The 2006 Exodus Freedom Conference is a-comin’, and sex-obsessed fundamentalists will be gathering this year to engage in workshops about, well, sex. Some of it is okay (workshops dealing with harassment, etc.), but mostly, it’s about same-sex issues and how not to be gay.
There’s so much to choose from. You can listen to a former "sex addict" lecture on:
What’s Wrong With Masturbation?
We’ve all wondered about Masturbation. Is it healthy self-expression or a bondage? What does the Bible say and not say about it? In this workshop we will explore these questions and look at ways to deal with this challenging issue.
Well, it’s not that challenging.
Then, of course, we can attend Dr. Nancy Heche’s workshop:
10 Things To Say When You Don’t Know What to Say
In this workshop, Nancy will elaborate on her testimony with some practical suggestions for the church as well as for family and friends when you hear the words, "I’m gay." There will be some time for participants to share stories about what has worked for them or what hasn’t, when they didn’t know what to say or do.
Dr. Heche did so well in bringing up her daughter Anne. I’m sure she’s an expert in this stuff.
But our favorite is the lecture by "reformed lesbian" Melissa Fryrear:
Why We Can’t Stay Silent
When Jesus said, “Blessed are the righteous,” He yearned for people who would defend all that is right against all that is wrong. In addition to seeing people brought to the saving knowledge of Christ, Christians should be compelled by God’s love to defend the biblical worldview and engage the culture…
Melissa needs to check her Bible, especially if she’s going to use it as a launching point for her lecture. Jesus did not say "Blessed are the righteous". The beatitude reads "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." [Matthew 5:6].
It is significant that this beatitude does not say, ‘Blessed are the righteous’. Rather it says ‘blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled’. It seems to me that there is implied in this blessing an understanding that we are being challenged to commit ourselves to aprocess, a journey, an ongoing reaching out for the righteousness of God.
It’s interesting that Jesus does not say, "Blessed are the righteous," but "blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." It’s not the people who think they are righteous who are blessed, but the people who aren’t, but desperately desire it. It’s not the people who think they have God all wrapped up in a tidy package, but those who know they don’t who are blessed.
The scripture does not say "blessed are the righteous for they shall be filled." That’s obvious. But the scripture says blessed are they who want to be–blessed are they who want more than anything else to be righteous. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness. That’s the center focus of coming unto Christ.
I have no problem with Ms Fryrear’s hardcore Christian views. But if she’s going to use the Bible to lecture others, she should have enough respect for it (and Christ) to do her homework first.