Customer Reviews

Pursuing Sexual Wholeness: How Jesus Heals the Homosexual

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Comiskey opens up his own life in a most vulnerable way to depict not only the confusion and pain that come with homosexual struggle, but the freedom and wholeness that come with pursuing the truth of Jesus. This book is both informative and touching. Recommended for all those who secretly struggle with homosexuality, wishing that somehow change could happen, for those whose loved ones are gay or struggle with same-sex attraction, or for those who are interested in learning how to better love our fellow human beings with this struggle. For an even more thourough look at the theological topic of homosexuality as it relates to Christianity, I also highly recommend Straight & Narrow? (InterVarsity Press).

This book has been so helpful in challenging and helping me to see what it was about lesbianism that drew me in and beckoned me. Andy is a wonderful, humorous and insightful speaker and writer and I have both appreciated this book and the ministries of Desert Streams and Exodus International. This has been a helpful and insightful book that I would highly reccommend for those that want to look deeper than the surface to what the real cries are for. It was very useful to help me out of the lie of homosexuality and I am thankful for resources such as these.

This book gives the reader a greater understanding of human sexuality from a biblical viewpoint. Easy to read and understand. An excellent book!

I was raised in a very conservative Christian home and was a fervent Christian myself for many years. I was a respected leader in the church, helped with the youth group, led worship at our church and was also hired by other churches to lead music for them at youth camps, rallies, and other events. But my whole life I had secretly struggled with these "feelings". I prayed and prayed that God would take them away and "heal me". I was disgusted with myself for having these thoughts and feelings, but they were out of my control. Sure, I could refrain from indulging in outright "lust", but the feelings were still there. I finally "came out" to a few people, including my parents, who were devastated...

I fell prey to the kind of psychologically damaging ideaology that this book and others like it proclaim. I read countless books, studied my Bible, cried out to God, went through "conversion therapy" and counselling. The only thing all of it really accomplished was to pull me into an even deeper state of depression. I hated myself and could think of nothing but how screwed up I must be. For a while I was even suicidal. I didn't see any hope or any way out, despite all my earnest prayers. Where was God? Why wasn't he delivering me or at least giving me peace that I was on the right path?

After years of heartache and intense struggle, I realized that this way of thinking was not from God. A God of love wouldn't make me feel like this. I had always been told that God knew every hair on my head before I was born, that he made me...in HIS image! But now all of the sudden I'm being told that who I am isn't acceptable? That I must change myself to be more like those who were fortunate enough to have been born straight? Realize, we're not talking about my actions, "sins", or simply things that I am free to decide; we're talking about who I am, at the core. I had just as much of a say in whether or not I would be gay as I did in whether or not my hair would be brown, or my eyes blue. So how can a loving, just God condemn me for it?

Answer: He doesn't. People like the one who wrote this book do. Disguising their bigotry and prejudice as "love", they proclaim "their" truth, not God's. Claiming to "love the sinner, hate the sin", they most often don't even bother to make a distinction. Blinded by their own arrogance, self-righteousness, and personal bias, they declare judgement on others, more like the Pharisees than Jesus (who never mentioned homosexuality, by the way). They refuse to accept those who they view as the "untouchables". They can't understand homosexuality so they fear and condemn it. They claim that the Bible is their basis for doing so, the same way people have misused "God", religion, and the Bible to defend slavery, child abuse, sexism, racism, rape, even murder. People can bend the words of Scripture to mean just about anything they want. In this case, like in so many others, they're simply using it to support their own ignorant, fearful, and bigoted ideals.

If you're looking for truth, there is none to be found in books like these, only lies, misrepresentations, fear, ignorance, and prejudice. Of course, it's all portrayed as "love". But it couldn't be further from it. Ultimately however, YOU must decide where you stand on this issue. But please don't limit yourself to reading only one side of the issue. Also check out:

"For the Bible Tells Me So"
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"Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality"
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"What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality"
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"Stranger at the Gate"
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"The Children Are Free"
[...]

After reading both sides, ask yourself: which one is a truer representation of a loving God, Abba Father? I think the answer to that one is quite clear.

I know how difficult of a time I had trying to reconcile my faith and my sexuality, until I found that there was no conflict between the two to begin with. I have since come to fully love and accept myself for who I am and who I was made to be. I have never been more at peace or more fulfilled. But I look around and I'm astounded at the blatant prejudice that these "Christian" authors spew forth. How can they be so self-deluded as to call it love? So, I'm writting this in the hopes that it might help someone else in the same position who is honestly and sincerely searching for answers and the truth. As cliche as it may be, if it can help even one person, it's been worth my time.

Thanks for listening.

Having read this multiple times as well as going through the Living Waters material there is some good stuff in it but as well some very biased beliefs on what makes a person gay. Though this is geared towards men more then women it comes from Andy's background about being in the "gay lifestyle" in the 70's in southern California. It is as well his theological beliefs as to why being gay is a neurosis, something that must be healed. Now like so many people who are in the ex-gay movement even the founders they all were involved in high risk behavior before the day of AIDS. Their living a double life style of acting out with other men and going to church on Sundays made them full of shame and self hatred. This book is for those who really do not believe that God likes gay people and that being gay means that you are living in sin and need to change. I would suggest that one begin to learn the truth of who they are as a human being made in His image meaning that there is a variety of experiences and God is not out to judge and demean you because of your sexuality.

How sad that this author considers homosexuality a condition that is in need of healing. This point of view is ignorant and harmful. Homosexuality has always existed and will always exist, and it is 100% natural. Jesus surely would not have expected anyone to deny themselves an essential part of their nature. Homosexuals deserve acceptance, support and understanding, the exact opposite of what this book offers.