Dear Editor,
I am sorry to have to say that Professor Reeves’ well-intentioned letter (June en), and the statement of the Nigerian Christians to which he alludes (April en), seem to me to create unintended and unhelpful confusion.
James 1:13-15 states that the person who experiences desires (whether heterosexual or homosexual) has been tempted. Temptation is not sin. Sin, James teaches, occurs when a person allows the desire to conceive (v.15). With reference to the present discussion, allowing the desire to conceive would mean deliberately indulging in lustful thoughts (‘adultery in the heart,’ in our Lord’s words: Matt.5:28) or, of course, in some physical act. It makes no difference at all whether the context is one of homosexuality or heterosexuality. But simply finding someone (of either sex) attractive is not in itself sinful.
This point is of the greatest practical and pastoral importance, in avoiding false guilt. There is no reason why a person whose temptations happen to be focused on their own sex should seek to change the focus of those desires. Rather, he or she should seek help to resist indulging them, in thought as well as act. Nothing is to be gained by replacing homosexual temptation with heterosexual temptation. We should also, of course, pray to be delivered from all wrong desires of any kind: such deliverance is part of the sanctification which we all should seek. Professor Reeves is right, of course, to say that the Holy Spirit can (and sometimes does) change a person’s desires and we should be open to His doing so; but to urge such a change upon same-sex attracted Christians appears to bring us perilously close to the ‘conversion therapy’ which is such a contentious matter at present.
I think misunderstanding occurs when the word ‘gay’ is used to denote a person who experiences same-sex attraction but seeks to resist the temptation. It would be better if the term ‘same-sex attracted’ were used to describe those in that position and the word ‘gay’ used to denote only those who are committed to the homosexual lifestyle.
Yours sincerely,
Reverend Doctor R.W. Curl Norfolk
