The Agora Forum is abuzz with activity in response to the 'gay church' issue. After all that is said and done, would the Msian church make a more concerted effort in reaching out to the homosexual community? Here are some practical ways you can be part of the solution by Pastor Edmund Smith
"Dear Church of Malaysia,
Greetings in Jesus name from an exgay ministry (Real Love Ministry "RLM")!
Since we (RLM) are a ministry that reaches out to homosexuals in Malaysia; we are continuously receiving both the emails below (by Rev Allen Tan) from so many troubled Malaysians... wanting to hear what are RLM's thoughts on Oyoung and his plan to start a progay church in Malaysia.
In respond to the situation, we have a few things to say...
1. Exgay vs. Progay: When we talk about "reaching out" to the homosexual community, it is vital that the Body of Christ realize that there are 2 very different kinds of approaches that are going on all over the world. There is the exgay approach and there is also the progay approach. RLM takes the exgay approach. The Body of Christ in Malaysia - need to make a choice on which approach we as a Body would want to take. We can't afford to say - "we have no approach". Making no choice is going to bring a lot of problems.
2. The exgay approach: proclaims that...
a. Gays can change (if they want to)
b. With Jesus NOTHING is impossible
c. Homosexuality is NOT God's intention
d. etc
3. The progay approach: proclaims that...
a. Gays cannot / should not change
b. The church should hold the progay stance
c. Homosexuality is a gift from God - so celebrate it
d. etc
To be honest, we are totally not surprise to hear the story of Oyoung and his dream to start a progay church in Malaysia. We knew that this will happen in Malaysia (sooner or later) either through Oyoung or through someone else. The progay church already exist in so many countries all over the world (even in Asia) - who are we to say that it will not happen in our own country.
We are not surprise that this is happening in Malaysia because;
1. Generally speaking, the Body of Christ in Malaysia- is not seriously interested and has very limited knowledge on the subject of "Homosexuality and the Exgay lifestyle". RLM has been around since 1999 but there are less than 8 churches in the whole of Malaysia that have shown interest and seriousness in what we are doing. We thank Jesus for each of those 8 churches in Malaysia that have partnered/is partnering with us in one way or another.
2. Most churches would suggest that gays should not be gays. But what next? By simply commanding gays and lesbians not to be in a homosexual lifestyle - a church leaves the homosexual strugglers with no choice but to get interested when they hear another church (the progay church) that is willing to do something for them.
3. RLM started an exgay church in 2006 - and guess what? After sharing the need to have such a church with Malaysia with so many people - only a hand full step out to encourage us. We were treated (by many) as though we are wasting our time.
4. But when the news about a progay church is about to begin - the Body of Christ in Malaysia - begins to seriously start talking about the homosexual community! To us in RLM... that is heartbreaking. I hope we learn a lesson from this situation. The Body of Christ in Malaysia needs to realize that gays and lesbians have to make a choice - be exgay OR progay. Whatever choice we hope they will make, we have a
role to play. We have to be responsible in helping them make the right choice & journey with them in their JOR (Journey of Recovery).
5. Rev Allen said "The reason that Oyoung is so bold to confront the Malaysian churches because our leaders usually don't want to be so-called "busybody"! Matters concerning the Body of Christ are our business. If we don't do take care of our people - who will? In other words, lets be busybodies for Jesus!
Below is some information about RLM (for those who are interested)... RLM Mission
Our Mission is to educate, motivate and give opportunity to individuals into becoming Befrienders (Care Givers); thus bringing real love to the marginalized community (e.g. the homosexuals).
RLM Vision
Our Vision is to see marginalized individuals all over Malaysia experiencing real love; thus stepping up into becoming respected citizens of this country.
Introduction
RLM is a Christian, non-profit, voluntary & charitable organization that works closely with the marginalized community particularly the homosexual community all over Malaysia.
The ultimate goal of RLM is to bring "real love" or in other words, the unconditional love, into the lives of the marginalized community. Love is real IF love is the element that motivates an individual into doing something good for someone else. In other words...it is always about WHY we do it - more that WHAT we do.
Members of RLM consist of two groups of people which are...
1. The Befrienders (Care Givers) - Individuals who commit to be
trained into becoming Befrienders to the homosexual and etc.
2. The Befriendees (Care Receivers) - Marginalized individuals who
seriously choose to receive help from RLM.
For more information on RLM, visit our Website at www.r-l-m.com or email us at rlm@streamyx.com"
"Dear Church of Malaysia,
Greetings in Jesus name from an exgay ministry (Real Love Ministry "RLM")!
Since we (RLM) are a ministry that reaches out to homosexuals in Malaysia; we are continuously receiving both the emails below (by Rev Allen Tan) from so many troubled Malaysians... wanting to hear what are RLM's thoughts on Oyoung and his plan to start a progay church in Malaysia.
In respond to the situation, we have a few things to say...
1. Exgay vs. Progay: When we talk about "reaching out" to the homosexual community, it is vital that the Body of Christ realize that there are 2 very different kinds of approaches that are going on all over the world. There is the exgay approach and there is also the progay approach. RLM takes the exgay approach. The Body of Christ in Malaysia - need to make a choice on which approach we as a Body would want to take. We can't afford to say - "we have no approach". Making no choice is going to bring a lot of problems.
2. The exgay approach: proclaims that...
a. Gays can change (if they want to)
b. With Jesus NOTHING is impossible
c. Homosexuality is NOT God's intention
d. etc
3. The progay approach: proclaims that...
a. Gays cannot / should not change
b. The church should hold the progay stance
c. Homosexuality is a gift from God - so celebrate it
d. etc
To be honest, we are totally not surprise to hear the story of Oyoung and his dream to start a progay church in Malaysia. We knew that this will happen in Malaysia (sooner or later) either through Oyoung or through someone else. The progay church already exist in so many countries all over the world (even in Asia) - who are we to say that it will not happen in our own country.
We are not surprise that this is happening in Malaysia because;
1. Generally speaking, the Body of Christ in Malaysia- is not seriously interested and has very limited knowledge on the subject of "Homosexuality and the Exgay lifestyle". RLM has been around since 1999 but there are less than 8 churches in the whole of Malaysia that have shown interest and seriousness in what we are doing. We thank Jesus for each of those 8 churches in Malaysia that have partnered/is partnering with us in one way or another.
2. Most churches would suggest that gays should not be gays. But what next? By simply commanding gays and lesbians not to be in a homosexual lifestyle - a church leaves the homosexual strugglers with no choice but to get interested when they hear another church (the progay church) that is willing to do something for them.
3. RLM started an exgay church in 2006 - and guess what? After sharing the need to have such a church with Malaysia with so many people - only a hand full step out to encourage us. We were treated (by many) as though we are wasting our time.
4. But when the news about a progay church is about to begin - the Body of Christ in Malaysia - begins to seriously start talking about the homosexual community! To us in RLM... that is heartbreaking. I hope we learn a lesson from this situation. The Body of Christ in Malaysia needs to realize that gays and lesbians have to make a choice - be exgay OR progay. Whatever choice we hope they will make, we have a role to play. We have to be responsible in helping them make the right choice & journey with them in their JOR (Journey of Recovery).
5. Rev Allen said "The reason that Oyoung is so bold to confront the Malaysian churches because our leaders usually don't want to be so-called "busybody"! Matters concerning the Body of Christ are our business. If we don't do take care of our people - who will? In other words, lets be busybodies for Jesus!
Below is some information about RLM (for those who are interested)... RLM Mission
Our Mission is to educate, motivate and give opportunity to individuals into becoming Befrienders (Care Givers); thus bringing real love to the marginalized community (e.g. the homosexuals).
RLM Vision
Our Vision is to see marginalized individuals all over Malaysia experiencing real love; thus stepping up into becoming respected citizens of this country.
Introduction
RLM is a Christian, non-profit, voluntary & charitable organization that works closely with the marginalized community particularly the homosexual community all over Malaysia.
The ultimate goal of RLM is to bring "real love" or in other words, the unconditional love, into the lives of the marginalized community. Love is real IF love is the element that motivates an individual into doing something good for someone else. In other words...it is always about WHY we do it - more that WHAT we do.
Members of RLM consist of two groups of people which are...
1. The Befrienders (Care Givers) - Individuals who commit to be
trained into becoming Befrienders to the homosexual and etc.
2. The Befriendees (Care Receivers) - Marginalized individuals who
seriously choose to receive help from RLM.
For more information on RLM, visit our Website at www.r-l-m.com or email us at rlm@streamyx.com"
Comments
Not only does it not work. More and more we are seeing that pursuing an ex-gay life has actually caused many people harm--psychologically, emotionally and spiritually.
You can read some of the stories of ex-gay survivors at www.beyondexgay.com.
thank you.
What's your "success rate" in changing gays into straights?
What you are really asking is whether there is realistic hope for change for men and women who do not want their sexual orientation to be homosexual. And the answer to that is yes!
In 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, Paul gives a list of all kinds of sinners that will not inherit the kingdom of God, including those that practice homosexuality. But he 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." Some Corinthian Christians had formerly been homosexuals, but now were counted among the saints. Now, that's good news indeed!
No one is saying that change is easy. It requires strong motivation, hard work, and perseverance. But we find hundreds of former homosexuals who have found a large degree of change--attaining abstinence from homosexual behaviors, lessening of homosexual temptations, strengthening their sense of masculine or feminine identity, correcting distorted styles of relating with members of the same and opposite gender. Some former homosexuals marry and some don't, but marriage is not the measuring stick; spiritual growth and obedience are.
On the statistical side, careful reviews of research studies on sexual orientation change suggest that real change is indeed possible. Studies suggesting change rates in the range of 30-50% are not unusual, although "success rates" vary considerably and the measurement of change is problematic. For details and review of several studies, see the link below.
http://www.exodus.to/content/view/43/87/
http://www.newdirection.ca/content.xjp?id=232
Change is possible, and many have shared their stories of new direction here.