I’ve never quite understood the disconnect in how Christians criminalize the porn industry so much, and don’t even notice how emotionally damaging some of the conventional “chick flicks” can be when the truth escapes the viewers. For as often as the token about men being sexual and women being emotional is tossed around, this problem should be an obvious one.

Keep up the good work!

I love your viewpoint; it is written so eloquently. If the ministry-thing doesn’t work out, you can always be a writer!! he, he

Raven
http://cherokeebydesign.wordpress.com/

I don’t think I am not crucifying the desires of the flesh. I struggle against lust, pornography, and masturbation like any other man. I try to take every thought captive like every other man. However, even if I never lusted again (let alone acted out) for the rest of my life, that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t still be SSA. Perhaps I would become asexual, since I have known some SSA men to become that as they were further sanctified later in life. I may not have a problem with the term “homosexual,” but to me, “homosexual” is synonymous with “SSA.” I never lived the gay lifestyle. Perhaps if I had, I would attach more culture, identity, and experiences to “homosexual” and would thus not want to use the term. Terminology certainly isn’t an issue I would want to cause a divide over. People can call me gibberish words for all I care. Just listen to my story and treat me with respect. That’s what’s most important. “SSA” seems neutral and non-offensive enough, so I have no problems using it.

I would disagree, though, that someone who desires to be married at one point can’t be called to celibacy. Many of us want to retreat away from our callings. And “callings,” might I add, aren’t always divine voices from the sky. They are a logical analysis of our circumstances. If someone is in a situation where circumstances of one form or another make things difficult to marry, would it be wrong to examine celibacy as a potential life path? The same goes for someone who seems to have a talent for understanding Scripture and leading other Christians. Shouldn’t he examine the pastorate as a calling? Most of the SSA folks I know (and I know over 100 through blogging) are celibate. Very few seem to marry. This doesn’t mean they aren’t working on their sanctification. However, some experience orientation change, some are attracted to one opposite sex person, and some experience full-fledged change. I think it’s horribly wrong to say that the ones who experience the most change are better Christians, while the ones who are still SSA didn’t try hard enough.

This isn’t to say that marriage isn’t possible, but I think SSA folks generally tend to have gifts that would be best used in a celibate context.

But just because someone might be called to celibacy doesn’t mean it will be easy. If there are struggles and wishes he/she had a spouse, does that mean that he/she wasn’t really called to celibacy? To me, that’s like saying that if a pastor has struggles and wishes he had been a banker, then he wasn’t called to be a pastor? No! They should just be helped through their struggles.

I would encourage you to read the writings of Disputed Mutability. I think Misty Irons links to her as well. She is an ex-lesbian wife and mother, with a doctorate from MIT. She’s a five-point Calvinist and has great ideas about this journey. I don’t think anything she says is something I disagree with, so you should read up on her to learn more about me.

Attraction does not equal lust, but it is also not morally neutral. While we are to fight our sinful natures, if we are to truly be conformed to the image of Christ, we sometimes must also dig a little deeper and discover the why we are attracted to a situation that God prohibits for our own good.

And I was thinking about your earlier post; are you committed to a life of celibacy because you are attracted to men and you believe homosexuality to be wrong, or are you committed to celibacy because you feel God has granted you that gift in order to serve Him in this life without the encumbrances related to the marriage relationship?

Attraction does not equate to lust. It can be a temptation to lust, but it is for everyone, not just SSA folk.