Facing "the other"
Submitted by Bach on January 31 1999 at 18:42:13
In reply to Ex-gays and recovering offenders Submitted by Heather on January 31 1999 at 14:07:24
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Hi Heather, Nice to see you back. :) I, unfortunately, agree with most of your statements. :o) Could it be that they are telling the truth? Could it be that the recovering pedophiles who claim they were never intended to be pedophiles are telling the truth? Could it be that the recovering pedophiles who claim they have experienced a change in sexuality are telling the truth? Perhaps, all along, these particular people were warped from their natural sexuality and have now returned to it. Other pedophiles were unable to make this transition because their natural sexuality was pedophilia. Neither story contradicts the other; we're dealing with two separate types of people, for one of whom pedophilia is natural, and for one of whom it is not. Boylovers and Recovering pedophiles come in all shapes and sizes. Some have had successful relationships with women; many have not. Some have one specific attraction; most have a wide range of attraction. Some could possibly widen their attraction to more "socially acceptable" individuals. I accept that each person's experience is unique and their own. So... the question remains, what is God's will for our lives? Does God intend for us to act on our sexual attraction? Is it an aberation or a gift? Is natural sexuality simply whatever desires God has placed in our hearts, or do we see the devil at work here? I take a basic position that each individual's life experience is true and real for them and that God works in the lives of each one of us to fulfill loving relationships. How should we treat people whom we think are engaging in destructive (or self-destructive) behavior? Like Christians! Love one another. Love your enemy. Easy to say; hard to do. Now, how do we judge what destructive behaviour is, and at what point are we called to intervene? Often the church seems to intrude into things... I am thinking of the story of the plank in the eye... leaving to God the judgement of men... what right do we have to say? your brothers' keeper. I find all of this rather difficult. On both sides, there seems to be a tendency to say, "You're engaging in destructive behavior, so you're The Enemy." Yes, Christians tend to be so unChristian, don't they? I better stop here. Peace of Christ, Bach 
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