September 29th, 2015
Over the past few years, Alan Chambers, the former head of ex-gay umbrella group Exodus International, has made significant changes in the way in which he sees the world and his own spirituality. In his new book My Exodus: From Fear to Grace, he discusses how letting go of fear-based theology allowed him to see the image of God in places he once was afraid to see and in his book he encourages other Christians to do the same.
Although they are but a part of Alan’s transformation, the change in his views about sexuality are the most notable due to his past. Alan has not rejected his faith and it remains the center of his focus. But he has definitely changed the way in which he sees God and what is holy.
From Eliel Cruz’ interview with Alan in Religious News Service:
Where do you stand on same-sex relationships? Are you affirming of them?
I do believe that same-sex relationship can be holy. As a Christian, I think marriage is best. That is why I’m supportive of the Supreme Court decision for the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. I think same-sex marriages can reflect, and often do, God’s image. Many people in the church either do not know of Christ-centered same-sex relationships or refuse to see them. Leslie and I have met so many individuals who have awesome stories and are doing amazing work. Their marriages absolutely reflect the image of God.
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Ben in oakland
September 30th, 2015
In one very, very positive sense, he hasn’t changed.
He used to say that the goal was not heterosexuality, it was holiness.
Now he is saying that the goal isn’t heterosexuality, it’s holiness.
Thank you, Alan Chambers.
Alan Chambers
October 4th, 2015
Thanks for posting this, Timothy. And, thanks for that comment, Ben. Nice play on words.
Eric Payne
October 4th, 2015
Yet, Mr. Chambers, you still just could not say “Yes, I do” and be done with it, could you? You had to throw in those qualifiers of “holy” and “Jesus-based”… even though, in your own words, you were talking about the Supreme Court’s decision concerning American states’ laws for civil marriage.
And, pray tell, just what is an unholy same-sex… no… you know what… never mind. Asking you a question may lead you to believe I want you to answer it.
Peddling a new book, huh, Alan? Yep, that figures. Media whores do need their occasional fix. Even Monica Lewinsky if making the rounds again…
Ben in oakland
October 5th, 2015
Eric….
Credit where credit is due.
Eric Payne
October 5th, 2015
Ben…
Credit? To moi?
Well… shucks… where;s that “blush” tag?
Priya Lynn
October 5th, 2015
Eric, someone comes as far as Alan has and you attack him? Not cool and highly counterproductive.
Eric Payne
October 5th, 2015
Priya,
Read Chambers’ statement, and his statements in the past. Then look at his comment, here, about civil marriage. He still qualifies his “acceptance” with Christian ideals.
Alan Chambers
October 7th, 2015
Eric, the answer I gave about same-sex marriages being holy was asked by a bi-Christian reporter. HIs actual question to me in the interview was, “Can gay relationships be holy?” I answered him with what you see above. The question that he used with my answer in this piece wasn’t the original question that prompted my response.
Eric Payne
October 7th, 2015
Mr. Chambers,
If what you’re saying is true, then I owe you an apology.
But since what you’re saying is completely unverifiable, unless the original reporter steps forward and volunteers that between the interview and publication, he deceptively edited his questions so the answers to those questions are more… dramatic…, and given your history… I don’t believe my response was unwarranted.
Sir, I realize yours is a… difficult… position in which to find oneself; you have your faith (which, obviously, is of great importance in your life) and your faith has, to be blunt, failed you in what you, very publicly, believed to be true (or wanted to believe to be true).
Everyone alive has faith in something. It may not be “faith” in the more traditional sense of belief in a Supreme Being from whom all life springs, but instead a more subtle faith — belief in their doctors, or their government, or just the friends and family in their lives. And everyone eventually comes to a crisis of that faith.
But you, sir, used your personal faith not just as a barometer against which the persons in your personal life were gauged, but against which the populace, especially that of the “gay community”, were judged.
You, personally, preyed against the weak-minded, urging their capitulation to the strictures of your faith via coercion and ethereal threats of eternal damnation.
And all the while you did these things, you knew that everything you were saying was a lie; the life you were living was a carefully constructed stage set.
You may not have actually tortured the young men, and their families, who turned toward your production, but you were an active participant in the creation of the cultural mindset that allows for the ongoing “conversion” torture to continue.
Long after you, yourself, have died, there will still be the very real fallout of mens’ lives being torn apart by the policies and practices you helped institutionalized.
Back in the early 1990s, I was a free-lance newspaper reporter in the Bay Area. I was, also, a daily, falling-down drunk who, any night of the week, could be found at “Renegades” or “A Tinker’s Damn” tossing back beers and whatever the shot of the night was, until I’d pass out. During that same period of time I was, very briefly, the treasurer of the San Jose Pride Celebration Committee.
I say “very briefly” because I stole about $1,500 from the Committee’s coffers to stay in booze. I got caught, got sent to prison for 18 months (served, on a sentence of 3 years), lost everything and became permanent persona non grata in the Bay Area.
My own actions took me from “the persons everyone called, first” to “the person no one would talk to.” When I was released from prison, I had to rebuild my life (since I was paroled to Santa Clara County and living anywhere but within my parole district would have been a violation of parole). It was a challenge, but I did it.
You can, too, Alan, but your road is going to be exponentially more difficult. One of the things that aided in rebuilding is a piece of advice I give you, freely: struggle to regain your anonymity.
Change your phone number, your e-mail address, your internet provider, your physical and IP addresses. When (if) someone gets through those changes, and asks you for an interview… just say no. Don’t follow the links when you Google yourself.
Just take a break for awhile.
Priya Lynn
October 7th, 2015
Eric said “Priya,
Read Chambers’ statement, and his statements in the past. Then look at his comment, here, about civil marriage. He still qualifies his “acceptance†with Christian ideals.”.
I don’t care. He’s come a very long way from where he started from, if he wants to see marriage as a religious thing for gays, lesbians, and heterosexuals that’s nothing given where he used to be.
When someone has come as far as he has and rather than take delight in the great distance he’s travelled you beat him over the head for the little ways he hasn’t gone you’re being counterproductive, you’re discouraging others from making the same trip he has.
Eric Payne
October 7th, 2015
Priya,
I, honestly, thought you were being sarcastic in your first posting. Obviously, you were being sincere.
To which I respond: It doesn’t matter that, in the last half of his life, George Wallace managed to be photographed with numerous black children; it matters that in the first half of his life he publicly used his personal racism to derail the lives of those children’s parents and grandparents.
Priya Lynn
October 7th, 2015
I couldn’t disagree with you more Eric.
Priya Lynn
October 7th, 2015
And its a bad idea for Alan to remain silent about his changed positions. Him talking about his change in position publicly benefits gays and lesbians, him being silent does not.
Eric Payne
October 7th, 2015
Priya,
And that’s where we differ.
I, personally, don’t understand why Chambers would welcome any publicity or notoriety. Why the need to continuously excoriate oneself, publicly? That’s masochism.
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