Why I Left the Homosexual Lifestyle
By Tony Horton

I abandoned homosexuality because I want to spend eternity in heaven. This life is like a vapor. We're not on this earth very long (James 4:14). We are here to serve God and do His will (John 6:38), and if we remain faithful unto death, He will give us the crown of life (Revelation 2:10). It's a small price to pay when you consider eternity.

I wasn't born gay, and neither were you. I chose to follow the homosexual lifestyle, a sexually perverted choice on my part. If I was born gay, others, such as child molesters, drunkards, adulterers, and thieves, could claim the same thing--they were born to be child molesters, drunkards, etc. Even if you believe you were born gay, God still condemns the homosexual lifestyle. He wouldn't create you gay and then condemn you to hell for practicing homosexuality. You made the choice; you must turn from it.

Even if, after you repent, you still feel homosexual desire, fellowship with Christians, personal prayer, and studying God's word will help you refrain from sin and stay right with God. You may never have a heterosexual relationship, and you may remain single for the rest of your life, but as stated above, life here on earth is like a vapor. We aren't here long, but if we remain faithful unto death, we can look forward to heaven.

God spoke very clearly about homosexuality: "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination." (Leviticus 18:22)

God loves everyone, and He wants us to be saved. He patiently awaits our repentance (1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9). When I heard the truth of God's word and obeyed the gospel, He added me to the "church of Christ" (Acts 2:38,47).

For years, I was confused by denominationalism, but when I heard the truth, my life changed. Through the power of the gospel, you, too, can transform your life (Romans 12:1-2; Romans 1:16). The only way to "cure" sin is to hear and sincerely obey the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-6; Romans 1:16; 6:17).

I feel that my testimonial is the way I now live. I don't go into detail about my past, because it is just that--my past. I was a typical homosexual. I had a few relationships and many sexual encounters. I was a barfly. I became angry if anyone condemned my way of life. I have been away from the homosexual life for almost seven years. One thing I will say about my past is that I was happy being a homosexual. I wasn't unhappy, but now that I live for God, I am happier than I was before.

For most of my life, I shook my fist in God's face, blaming Him and cursing His name when people tried to teach me the truth. I now see nothing but His love for me. I no longer curse Him, but praise His holy name. Every day I open my eyes and thank God for giving me the time to repent. I have peace that passes all understanding, the peace that comes from studying His word and having fellowship with other Christians (Philippians 4:7).

You, too, can reach this point if your have heart is honest and you desire to please God. You have to make the effort and meet God on His terms, not yours.

Homosexual Propaganda

I write this article in love, but I am sick to death of listening to homosexual propaganda. The homosexual lifestyle is a death sentence. It destroys the health (AIDS) and, unless one repents (turns away from homosexuality and toward God), it will destroy the soul.

The punishment for any unforgiven sin is eternal separation from God (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Can a person change? God's word says he can. I have not participated in that lifestyle for more than six years.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

"And such were some of you." Yes, people can change. And just as it sanctifies other sinners, Christ's blood can sanctify homosexuals. God told us He loves us and wants us to be saved, and that He waits patiently for sinners to repent (1 Timothy 2:3,4 and 2 Peter 3:9). We are free moral agents who can choose whether or not to live in sin (Romans 6).

The bottom line is that homosexuals will not enter God's kingdom unless they repent and turn to Christ.

As a former homosexual, I know enough to avoid allowing the media to fool me into thinking homosexuality is a healthy, alternative lifestyle. Many homosexuals have had so many sexual partners that they have lost count. Some say they have had hundreds of partners.

Even though AIDS is killing people (including me), the homosexual community continues to spread disease by frequenting bath houses disguised as health spas, and engaging in numerous sexual encounters in one evening. Homosexuals have sex in public bathrooms and in parks. They participate in sexual activity that just hearing about would make decent people sick. The sexual acts are so perverse that it would be inappropriate to include them in this article.

Activists often say that the homosexual lifestyle is not all about sex. I say this is a lie. It is all about sex--perverted sex.

Most homosexuals realize how perverted their lifestyle is. But society lacks sufficient conviction to encourage morality, so not enough people are willing to do anything about the homosexual plague. People fear backlash from the activists. The homosexual lifestyle has become politically correct because people lack the courage to stand up to sin. They deem it unfair to say that homosexuality is wrong or unacceptable. In fact, this article will fall mostly on deaf ears, because many people no longer have morals.

Portraying the homosexual lifestyle as wholesome and acceptable, as the media does, is simply to ignorantly parrot untrue propaganda. The truth is that the homosexual lifestyle is an alternative life of degrading and harmful sexual perversion.

Transformation

Remember, the Christian religion requires its members to use the reasoning ability of their minds. Christianity transforms the minds of its converts. Therefore, those who change their minds must also change their lifestyles to conform to God's will (read Romans 6, especially verse 6, and Galatians 2:20). The Christian, through humble submission to God's will, no longer allows his/her body to succumb to the power of sin. Rather, the converted Christian's body submits to God's power, which He gives to all who believe and obey Him.

Christianity totally transforms the lives of those who embrace it: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2) Christians have a responsibility to grow (2 Peter 3:18). If we do, and we continue to follow God's law, in the end, our souls will be saved (Matthew 25:23; John 14:1-6; 2Timothy 4:6-8; Revelation 2:10).

God's nature prohibits His acceptance of anyone who has not obeyed, from the heart, the gospel of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, His nature also prohibits His rejection of any who come to Him by means of that same gospel. God accepts those whom He forgives, if they continue to follow Him (Romans 5:1-11; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:1).

"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16)

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you." (1 Corinthians 6:8-11)

The past-tense verb "were" proves that people can change.

"Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

Ex-Gay Alive to God and Dead to Sin

Referring to oneself as an ex-gay is a sure way to ruffle feathers in the homosexual community. It always brings a response. For the most part, the gay community believes one who claims to be an ex-gay is living in denial. Most cling to the homosexual propaganda, which says that sexual orientation is inborn and the homosexual cannot change. This is nothing but a lie.

What do we mean by the term "ex-gay"? Romans 6 explains it best: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:1-4)

"Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." (Romans 6:11-13)

The one who is an ex-gay has chosen to cease dwelling in sin and to live for God. What about temptation? Can an ex-gay stumble and return to his sinful living?

First we need to understand temptation:

Why is man tempted?

Effort and Dedication Are Required

It took time for you to train your mind to accept sodomy. It will also take time to train your mind in the Lord's ways: "Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Even if you still feel illicit desire after you repent, fellowship with Christians, personal prayer, and studying God's word will help you refrain and stay right with God.

I have been away from the homosexual lifestyle for many years now, and I'm happier than I've ever been. God has given me the peace that passes all understanding, which comes from studying His word and fellowship with Christian friends (Philippians 4:7). You, too, can reach this point if you have an honest heart and you have the desire. You have to make the effort and meet God on His terms, not yours.

Why the Term "Ex-Gay" Threatens the Gay Community

It shows that change is possible and that one remains homosexual by choice. Change is real, but God doesn't change the unwilling. We are free moral agents who have a choice. You have to want to change. Homosexuality cannot be zapped away, and there are no miracles here. It requires dedication and repentance. You have to pick up your cross daily and walk with God.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Corinthians 4:16, 17)

This article is reprinted from Gospel Truths. Brother Horton, a Christian man who is dying from AIDS, gave an honest assessment of why men need to leave this sinful lifestyle. Yes, God does forgive our sins, but the consequences of our actions may follow us to our graves-such is the case with the homosexual lifestyle.

What I most appreciate about Brother Horton's article is his honesty. He makes no excuses or rationalizations; nor does he blame others or society. He takes personal responsibility for his own actions. Sadly, that is a rare thing among those who are involved in the homosexual lifestyle.

When we lived in Las Vegas, I had an opportunity to have a good conversation with a member of the church in Oregon. He was married, had children, and every day, he fought the temptation to partake of the homosexual lifestyle. This brother provided some insight I want to share with you.

He explained that many things that had happened in his life "pushed" him in the direction of homosexuality. Yet, he explained that is not a reason to become a homosexual. He admitted that there comes a point when the one who is "thinking" of crossing the line takes the plunge and yields to the temptation of homosexuality. In his own words: "I fought the desires every day because I knew it was wrong and sinful. While I partly understood why I felt the way I did, I knew that if I crossed the line, my soul might be eternally destroyed. I kept fighting the desire to give in."

Finally, this brother confessed his struggle with this demon to his wife, his children, and the church. Thanks be to God, they all responded favorably and helped him overcome his craving and desire to participate in homosexual conduct. Today, he helps counsels others who have the same problem. He explained to me, "you can resist and say no."

What would you do if a loved one (child, brother, nephew, etc.) came to you and told you he was fighting this battle? Would it so upset and sicken you that you would turn him away and avoid and shun him? Hopefully, our love for men's souls would help us understand that this person is asking for help. One must look beyond the nature of this sin and remember that things much larger than personal feelings about this lifestyle are at stake.

May God help us to love all sinners-no matter the sin of which they are guilty. Unfortunately, some brethren react badly when confronted with situations involving homosexuality. We know the passages that condemn the homosexual lifestyle and the passages that teach us to love all men. We also know that God will always receive the penitent sinner who is willing to turn away from sin. Putting what we know into practice is the difficult part.

Homosexuality is a depraved and ungodly sin. Yet, it is no more wrong than any other sin. We need to hate the sin-not the sinner. (KMG)


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