The Ex-Gay Gene?
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In <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Columbus, Ohio on June 23-26, we just wrapped up the Christian Home Educator's of Ohio's Annual meeting to help raise the future leaders of our nation and teach parents how to educate their Christian children from a Christian perspective.  Interestingly, and concurrently we had the PTA's annual meeting where they also met to discuss the future education of our precious children. Largely ignored by the mainstream media was the fact that Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) gave a presentation and manned an exhibit promoting homosexual indoctrination in our schools.  Undoubtedly, there was discussion about intolerance, homophobia, anti-bullying policies and how to teach our youngsters to embrace and affirm because homosexuals, as we have been told, are born that way. Or are they? 
As reported by George Archibald in the Washington Times, the PTA last year invited PFLAG to have an exhibit at their convention and to make a presentation.  This year, the Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX) wanted to share its perspective on homosexuality and school safety but were denied exhibit space at the upcoming annual convention.  In a case of viewpoint discrimination and intolerance by the PTA, PFOX was relegated to having their own convention across the street, and was told by the PTA you don't exist.
Parents may be shocked to learn what some schools are teaching their children.  In the book, "The Homosexual Agenda, "Exposing the Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today," Co-authored by Alan Sears and Craig Osten, many shocking and disturbing incidences of homosexual indoctrination are documented.  The author's describe an incident that happened to a young boy named Kyle in his high school biology class. 
"One day during his biology class, Kyle's teacher stated that homosexual behavior was genetic.  Kyle immediately raised his hand to disagree.  The teacher, a self-professed bisexual who had testified in support of civil unions in Vermont, immediately ridiculed and humiliated him in front of the entire high school's class.  'What's the matter, Kyle?' she said mockingly. 'Are you unsure of your sexuality? Did you know that the people who scream the loudest turn out to be gay themselves?'
A few weeks later, in the middle of a discussion on genealogy, the teacher again digressed into the subject of homosexual behavior.  Kyle asked again what homosexuality had to do with the subject.  The teacher again questioned his sexuality and implied that he might be covering up the fact that he was homosexual.  Kyle stood up and denied the accusation, stating he had a girlfriend.  The class snickered at him.  One classmate went as far to suggest that the girlfriend was a cover-up and that Kyle was a closet homosexual.  Devastated and humiliated, Kyle's grades dropped from a 3.70 GPA to 2.10 in the months following the incident."
As Kyle was being taught that homosexuality is genetic, we are fed a steady diet of sensationalized studies which assert that homosexuality is an immutable characteristic.  Natalie Angier wrote in the New York Times on September 1, 1991, "Proof of an inborn difference between gay and heterosexual men could provide further ammunition in the battle over discrimination.  If homosexuality were viewed legally as a biological phenomenon, rather than a fuzzier matter of "choice" or "preference," then gay people could no more rightfully be kept out of the military, a housing complex or a teaching job than could, say blacks." 
The quest for the "gay gene" is undoubtedly a key component in the gay rights activists' quest for gay marriage, adoption, and "hate crimes" legislation which limits free speech of Christians and other faiths which view homosexuality as sin.  Robert Knight of the Culture and Family Institute wrote an excellent piece summarizing the debate over the "gay" gene called "Born or Bred, Science Does Not Support The Claim That Homosexuality is Genetic" Knight sums up the debate well with a paraphrase from a researcher, Dr. Satinover: "Some people may be predisposed because of genetic, prenatal hormonal influences or other physical or brain differences to have personalities that make them vulnerable to the environmental factors that can elicit homosexual desires.  So is homosexuality biological? Not in the way that popular media and homosexual activists have presented it."
With all this talk about a "gay gene," This brings me to my assertion at the beginning in the title of my piece.  If the idea is put forth that homosexuality is genetic, that there is indeed a "gay gene," which has clearly been debunked, then by the same logic there would have to be an ex-gay gene.  What else would account for the thousands and thousands of people who have found freedom from homosexuality?
I realize this is dehumanizing and sad to reduce people to being simply a product of their genetics and having no control over their behavior.  Our society has tended to blame our genetics for every malady ranging from criminal behavior to gambling.  The Church is confused.  In Ohio, while working on our constitutional marriage protection amendment (which passed with a 62% majority), I often ran into confusion on this issue. However, I don't intend this column to provoke a search for a gay gene or an ex-gay gene.  
My heart is grieved when an admirable group like PFOX is denied a seat on the bus, and told they don't exist at our national PTA conference.  My heart is grieved when a co-worker tells me that her husband abandoned her for another man and left her alone to raise her children.  My heart is grieved when my friend caught in the homosexual lifestyle told me about seeing his father commit suicide when he was 15, and to see that he is only seeking the love that only the Heavenly Father can provide.
With this grieving is also encouragement.  I am encouraged that people continue to be transformed and made whole by repenting and receiving The Lord Jesus as their Savior.  I am encouraged by my Christian friend who was rescued from homosexual pornography and experimentation in college.  I am grateful for the woman I met recently who was assisting in protecting marriage in Ohio this year who was set free from her lesbianism.  I am grateful for testimonies from men like Greg Quinlan, of Pro-family Network here in Ohio, who after becoming a Christian left the homosexual lifestyle and was married to his beautiful bride Cheryl.  "Greg faced Cheryl that day, took her hands in his and proclaimed to her and the guests, 'I never thought this day would come, but the Lord has done this. This is the answer to my long-time prayer, for He has finally brought you to me.'"( The Grander Vision of Greg and Cheryl, by Linda Harvey, Mission America.)
The Lord is about transformation and change.  In all seriousness, there is no gay gene, and there is no ex-gay gene, there is something all the more serious and that is "sin."  Jesus Christ hated sin so much that he died a bloody horrible death on the cross to pay the penalty for it.  1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God," It goes on to say, "and that is what some of you were, 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."
If I take an candid look at my life I have to admit that I was an ex-alcoholic in college when I was in a fraternity, I was an ex-idolater when I followed New Age Religion, I was an ex-adulterer, as Jesus says anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart.  I engaged in many ex-sins.  Gratefully, the Lord brought me to repentance and He has forgiven me of my ex-sins.  It's time for the Church to stop excusing and rationalizing sin but to repent, teach the truth, and point people to the ultimate in gene reparative therapy, Jesus Christ.
Let me leave with a few scriptures, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."(1 John 1:5-10)
"If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed."
Nicholas A. Jackson
 
Nick is a 1997 graduate of Ohio University, in Athens, Ohio where he received his B.S in Biological Sciences. He went on to receive his Masters Degree in Physical Therapy at Andrews University in Dayton, Ohio. He is currently employed as a physical therapist who specializes in working with the mentally handicapped, and our growing aged population. Nick is Executive Director of Reform America (www.reformamerica.com ), a non-profit Christian organization based in Columbus, OH.  In addition, he spends time as a free-lance writer articulating the Christian viewpoint into our culture. "And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in." Isaiah 58:12
Email: nick@reformamerica.com