"So that the land will not spew you out..."

Yeah, and that bit about "no sexual" contact has worked spectacularly well among the troops who are heterosexual, hasn't it?

Responding to what I sent him recorded above, my IVCF brother in Christ sent me this:

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Ah, Brother Tim, I wish things were as simple and straightforward as you seek to make them! But alas, life is a bit more complex.

Here’s the complexity when it comes to banning a certain group from any public institution. If someone says, “I find my sexual desires are directed towards the same sex rather than the opposite sex, and yet I never have, and never will, act on these desires,” and if someone else says, “When I say that I ‘am’ gay, this means that I have sexual relations with other men, and I intend to whenever and with whomever I want—and it’s none of your damn business!”

Surely as Christians we would and should treat these two people differently, and I would suggest the American military should too. I see no reason why the American military should not accept the first person mentioned above, if this person wants to serve his country. But the second person should not be allowed into the military. The problem is that under the rubric, “gay”, both people above are included in today’s discourse.

When someone comes to me in my ministry and tells me, “I’m gay,” the very first thing I ask him is, “What do you mean by this?” If he means that he finds himself sexually attracted to other men and not to women, period, that’s one thing; if he tells me he’s unashamedly embraced the homosexual lifestyle, that’s another thing. Pastorally, we should respond to each person differently. So too the State.

Woe to us as a nation if we ever find ourselves outlawing someone because he or she has certain *desires*. What kind of a country would that be?! Surely all human beings who are sinners—which includes 100% of the human race—will be found to have some desires which are shameful and need to be resisted. The person who says, “Every time I eat a meal, I find myself desiring three desserts. I’m just never content with one dessert. I find myself feeling that I simply MUST have two more desserts before I’m content!” This person needs prayer and counsel. Gluttony is a sin. And yet I wouldn’t want laws enforced that prevent this person from ever working in a restaurant.

I do applaud your strong convictions concerning sodomy, Tim. God condemns sodomy, and so should we. No, the concern here is not about being “progressive”; it’s about making important distinctions.

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I only responded to one particular point he'd made.

HE WROTE: "Here’s the complexity when it comes to banning a certain group from any public institution. If someone says, 'I find my sexual desires are directed towards the same sex rather than the opposite sex, and yet I never have, and never will, act on these desires...'"

I RESPONDED: "It boggles my mind that you think this summary statement has anything at all to do with the don't ask, don't tell debate. Men who identify as 'gay' are making a statement about their commitment to a perverted sexual identity (posture, clothing, vocabulary, taste, etc.) and almost always sexual practice--not simply their proclivities. 'Gay' connotes self-affirmation in perversion of identity and practice. If men or women are committed to celibacy, whatever their sexual temptations, they don't say 'I'm gay.' 'Gay' is a moral statement of affirmation.

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I welcome readers' responses to my friends points.

Love,

And isn't the Navy allowing it's sailorettes on submarines as well?

>>Christians ought not join the U.S. military anyway, because American foreign policy is unbiblical and has been unbiblical since at least the Spanish-American War.

Best stay anonymous if you're going to write that sort of stuff. Christ had no problem with a man being in the Roman army and for all our imperfections we're better than that.