Written by Linda Jernigan

It is the opinion of some that the ex-gay movement is dead or near death following the cowardly retreat of Exodus International. I am here to declare emphatically that nothing could be further from the truth. Ex-homosexuals are more focused and more determined than ever to ensure our message is transmitted globally to the ears and hearts of homosexuals everywhere. 

Many have concluded that because many homosexual transformations include setbacks (as virtually all change from sin to rejection of sin does), they should all be viewed as utterly fallacious. I disagree. 

There are ex-homosexuals, including me, whom God has freed from the bondage of homosexuality, and we have remained free of this sexual sin since our conversion. There is a concerted effort to suppress our testimonies in hopes that we will go away. But we will not go away until every person who desires to be free of homosexuality knows there is a way of escape. The way is Jesus the Christ. He is The Way, The Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).  

The homosexual community would love for everyone to believe that homosexuality is the one thing in all of life’s experiences that has absolutely no exit. How ridiculous. The conversions of alcoholics, drug addicts, gamblers, fornicators, porn addicts, and adulterers are never disputed or challenged. When someone exits homosexuality, however, they are not merely challenged; they are maligned and rejected as liars from the community that preaches acceptance and tolerance.  While the homosexual community accepts the transformation from heterosexuality to homosexuality as truthful and morally legitimate, they reject any transformation in the other direction and the value of chastity for those who never experience heterosexual attraction. How is that possible?  

It is possible because they believe that we have stuffed our fingers in our ears and covered our eyes so we cannot hear or see the double-standard and the preposterous rhetoric they spew in their speeches. 

Alan Chambers said of Exodus International, “We’ve ceased to be a living, breathing organism.”  Although vitality seems to have escaped Alan Chambers and Exodus International, the ex-gay movement is a living, breathing organism because of the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, and we have the testimonies of others to confirm the fact that God is transforming and converting homosexuals into ex-homosexuals because He loves us.  

I am reminded of the story in 1 Kings when the prophet Elijah thought he was the only one left. God reminded Elijah that He had over seven thousand people who had not bowed their knees (succumbed to the pressure to conform). As a member of the ex-gay community, I shout at the top of my lungs that even though Exodus International bowed out of the fight after over three decades of positively affecting lives, the ex-gay community is not weakened, confused, shaky, or capitulating. Our message will not change because God does not change.  Homosexuality is sin. God disapproves of it, but He made a way of escape through His Son Jesus Christ.  

Ex-gays are here, we are involved, and we will not quit.

Editor’s Note:  Help Linda spread her powerful testimony of deliverance from homosexuality (19 years) by supporting her effort to distribute her new DVD and book nationally.  People need to hear the truth:  Homosexuality is a behavior that can be changed.  Click HERE to learn more and/or support her work.

The Illinois House Executive Committee approved a bill to redefine marriage late last night by okaying SB 10. The bill passed out of committee by a 6-5 vote.  It now goes to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

All four Republican lawmakers voted against the bill and were joined by Democrat State Representative Eddie Lee Jackson of East St. Louis.  It is important to note that Democrat State Representative Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago) made a point to qualify his yes vote, saying that he would vote to get the bill out of committee but would not guarantee his support on the House floor, citing his religious faith and the churches in his district as his reasons for not supporting it.  No, this anti-family legislation is not as popular as some would have us believe.  They do not have the votes necessary to pass this bill, and we must continue and even intensify our opposition to this bill.

Bottom line:  same-sex marriage is not inevitable.

Those who testified against SB 10 included Dr. Jennifer Roback-Morse, President of the Ruth Institute (a project of the National Organization for Marriage); Kellie M. Fiedorek, Litigation Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom; Linda Jernigan who lived as a lesbian for nearly twenty years but through the power of Jesus Christ now walks free from the homosexual lifestyle; and Pastor Danny Holliday, from Alton, Illinois.

To watch a video of the entire hearing, please click HERE.

Dr. Roback-Morse began her testimony by asking and answering the questions, “What is marriage,” and “What is owed the child”:

I urge you to reject the bill before you, SB 10. I urge you to reject any other legislation that would redefine the most basic structural feature of marriage, by removing the dual gender requirement for marriage. Redefining marriage redefines parenthood. “Marriage equality” cannot be achieved. Making same sex couples the legal equivalent of opposite sex couples will introduce new and deeper inequalities into society. 

Most importantly, redefining marriage creates structural injustices against children. To see this, we must ask ourselves: what is the essential public purpose of marriage, and what is owed to the child? 

The essential public purpose of marriage is to attach mothers and fathers to their children and to one another. And the child is entitled to a relationship with and care from both of the people who brought him into being. Therefore, the child has a legitimate interest in the stability of his parents’ union. But no child can defend these entitlements himself. Nor is it adequate to make restitution after these rights have been violated. The child’s rights must be supported pro-actively, before harm is done. 

Marriage is adult society’s institutional structure for protecting these legitimate interests of children. Without this public purpose, we would not need marriage at all as a distinct social institution. 

We often hear the objection that some marriages don’t have children. This is perfectly true. However, every child has parents. The objection that some marriages don’t have children stands the rationale for marriage on its head, viewing marriage from the adult’s perspective, instead of the child’s. 

Same sex couples and opposite sex couples are obviously different with respect to this essential public purpose of marriage. And treating different things differently is not discrimination. That is why, in the few cases where courts have found opposite sex marriage to be unlawful discrimination, they have had to come up with purposes for marriage that have nothing to do with procreation or attaching children to parents. 

Thus, my first and most basic point is this: It is a structural injustice to a child, to deprive him or her of a relationship with both parents, without some compelling or unavoidable reason.

(Read her entire testimony HERE.)

It may sound odd but, even though this passed out of committee, I am encouraged by the progress we are making in Springfield .  At the same time, we cannot let down our guard for a moment.  This is still an “all hands on deck” situation, and only with your help will we be able to stop this bill from being passed!   

Take ACTION:  If you haven’t yet sent an email or a fax to your state representative — it is time to speak up now!  Click HERE to contact your Illinois Representative and tell him/her to oppose the effort to redefine marriage!.  You can also call him/her through the Capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000.

Better still, schedule a meeting with your representative, bring as many constituents as you can, and ask him or her the questions available HERE.

More ACTION:  Contact your family and friends at church and let them know that they should speak out against this radical proposal — post your opinions on Facebook and Twitter.

You can also help us continue the fight for natural marriage by donating $10, $25, $50 or $100 or more today. With your support we can continue our vital work!  Click HERE to support the work and ministry of Illinois Family Institute.

The contentious debate about legalizing same-sex “marriage” in Illinois is now front and center.  Tune-in to the Total Living Network tonight, Friday, February 15th, at 9:00 P.M. for the premiere of cable TV’s Total Living Network’s (TLN) Special Report: Illinois Vote – Same Sex Marriage to learn more. A panel of leaders in the movement to defend marriage investigates the potential effects of this proposed legislation on religious freedom in Illinois. 

As you know, the Illinois Senate voted yesterday to pass the so-called “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.” The bill will now move to the Illinois House for consideration.  This bill would treat same-sex marriage as a civil right, but is it a civil right?  How would same sex marriage affect the church?  How would this bill alter the lives of Christians, Orthodox Jews and Muslims?  What actions need to be taken? 

Join moderator Greg Bogdan, Executive Director, TLN, and his guests Linda Jernigan, Rescuing Ministries; David E. Smith, Executive Director, Illinois Family Institute; and Dan Haas, Director of Ministries, TLN, as they tackle these difficult questions. 

Marriage is an institution created by God and is the foundation of our society.  We need to speak out for marriage as well as the religious freedoms guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Share the news with others and don’t miss the premiere of TLN Special Report: Illinois Vote – Same Sex Marriage on TLN Comcast 138, February 15th, at 9:00pm. The show will re-air (see the times listed below). You can also watch via Sky Angel or streaming live at wwwTLN.com/TLN-Online/ 

TLN Special Report: Illinois Vote – Same Sex Marriage Central Air Times: 

2/15/13 Friday at 9pm

2/15/13 Friday at 9:30pm

2/16/13 Saturday at 8pm

2/16/13 Saturday at 8:30pm

2/17/13 Sunday at 9:30am

2/17/13 Sunday at 1pm

2/17/13 Sunday at 6pm

2/18/13 Monday at 8pm

2/19/13 Tuesday at 12pm 

TAKE ACTION:  There are three very important things you can do to protect marriage and family in Illinois: 

1. Click HERE to contact your representative to voice your opinion on this same-sex “marriage” bill. Your opinion matters and can make a difference.  

2. Join IFI and many others at the IFI Defend Marriage Lobby Day: 

Defend Marriage Lobby Day
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
10:30 AM — 1:30 PM
Illinois State Capitol Rotunda
401 South 2nd Street, Springfield, Illinois  62701 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION 

3. Pray.  This issue needs our prayers.  We need to prayerfully consider what we can do individually to protect marriage and family; and also pray for God’s sovereign hand of protection and guidance on this country.  Pray, and continue to pray, for our country and leadership.