Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Pro-Gay Education Comes to California's Kids

I have great compassion for children who are struggling with same-sex attractions and sexual identity. When I was a child, there was nothing worse than being called a ‘homo’—the derogatory term used in the 1950’s. In America in 2012, it’s hard to know if there is an epidemic of homosexuality or just more attention given to it.  And still today, anti-gay bullying in schools continues.

The solution by the federal and state government is to legislate gay affirmation. October is national LGBT History Month. Though it will not be taught in all America's classrooms, it will be in California, where pro-gay education is mandated by law. The teaching will include the history of prejudice and bigotry toward homosexuals—and the problem with “homophobia” today. But not with impartiality; California children will be taught that homosexuality is perfectly normal (and unchangeable).

Right on the heels of this, California's Governor has signed a law banning therapies that attempt to change sexual orientation of minors, claiming that ‘reparative’ therapies are driving children to depression and suicide.  But according to the National Association for Reparative Therapy to Homosexuals, that claim is unsubstantiated. There have been absolutely no studies on the effects of reparative therapy on children.

We cannot, however, just point fingers at the State. We must find biblical solutions to this increasing problem. If the State is going to ban Christian values in California therapy, is it not all the more incumbent opon churches to step up and provide alternative Christian ministry to sexually-confused, love-starved children and teens? In a phrase, loving them as Jesus would? (Matt 19:14) Sign me up!

1 comment:

  1. Hi Dr. Greg,
    I believe that any time that there is a slippage in the standards in our culture, that slippage represents an unpaid due from the church at large.
    An example of that is divorce. According to the divorce rate statistic (that reflects new marriages vs. new divorces, which is NOT a good reference for measurement, but it is the only one we have that transcends generations), there is no significant difference for the divorce rate between Christians and the divorce rate for non-believers. Both hover at around 50%. This suggests that Christians have the same perspective on what justifications for getting married and getting divorced as non-believers. Whether that is true or not, the world looks at the result and says that there is no difference. If there is no difference for the culture, we should not be surprised that the world tries to re-cast marriage into its own image.
    Once the definition of marriage has been assailed, everything that flows from that, including the merging of personalities (two become one) and subsequent changes in identity (not "I have a wife," but "I am married") are all subject to the same kinds of worldly change.
    In like manner, when homosexuality was once inaccurately estimated at being approximately 10% for a lifestyle choice, it is now an anchored identity. The 10% number has been known to be inaccurate, but has been used so many time, it is believed as fact.
    If homosexuality is promulgated in lower levels of education as an identity, rather than a lifestyle choice, so it opens the gate for standing on the slippery slope for other choices, no matter how much they are on the fringe or abhorrent to God those choices are.
    You have wisely noted that the answer is the love of Jesus. And that love must be expressed in a meaningful way to the recipient without compromising biblical values.
    Thank you for the post!
    Godspeed! Larry Q

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