply caused by a gay demon, in my experience and opinion, is ridiculous. 

I was asked this morning if I would have supported my mother's decision to fix any genetic mutation that might have caused homosexuality had she been made aware of the problem before I was born.  The answer is no.  And, I am sure that is what my mom would have said, too. 

In fact, as an almost 41 year old woman mom found out that she was pregnant with her 6th child about the same time she was becoming a grandmother for the 3rd time.  My mother's doctor told her that she was too old to go through with her pregnancy and that if she did she would most likely have a mongoloid baby.  My mom decided that this was her last pregnancy, she wasn't going to worry for 9 months and that she would love a mongoloid baby as much as a healthy one.

The truth is that we all have to take responsibility for ourselves.  When someone realizes that they have same-sex attractions they have to decide what to do about that.  Of course, I believe that homosexuality is changeable and I believe, based upon my own story, that it is preventable.  But, I don't believe that a pill or surgery or holding someone will provide the results that some hope for---there is no quick fix or formula to changing one's sexuality.  Instead, most successful and longterm change occurs when one decides to daily submit their mind, will and emotions to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  Some find freedom from feelings and attractions while others simply find freedom from an identity that was incompatible with their faith.

Ann the Barbarian!

I don't know where I've been, but until yesterday I hadn't heard of Ann Coulter's latest offense. Last week, Ann Coulter spoke at the American Conservative Union's Political Action Conference. During her speech she said, "I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word "faggot," so I - so kind of an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards."

When asked about it later she stated, "I'm so ashamed, I can't stop laughing." She added: "C'mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting that they are like John Edwards. That would be mean."

Apparently Ms. Coulter isn’t afraid to be mean. In fact, I found her slur downright nasty. As was a comment that she made last fall to a group of conservative Christian leaders in DC. At that event she equated what the pro-gay lobby was doing with pro-gay legislation to oral sex---“shoving it down our throats”. Many of the leaders got up and left in the middle of her speech.

We do not need this kind of childish vitriol. We can disagree on politics, legislation, moral issues, whatever, but this is way out of line. Faggot is a word that school bullies and ignorant people use to inflict emotional pain on their victims. Ann Coulter should know better and her friends and those that pay her bills would do well to remind her of that fact.

COME OUT!

I am thankful for the climate of openness that has been created by those in the gay community who have and do advocate being honest over living in secrecy with regards to one's sexuality.  Lest you misunderstand me, I am not saying that I believe people should identify as gay or lesbian or that either labels are congruent with biblical standards.  However, I do firmly believe that the gay community has upstaged the Christian community on the moral value of honesty where "coming out" is concerned.

I did an interview this morning with a major Christian magazine and made the comment, "It is time for the leaders within the Christian community who are struggling with any type of sexual, chemical or emotional temptation to be honest about that." The reporter responded by asking, "What if the pastor is struggling with something that is taboo, like homosexuality?"

In my opinion there shouldn't be anything that we can't talk about or confess in church and among other believers.  A pastor who struggles with unwanted same-sex attractions shouldn't be shamed by us into secrecy.  Neither should such a pastor fall prey to that shame and decide to be secretive.  Where there is no honesty sin thrives!

Pastors are spiritual and moral leaders.  Many times they are the living breathing examples of how their parishioners should deal with their own weaknesses and temptations.  Of course Pastors are human and our ultimate standard is Christ. But, a pastor who admits that he has struggles and is tempted is the type of pastor that I can follow and trust.

Certainly any pastor that is giving into temptation and failing to live up to the biblical standards of holiness needs to step down and deal with those things head on. But simply being vulnerable and transparent about human weakness all the while abstaining from giving into them is an example that desperately needs to be modeled to the worldwide church that is suffering from a lack of this kind of bold leadership. 

Currently, most of our churches are places where people wear masks and pretend to be more than they are--following the example of the leaders they serve under.  Christ doesn't call us to be more than we are---He calls us to be honest about our potential for failure and to deny our humanity daily while picking up our cross and following Him. (Matt. 16:24)

So often we in Christendom hijack II Corinthians 5:17, which says, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! We use it to mean that anyone who comes to Jesus is automatically transformed into a perfect being---or darn near close.  The truth of that scripture is that "newness" refers to quality unrelated to time. We are all a work in progress and only through daily submission to the Lordship of Christ can we make any progress at all.

I believe that pastors and anyone in leadership needs to be vulnerable and transparent about their lives.  I am not saying that such a leader needs to be accountable to the public for every thought or deed, but they do need to be accountable to someone for that.  Publicly, pastors and leaders simply need to be open about the fact that they are human in need of a Savior.  If a pastor battles same sex attraction issues or opposite sex attraction issues there should be no need for that to be hidden. 

I used to tell the kids that I counseled, "Never trust a leader that doesn't walk with a limp."  The world is looking for authenticity and the church should be the place that they find that quality most.

Will John Edwards the Next Politician to Declare that He is a "Gay American"?

I admit that I was incredibly into my hair--when I had enough to worry about--But this is RIDICULOUS. Can you say (or spell) narcisism?

Check out the 'New Breck Girl'.

Swaggart’s Short Memory

You’d think that the Rev. Jimmy Swaggart’s message for those needing grace and redemption would be one of compassion and empathy mixed with the truth. After all it was Jimmy Swaggart that begged for grace and forgiveness more than a decade ago after it was revealed to the world that he had an active sexual addiction and was caught soliciting a prostitute. However, last week Rev. Swaggart made the anti-Christ statement that he would, “kill any gay man who looked at him romantically”.

It never ceases to amaze me how insecure some men are with their own manhood and masculinity that being the object of same sex attraction threatens and frightens them to the point that they would consider murder. Unnatural as same-sex attraction is, it is as repulsive to God as every other sin and just as forgivable.

As the President of the world’s leading outreach to those affected by unwanted homosexuality and a key educational resource for the church at large, I am thankful that Rev. Swaggart’s message of hate is now more the exception than the rule in Christendom. I believe that the years of irrational anger and hatred for the same-sex attracted is coming to an end within the Body of Christ. I am proud that ministries like Focus on the Family through their Love Won Out Conference and Exodus International have helped make a life changing difference in the Church.

It is my prayer that Jimmy Swaggart and all others who have been the undeserving recipients of grace will in turn offer grace to others and that the hateful rhetoric that God abhors will end. After all it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance.

Mr. Swaggart, I think you should apologize for misrepresenting Christ and hurting a group of people that already hate the Church for this very reason.

Hope and Possibility

This morning as I was praying with my staff I thanked the Lord for the fact that in Him we have hope and possibility. I thanked Him for that because I am a visionary, a perfectionist, for all intents and purposes, a dreamer. I don't often live in the here and now, but rather in the "what can be." And, while I think that kind of living is a gift at times, I also know that it can be one of my greatest weaknesses. Okay, I will stop writing like I am the only one who will read this so you will be able to follow....

A weakness of this particular gifting is that I can easily lose touch with reality. I can get so caught up in the big picture that I forget that it takes daily steps and hardwork and details to achieve vision and dreams. Another weakness is that on the rare occasions that visionaries come out of the clouds they can easily sink into disappointment, depression and even despair because reality sometimes bites!

Yesterday a dear friend called me and alerted me to the possibility of an enormous gift, the biggest of its kind, being given to Exodus. Though my friend was unsure, at best, and, at worst, thought the possibility to be unlikely, he called and urged my staff to pray. Pray we did.

Dream sequence begins....I envisioned amazing things. I saw Exodus having an actual savings account, began listing what ministries we would tithe 10% of the gift to, adding key staff positions, buying a building of our very own--all which would help us strategically and more effectively fulfill our Kingdom mission.

At the end of the day I received a second call from my friend and, as he had suspected, the immediate possibility would not come to fruition. BUT, there would be more opportunities to petition for grants and gifts in the near future.

Honestly, this morning I am still excited. As I prayed, the Lord reminded me that in Him hope springs eternal and that possibilities are endless. Some might say God dangled a carrot and cruelly yanked it away. I don't see it or feel that way. God showed me that in Him enormity is possible. He tested my faith and I am better for it. I believed He would be faithful, which He was and that He would answer, which He did. And, I am renewed in my faith that He has great plans, gifts and lessons in store for Exodus, my team and for Leslie and me. I pray that I am always faithful in thought and deed and that He continues refining me in His purifying fire. I also pray that I never forget what it is like to need Him, to feel desperate and incapable.

I would rather have hope and nothing else than to have everything and no hope.