“Homosexuality Is Death, and I Choose Life”
Michael Glatze, the founding editor of Young Gay America magazine and an activist promoting the lifestyle of those who choose to embrace their Same Sex Attraction Disorder, has just published an article in WND explaining his path from “gay” activist to having been healed of the disorder. The title of this post is the message that he wrote on his computer at YGA to inform his co-workers of his decision. Glatze says of his healing: “‘coming out’ from under the influence of the homosexual mindset was the most liberating, beautiful and astonishing thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life.”
In a companion piece WND columnist, Art Moore, summarizes some of Glatze’s main points:
The radical change in his life, Glatze recalls, began with inner “promptings” he now attributes to God.
“I hope I can share my story,” he said. “I feel strongly God has put me here for a reason. Even in the darkest days of late-night parties, substance abuse and all kinds of things – when I felt like, ‘Why am I here, what am I doing?’ – there was always a voice there.
“I didn’t know what to call it, or if I could trust it, but it said ‘hold on.’”
The Catholic tradition calls this sufficient grace. God is always calling us, in fact as Francis Thompson said, pursuing us as the “Hound of Heaven.” Imagine the rejoicing that goes on in heaven when a pursued soul submits; he who was lost now is found! Moore continues:
In his column, Glatze doesn’t mince words, calling homosexual sex purely “lust-based,” meaning it can never fully satisfy.
“It’s a neurotic process rather than a natural, normal one,” he writes. “Normal is normal – and has been called normal for a reason.”
This is something that many of those who have recovered from SSAD have shared as well. They realize that they have always known, in some way, that they were living in a disordered way that was harming them but were quickly distracted from the notion. Glatze goes on to say:
“If ever I were to question anything, [my colleagues] would say, ‘You’re such an idealist.’”
Glatze said he thought opponents of homosexual activism were “mean and crazy, and they wanted to hurt me.”
“I thought they were out to get me,” he said. “They made me really, really mad – and scared, I think. I wanted them to go away.”
Glatze said he couldn’t allow himself to think they were sincere in their beliefs.
But he now has deep respect for a Christian aunt who disapproved of his lifestyle.
She “was never judgmental, but always firm,” he said.
This experience of the way one often responds to momentary recognition of sin is not limited to the problem of SSAD and the sin of choosing to act upon the inclination. C. S. Lewis, in the Screwtape Letters, shows how temptations are not just toward the evil acts themselves. Temptations also include the inclination to avert to distractions from God’s promptings toward repentance and conversion.
This witness is testament to the truth that God’s grace is stronger than our sins. SSAD strikes at the heart of the manner in which man images God and so it one of the most difficult disorders to remedy. Sexual attraction is one of the most irresistible inclinations to resist. Therefore, if someone who was inculcated into, and a leader in promoting, this particular culture of sin and death can be led by the Holy Spirit to see and embrace the truth then it is clear that there is hope for every one of us. As Glatze found, we simply need to drop our opposition to God’s promptings and cooperate with the grace that he offers.
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Truly an act of grace on the Lord’s part and a great act of fortitude and acceptance of that grace on the part of Mr. Glatze. May he find the strength now to walk that narrow road that Jesus demands of all of us. I pray for all of those trapped in various kinds of slavery to themselves and the depraved parts of our culture. May they find the liberation that only God can grant.
Comment by John Hetman — July 3, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
Horray! Thanks be to God!
Comment by tara — July 3, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
Everything he said is true. Praise God.
Comment by bridgit — July 3, 2007 @ 8:57 pm
This is amazing and powerful news. David Kupelian was instrumental in helping Michael get his word out via WorldNetDaily. God Bless Roy Masters and his ministry for helping Michael experience that change is truly possible.
Comment by Jess — July 4, 2007 @ 8:05 am
Wonderful testimony!
Comment by Mrs Jackie Parkes — July 5, 2007 @ 1:53 am
Really amazing story. God’s grace is just so powerful it could make your head explode just thinking about it. Truly we can never say never when we’re dealing with a merciful Lord.
Comment by Nolan Reynolds — July 5, 2007 @ 3:07 pm
I have been gay (homosexual) since I was in the seventh grade and I have never experienced the life that is mentioned in the article. I am just who I am. I do not think and I believe that I am not a sinner. I totally disagree. I live in Oakland, California, live a normal life and have a resposable position. I am able to work along side gay or straight folk and have respect for each other. Just because one is gay does not mean he or she has to be a freak or a clown. Being gay can be wholesome and good if you allow it to be.
Donald Weeks
Oakland, California
Comment by Donald Weeks — July 5, 2007 @ 10:22 pm
>> I do not think and I believe that I am not a sinner.
If you mean this in general terms then I would suggest a re-reading of 1 John 1:8-10 (presuming Christianity from the language you use here). If you mean that you do not think that engaging in same-sex sexual intercourse is not sinful (given your self-identification as “gay”) then your statement would have to be classified as a faulty personal opinion at odds with the whole of the Judeo-Christian tradition and the constant teaching of Christianity.
>> I live in Oakland, California, live a normal life and have a resposable position.
It is not clear to me what you mean by the statement that you have “known” you were “gay” since 7th grade. However, since you have been afflicted with an affective disorder since such an early age it seems likely that your sense of what is “normal” would more likely correspond to the culture associated with the disorder than with the order of nature. Thus, without more detail it is not at all apparent that you do not suffer from the same problems as those which afflict people who live the “gay” lifestyle that the article linked to in this post addresses.
>> Being gay can be wholesome and good if you allow it to be.
I’m not sure what you mean by “good and wholesome.” If you mean living a lifestyle in which you embrace and act out upon an affective disorder then by the definition of disorder this lifestyle cannot be either good or wholesome. However, if you simply mean that one can live a chaste and happy life without being able to resolve the underlying issues that have led to the same sex attraction disorder then I would not disagree, except with the way you have phrased it.
We are all sinners and need to pray for one another and offer the truth to others in love. You are in my prayers.
Comment by David — July 6, 2007 @ 11:01 am
“Being gay can be wholesome and good if you allow it to be.”
Donald, I have no idea of you are trolling here on an orthodox Catholic site or searching for honest answers, but in any case may God guide you to His holy and narrow path that alone leads to Him. Whatever else, the Same Sex Attraction Disorder is, it is highly complusive and enslaving in nature. And no, homosexual manifestations and actions are never “wholesome and good.” That does not mean that the person is evil only theactions if carried out. Feelings are not the guide to truth but can subtly hook people into confusion.
Your note suggests that you are young and caught up in a life that appears attractive, but at root is highly dangerous to your soul, mind, and body and those of others.
No one, Donald, can or should throw stones at you, for we are all sinners of one sort or another. But we must pray for you and hope that the Lord will open your mind to the truth of your delusion and enslavement.
May God bless and keep you.
Comment by janek ignacy — July 6, 2007 @ 11:13 am
A truly wonderful story. Would that other people caught up in the gay lifestyle be open to the grace that God is waiting to give them. I’d like to take this moment to share a personal situation: Please keep my brother Joe and his Mexican partner Paco in your prayers. They have made the decision to immigrate to Canada so that their “marriage” can be sanctioned, and Paco can automatically become a naturalized citizen when my brother’s visa is approved. They have been together in the US for 7 years now and living with the daily fear of Paco being deported should his illegal staus be discovered. In order for their lives to have some semblance of normalcy, Canada is seen as their only option. They are giving up a house, jobs, family and friends to make this happen. My daily prayer for them is that God will put people in their lives who can lead them to the truth and they will be given the freedom to live chaste lives.
God Bless…
Comment by Dan — July 6, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
Dan - I know that it must be very difficult for you and your family also. I will certainly pray for your brother and his companion as you ask.
Comment by David — July 6, 2007 @ 10:07 pm
Therefore, if someone who was inculcated into, and a leader in promoting, this particular culture of sin and death can be led by the Holy Spirit to see and embrace the truth then it is clear that there is hope for every one of us.
Very true, David, and cause for great rejoicing. A similarly inspiring story, which I missed if you happen to have covered it already, is here.
http://venusmagazine.org/cover_story.html
When I was active in the gay community, I read some testimonies of people who’d left it, according to which, many of those who have renounced homosexual practice used to be leaders in the community. That was one of those Does-Not-Compute claims that burrowed uncomfortably under my skin.
It’s true of David Morrison, who once was involved with a “gay Christian” magazine called Malchus. The altruism required for gay activism is deeply misguided, of course, but in its own way provides more fertile ground for evangelism than does pure hedonism. We activists were, despite our confusion, pretty serious about trying to help people find liberation. In one of the Narnia books I haven’t read, I’ve been told there’s a character who has exhibited great courage in defence of an unworthy master. Aslan has mercy on him.
To Donald, I’ll say I once would have echoed your sentiments, leading as I did a relatively “vanilla” life, but over time, I found my sensitivities towards the more sordid side of gay life became dulled, and I eventually spun out of control. Take it from someone who played with hellfire and got burned: you’re on a very slippery slope. But, dire warnings aside, I also invite you to get it straight from the horse’s mouth what the Church actually teaches. And for that, with all respect to my more polemical colleagues here at C-L-S, you may find some of the links near the bottom of my left sidebar more pastorally … digestible.
Pax,
Alan
Comment by The Sheepcat — July 8, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
Let us all swing a censer for Glatze! Glory be to GOD!
Comment by Bruce — June 19, 2008 @ 5:54 pm