Teddy is reading a book called Uncommon Calling by Chris Glaser. Here is a quote:
Later, a high school buddy persuaded me to drive with him to look at all the "freaks" on Sunset strip, a portion of Sunset Blvd. near Hollywood, that had become a hang out for the "flower children" of the 60s. I sensed some of these were homosexual and my stomach turned at the sight of them. A dream at this time proved revealing: walking down a dark city street, an effeminate male homosexual suddenly approached me from behind and tapped me suggestively on my shoulder. I ran from him screaming in sheer terror. I hardly needed a gestalt therapist to understand that the homosexual tapping on my shoulder was none other than a part of myself seeking recognition. The terror I felt came from the thought of accepting that part.
I believe that if God wanted to change my sexual feelings, they would be changed. Gradually I came to believe God wanted me this way, that somehow the suffering caused by having sexual feelings of which I could never speak, let alone express & fulfill, would shape me into a better person. Greek heroes had their traggic flaws; the apostle Paul had his "thorn in the flesh." If Jesus could bear a cross for me I could certainly handle unfulfilled sexual desire. I would have a need for intimacy that could never be fulfilled and would have to be kept secret until I died and received my reward in heaven. To cover the absolute pain of this experience, I jokingly called this my "Christian martyr" period. It was a martyrdom all right, but not of Christianity. "Martyr" literally means "witness", and my suffering was more a witness to the evil of homophobia inflicted on children and teenagers than it was of true Christianity.
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Grace is the acceptance of that which is rejected. ~Paul Tillich
There is no doubt that deprivation of things make you strong in moral character. It makes you appreciate the small things in life. However, I don't think people should deprive themselves of something that doesn't need to be, unless they have a legitimate, logical, substantial reason. I have a friend that is going through the same thing the author went through. My friend believes as the author did that depriving himself of his feelings will ultimately please our Lord, and he will be rewarded salvation. There is nothing wrong with what my friend is doing, it's their choice, but why deprive yourself of something that may not be bad??? My friend believes my way of thinking in terms of the Bible and it's teachings of homosexulality is wrong, but then again no one interprets the Bible completely the same way.
I agree that depriving yourself of certain things (fasting) can help make you a better person. But your friend is wrong if he thinks that salvation will be given to ANYONE, gay or straight, by depriving themselves of something. God's free gift of salvation is exactly just that: a FREE GIFT given FREELY to ANYONE, gay or straight, who accepts it by accepting Jesus Christ into their hearts and making Him the Lord of their lives. It was His dying on the cross and resurrection from the grave that gives us God, heaven and eternal life that can begin NOW.
Make two lists. On one, write down all of the bad things about yourself, what you own and do. On the other, write the good things. Now here is where ALL religions gets it wrong: they think that if their own personal "good" list is longer than their "bad" list, then they're going to get to go to heaven when they die. But the bible tells otherwise. It says that ALL of us have come short of God's righteousness (his pure heart), and that even our righteousness ("good" lists) God likens unto filthy rags. So what they're believing is that their own religious hands will build themselves their own "stairway to heaven"...only to find themselves deeper into their own self-centered hell.
But back to the issue of fasting.
Look back to your two lists. Jesus' death and resurrection has given you the victory over the "bad" list, so throw it away. Now look at your "good" list. As you look over the things on it, ask yourself these kind of questions:
"If I lost these things, how would it affect my relationship to God?" "Do I spend more time thinking about this item on the list than about God?" "Does having this thing bring a wedge between me and my relationship with the Lord?" "Do I worry about losing these things?" "Does this list make me feel thankful to God, and can I use them to help others? Or do I wind up feeling prideful, and from serving God and others?"
I guarantee that if you just throw THIS list away, just like Paul did in Phillippians 3:1-11, and just keep your heart focused upon Christ and His word, then you will find that your "bad" list will be growing smaller and shorter each day. It won't go away COMPLETELY, you're still a human being, but you'll find yourself walking closer with Jesus...
...and those that are watching you will notice it, too!
