How can we help teens who struggle with homosexuality?

[James Nored]

Below is a news article from IPI, a policy think tank where my friend Bart Cleland works (whatever your politics, this article brings up some of the issues of concern.) As this article shows, the government "came out" for LGBT youth--lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth. CNN also posted an article this week on this coverage entitled, LGBT in School: 'I lost a lot of my friends'. 

 

I can remember someone in high school who was in the drama or music department writing anonymously a note backstage that said, "I am gay, and I want to commit suicide." I certainly don't want teenagers who struggle with homosexuality committing suicide, and I don't want them to be beat up or suffer any physical violence. But there is definitely a move by society, and apparently now, our government to normalize this behavior.

This should not surprise us. For the first time ever this year, a majority of Americans now support gay marriage. This is probably why the government is now going ahead with the LGBT summit. We are increasingly entering into a post-Christian America, where the laws that are passed no longer reflect Christian values, but post-Christian values. Of course, the early church lived in a time in which the government and 99.9% of society was thoroughly pagan. They were still able to flourish and reach millions of people for Christ without government support.

 

But back to the issue of youth and homosexuality. How can we help youth who struggle with this issue, showing them love and compassion, while still teaching them biblical truth on this issue?

(Here is the IPI article below.)

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Out of the Closet and Behind Closed Doors
Last week the U.S. Department of Education hosted what the White House billed as the “first-ever Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) youth summit.”  Presumably, it won’t be the last such taxpayer-funded event.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Administrator for Substance Abuse and Mental Services Pam Hyde proclaimed, “Your federal government has finally come out of the closet in support of LGBT youth.”

There is so much wrong with this it’s hard to know where to start.  If there are student drug abuse, bullying and safety concerns on campus—and there are—why would the government limit such a conference to the LGBT community?  Lots of kids are bullied or turn to drugs.

But it gets worse.  Penny Starr of CNSNews reported that media were excluded from some closed-door meetings.  That raises serious questions about what was being discussed on the taxpayers’ dime.
Liberals used to (falsely) complain that conservatives wanted the government in our bedrooms.  But closed-door meetings with a sexually oriented—and highly vulnerable—population raise the specter that it’s the liberals who are putting the government—and moral support—in the bedrooms.

In these very tight budget times, Congress might want to consider cutting the Department of Education’s conference funding.  Or better yet, pick up on a Ronald Reagan proposal and just eliminate the department.
*****Today's PolicyByte was written by IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews.

[Wendy Scott Cayless]

Bill, what if the person has no desire to change their orientation because that is who they are and how they have always been?  With all due respect, all the gay people I know (Christian or not) have not "chosen a lifestyle".  Who would choose a life of always being perceived as sinful, inferior, different?

We prayed this morning with J, one of the ladies in my Bible study group. Her gay 17 year old daughter is severely depressed, largely because of the way she is being treated.  She didn't "choose" this.. she didn't decide to be attracted to women.  It's how she has always been.

[Bill Bowman]

A person caught up in that lifestyle is missing such a great blessing God has provided for His creation in a man-wife relationship.

As a Christian I should treat him or her with respect as I would anyone suffering from the results of any sin.  If the person is trying to grow into a straight life, I would encourage him or her to get help from one who specializes in that field.

 

If on the other hand the person has no desire to change his ways, I would gently open the Bible and let God speak to him.  When he sees where I stand as far as what is acceptable to God,  I would continue to treat him nicely if he chooses to worship with me.  Who knows when he might accept  God's way and be saved?