I appreciate Jim's testimony and candor; but feel him to be in the minority of Christians who struggle with homosexual temptations. Indeed, a recent small study by Stanton Jones, Ph.D. revealed only 15% to ultimately "convert" to predominant heterosexual behavior.

The Bible, in both the Old Testament and New Testament, clearly speaks homosexuality is sin.

Christians believe the deepest need of the homosexual, and indeed any sinner, is to know and trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Truly, God seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and truth.

I am a Christian in the upward calling of Jesus Christ for a homosexual. Celibate for twenty-seven years, I have been secretly fighting these forbidden desires in my heart. My struggle has been intense and painful and dark.

Four years after becoming a Christian, I felt led to reveal my homosexual past to my pastor and another counselor. Unfortunately, and contrary to Scripture, I was counseled to never speak of my past or these desires again. Then, for twenty-four years, I walked isolated in the shadows of the church. I feared I would be condemned by other Christians if I told anyone. I lived daily in self condemnation of hypocrisy.

Early last year, I felt compelled to reveal my past and ongoing struggle with elders of my church. Over the next eight months, not one elder privately asked to pray for me. None asked about my testimony of how I came to be and live in Christ Jesus. None expressed empathy over my anguish of soul. I needed others to pray for me and share my burden. I needed a shepherd for my soul. Quiet and reflective by temperament, I could not demand their attention and sought fellowship elsewhere.

I feel trapped between a rock and a hard place. On one side are unrepentant homosexuals warring against those who have come into the Light. On the other side, Christians are angry at a “life-style choice” and fearful of contamination of the church and their country.

The root of homosexuality, indeed the root of all sin, is abandoning the glory of God revealed for the darkness of rebellion and idolatry. In the end, all sin is love of self rather than love for God and other people. The origin of homosexuality is we are all born sinners and some choose to idolize ourselves and rebel against God with a most depraved sexual sin. Homosexuality is a sin against God born from the same heart that generates pride, envy, disobedience to parents, lack of forgiveness, gossip and many other sins.

The only hope for homosexuals is Jesus Christ and His church . . . to know God and know who we are in Christ Jesus and to live in an open and accountable fellowship.

By God’s grace and power and providence, I have remained celibate for the past 27 years after He called me to His Son Jesus. And, by His grace and power and providence, I shall never again practice homosexuality. Commitment to live a holy life begets an intense, painful daily battle with indwelling sin, of which homosexuality is but one.

How should the Church respond to repentant homosexuals?

The first response to those facing an immense trial is to listen and pray for them. We should listen for that godly sorrow which leads to repentance. Listen for a desire to follow and obey Jesus Christ despite the cost. We should listen for the work of the Word of God in their heart to produce conviction of and cleansing from sin.

Secondly, we should hold them accountable to their calling in Christ Jesus. We must exercise that delicate balance between God’s inflexible justice and righteousness and His indescribable grace and mercy toward sinners (both elements clearly seen at the Cross). We must take heed lest we too stumble and fall. We must speak God’s Word into their hearts that they grow in the grace and knowledge of the One who called them.

In all of us who battle with sin, we need the church. We need Christian men and women to encourage us in God’s grace and blessings, to help bear our burdens and to keep us from stumbling. We need Christian men and women to pray for us. We need Christian preachers and teachers to help us understand Scripture.

Lastly, if only ten percent of American is truly Christian and if only one percent of those born-again believers struggle with homosexuality, then there are thousands of Christians who struggle with this sin. How is it most Christians do not know even one?

Richard