Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyCulture wars are hell.
June 20th, 2007
Battle lines are being drawn in the ex-gay cat fight. In one corner, we have Exodus International president Alan Chambers, who questioned the ex-gay party line when he said, “By no means would we ever say change can be sudden or complete.”
In the other corner, we have Stephen Bennett, who demands that Alan Chambers clarify his remarks.. Bennett is now joined by Peter LaBarbera, who calls Alan to task for straying from doctrinal purity [Emphasis LaBarbera’s]:
There are many people – perhaps due to the “weirdness” of homosexuality (after all, this is a lifestyle whose advocates now proudly embrace the moniker “queer”) – who would have us focus incessantly on the “cause” of homosexuality and the “feelings” of homosexuals. They have come to sympathize with people caught up in homosexuality’s embrace in a way that drives them to become de facto apologists for “gayness” – more suspicious of pro-family groups engaged in the uphill fight against homosexual activism than they are of the homosexual activists themselves. (I would put Grove City College psychology professor Dr. Warren Throckmorton, who has emerged as a “Switzerland” of sorts in the culture war over homosexuality, in that camp.)
…But the far more important issue for people trapped in this sin, and especially for our nation’s youth, is that this destructive sinful behavior can be changed and must never be defended by anyone who claims allegiance to a holy, Almighty God. We know Alan Chambers would never do that, but by stepping into this semantic morass and publicly denying “complete change” for practicing homosexuals – in the face of wonderful Christian testimonies like Steve Bennett’s and Dennis Jernigan’s – he inadvertently helped a “gay” lobby that is obsessed with defending the indefensible.
Truth is, despite his good intentions, the “gay” activists will never be Alan’s friend unless he abandons God’s moral law and throws up a rainbow flag in complete surrender.
LaBarbera is being his usual hyperventilating self. I don’t expect Alan to throw up a rainbow flag anytime soon. But this does go to show how quickly some anti-gay extremists will turn and eat their own whenever they see their unquestionable assumptions challenged.
As Alan is finding out, culture wars demand absolute fealty to the party line. Anything less, and you risk lending comfort to a “decidedly evil movement.” Either that, or you become Switzerland, which I hear is quite lovely this time of year.
Stephen Bennett: Say It Isn’t So!
Stephen Bennett: Alan Chamber’s Got Some Explainin’ To Do
Peter LaBarbera Joins Stephen Bennett In Ex-Gay Cat Fight
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Kevin
June 20th, 2007
Oh puh-leeze, Peter. “Culture War” my ass. It’s nothing but a moneymaking scheme and a fleece-the-public scam decorated with some of the most creative fantasized prose I’ve ever seen come out of a jaded professional propagandist’s keyboard.
It’s sad enough that there are actually people in this country who are motivated by fear and hatred, because it gives his little dance party its finger sandwiches. But what is truly pathetic is how he exploits the most remote fears in a human being to get a few coins dropped into his purse.
At some point Porno Pete is gonna have to wake up and realize that the real “culture war” is over how many lies he can still peddle as the “truth” before people close their wallets in embarassment.
Christine Bakke
June 20th, 2007
Yeah, I’m all with Doc Throck. I’d love to hang out in Switzerland for a while…
:)
And people wonder why Alan or other leaders don’t say what they really feel, or why they play a lot of semantic games. If they really were honest…or tried to articulate their real feelings (which often aren’t as black and white as others want them to be)…this is what they get.
It’s like when John Paulk stepped into Mr. P’s – he was suddenly ridiculed and disowned by anti-gays and gays (er, I mean weirdos) alike.
It’s an unenviable position, for sure. Doesn’t mean I agree with what they say or do, but they are humans after all, just like me. And I hear they put on their pants one leg at a time, too, but that’s unconfirmed. ;)
John
June 20th, 2007
You know I cannot remember if it was Sun Tzu or Clausewitz that famously said if your enemies are fighting amongst themselves, get out of the way and let them finish. I’m rather enjoying this because Barbera & Bennett are showing their true characters for the whole world to see. Think it’s time to pop the corn and watch the show…
Jim Burroway
June 20th, 2007
Christine,
You’re right. The thing is, these things that Alan has just been quoted as saying are things he’s been saying for at least a year that I know of. It’s just that now he’s become more willing to say it in front of a broader audience. I applaud him for it. It was a brave thing for him to do.
It’s incredibly sad to say that it was a brave thing. It shouldn’t have required bravery. But now that we’ve seen the reaction, you can understand why bravery was called for anyway.
Lynn David
June 21st, 2007
Yeah…. but what are Wildmon and Dobson going to come out and say…. they are the ones with some clout. Or better yet, what would Dr. James Holsinger say about all this?
Willie Hewes
June 21st, 2007
I like the way this discussion makes the hard-line ex-gays look bad and the moderate ex-gays look, well, kinda naff, really.
What, so you can’t turn straight, but you can kinda not be so gay and just try to resist the temptation for the rest of your life. Is that something you can ask people to do?
Chambers is doing the right thing. I hope he’ll continue on this path, even if it won’t turn him into an ally. I’m happy if he just stops being an opponent.
quo
June 21st, 2007
Whether one agrees with Peter LaBarbera or not, it is good to see a man express his views openly, proudly, and unapologetically, rather than trying to disguise or conceal them.
Truth in Technicolor
September 11th, 2007
I think it is important to realize that Stephen Bennett is a full blown gay sex addict. Years and years of gay bath houses orgies promiscuity porn all submersed in an ocean of guilt, is not an easy life. Per 12 step programs, once an addict always an addict. Stephen’s plight is one of trying to prove through angry onslaughts, that he is in fact straight, which is impossible. What he doesn’t realize is that it is not the public’s fault. It is his own for not being his true self. He has simply jumped onto the opposing tracks of which he is now trying desperately to reconcile. I would have a professional computer anylist check his computers for gay porn. Stephen suffers from the terrible to’s; he is far to angry far too judgemental and far from being straight.
Timothy Kincaid
September 11th, 2007
Truth in Technicolor,
Do you have any evidence that “Stephen Bennett is a full blown gay sex addict” or that he has “years and years of gay bath houses orgies promiscuity porn”?
This is not a site for unsubstantiated accusations.
Truth in Technicolor
September 11th, 2007
RE Stephen Bennett
Yes, he is a “recovering” sex addict, it is part of his “testimony”. You can read it on his web sight.
Timothy Kincaid
September 11th, 2007
In his testimony, Stephen Bennett does not describe himself as a sex addict, recovering or otherwise.
https://www.sbministries.org/testimony.html
Although he did describe himself as a recovered drug addict, his sexual experiences seem to be primarily limited to those experienced within the confines of a relationship. I do not see any indication of bathhouses, orgies, or porn.
I have many reasons for distrusting Mr. Bennett and his claims. But at this site we require that you limit your accusations to that which you can substantiate.
Thank you
Truth in Technicolor
September 11th, 2007
You would have to obtain Stephen Bennett’s testimonial tape available on his web sight to hear the entire sequence of Bennett’s personal “struggle” with gay guilt and promiscuous sex over an 11 year span with over 100 gay men. His drug alchohol bulemia and sex addiction to include porn are well documented by his own voice on his own “testimonial” tape. These things I say are not accusations, these are facts. Bennett is not straight. Bennett is a bi-sexual male, and he is a liar, and he is also …. a fraud. And that’s, Truth in Technicolor.
Truth in Technicolor
September 12th, 2007
PS You have to join Bennett’s Sbministries.org web sight to obtain past audio tapes and there is a charge for both joining and purchasing tapes. I reviewed his testimonial audio tape over a year ago when it was free to access the library via the web sight.
I do not believe Stephen Bennett is an honest man. I see deceit in his candor, and I hear lies in his orations. I know he hurts America and the constitution for which it stands. By the light of our forefathers, I will do whatever I can to shine light in the heart of darkness.
knowledge is power. Know Thine Enemy. Tough love works. And above all, always be fully informed.
Timothy Kincaid
September 12th, 2007
T.I.T.,
I have no delusions about Bennett or his integrity. However, keep your accusations (sex addict, orgies, etc.) to things that you are able to substantiate.
Thanks
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