For those in need, we recommend contacting us for these resources or any other resource needs as well as contacting the other ministries listed below for their resources. We also suggest scrolling down to the 3 messages titled, Biblical Solutions for Sexual Addictions and Disorders.

Men of Purity Group. We meet every 2nd and 4th Thursday at 7PM. This is a discipleship/accountability support group. Contact us for more information.

Pure Life Ministries P. O. Box 410, Dry Ridge, KY. 41035 Phone: 859-824-4444 Toll Free: 800-635-1866 www.purelifeministries.org

Pure Life Ministries Provides programs and teaching materials to lead Christians to victory over sexual sin and a deeper life with God. Programs include a 6 to 9-month residential program, an “Overcomers At-Home Program”, counseling for wives, and a counseling helpline. Also a prison ministry which provides books and other resources to inmates to help them overcome sexual sin. 

Broken Yoke Ministries       P.O. Box 5824 De Pere WI 54115-5824 Phone: 262-751-1128 www.brokenyoke.org

Broken Yoke Ministries serves as a resource for those incarcerated for sexual abuse as well as for family, friends, and others who minister to them.     

                                                                                 

Harvest, USA 715 Twining Road, Suite 200, Dresher PA 19025  Phone: 215-482-0111 www.harvestusa.org                   

         Harvest, USA provides support groups and counseling in the Philadelphia-area office to those affected by sexual sin

A biblical program helping same sex attracted, minor attracted and transgender people draw closer to Jesus and experience victory over temptations.

A 40 lesson program is made available on their website and provided to inmates.

CURE-SORT     www.cure-sort.org

Note: This is not a "Christian" or religious organization, however the resources may be helpful. 

CURE-SORT works to provide information, resources, contacts, and support to individuals, families, defense attorneys, treatment providers, public media, legislators, law enforcement personnel, and other professionals who work with or are interested in issues of sexual abuse and its prevention.

          A ministry dedicated to helping people overcome sexual brokenness and sexual addictions and disorders. Pure Passion is a television and video resource ministry under Restored Hope Network that televises testimonies of those who have overcome sexual brokenness and teaching geared toward giving others hope for overcoming. Other helpful resources are also available at the Restored Hope Network Website, below.

          Restored Hope is an inter-denominational membership governed network dedicated to restoring hope to those broken by sexual and relational sin, especially those impacted by homosexuality. "We proclaim that Jesus Christ has life-changing power for all who submit to Christ as Lord; we also seek to equip His church to impart that transformation."

Restored Hope also has an on-line resource list of helpful books: https://www.restoredhopenetwork.org/recommended-resources

 

www.settingcaptivesfree.com Free courses and resources to gain freedom from sexual addiction.

Phone: 215-884-7676

1803 E. Willow Grove Ave. Glenside PA 19038 www.ccef.org

Biblically based Christian counseling and educational resources.

         xxxchurch is a Christian anti-pornography website that aims to help those who struggle with pornography to overcome their addition. They provide a FREE accountability software to help with Internet integrity.

The following 3 messages were originally written as a thesis for Mel Everson's Bachelor Degree in Religious Ed, with a hypothesis that these are reliable solutions through a reliable means...the Word of God. Please also read "Why Bible Discipleship?" located on our publications/articles page, to understand why we believe this is a reliable solution.

By Mel Everson (2004)

To answer this question we must first address whether it is even immoral. Unfortunately, because of the sexual revolution in America and because pornography has been regarded as a First Amendment issue, more and more people are believing that pornography is morally acceptable. I believe a frog allowing itself to be slowly boiled to death illustrates this. Put a frog in boiling water and it will jump out. But allow that frog to start out in lukewarm water, it will tolerate and adjust itself to the increasing heat until it has allowed itself to be boiled to death. I believe we, as a society, have not realized the dangers that the sexual revolution has brought upon us, and we are at the brink of boiling point and horrible—even fatal, consequences! My prayer is that this writing will awake us and cause us to see the danger as it is and to jump out before it is too late. 

In this writing, I hope to demonstrate the serious offensiveness of pornography, (With that information, to also challenge whether pornography is even deserving of the right to the First Amendment!) and to help us see the danger and seriousness of pornography, so that we would not only avoid it, but we would be outraged too! I will also offer how God’s power and His Word can give us victory over pornography. 

To begin, I will take us back before the sexual revolution when decency and morality were not only a way of life, but was even fought for in the courts. Did you know that pornography is was once illegal? (In some states the laws are still in effect although not enforced). In fact, it once resulted in a criminal case in Pennsylvania. Here’s a portion of that record: 

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 1815, in the case of The Commonwealth v. Jesse Sharpless and others, 2 Serg. & R. 91-92, 97, 101-104 (1815), rendered the grand jury indictment as follows: 

Jesse Sharpless…John Haines…George Haines… John Steel…Ephriam Martin…and Mayo…designing, contriving, and intending the morals, as well of youth as of divers other citizens of this commonwealth, to debauch and corrupt, and to raise and create in their minds inordinate and lustful desires…in a certain house there…scandalously did exhibit and show for money…a certain lewd…obscene painting, representing a man in an obscene…and indecent posture with a woman, to the manifest corruption and subversion of youth, and other citizens of this commonwealth…offending…[the] dignity of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

Judge Duncan delivered the court’s verdict: 

The defendants have been convicted, upon their own confession, of conduct indicative of great moral depravity…This court is…invested with power to punish not only open violations of decency and morality, but also whatever secretly tends to undermine the principles of society… 

Whatever tends to the destruction of morality, in general, may be punishable criminally. Crimes are public offenses, not because they are perpetrated publicly, but because their effect is to injure the public. Hence, it follows, that an offense may be punishable, if in its nature and by its example, it tends to the corruption of morals; although it be not committed in public. 

The defendants are charged with exhibiting and showing …for money, a lewd…and obscene painting. A picture tends to excite lust, as strongly as writing; and the showing of a picture is as much a publication as the selling of a book… 

If the privacy of the room was a protection, all the youths of the city might be corrupted, by taking them, one by one, into a chamber, and there inflaming their passions by the exhibition of lascivious pictures. In the eye of the law, this would be a publication, and a most pernicious one. 

In a demonstration of the strong feelings of the court on this issue, a second Justice, by the name of Judge Yeates, added to the pronouncement of the court’s decision: 

Although every immoral act, such as lying, etc., is not indictable, yet where the offense charged is destructive of morality in general…it is punishable at common law. 

The destruction of morality renders the power of the government invalid… 

The corruption of the public mind, in general, and debauching the manners of youth, in particular, by lewd and obscene pictures exhibited to view, must necessarily be attended with the most injurious consequences… 

No man is permitted to corrupt the morals of the people; secret poison cannot be thus disseminated. 

I included this record to demonstrate that if the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania could recognize how a lewd and obscene painting could incite lust and corrupt the morals of the people, especially the morals of youth, how much more can we recognize that the graphic pornography today, especially in video form, can corrupt the morals, incite lust and inflame passions to far worse degree than a painting?! 

Unfortunately, neither the courts, nor the Church, nor many people have fought hard against pornography like the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania did in 1815. The result? Here are a few statistics that may shock you, and hopefully, will also outrage you! 

• Approximately 40 million people in the United States are sexually involved with the internet 

• In 2004, there were 372 million pornographic Web pages, 2.5 billion emails (8% of total emails), 100 thousand websites offering illegal child pornography, and 72 million annual worldwide visitors to pornographic websites 

• Americans spend $10 billion per year on pornography 

• Child pornography generates $3 billion annually 

• For every 10 men in church, 5 are struggling with pornography 

• One out of every six women grapples with addiction to pornography 

• 34% of churchgoing women said that they have intentionally visited porn websites online 

• The average age of first Internet exposure to pornography is 11 years old 

• The largest consumer of Internet pornography is the 12-17 age group 

• 23% of American adults believe “whether one likes it or not people should have full access to pornography under the Constitution’s First Amendment.” 

Statistics provided by the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families 

How do these statistics impact you? Are you more interested in researching or validating them, or in dealing with the gut-wrenching realities of the problem? If these statistics have not infuriated you, then perhaps you have been conditioned to not realize the seriousness of pornography and the harm that it does cause. There was a time when I thought pornography and sexual lust was no big deal and I enjoyed it. I was unaware that it had destroyed my life even as young as 8 or 9 years of age when I saw a triple-x movie and was constantly exposed to perverted adult language and other abuse. It wasn’t until after I came to realize how harmful it was, that I was able to remember those early days of exposure and how that led to my sexual addiction and perversion even as early as 9 years of age. 

Here’s why I believe pornography is not only immoral and dangerous, but also not deserving of the First Amendment: I don’t suppose any rational person would argue that it is a sexual offense for an adult to allow a child to view pornography, especially a triple-x movie! It is not only a criminal offense to show a child pornography, but it is even supposed to be a crime to allow a child to gain access to pornography. Now if it is considered sexual abuse to allow a child to see or gain access to pornography, then does it not stand to reason that it is a form of sexual abuse that the government and we the people are allowing children to gain access to pornography through the Internet? How are children able to be exposed to it at such young ages? How are teenagers the largest consumers of the $10 billion pornography industry? Literally, we all share the guilt of sexually abusing children when we do nothing to end or prevent such atrocity in our society, or at least take necessary measures where we are responsible. 

Some may argue that in the case with an adult, it is the pornographic model’s choice to be exploited as such, and therefore no harm is being done. I disagree in that too, not just for the reason that the pornography itself leads to immoral and eventually even “forbidden” thoughts and behavior, but that the pornography even perpetuates sexual abuse. I believe most (if not all) pornographic models were sexually abused as children in one way or another (just as the case with prostitutes). How sad that such abuse has led them to exploiting themselves for millions to use them in the same way their perpetrators did, believing that this is the only way to find acceptance and perhaps purpose in this life. By the individuals using that person’s body for their selfish gratification it is just another validation and continuance of the original sexual abuse that person suffered. Hence, from a psychological and spiritual position, making that pornography an enabling of sexual abuse. 

In 1986 the U S Attorney General’s Office selected a commission on pornography and they determined that pornography was serious and dangerous. They condemned all sexually explicit material that depicted women in positions that are humiliating, demeaning and subjugating. They condemned all sexually explicit material that was violent in nature and they were opposed to any form of child pornography. 

In addition, three years later in February of 1989, Ted Bundy gave an interview with Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family just hours before he was to receive the death penalty for the murder of a 12 year old girl. His only concern before his death was that the world would know how seriously dangerous violent pornography is. He spoke of how violent pornography influenced his violent thoughts and behavior. He said that every violent offender he met in prison, without exception, spoke of having influence from violent pornography. With cable TV just arriving, Bundy also expressed concern about sexually violent movies to which children would be exposed. He was concerned that if pornography were not dealt with, there would be many more Ted Bundy’s with whom to deal. 

All of this was long before the Internet! Despite these serious warnings and even the report from the Attorney General, nothing was ever done and pornography has not been taken seriously. Now with the Internet, a serious problem has mushroomed to an even greater problem. We just read grim statistics. We see a major sexually offending epidemic in our nation and yet we continue to stick our heads in the sand while using ex-sex offenders as scapegoats for our own guilt. We must realize that we become part of the problem if we use any form of pornography or do nothing to address the source of our sexually related epidemics. 

How can we continue like this? With all of these facts and this understanding, how can we ethically and morally even support pornography as a First Amendment right? We obviously agree that the First Amendment doesn’t give us the right to harass someone, assassinate one’s character or to verbally assault someone. How can we agree that it is a right for a human being to be exploited in the name of “entertainment”? Shouldn’t we rather honor and respect the human body? People are images of God, not objects for our lust and “entertainment”! 1 Timothy 5:1-2 says to …Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. Treat people with absolute purity! Do we not realize that each of us will someday stand before God and give an account regarding this issue? 

I’m not going to ponder what the dreaded consequences may be for what we have sown so far. Nor do I want to share a prophetic vision of the devastation and atrocity I believe will come upon us for our neglect. Only God’s mercy and the restraining power of the Holy Spirit have kept things going far worse than they are. But how long before we are totally given over to evil and the consequences (Romans 1:24-32)? 

I believe Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. I believe nothing is impossible with God. I believe God’s love will cover a multitude of sins. I believe God’s mercies are new every morning and His mercy endures forever. I believe if we take a stand now, if we repent now, humble ourselves, turn from this wickedness, pray and seek God’s face, He will hear from heaven and will forgive our sin and heal our land. Each one of us can take our stand, our own revolution against the sexual revolution, against pornography as God gives us passion and strength. We can bring decency and morality back into our lives, our homes, even into our community and nation. 

How? First, Pastors need to take pornography and sexual sin more serious, especially at the pulpit and in providing resources and information to help individuals overcome. Second, if you are involved in pornography, lust or any sexual sin, you can repent and seek God’s forgiveness and cleansing. Pray, really pray for this matter. Third, do not have Internet or at least use reliable safeguards and accountability. Finally, write for resources or more information with specific concerns you may have. Write your congressman. Write or share your own story of how the sexual revolution affected you and how God gave you victory. Use your First Amendment rights for what they were intended for! 

There is hope. Despite those earlier grim statistics, there are other statistics that reveal hope. Even though we have become saturated in a sexual revolution, there is a part of us that wants freedom from it. There is a part of us that is sick of the bondage, grieved by the emptiness and pained by the consequences. We WANT what God has for us. Here’s some more hope I found (also provided by the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families). 

• 94 percent of Americans believe a ban on pornography should be legal 

• 82 percent of adult Americans surveyed in March 2004 said that the Federal laws against Internet obscenity should be vigorously enforced 

• 40 percent of adults surveyed believe that pornography harms relationships between men and women 

In addition, in numerous surveys done in churches, sexual sin and pornography are by far overwhelmingly chosen as the most important topic men want to deal with. May we really begin to deal with it! May that be our prayer and focus! May we fight while there is still hope! Will you fight? 

There is hope. Jesus destroyed the works of the devil in my life. He healed me from the horrific effects of the sexual revolution waged against my life. He transformed me from a perverted sexual addict to a pursuer of sexual purity, not only in my own life, but in helping others pursue freedom and purity too. 

How to begin: This is briefly how I was able to overcome pornography. As I said earlier, you must pray. Confess your involvement with pornography to God and ask for His deliverance and healing. Repent. Repentance means to do the opposite. The Bible says that we are transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). We no longer think and fantasize of sexual thoughts, but of the things we read in Philippians 4:8-9 …whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report…We must also take captive every thought and imagination to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

Be Cleansed. We must not make provision for the flesh (Not have pornography or similar temptations accessible)(Romans 13:14) Then you must believe that Jesus has taken your sin upon Himself and has given you His righteousness and you are no longer a sexual pervert. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 reads, Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites…will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. Antidote. Finally, may 2 Timothy 2:22 be our goal and the antidote. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

By Mel Everson (2005)

There was a time of innocence in America where decency, honesty and morality were a way of life. But during the 1950’s, seeds of corruption were being sown, and America’s innocence was being torn away. Today a sexual revolution has become so severe, and sexual immorality so rampant, that families and lives are being destroyed in alarming rates. Now with the latest technologies, the sexual revolution has become a horrific epidemic! 

In his book How America Has Lost Her Innocence, Steve Gallagher chronicles the history of the sexual revolution It was influenced for the most part by Alfred Kinsey, founder of the Institute for Sexual Research and author of several books which influenced the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the development and treatment of sexual behavior today. Kinsey was also the motivating personality behind the “free love” movement during the Vietnam War. Little did we know that his “free love” really meant free sex. In other words, “freely have sex any way you desire with whoever or whatever you desire!” 

Kinsey was influential because his views tantalized and shocked people. His views gave a justification to look into and even indulge in the forbidden desires within. His views were distorted as “love” when people were (and even still are) love-starved. His views were just as deceptive as the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Just as the serpent’s deception was bought and literally bitten into, so Kinsey’s deception has been bought and bitten into, bringing horrible consequences. 

Almost a decade ago, further research scientifically discredited Kinsey’s statistics and studies which influenced the sexual revolution. Focus on the Family’s broadcast, Alfred Kinsey’s Alarming Legacy, tells us more about the man. 

Kinsey’s personal sexual life as recorded was that of a sexual maniac. Besides videotaping sex with his wife and staff members and being widely known as a promiscuous homosexual, Kinsey’s studies stated the following: That sodomy is beneficial and that sex with anything that moves is healthy and normal, including beastiality and pedophilia. He even wrote that children benefit from sexual molestation, incest and that early masturbation is critical for development. 

I mentioned earlier that Kinsey’s studies and views have influenced decisions by the American Psychiatric Association. In 1973, homosexual behavior was removed from the list of psychiatric disorders. Then in the late nineties, the APA actually considered also removing pedophilia as a disorder, too! It appears that they are continuing to affirm Kinsey’s demented beliefs. Not only have Kinsey’s views distorted the minds of many people, but they have also distorted the minds of the very professionals who are suppose to help people with distorted minds!! 

Tragically, in spite of the unveiling of such facts, Kinsey’s dangerous, flawed and despicable studies are destroying and still dominating our culture today. Kinsey is still considered by some to be a courageous pioneer in sexual research. In fact, the government still funds the Kinsey Institute. Also sex education, which was developed by Kinsey and Mary Calderone, founder of S.E.C.U.S, still carries on destroying the innocence of our children in public schools today 

The Homosexuality Revolution 

In regard to the homosexuality issue, Kinsey’s data regarding homosexuality was taken from male prisoners, which obviously nullifies his studies. Kinsey used that data to say that 10 to 37% of the male population has had a homosexual experience. That statement has since been twisted to a false belief that 10% of the population is homosexual. Regardless of how many people have had a homosexual experience, that does not make one a homosexual! The true census figures of homosexuals in America are said to be about 4% (Focus on the Family, Love Won Out). But regardless of percentage of participants, that doesn’t make something immoral suddenly right! 

In addition, there is a lie being taught that some people are born homosexual or that any particular sexual disorders are unchangeable. This is outright deception, because none of the studies suggesting a genetic cause have been validated or substantiated. However, according to Dr. Jeffrey Satinover, author of Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth, there is validation and substantial evidence of those who have changed their sexual orientation and have become happier reformed homosexuals. In addition, there is also validation and substantial evidence of those who have overcome other sexual dysfunctions, sexually offensive behavior and sexual disorders. 

The Bible teaches that homosexuality is sin, but as Christians, we are called not to judge or hate homosexuals. That is sin as well and does not portray God’s love. Having struggled with homosexuality myself, I have compassion, and I know what is really being sought. Love. My goal and our goal as Christians must be to speak the truth in love and to love the sinner and hate the sin, whether it be homosexuality or any other sin. We must also convey Truth, that God loves homosexuals so much that He sent His only Son to die for their sin and to set them free from their sin and bondage. 

The Consequences of the Sexual Revolution 

How did immoral behavior become acceptable and even legalized? How is it that our government today actually funds the Kinsey Institute? How is it that sex education to children has become so perverse, to the point of showing and demonstrating sexually explicit material? How is it that abstinence from sex is not being taken seriously as an option? Instead condoms are distributed and certain groups are formed so as to encourage sexual behavior. 

All of this is outrageous and totally hypocritical to our nation’s founding moral values and justice system. We have a serious sexual offense epidemic in our nation, and we are understandably outraged and fearful, yet nothing is being done about the causes. Meanwhile unreasonable and unconstitutional double-standard laws are passed which are doing nothing to solve the problem, but rather create more problems. 

In the Solution to the Sexual Offense of Pornography, I wrote about how serious the pornography issue has become despite the fact that, in 1986, the Attorney General condemned pornography and determined that it was serious and dangerous. Pornography is illegal, but the Criminal Justice has not been effectively enforcing it. The Attorney General has banned smoking even in bars and strict measures are taken to prevent minors from smoking. Yet can anyone disagree that pornography is far worse? Nevertheless little is being done to protect children from it. Not only can children see pornography on school and library computers, but also the pornography industry has designed ways to allow children to download pornography on their I-pods—their toys! Still nothing is being done! 

Meanwhile, children’s innocence is being stripped away by inappropriate sex education in schools. When girls become pregnant, the school staff is permitted to take them to get abortions without the parent even knowing what has happened. Do you know that every day in America 1,106 teenage girls get abortions and that 4,219 teenagers contract sexually transmitted diseases? (Statistics from Josh McDowell). This is the result of freedom to choose and just one way the sexual revolution is destroying millions of children. 

It gets worse, and this is where it is most frustrating. While children are having their innocence stripped away by sex education in the schools and lack of protection from pornography, the media and the fashion industry add fuel by telling them to dress and act sexually. When they naturally behave according to what they are being taught, they reap the disastrous health consequences of unwed pregnancy, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases. Not surprisingly, to make matters even worse, sexual crimes occur. 

It is outrageous to see young teenagers who succumbed to these influences and their desires then be charged and treated as violent sexual predators. Some individuals even want them to be labeled that for the rest of their lives, perhaps based on the lies that they cannot change their behavior. This is not punishment, but rather outright merciless torture, especially when those in leadership who are suppose to be setting the examples commit sexual crimes themselves! 

The Solution—Our Redemption 

Sexual immorality has been an issue since the beginning of time. Even the first-century church had to fight this evil. Thankfully we have the Scriptures to give us hope that we can certainly win the fight in our personal lives, and perhaps in our church and community if we all fight in unity. However, the Scriptures (as well as past history of other nations that became depraved) also gives us warning that if we do not fight we will be destroyed. 

The Apostle Paul describes the wrath that we are experiencing today in Romans 1:18-32. If we read this passage, we will be astounded to see a commentary of what our daily newspaper reveals, even though it was written nearly 2,000 years ago. We read that our own unbelief and suppressing the truth brings upon ourselves the sin, crimes, and horrible consequences we suffer today. 

My sexual addiction, which began early in childhood, was probably the most important thing in my life. I didn’t know about Alfred Kinsey, but I grew up believing most of what he believed. That influence, along with demonic influence and my sinful desires, led me to horrible perversion until February of 1993. At the age of 27, I repented. Since repentance means going in the opposite direction, the outcome was a furious fight against the very thing I had embraced. That passionate fight has resulted in over 4,000 hours of treatment, self-analysis and research over the past 13 years in order to take full responsibility, to find understanding and to fight against the evil of the sexual revolution that sought to destroy my life. 

Since my conversion, I have also devoted even more hours of my life and time to my faith—to the study of the Bible and to my relationship with God. This has given me real answers and a solution to fight and win this battle. I knew that the God who created me could also fix me, by whatever means He would avail to me, and there were many! However, I clearly found that faith in God and the Bible really does have the greatest answers. 

In my testimony, Chief Sinner Transformed, I describe a phenomenal miracle that continues in my life today. A miracle of how God healed me of a traumatic childhood and the effects of sin and transformed me into the man He created me to be. Also how a ministry was developed which now helps others find hope and redemption. I’ve also witnessed how God has transformed many others to a life of victory over horrible sins. Those who are transformed homosexuals, transvestites, rapists and child molesters. 

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 the Apostle Paul describes the epidemic and the redemption for that church. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexual immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 

What a sobering reality this passage delivers. Very serious too, especially the crimes listed. But the good news begins in verse 11. “…Such were some of you.” There were criminals and perverts in the early church. Paul goes on to say that they were washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus. They were redeemed! 

The great news to those of us who believe is that when we confess and repent of such sin in both thought and behavior and call on the name of the Lord Jesus, those sins are a thing of the past. We are washed. Hebrews 9:12-14 tells us how the blood of Jesus has given us eternal redemption and has cleansed our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 1 John 1:9 tells us that when we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

We are justified. In heaven, it is really as though we had never sinned. Psalm 103:12 says, as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Isaiah 38:17 says, …You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back. Jesus has taken all our sin upon His back for our redemption. 

God truly is the answer to the wrath we are experiencing. I mentioned earlier that we are love-starved. We try to seek love in all of the distorted ways we have experienced, and it always ends in despair and hopelessness—the wrath. But the Bible teaches us that God is love, and if we allow God to live within us, this is the kind of love we will experience: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) 

God’s love, if accepted and given, is more powerful than all the forces of evil combined in our personal lives and in the lives around us. The Bible teaches that judgment begins at the house of God. I believe God expects the Church, His people, to be the examples of decency and morality. That’s the way it was a half century ago. We were not “old-fashioned”. Quite the contrary, we were “new-fashioned” having escaped the corruption, injustice and sexual revolutions of foreign lands to settle in a land where we could worship God and live the life God created us to live. With God’s love, we can then experience a life that really does give us abundant life, true liberty and genuine happiness. 

Martin Luther King said, We are the thermostats that help to transform the culture of our society. The Church did just that before the sexual revolution permeated the Church and the god of sex became the thermostat. This can change. We can become the thermostats. Each of us can experience the miracle of transformation I experienced and this can bring a deep repentance and revival upon the Church and even our nation. Our Creator and Father God tells us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, that If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

God is waiting. It’s up to us to surrender to Him and repent totally and sincerely no matter how wicked we were or how righteous we think we are. We will find what our soul really longs for, our lives will be transformed, and we will be thermostats, transforming our culture and destroying the wrath--the works of the devil. This is redemption! 

By Mel Everson (2006)

Identity theft is a new and growing epidemic today. How violated and angry we feel when we find that someone has stolen our identity in order to purchase something with our money or to impersonate us for some other means. But there is another identity theft that has been happening for some time, and that too is becoming a growing epidemic. Unfortunately, most of its victims are not even aware of the violation. The victims have been duped and brainwashed to the point of even believing that what has happened is a good thing. How tragic! That is what inspired me to write about this particular epidemic. My hope is that this writing will open our eyes to the epidemic before us, to come out of our denial, realize that identities have been and are being stolen, expose the frauds and conspirators and then reclaim our identities and protect the identities of our children. 

The identity that I am referring to in this case is a specific identity. Our gender identity. Gender identity is not a new discovery. Psychologists and counselors have studied, written and spoken about the issue for some time, even more so since the sixties when the sexual revolution began. This was also the time when the gender identity theft epidemic began. This theft has targeted mostly children and teens, stripping them of their true identity and leaving them in confusion, despair and a spiritual abyss. While this epidemic has been growing, teen suicide has also skyrocketed. I believe a major contributing factor to such a dreadful decision is an identity crisis gone awry as a result of the theft of and cunning tampering with their gender identity. 

In order to expose this epidemic, I must first bring us back to the basics--back to the beginning. What is gender identity in the first place, and who really determines it? Gender, as we all know, is our sex. That is easily determined upon birth. The doctor or midwife will usually be the first to declare a newborn child’s gender. It’s a boy or a girl, and there is absolutely no mistaking that gender identity! Then a process proceeds where that child receives a birth record, and a birth certificate goes on record determining legally and officially a child’s gender identity. 

Does this not behoove us to ask, “What further argument or discussion would even be needed regarding an individual’s gender identity?” A Great question that probably should have been asked when gender identities were first starting to be tampered with. Unfortunately, we are now in such a quagmire that truth tarries to triumph! 

How is it that truth could be overcome by lies? I am not a psychologist nor a sociologist, but I have learned and have seen enough to share some explanations that I have discovered. It all begins at the beginning with that newborn child, where there is absolutely no mistaking the gender identity. However, that helpless, vulnerable child is dependent on his or her parents, guardians, caregivers and the world around to teach, model and encourage him or her in accordance with his or her gender. Our better sense should see that as a “no-brainer”. 

Unfortunately, we live in a depraved world with a spiritual enemy who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. That is where even our own “better sense” goes to the wayside at times, and good intentions are ignorantly allied to our enemy. What is really scary is that every newborn baby is dependent upon a person that the Bible describes has a heart that is “deceitful above all things, [desperately wicked] and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9). 

Ouch! I know that goes against the modern philosophy that people are predominately good, and it definitely goes against how we may feel about ourselves. But that is exactly why truth has been overcome by lies. We don’t like the truth. “The truth hurts”. I don’t even like this truth, but it applies to me as well as to everyone else. 

Before I go further I do want to interject that in spite of this unpleasant reality, there is hope, and there is even a solution, which I will share later. But in order to find a solution, we must identify the cause. The cause I identified leaves no one innocent. We all, with a human heart, collectively share in the dilemma. That will hopefully, keep us humble so as to not judge self-righteously. Truth also reveals that there are those who, by God’s grace, act more responsibly, who have their heart in check, and who have not only kept a child’s gender identity, but have even protected the gender identities of themselves and others. I pray for more of such people. 

Gender Identity Theft can happen in many ways, even sometimes at birth. Probably the most difficult theft to accept occurs from the ones who are most dependent upon to protect identity—the parents. Perhaps a parent who hoped their baby would be of a different sex and didn’t get past the disappointment, brings about verbal or behavioral expressions that the growing child experiences, which then causes the child to question their gender identity. This is more common than we would want to admit, but even worse, there are children that have been subjected to verbal abuse by being told they are like the opposite sex. Also children who are close friends with someone of the same sex may be told by others (especially adults) that they must be gay, therefore perverting natural emotional closeness with sexual attraction. This is becoming alarmingly common today. 

I. Robertson writes in a sociology book how this abuse occurs, explaining that if a child is labeled by others (especially peers) as bi-sexual or gay, then the child will likely turn out that way. Also the child may believe that they cannot turn from this orientation and therefore continue with it. Only when they feel that they can change can they do so. 

The book of James clearly tells us how words can bring life or death (James 3:1-12). When children are subjected to gender identifying or sexually crude verbal abuse it can bring death to their spirit, especially if they have no one to positively mentor and support them through such occurrences. A demonic stronghold can develop where the children actually begin to believe the lies and therefore curse themselves. The strongholds can only be broken when Truth penetrates and they renounce the lies and embrace Truth. That is the solution we will explore shortly. 

There are also more severe abuses than verbal ones and I have heard true and very disturbing testimonies to these. One abuse is being told by their parents or guardians that they should have been the opposite sex. Another is being dressed like the opposite sex. Exposure to pornography is abuse. Even worse is actual sexual abuse. 

Open homosexuality undoubtedly brings confusion to a child and I believe is responsible for much of the recent Gender Identity Theft. There are many debates today on this issue and whether homosexuals are more inclined to sexually abuse children. Dr. Paul Cameron, Chairman of the Family Research Institute, has studied these issues extensively and has written about his discoveries, which clearly reveal that the homosexual revolution has not only resulted in gender identity theft, but has in a worse way, resulted in increased incidents of sexual abuse. While the gay activists will vehemently deny this, they cannot deny these facts that reveal that the gay movement is forthright about seeking to legitimize child-adult homosexual sex. 

In 1987, The Journal of Homosexuality – the scholarly organ of the gay rights movement – published “Pedophilia and the Gay Movement”. In 1987 Michael Swift, unabashedly boasted in an article in Gay Community News, “…We shall sodomize your sons…We shall seduce them in your schools, in your dormitories, in your gymnasiums, in your locker rooms, in your sports arenas, in your seminaries, in your youth groups…”. These outrageous claims were dismissed as bombastic nonsense at the time, but now we see how it was obviously meant, and like a bomb threat that was ignored and consequentially detonated, we now have a mushroom cloud of destruction on our hands. 

Gender Identity Theft has also crept into our schools, even elementary schools! This is a very serious issue. Today homosexuality is now being taught to kindergartners in many public schools. While the intentions of this are to teach and model acceptance of individuals who “love” people of the same sex, the reality is that it brings confusion and destroys a child’s innocence. The Bible teaches that homosexuality is not natural (Romans 1:26-27) so to teach children that which is contrary to their Creator’s design will inevitably be harmful to them. Their gender identities will be stripped away long before their appropriate time to discover their sexuality and identity. 

I now want to make it clear that my intent is not to wage hate against the gay activists or open homosexuals. On the contrary, my entire intention for writing this is to expose the enemy’s lies and to open blinded (ignorant) eyes so that they and all will be saved from despair, depression and destruction. As my testimony, Chief Sinner Transformed reveals, I was once blinded too. My gender identity was stolen and I had many serious issues as a result. But God opened my eyes and set me free. My intent is to help others be set free and to prevent still others from having their gender identity stolen. 

This is not a battle with the Gay Movement, homosexuals or those who don’t see that they are a victim of Gender Identity Theft. This is a battle with every person’s soul enemy—satan. It is this enemy that has deceived and blinded so many, and it is this enemy that has tricked so many into believing and teaching lies. It is also this enemy that has caused so many who call themselves Christians to respond to homosexuality in ungodly, unloving ways. It is this enemy that we need to be most aware of. This is one example of what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote what he did to the church at Ephesis. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). 

The evil that we are dealing with is spiritual in nature and it is nothing new, but rather something that has been permitted to pervade us. This is the same spirit that pervaded Sodom, which pervaded the community so severe that men, even youth, were forcefully demanding to gang rape other men (Genesis 19:4-11). The same spirit brought Gender Identity Theft into the early church. That is clearly revealed in the writings of the Apostle Paul to the Church at Rome and the ones in Corinth (Romans 1:24-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The same spirit has now pervaded today’s Church—the body of Christ today. 

Therefore, this is not a new growth of evil spirits, but rather our permitting evil that we once resisted. The same evil that was opposed in the Church was once also opposed in the political and legal policies within our nation. Because authority was exercised over those evil sprits there were not the problems to the degree that we see today. However, immediately following the sexual revolution, and since the evil has not been adequately opposed, we are relinquishing our authority over and therefore allowing the evil to grow and to overtake us. 

So where do we go from here? The evil must be destroyed. In the case of Sodom, God destroyed the entire city. In the case of the early church, the people were disciplined and even excommunicated that it might lead them to repentance. Today, the Truth must come forth to expose the lies from the enemy, and we must therefore repent and allow Jesus to destroy the works of the devil. 

The Truth is part of our solution. Rather than remaining victims of Gender Identity Theft, we can choose to admit that we have been deceived and that we have sinned. In so doing we will find life and redemption. 1 John 1:8-9 tells us that If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we admit that we have been deceived and admit that we have sinned, we will not only be forgiven by God, but we will be cleansed from our sins too. 1 John 1:7 teaches us that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Our true gender identity can be restored and we can overcome all of the effects of the theft against us. 

We can overcome the lies that we are born homosexual or that we were supposed to be a different gender. We can overcome the lies that sexual identity, sexual orientation or sexual paraphilias (deviant sexual attractions) cannot be changed. The truth is that God can heal us and transform us to be the people He designed us to be. This is even evidenced in the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 the Apostle Paul wrote how people were transformed in that church. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 

Those people were transformed. The same occurs today too. Besides my own personal transformation, I have heard and read of many testimonies of those who overcame Gender Identity Theft. I have also had the privilege to know some overcomers personally. These are legitimate testimonies to the truth of Gender Identity Theft and that it can be overcome, leaving people happier than they ever were. Here’s one person’s testimony. .…"I’ll never give up and I will press in even more to the Lord. I got all my hair cut; GI look, I allowed the hair to grow on my body and my watch is a man’s watch now. I want to grow a goatee, but I’m taking it a spoonful at a time. I’m enjoying the new me…Now all the pieces are falling together…being gay is very lonely and loneliness brought despair and confusion…now my mom’s burdens are lifted too. Gay son who wanted a sex change, a transvestite and the list goes on. Now I want no more surgery and I don’t suffer from GID (Gender Identification Disorder)". 

Another friend shared his testimony at our ministry celebration, and shared how God delivered him from a pit of despair, which was caused in part by Gender Identity Theft. He confessed how he was a drag queen and a transvestite and although he thought he was happy at that time, he was really very miserable inside and that led to more destructive behaviors and consequently HIV. He says that he is lucky to be alive. Since he gave his life to the Lord, he has not only overcome the same-sex temptations but has even begun to develop affections for the opposite sex. His HIV has also gone miraculously undetected and he feels happier and healthier than ever before in his life. He adds that God is truly blessing him. 

In conclusion, it is my prayer that the truth will set you free. Whether you are a victim of Gender Identity Theft or whether you have been deceived by the enemy’s lies, perhaps ignorant of the danger around you and toward those you love. I pray that this writing has brought light and life to you, and that it will help you bring the same to others. May God bless you!