REKERS, RENTBOY, AND CANER – PAINFUL HYPOCRISY

arial”> Let’s start with the bottom line. We have ALL sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  This Biblical truth should help us understand why we will never be able to overcome sin in our lives. It is for this reason that Jesus sacrificed Himself on that blessed Cross, dying in our place, and was resurrected.  Hopefully, as we grow in Christ, we sin less and less during the sanctification process; however, we will never be able to live a sinless life as mortal beings. Others would say that we become more and more aware of the depths of our sin nature the longer we are Christians. And we struggle until the day we meet Jesus.

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arial”>It is for this reason that we as Christians should be the first to admit our personal sin. Instead of being shocked, Christians should be the first to say, “Oh, that's possible. Thanks be to God for His Son’s sacrifice." Why the surprise? 

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arial”>Yet, we all wear our “sinless” masks before a watching world.  It's been interesting to observe Christian leaders who have been guilty of the most bombastic, strutting, self-glorification of “goodness” while pointing fingers at the lost and watching world. What happens when they are confronted with their own weaknesses? Mac Brunson and luxury; Caner and his real childhood; Ed Young and his mansion and jet; Mahaney and control, and so on. Anger, denial, revenge are the norm. Why? Maybe they believe their own press. Perhaps it's like the animals in Orwell's Animal Farm, "All animals are equal but some are more equal than others."  Deep down inside maybe they think that somehow they are just a bit better than the rest of us Christians. 

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arial”>Nowhere is such self-righteousness more evident than in the area of homosexuality.  Yes, the Bible condemns homosexuality (in both the Old and New Testament).  And, as Christians, we have spoken loudly, sometimes, in a most ugly fashion, against the extension of homosexual rights. But, have most Christians ever taken the time to understand the struggle of those afflicted with those urges? Or, do we subtly accept that heterosexual sin, such as adultery and fornication, is perhaps, a more understandable or “better” sin?

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arial”>More to the point, does such a rigid belief system so infect our churches that the last place a person who is homosexual would seek help is the church? And how many folks, who are struggling with this issue suffer silently in the pew, fearful that such a confession would bring with it derision instead of understanding?

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arial”>Dr. George Allen Rekers is a professor emeritus of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He has an earned PhD from the University of California at Los Angeles He also hold an MBA from Southern Wesleyan University and, once again, a ThD from (drum roll) the University of South Africa. (Is someone going to investigate the number of Southern Baptist “leaders” receiving ThDs from this institution? TWW is getting curious.) Rekers is also ordained as a Southern Baptist pastor. He is reportedly married with children.

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arial”>Rekers was a founding member of The Family Research Council along with James Dobson but has not been affiliated with the organization for the last ten years. He is a member of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality. This group advocates for conversion therapy that believes homosexuals can be turned into heterosexuals. He is considered an expert witness in this matter and is paid handsomely to testify in support of limiting laws in favor of the extension of homosexual rights in the area of adoption and other matters.

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arial”>From Wade Burleson’s excellent site, Grace and Truth to You, we learn the following. “In the book Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Dr. Rekers wrote Chapter 17 entitled Rearing Masculine Boys and Feminine Girls. Dr. Rekers runs his own website entitled Teen Sex Today, where Dr. Rekers "blogs about teen sex" and the problems associated with it”.

arial”> http://kerussocharis.blogspot.com/2010/05/ingtegrity-of-messenger-is-as-important.html

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arial”>Rekers is considered a leading expert on gender disorders in children. He is credited with research into gender behavior during children’s play. However, one of the more disturbing statements is the following quote from Wikipedia.

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arial”>“According to Rekers himself, he spends much of his time with boys whose peers regard them as "sissy" and "effeminate" with the goal of reversing those traits and "help[ing] these children to become better adapted to themselves and to their environment."                      George Alan Rekers

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arial”>Why is this disturbing? arial”> 

arial”>Here is a link to The Miami Times article, along with Dr Rekers and the alleged “Rentboy.” By the way, note that Rekers is handling the bag and the alleged “Rentboy” baggage handler is standing off to the side.

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arial”>http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2010-05-06/news/christian-right-leader-george-rekers-takes-vacation-with-rent-boy/

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arial”>To spare our readers a humiliating visit to the Rentboy.com website, we offer the following explanation. Rentboy appears to be a slang term for a male prostitute. On this disgusting site, one can read the “profile“ of Rekers' bag boy. We suggest you read The Miami Times description instead.

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arial”>Even Rekers realized his explanation of needing help did not hold water and was forced to offer a further explanation. Excerpts printed here.

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arial”>“I have spent much time as a mental health professional and as a Christian minister helping and lovingly caring for people identifying themselves as "gay." My hero is Jesus Christ who loves even the culturally despised people, including sexual sinners and prostitutes. Like Jesus Christ, I deliberately spend time with sinners with the loving goal to try to help them (Bible verse) … . . . you will find I spent a great deal of time sharing scientific information on the desirability of abandoning homosexual intercourse, and I shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him in great detail.”

http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2010/05/rekers-responds-to-rentboy-accusations/ arial”>Frankly, Rekers has gone full time into damage control, getting his Rentboy to say that he really was hired to “carry bags”, etc. Sorry, all of these explanations ring hollow. It seems so sad that, when caught, so many Christian leaders immediately invent excuses that, except for those who cannot accept fallen leaders, the rest of the world immediately recognizes as lies.

arial”>Can you imagine what would happen if the person caught in the lie immediately confessed his sin, repented, stepped down from ministry and explained to the world that even Christians are sinners? Sure, there would be the inevitable mockers, but there would be some others who might garner the strength to make their own confessions and receive the help that they need.

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ALL.

 

 

Comments

REKERS, RENTBOY, AND CANER – PAINFUL HYPOCRISY — 12 Comments

  1. There is nothing good that can be said about the rentboy situation. The more one talks about it, the worse it gets.

    Isn’t there another ministry to people who face same sex attractions in North Carolina? It is run by Tim Wilkins, I think that is his name?

    Have you guys ever met him?

  2. Ouch. I’d sure like to believe that this is a setup; or that nothing sordid was involved here. Even IF this was done with the best of intentions and with no prurient interest — how reckless and careless.
    How sad, on a personal level for those involved, and for the rest of us who see, once again, that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Yet another scandal to process. Oh, Lord. Help us.

  3. Anonymous

    Just found out about him. He is in the next town over and I plan to read about him. Sounds interesting.

  4. I am with you guys about Jo-Vanni. But look at his interaction with an educated well known Christian. We end up having to undo damage just to present the real Gospel and convince people those are not real Christians but the fake ones who have used Christianity as a cover. If we don’t, then we look more like Islam than Christianity to those who have no clue.

    If we do not out these people as fakes who are actually in need of salvation, we do even more damage to the Gospel.

    We have believed lies about ‘backsliding’, rededication, and being carnal Christians. (there is no such thing)

    There is no sinless perfection but there is purity in a believer. A hatred of our sin and desire to grow in Holiness. The Holy Spirit convicting of sin and continual repentance.

    The problem is most Christians do not believe this and therefore actually help more folks into hell. We should all be working out our salvation with fear and trembling. Our eternal lives are at stake

  5. Lydia
    Please read Dan’s comment under yesterday’s post. IT is wonderful and addresses your concerns.

    I so agree with you. Can you imagine what Rekers, and those like him such as Haggard,Baker, Swaggert,etc. have done to those they had their dalliances with? Can you imagine how those folks view Christians? It almost makes me sick to think about it. I can only pray for those who have been hurt in such a way by so-called Christians.

    We seem to be far more concerned with getting those Christian leaders help. We follow their progress, we happily welcome them back after they have been “treated” and restored.

    Yet do we even get one jot of concern about what happened to those who were the recipients of their actions? I think not. In fact, I blame myself for not caring enough.

    May God forgive us all. Thank you for your prophetic words.

  6. From these Baptists pigs to the rapists in the Catholic church, we see again and again how few churches preach (or even understand) the message of Christ. Meanwhile, theses churches continue to encourage the rapes and murders of gay children and adults. Hatred is a strong motivator. It helps keep the money rolling in.

    If Jesus were on earth today, he would be condemning these churches with full voice.

    I go to my Greek Orthodox church frequently. Never, in 15 years, have I heard a condemnation of homosexuals. The day I do will be the last day I set foot in there.

    That being said, I have grown to hate most churches. They are nothing but dens of fools and haters being led by charlatans.

  7. Hi nickname. This scandal is what you find sad? What is sad is that so many churches spew such vitriol into the pews that the minds of those in the communities they serve are perverted. And because of this, young gay people are raped and murdered. THAT is what is sad, not the reputation of rotten churches filling their coffers with blood money.

  8. David

    I offer you my apologies for the weakness of the evangelical church. Instead of showing the love of Jesus, we have come across as arrogant, holier than thou, jerks that have been exposed time and time again as hypocrites. I include myself. I am no better.

    What you have said has broken my heart and I have prayed for you this weekend. And today, I shall dedicate the blog post to your difficult comments.

    The only hope that I can offer you is this, Jesus Christ. This is not a cop out. He came to forgive us sinners.And there is no question that the church needs His grace.

    If you would ever like to dialogue confidentially, please contact me at dee@thewartburgwatch.com.

  9. Lydia
    Please read Dan’s comment under yesterday’s post. IT is wonderful and addresses your concerns.

    I so agree with you. Can you imagine what Rekers, and those like him such as Haggard,Baker, Swaggert,etc. have done to those they had their dalliances with? Can you imagine how those folks view Christians? It almost makes me sick to think about it. I can only pray for those who have been hurt in such a way by so-called Christians.

    We seem to be far more concerned with getting those Christian leaders help. We follow their progress, we happily welcome them back after they have been “treated” and restored.

    Yet do we even get one jot of concern about what happened to those who were the recipients of their actions? I think not. In fact, I blame myself for not caring enough.

    May God forgive us all. Thank you for your prophetic words.