Sexual Fluidity and the Wesleyan Doctrine of Entire Sanctification (Part 2): Ministry Past, Present, and Future
Photo by James Wheeler
As noted in part one of this series, the Wesleyan doctrine of Entire Sanctification, particularly when referred to as Christian Perfection, is especially jarring for those of us with unwanted temptations for the same sex. Facing chronic temptations seems very unchristian and so far from perfect. Keeping in mind the Wesleyan concept of transformation, in this article we will examine mistakes made by ministries in the past, how this is impacting present trends in ministry, and practical guidelines for the future.
Throughout the history of the church, there have been people who have left homosexual behaviors behind. The Apostle Paul makes this clear when addressing the believers of that local fellowship:
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, ESV)
Those words in verse eleven served as a beacon of hope as I was growing up in a small United Methodist church. The Lord had made a way of repentance and restoration possible and I dearly longed for help in finding it. Eventually, I came across Harvest USA while attending graduate school.
The history of ministries to those looking for a way of living beyond accepting and embracing homosexuality has been covered well by Joe Dallas in “Homosexuality and Modern Ministry: Examining Old Approaches and Assessing New Ones Part One: A History of Missions and Missteps.” There he carefully identifies the excesses and costly mistakes of past ministries without discounting the overall need for assisting those with unwanted attractions to the same sex. The administrators at Harvest were among those who avoided the errors of engaging in coercion, making false promises, relying on formulaic background-based models, or promoting unqualified leaders. The Lord led me to the right place at the right time. Here is a brief review of these ministry errors.
Coercion
Every good counselor will evaluate for coercion, determining if their counselee is self-motivated. Christianity is a matter of sincere faith, and no one can be strong-armed into a relationship with Jesus. The wording of questions such as this one from The Generations Study implies coercion:
133. Did you ever receive treatment from someone who tried to change your sexual orientation (such as try to make you straight/heterosexual)? If yes, please mark all that apply.
· No, skip to the text before Question 135
· Yes, from a healthcare professional (such as a psychologist or counselor who was not religious-focused)
· Yes, from a religious leader (such as a pastor, religious counselor, priest)
“Did someone try to change you?” is a different question than, “Did you seek help from someone in an effort to change your orientation?” An individual’s motivation for participation in any counseling or therapy has a significant impact on the success or failure of that intervention. An ethical counselor or therapist will not be involved in attempting to coerce a client, and those in ministry leadership should also stay away from this practice.
As an aside, most, if not all, studies measuring the impact of counseling for those with unwanted attractions to the same sex pull their samples from among people who identify as LGB. The Generations Study linked to above is one example. After collecting data from the general population, they sent their survey only to those who identify as “lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or same-gender loving.” If you are looking for people who benefited to the point they no longer identify as LGBQ, you'll never find us this way.
False Promises
When I went to counseling at Harvest USA, experiencing a change in my attractions was certainly one of my goals, but I learned early on that this was not promised to anyone who came to them for help. Overpromising results is the greatest flaw in any ministry outreach in this area. This applies either way: in guaranteeing change will happen or presuming it won’t.
It’s easy to see that disillusionment and discouragement will follow when changes in the object of one’s attractions are promised or seen as evidence of the strength of one’s faith. As noted in my first article plenty of people in the general population who experience attractions to the same sex find they are attracted to the complementary sex over time. But this is not predictable. There are also faithful Christians who have not experienced these temptations changing. It is hard to live in this state of unknowingness, as I did for many years. Yet this serves as a strong reminder of how dependent we are on the Lord every day for everything. Even our next breath is not guaranteed. I found this to be a season of building deep trust and intimacy with Jesus and long-lasting friendships with brothers and sisters in Christ, all of which continue to bring stability and joy.
Formulaic Background-Based Models
Some ministries were centered on an oversimplified model of causation for attractions to the same sex. Christian Psychologist Mark Yarhouse wrote in his book Homosexuality and the Christian that our culture was at one time polarized by “nothing-butisms” regarding the origins of same-sex attractions. Some thought same-sex attraction was due to “nothing but nature” (born this way), while others argued “nothing but nurture” (i.e., due to sexual abuse, a poor relationship with a parent, etc.). But the truth is far more complicated. The APA has stated:
There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles…
(American Psychological Association)
While healing and resolution of old wounds can be very helpful, sexuality is complex and people do not easily conform to formulas. Humanity and everything on earth have been scarred by the fall, and there are biological repercussions from that which are not well understood, and these can affect individuals differently.
In a sense, we may well be better off thinking of people experiencing a variety of “homosexualities” rather than attempting to shoehorn people into formulaic models. We can be encouraged in knowing that regardless of what is tempting us and how we came to the point of experiencing this temptation, the Lord has made a way out of any temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). We can rely on this promise, asking the Holy Spirit to show us the way forward as well as the power to follow through into the greater things He has for us.
Present Trends in Ministry
Unfortunately, a number of current ministry leaders have looked at the mistakes of the past and have come to the conclusion that any changes or shifts in sexual attractions are rare, and any ministry effort open to these changes or shifts in attractions is “harmful” or on the wrong track. Most of the people I know who have experienced this fluidity are not open to talking about this part of their lives, especially once they have married and have children. There has never been a comprehensive effort made to study those who have benefitted from counseling to any degree.
These newer ministries have adopted a coping model, assuming the only way forward is to cope with ongoing temptation and to encourage embracing a "gay celibate Christian identity." Joe Dallas points out this is a categorical, unscriptural error:
Former homosexuals, then, held no special classification in New Testament writings or times. They were “business as usual” Christians who renounced overt sin, resisted temptation, mortified the flesh, walked in Spirit, and, like others in the church, took up their crosses to follow Him. Their recognition as a distinct minority, either to be shunned or given special treatment, is foreign to the Bible. (Joe Dallas, “Homosexuality and Modern Ministry: Examining Old Approaches and Assessing New Ones Part One: A History of Missions and Missteps”)
Putting an artificial cap on what the Holy Spirit can and may do in your life is as much of an error as treating the Holy Spirit like a spiritual growth vending machine. God does not jump through our hoops. We need to take up our cross daily, follow, and trust Him with the results.
Models to Emulate
There are ministries such as Harvest USA, the Love and Truth Network/Transforming Congregations, Desert Stream, Joe Dallas’ individual counseling, and more continuing to support those looking to walk in obedience, attuned to the transformational power of the Holy Spirit. Counseling grounded on learning how deeply the Lord loves us, asking open-ended questions about one’s background and perspective, and spending time in prayer was so helpful for me. These outreaches offer compassion, understanding, insight, and follow a discipleship model leading to rich relationships with Jesus and with others. Investing in a local church was also key, along with having a few trusted Christian friends who were willing to listen, to pray with me, and would consistently point to Jesus.
Class and band meetings provide a wonderful way to integrate into the Body of Christ and grow as a disciple. The mutual support found among fellow believers is indeed a Godsend. We often gain a front-row seat to witness the Lord move in and through His people, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, as we consistently gather together to hold one another accountable and carry one another's burdens.
I used to think that I could only trust someone who had experienced the exact same temptations I did, and only they would be able to help me. It turns out the most help came from those who had never experienced attractions to the same sex. This passage in 2 Corinthians is true:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
There is a stabilizing effect I've noticed throughout my life as a result of being open and honest with mature believers and meeting with them together on a regular basis over a number of years. These gatherings allow each of us to exercise our spiritual gifts among a small number of friends, which cumulatively serves to build the church as a whole. This can ripple out again into our communities, fulfilling our calling to spread scriptural holiness across the land.
An Open Future
In April, an article was published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior highlighting a concept introduced by Joel Fienberg over 40 years ago. He stated every child has the “right to an open future,” which the authors of the paper state are “rights that children do not have the capacity to exercise as minors, but that must be protected so they can exercise them in the future as autonomous adults.” This paper points out the importance of applying this principle to children experiencing discomfort with their biological sex in refraining from medicalization and social interventions which have devastating lifelong impacts on those who come to regret undergoing such treatment.
Knowing what we do now about how common fluidity is for the majority of those who experience same-sex attractions, it is not wise to label a child or a teenager as gay or lesbian. They don’t need to be painted into a rainbow-colored corner. Instead, they can be encouraged to grow into the person God has created them to be, as His man, or His woman.
Being open to the future the Lord had for me, trusting He had a plan and a purpose, and being willing to explore whatever depths of healing and change He would bring are things I do not regret. I would not trade the things I’ve learned about how trustworthy, kind, holy, and good He is for what some may deem to be an easier path in life. The International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC) is an excellent resource, providing guidelines and education for pastors and counselors. In the IFTCC Declaration, you’ll find strong support for maintaining opportunities for others to access the same type of quality assistance I received. The Declaration refers often to their Review Document which provides further details and includes several pages of references.
As Wesleyans, we are cautioned against underestimating the profound reach of the Holy Spirit's work in sanctifying and conforming us to the image of Christ. Let us not give up on encouraging one another daily, as long as it's called "Today." (Hebrews 3:13)
Debra Baty is the author of Resources4Redemption, a newsletter equipping followers of Jesus to speak the gospel fluently, truthfully, and kindly on issues related to sexuality and gender.