Tackling Tradition 12 (The New Deliverance Orthodoxy)

From the Christian Post Combox :

Advising against celibacy sounds absurd, but evidently some are advising people to remain homosexual but behave in a celibate lifestyle. Her argument is that this is crazy and what people need is total deliverance from being gay at all. That is most assuredly the attitude of the God of the Bible and I applaud he for telling the truth.

How is this at all biblical?  Where does the Bible actually state that people who are same-sex attracted need total deliverance from being homosexual **in this life?”  Even if the Bible teaches that all homosexual behavior regardless of motive, then it does not therefore follow that every homosexual, from God’s perspective, needs to be delivered from their sexual preference/orientation. 

How so?  To paraphrase John L. Dagg, God’s attribute of justice involves his regulation of blessings & sanctionings which are good that He distributes non/arbitrarily, in good faith, & at His discretion—not our own.  He covenantally loves us & distributes these goods for our benefit & His glory, & He prioritizes our well-being over our happiness.  What is for the well-being of one person may not be what another person needs for his/her well-being. 

The Bible teaches that Paul struggled with a thorn in the flesh until the end of his life, even calling himself the worst of sinners. In the words of John Owen, in order to mortify sin, you must also learn how it - and you - operate. Ad arguendo, regardless of whether or not homosexual desire really is sin regardless of motive attitude toward sin in general isn’t to turn homosexuals into heterosexuals in this life.  Rather God points sinners to His grace & goodness.   That’s true for all sinners.

The Bible doesn’t teach that God promises deliverance from sin on Earth.  God promises us grace to mortify sin & refine our character while we are here. 

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and ev’ry grace,
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

VERSE 2
‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer,
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.

VERSE 3
 I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He’d answer my request
And, by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins and give me rest.

VERSE 4
Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in ev’ry part.

VERSE 5
Yea, more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe,
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Humbled my heart and laid me low.

VERSE 6
“Lord, why is this,” I trembling cried;
“Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death?”
“’Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.”

VERSE 7
“These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”