Can I pray homosexuality away?
This is a response to a question one of our correspondents from Kenya asked us through our email account.
Dear correspondent, praying for your sexual orientation to go away is never a solution. For years different churches believed that homosexuality is a sin and can be healed through prayer conversation or therapy. They invested their effort in structures that provided such support even made Christian LGBTQ+ face therapy of conversation. Today they are apologizing because they realised people were not healing of their sexual orientation instead made them passed through different kind of trauma.
In 2013, exodus International an organization whose mission was to “help” gay Christians become straight, apologized to the LGBTQ+ community after 37 years of existence. “I am sorry for being part of a system of ignorance that perpetuated hurt” said his leader. Fortunately, recently churches are starting to be open to LGBTQ+, I can understand that in Kenya the situation is so different, and churches are still behind in welcoming LGBTQ+ but that should not discourage you. For example, last month, in a documentary released in Roma Cinema festival, the Pope can be heard saying how that homosexuals are children of God and deserve to be part of the family. A message full of hope. No other church Leader of a church which is known to be closed to some topics like homosexuality has taken such position. This shows you that things are changing little by little. Even the teaching is changing, it is no longer a teaching which lead to conversion as it used to be early 1980s but now the teaching is to welcome them as they are.
The idea for praying to change sometimes comes from comments that we often hear about homosexuality as an unnatural thing, unpleasant for God, and a sin that needs deliverance. Therefore, with the time you start believing that you are not normal. Let me tell you this, you are not only normal but in God’s eye, you are perfect! What you hear around you about homosexuality, you do not have to believe it, do not give them your attention. Mostly, people say things out of ignorance and no experience. Choose to not believe it and try to surround yourself with people who help you to grow strong in your faith without demonizing you for who you are. If around you, there is no one, we will be here even though at a distance, we will try our best to provide emotional and spiritual support you might need. If possible, willingly you can do further research, to understand your faith and your sexuality in your own country, culture, and society. You can find enough material on this website; I do hope they will be of great help. I would advise you instead of praying homosexuality away, to pray for an open heart to never miss out on God’s graces thinking that you do not deserve them. Pray for perseverance spirit to overcome every turning down preaching, comments, and critics. Go to God as you are and trust Him, he will lead each step of your life and you will understand slowly things you never thought of understanding.
