August 9th, 2012
Restored Hope Network is the new ex-gay outfit that has arisen to challenge Exodus International as a rival network of ex-gay ministries. Restored Hope came about as a result of two specific disagreements that several ex-gay ministries have with Exodus, mainly around theological issues (specifically, whether one-saved, always saved really means what it says it means) and around Exodus’s repudiation of Reparative Therapy.
Exodus has made other changes as well, changes which have not received much direct criticism from Restored Hope, but which appear to nevertheless further delineate a sharp difference between the two groups. For example, Exodus International has an official policy statement opposing criminalization of homosexuality, and it has backed that statement up with the resignation of a board member following a trip abroad which lent support to gruops which support Jamaica’s law which treats same-sex relations as a felony.
But in a Facebook posting earlier today, an unnamed spokesperson for Restored Hope Network has announced that they will not oppose the criminalization of homosexual acts:
I have a question for the group; Exodus International opposes criminalization of homosexual acts – does RHN oppose them, also? I have perused the doctrine. I thank you for your time.
Restored Hope Network I don’t believe we will have a stance on this topic. We are concerned for those involved in sexual sin to hear the good news of freedom from slavery to sin (Romans chapters 6-8), thus our goal is to help those who are interested in leaving such behind in obedience to the good news of Jesus Christ.
But for those who are not interested, we can rot in jail for all they care.
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Ben in Oakland
August 9th, 2012
Not taking a stance on criminalization. That isan oddly consistent, and consistently odd interpretation of “render into Caesar…”
Anthony Venn-Brown
August 9th, 2012
RSN is going further and further down the hole…..hopefully so far down the hole that they become completely irrelevant and decent minded people are outraged by their unjust, ignorant and outdated approach to sexuality.
Timothy Kincaid
August 10th, 2012
Oh how I despise trite meaningless Christian phraseology.
“Good news of freedom of slavery to sin”. What does that mean in English?
The good news that one can spend a life desperately trying to be something other than what you are and for which the SOLE reason for changing is to please a deity who oh so graciously will not torture you (that’s the good part) if you keep trying really hard. With theology like that, it’s no wonder that agnosticism and atheism are growing so rapidly.
Is a wacky anti-Christ theology in which “freedom from the slavery of sin” means even more adherence to the Law of Sin and Punishment. Orwell must be laughing wherever he is (or isn’t).
Rev. M. Vernon Hunt
August 10th, 2012
So I assume it is safe to assume that they are in favor of imprisonment and punishment, up to including the death penalty, for unrepentant homosexuals. They won’t have a problem with people telling that to anyone who will listen.
Jarred
August 10th, 2012
In my opinion, RHN’s failure to speak out against even the criminalization of homosexuality taints its whole “ministry.” The criminalization of homosexuality and even less overtly violent practices of treating LGBT people like second-class citizens prevents people from making an informed and truly free choice regarding how they want to respond to and deal with their SSA. By failing to speak out against such things, RHN cannot know for sure whether people who seek out their ministry are doing so out of an honest religious conviction that they personally hold or external pressure.
Granted, I suspect that RHN doesn’t care, so long as people keep flocking to RHN and its member ministries to be fleeced for support…
CPT_Doom
August 10th, 2012
Can you imagine the howls of outrage if an American Muslim group refused to oppose the criminalization or harassment of Christians in an Islamic country because they could always convert?
SharonB
August 10th, 2012
Because nothing “restores hope” like the threat of gaol and the torturer’s lash!
iDavid
August 12th, 2012
RHN
Hope is a tainted form of a wish.” Wish in one hand and spit in the other and see which one fills up the fastest”. Hope next to facts is zip nada. It’s no better than fishing in a dried up sea bed. If you base your life on hope you’re a dream’n pie in the sky paper pawn. What a waste of time and energy. Life’s short. Don’t waste it on trying to nail jello to a wall. You’ll lose every time. Get real. Stop playing the fool. And above all…..
Get a life.
Dr. Alice Fusco
August 14th, 2012
Hi, fellas – there’s more. Someone has called them out on being evasive and they responded with… well, with more evasiveness. Sheesh!
https://www.facebook.com/RestoredHopeNetwork/posts/474301085913609
Marc
August 14th, 2012
Their extremism can only mean we should start the cOuntdown clock until one of their top members is caught sinning at the local bathhouse. 3…2…1, go
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