Self Control https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk/ en Stress-testing our Christian beliefs https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk/stress-testing-our-christian-beliefs <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">Stress-testing our Christian beliefs</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-image--article.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="item-image"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> <img property="schema:image" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/articles/stress%20testing%20our%20beliefs%201170%20x%20330.png" alt="laying a foundation" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/92" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Owen</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2024-04-30T11:42:06+00:00">Tue, 30/04/2024 - 12:42</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--article.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>Have you ever questioned your faith or had doubts whether you are right about sexuality? (For what TFT believes, see our <a href="https://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/basis">Basis</a>).Those of us who hold to biblical teaching on sexuality are increasingly out of step with the culture. We can also find ourselves at odds with some who identify as Christians.</p> <p>It can feel as though we are caught in the cross fire and that is hard. </p> <p>And, let’s be honest, the world’s teaching can sometimes sound attractive. There are times when it is attractive to believe that we could have a same-sex partner, with all of the associated blessings of being in a relationship, and be celebrated for that. </p> <p>But truth is not determined by how attractive or comfortable something is. However enticing a viewpoint might be, unless it is also true, it is an empty hope, and that’s not actually that attractive. </p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-quote-text no-border" style="background:#59adc4;">&#13; <div class="widget-content">&#13; <div class="content" style="color:#fff;"><i style="color:#fff;" class="icon fa fa-quote-left"></i> Truth is not determined by how attractive or comfortable something is </div>&#13; </div>&#13; </div> &#13; <p>How can we test our faith and examine what others are saying to ensure that we are building on rock and not sinking sand? I listened to a podcast series last year called “The Witch Trials of JK Rowling”. It is a six-part series hosted by American political activist Megan Phelps-Roper who used to be a member of Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) (famous for its distasteful pickets and obnoxious views). Megan Phelps-Roper left WBC when she found that she could not reconcile her beliefs with those of WBC. She isn’t, as I understand it, a Christian. The series looks at how JK Rowling has been put “on trial” by the media following the expression of views on gender/transgender issues. Megan’s approach is to encourage discussion of different viewpoints and she has six questions which she uses to assess her own beliefs. Here are my reflections on the six questions, which are listed below:</p> <h3>Open to doubt?</h3> <p><em>Q1: Are you able to entertain real doubt about your beliefs or are you operating from a position of certainty?</em></p> <p>It takes humility to accept that we might be wrong in what we believe. It takes open-mindedness and wisdom to listen to someone’s else’s view and to weigh it. Being able to entertain real doubt about our beliefs may be about our entire worldview or it may be about what the Bible teaches on a specific point. I came to faith from an atheist background, in part because I was willing to open my mind to the possibility that I might be wrong. A while back I asked a friend to help me wrestle through a secondary theological issue and I ended up changing my mind on the basis of the evidence. That led me to change churches and to give up something I enjoyed doing. So, I would say yes to the first question - I have a track record of being willing to entertain real doubt about my beliefs.</p> <h3>Views unfalsifiable?</h3> <p><em>Q2: Can you articulate the evidence that you would need to cede, in order to change your position, or is your perspective unfalsifiable?</em></p> <p>The strongest evidence for Christianity is in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Anything which showed that to be untrue would be a cause for me to change my faith. <br /> Similarly, something which showed the Bible to be untrue/not the word of God would cause me to re-evaluate my faith. The Bible needs to be read in a genre-appropriate way, so I don’t mean taking poetic language (e.g. “storehouses of snow” in Job 38:22) and try to make literal sense of it (e.g. by saying that because of modern science we understand that there aren’t literal storehouses of snow and that therefore the Bible is wrong and cannot be trusted). But I also need to approach this with humility recognising that human knowledge is imperfect and that later archaeological or scientific discoveries may challenge current understanding, so I would not want to walk away over a minor point. </p> <p>When it comes to interpreting the Bible, I’d need to be convinced that the Bible said something different on a natural reading of the text and look at all the different passages that dealt with the issue. I’d want to be alert to what CS Lewis called “chronological snobbery” (i.e. assuming that something is right or better just because it is new and assuming that we have reached the pinnacle of knowledge in our day) and also to personal and cultural pressures to re-interpret the Bible. Looking at this in the context of sexuality, it is noteworthy that the vast majority of Christians throughout time and across the world have held to traditional teaching that sex is only for marriage and marriage is heterosexual. Now they could all be wrong, but, before we jump to the conclusion that they were unenlightened, it is worth taking a step back and acknowledging that there is cultural pressure in the West at this point in history, not only to permit, but also to celebrate same-sex sexual relationships. For those of us who experience same-sex attraction, we need to be especially aware of personal incentives to change our theology. But we aren’t the only ones with skin in the game. Those who aren’t gay, lesbian or bisexual/who don’t experience same-sex attraction may feel that changing their view would win them popularity points, help them to keep a relationship they care about, help them to get promoted or even just to keep their job, or they may feel that it will help to attract younger generations to church. We are not the only ones facing pressure to change our view. </p> <p>We need to make sure that we are reading the Bible to inform our judgement on what it says. To me, it is very clear that marriage is a picture of Christ (the groom) and the church (the bride), and that all human marriages are intended to be a little picture of that. It is also clear that just as God is three persons, each different and yet equal in value and united in love, human beings are made male and female in the image of God, different and yet equal in value and (in some cases) united in love in the context of human marriages - another picture. </p> <p>There are also passages which are very clear that homosexual sex (whether between two men or two women) is sinful. The most natural reading of the Bible is that marriage is to be between a man and a woman and that any other form of sexual relationship is not permitted. If the Bible wanted to condemn only older men sleeping with teenage boys (as some have argued), it could have done that, but it didn’t.</p> <h3>“Straw manning”?</h3> <p><em>Q3: Can you articulate your opponent’s perspective in a way that they recognise, or are you “straw manning”?</em></p> <p>John Stott once said that we should attack our opponent’s viewpoint at its strongest point. There is integrity in that, and I would agree that we should seek to do this. It can be hard to slow down and make sure that we have understood what someone is actually saying, but it is important. We may need to be wise in terms of how and when we expose ourselves to views which may be unhelpful for us. For example, it may be best to do it in community with other believers who are committed to biblical truth and with a critical eye, or to avoid it in seasons where we are going to find it unhelpful. I have confidence that the Bible stacks up, but our emotions can sway us.</p> <h3>Ad hominem attacks?</h3> <p><em>Q4 : Are you attacking the ideas or the people who hold them?</em></p> <p>We need to be able to attack the ideas, not the people. I’d agree with that. We should seek to love everyone, including those who disagree with us or who are rude about us, although that can be easier said than done. </p> <p>We probably also need to define what is meant by “attacking” the person. Someone might perceive something to be an attack where the other person is questioning whether gay relationships are OK. That isn’t an attack on the person, but may feel like one if the other person fears that their rights may be taken away.<br /> We as Christians are also judged by the way we live and especially by how well we live out what we say we believe. So, it is not unreasonable for us to expect others to live out their beliefs as well. Questioning why someone is not living out their beliefs may feel like a personal attack (and we should try not to make it sound like one), but it is reasonable to ask why someone’s life doesn’t match their expressed beliefs. We should also be prepared to answer the question when there is a gap between what we say we believe and how we live. In my case the answer is that I am a sinful human being living in a fallen world.</p> <h3>Overreacting to difference?</h3> <p><em>Q5: Are you willing to cut off close relationships with people who disagree with you, particularly over relatively small points of contention?</em></p> <p>I find this one tricky as there is a wisdom call here. Cutting people off because they have a different view on something minor sounds like quite an extreme reaction. We do of course need to ask the question “What is a small point of contention?” Re-interpreting (in an unfaithful way) or disregarding the Bible is not minor. Permitting gay weddings in churches, or having church leaders who do not submit to biblical teaching is not minor. The difference for us personally between living a single celibate life (or a life with an opposite sex spouse) and having a same-sex partner is not minor. </p> <p>It follows that there may be people with whom it is unhelpful for us to spend a lot of time because of their beliefs or behaviours. We need to be wise about which friendships will be helpful or unhelpful for us. I did some serious thinking about who was in my ‘inner circle’ a number of years ago. I concluded that there were too many non-Christians and not enough Christians. That isn’t to say that I cut off previous relationships, but I did re-balance the amount of time I was spending with different people and what I was sharing with whom. </p> <h3>Punishing opponents?</h3> <p><em>Q6: Are you willing to use extraordinary means against people who disagree with you (e.g. forcing people out of their jobs or homes; violence or threats of violence; celebrating tragedy)?</em></p> <p>We should never celebrate tragedy, as we are people who are called to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. Violence, threats of violence and trying to get someone removed from their home or job simply because they hold a different view is unloving. There may, however, be some behaviours based on someone’s beliefs which mean that a particular job is not appropriate for them. It is also possible to envisage scenarios where a commitment to this viewpoint might be tested, particularly where the beliefs in question might be viewed as harmful or where the behaviours that would naturally flow from the beliefs would be harmful. </p> <h3>Conclusion</h3> <p>What do you think of Megan Phelps-Roper’s questions? Are they helpful? Are there any you would add, remove or change? How would you answer them?<br /> I’m not sure that I’ll adopt the six questions wholesale, as I prefer the shorter and more biblical question “What does it look like to love God and love my neighbour in this?” But it has been interesting to think about these questions.</p> <hr /><p>This article was originally published in the Spring 2024 edition of the TFT magazine, <em>Ascend</em>. Click the button below to download your copy.</p> <p>&#13; <style rel="stylesheet"> <!--/*--><![CDATA[/* ><!--*/ #button-sd8uwx12wn15{background:#fff;color:#000;border-color:#00599c;} #button-sd8uwx12wn15:hover{background:#00599c;color:#fff;border-color:#00599c;} /*--><!]]>*/ </style></p><div class="clearfix"></div>&#13; <a href="https://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/sites/default/files/newsletters/2024Q1ascend.pdf" class="gsc-button medium " id="button-sd8uwx12wn15">&#13; Download the Spring 2024 edition of Ascend </a> &#13; &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-format--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-format.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-format.html.twig * field--list-string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-format field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Article</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-category--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-category.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/church" hreflang="en">Church</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/culture" hreflang="en">Engaging Culture</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/self-control" hreflang="en">Self Control</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-more-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-more-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-more-information.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-more-information field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"> <p><em>Please note that any external resources below are intended to complement the main answer given above and may not entirely match TFT's position.</em></p> <p>***for FAQs ONLY, replace this text with links to further articles, books, audio and video. Examples below for each media type.</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-link"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>Living Out article: 'Is it ok to be gay?' '</h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This article (click link above) goes into more of the biblical passages.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-video-camera"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>ERLC video: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">***CHANGE VIEW MODE TO SOURCE HTML AND INSERT SHARED EMBED CODE FROM YOUTUBE HERE, BUT CHANGE WIDTH TO 100% TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE*** This video sets out some more arguments on the matter.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-headphones"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>UCB podcast: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This podcast (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-book"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>IVP book: 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This book (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">Written by Billie</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:42:06 +0000 Owen 657 at https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk Review: "Naked Truth project" https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk/review-naked-truth-project <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">Review: &quot;Naked Truth project&quot;</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-image--article.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="item-image"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> <img property="schema:image" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/articles/naked%20truth%20new%201170.png" alt="naked truth" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/92" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Owen</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2024-02-28T15:44:07+00:00">Wed, 28/02/2024 - 15:44</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--article.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>The Naked Truth Project, <a href="https://nakedtruthproject.com/">nakedtruthproject.com</a>, is a UK charity “committed to changing minds and changing lives through awareness, education and recovery programmes.” The website opens with a video of a powerful poem; this  beautifully depicts their goal to teach about the harmfulness of porn and provide a vision for life, human flourishing and restoration. Toward that end, they offer a variety of resources to help parents, spouses, teachers, schools and churches understand and address issues of pornography. While those are all valuable, this review will focus on the opportunities specifically for individuals who are actively struggling with pornography. </p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-quote-text no-border" style="background:#59adc4;">&#13; <div class="widget-content">&#13; <div class="content" style="color:#fff;"><i style="color:#fff;" class="icon fa fa-quote-left"></i> The group discussions encourage both personal application and developing tools towards change</div>&#13; </div>&#13; </div> &#13; <h3>Kick-starting recovery</h3> <p>The primary programme on offer is called Click to Kick. A small group of participants meet weekly with a trained facilitator on Zoom, to complete an 8-week course focusing on understanding addiction, positive sexuality and healthy lifestyles. The group discussions, as well as some assignments between meetings, encourage both personal application to those topics and developing tools towards change in one’s own thinking and behaviour. The material is well written, educates without sounding too academic and is thoughtfully and graciously related to the real lives of the participants. There are men’s and women’s groups. Overall, I would recommend this programme for someone looking to kick-start their recovery. </p> <h3>Caveats</h3> <p>My main hesitation or caution stems from the lack of emphasis on faith and spiritual aspects of recovery. The organisation itself is created and run by Christians. They have the perspective that we are more than bodies and brains, but also are spiritual beings with souls; what we are yearning for is ultimately God and that prayer and spiritual components should play a role in recovery. However, they want their groups to be accessible to everyone, so therefore most references to faith-based subjects are mentioned more as an aside or in optional activities. My Click to Kick group was only comprised of Christians, so we did include discussion based around the gospel, but that’s not always the case. Also, they welcome LGBT+ people to these groups, without regard for creed or practice. While the focus is pornography, not sexual orientation, there is enough overlap of possible conversation that a TFT member might find it triggering or uncomfortable to be in a group with a sexually active gay person. </p> <h3>Cost</h3> <p>Click to Kick is free with donation giving as an option. After completing that course, one who shows commitment to sexual sobriety has the option to join the Whole Life programme, which incurs a monthly fee (currently £50/month). Whole Life allows you to continue your recovery in community with ongoing support groups, encouragement and discussion for those who want to go deeper into recovery and restoration.</p> <h3>Online videos and resources</h3> <p>For someone not quite ready to jump into the Click to Kick programme, there is a free online video course called Ctrl-Alt-Del. This series of 28 short videos presents similar content as the Click to Kick programme, but more abbreviated and without the discussion and accountability. Still, the videos are engaging and informative and they do suggest some questions for reflection or resources for further study. This course also contains four optional videos about faith and the spiritual impact of porn and recovery. One of these describes two hindrances to holy living: forgetting who we are and whose we are and fracturing or compartmentalising our lives. These are good reminders for all believers, not just those who struggle with pornography. </p> <h3>Benefits and drawbacks</h3> <p>Because it’s undertaken independently online, one can complete the course at one’s own pace. This can be beneficial for some, but could also be detrimental for those who would either rush through, without truly engaging with the material, or would take too long between videos and lose any momentum or retention of the contents. This course is designed for men and women. However, there is one video specifically for men, discussing the relationship between porn and erectile dysfunction. That is announced at the beginning of the video, so women can skip that video. I wish there was a similar video discussing things unique to women.<br /> In addition to these courses, individual coaching and counselling is offered, as well as some in-person intensives and retreats. More information can be found on the website. <br />  </p> <hr /><p>This article was originally published in the Winter 2023 edition of the TFT magazine, <em>Ascend</em>. Click the button below to download your copy.</p> <p>&#13; <style rel="stylesheet"> <!--/*--><![CDATA[/* ><!--*/ #button-msw462sk66uj{background:#fff;color:#000;border-color:#00599c;} #button-msw462sk66uj:hover{background:#00599c;color:#fff;border-color:#00599c;} /*--><!]]>*/ </style></p><div class="clearfix"></div>&#13; <a href="https://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/sites/default/files/newsletters/2023Q4ascend.pdf" class="gsc-button medium " id="button-msw462sk66uj">&#13; Download the Winter 2023 edition of Ascend </a> &#13; &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-format--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-format.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-format.html.twig * field--list-string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-format field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Review</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-category--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-category.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/accountability" hreflang="en">Accountability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/self-control" hreflang="en">Self Control</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/singleness" hreflang="en">Singleness</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-more-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-more-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-more-information.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-more-information field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"> <p><em>Please note that any external resources below are intended to complement the main answer given above and may not entirely match TFT's position.</em></p> <p>***for FAQs ONLY, replace this text with links to further articles, books, audio and video. Examples below for each media type.</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-link"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>Living Out article: 'Is it ok to be gay?' '</h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This article (click link above) goes into more of the biblical passages.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-video-camera"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>ERLC video: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">***CHANGE VIEW MODE TO SOURCE HTML AND INSERT SHARED EMBED CODE FROM YOUTUBE HERE, BUT CHANGE WIDTH TO 100% TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE*** This video sets out some more arguments on the matter.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-headphones"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>UCB podcast: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This podcast (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-book"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>IVP book: 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This book (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">Written by Sarah</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> Wed, 28 Feb 2024 15:44:07 +0000 Owen 649 at https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk The porn pandemic https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk/porn-pandemic <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">The porn pandemic </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-image--article.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="item-image"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> <img property="schema:image" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/articles/porn%20pandemic%201170%20x%20330.png" alt="wearing a mask looking at a computer" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/92" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Owen</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2024-02-18T15:32:54+00:00">Sun, 18/02/2024 - 15:32</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--article.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>One of the recent open day lectures run by Oak Hill Theological College, was on the theme of pornography. This was given by Robin Barfield, a children’s and youth worker. </p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-quote-text no-border" style="background:#59adc4;">&#13; <div class="widget-content">&#13; <div class="content" style="color:#fff;"><i style="color:#fff;" class="icon fa fa-quote-left"></i> Remember whoever is struggling is a child of God's and is saved by grace  </div>&#13; </div>&#13; </div> &#13; <h3>The reality</h3> <p>Robin began by listing some statistics on pornography use: </p> <ul><li>12% of all websites are pornographic (4.2 million Sexually Explicit Internet Material (SEIM) websites existed in 2015)</li> <li>42% of all internet users (male, female, young and old) view SEIM</li> <li>10% of the 42% are viewing SEIM daily</li> </ul><p>Men are more likely to watch what is called “gonzo porn”, which is viewing the raw act of sex, while women often want more of a storyline when they are watching porn.</p> <h3>What do we need to remember about porn use? </h3> <p>Firstly, using porn can affect our body image. Men aren’t normally accustomed to seeing other men’s body shapes and therefore porn can distort their body image. Women aren’t affected as much as men, as woman are more used to seeing the shapes of other women’s bodies in magazines and on social media. Secondly “centrefold syndrome” can arise, where women are objectified, especially when men view SEIM. This then can also give room to “trophyism”, especially seen in celebrity culture. This is where a woman is used as a trophy, as it were, alongside a famous personality. Sadly, this culture of “big name, woman as trophy” can be seen in American evangelicalism. This abuse of women can breed damaging and negative attitudes towards them from men - that they are to be used sexually, rather than loved.<br /> These facts and outcomes can be quite shocking, especially when one statistic says that the average age of exposure to SEIM is 11. This suggests that many children have seen SEIM before that young age. </p> <h3>How do we respond? </h3> <p>It can feel quite upsetting to reflect on this data. Perhaps we know people in our churches and youth groups who may struggle in this area. We ourselves may also be addicted to porn. There is a need to remember that our bodies aren’t entirely who we are.  It’s also what we are inside that matters. Nevertheless, reflecting on the book of Genesis, we see that we are created beings. We need to be those who reinforce the belief that bodies are good things and that we should look after them. We are made in the image of God and are living sacrifices to Him. SEIM is impersonal and therefore separates the body from the personality. Remember our feelings and longings are part of the Fall and sometimes these are broken. Let us not believe the lie, “You are what you feel”. Ultimately pornography is dehumanising. It removes the image of God from people. People become things to be used, not individuals to be loved and cherished.</p> <h3>Pastoral care</h3> <p>Robin then finished his talk by giving some practical tips: </p> <ol><li>Gate the eyes - block porn. People need to stop watching it before the heart can heal. Robin explained that people hate themselves for using porn and are scared to tell people they struggle in this area. </li> <li>Heal the heart. It is necessary to show plenty of grace. People will feel very shamed. This sin is forgivable; we do not adhere to the purity culture.  Life is not over when we sin in this area. We need to bring darkness into the light. Remember that whoever is struggling is a child of God and is saved by grace – saved by Jesus. </li> </ol><p>One way of healing the heart is to delight in God, loving what He loves and hating what He hates. As Thomas Watson says, “Until sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet”. Finally, Robin reminded people of the difference between finite and infinite pleasure - SEIM is finite and Christ infinite. </p> <h3>What do churches need to do? </h3> <p>We need to TALK about the dangers of porn, in our families, youth groups and small groups. Russell Moore says, “The most dangerous sins to our Christian lives are the ones we think are anonymous, the ones we think no-one knows about, so we think get away with them”. This means building a culture of honesty within church, which can be helped by older members walking with younger members in their struggles. Churches should celebrate biblical marriage and ultimately the marriage of Jesus and His Church, in order to lay the foundation for healthy and fruitful sexual relationships.</p> <p>This was a helpful lecture and gave insight into pornography. What I found particularly useful was how men and women view pornography differently and how we can pastorally help people who struggle.</p> <p>To access the original lecture click <a href="https://www.oakhill.ac.uk/events/equip-the-porn-pandemic">here</a>.</p> <hr /><p>This article was originally published in the Winter 2023 edition of the TFT magazine, <em>Ascend</em>. Click the button below to download your copy.</p> <p>&#13; <style rel="stylesheet"> <!--/*--><![CDATA[/* ><!--*/ #button-2xsi0orfsyu8{background:#fff;color:#000;border-color:#00599c;} #button-2xsi0orfsyu8:hover{background:#00599c;color:#fff;border-color:#00599c;} /*--><!]]>*/ </style></p><div class="clearfix"></div>&#13; <a href="https://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/sites/default/files/newsletters/2023Q4ascend.pdf" class="gsc-button medium " id="button-2xsi0orfsyu8">&#13; Download the Winter 2023 edition of Ascend </a> &#13; &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-format--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-format.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-format.html.twig * field--list-string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-format field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Article</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-category--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-category.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/accountability" hreflang="en">Accountability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/church" hreflang="en">Church</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/self-control" hreflang="en">Self Control</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/supporting-others" hreflang="en">Supporting Others</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-more-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-more-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-more-information.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-more-information field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"> <p><em>Please note that any external resources below are intended to complement the main answer given above and may not entirely match TFT's position.</em></p> <p>***for FAQs ONLY, replace this text with links to further articles, books, audio and video. Examples below for each media type.</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-link"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>Living Out article: 'Is it ok to be gay?' '</h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This article (click link above) goes into more of the biblical passages.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-video-camera"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>ERLC video: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">***CHANGE VIEW MODE TO SOURCE HTML AND INSERT SHARED EMBED CODE FROM YOUTUBE HERE, BUT CHANGE WIDTH TO 100% TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE*** This video sets out some more arguments on the matter.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-headphones"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>UCB podcast: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This podcast (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-book"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>IVP book: 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This book (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">Written by Owen</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> Sun, 18 Feb 2024 15:32:54 +0000 Owen 648 at https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk My battle for freedom from porn https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk/my-battle-freedom-porn <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">My battle for freedom from porn</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-image--article.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="item-image"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> <img property="schema:image" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/articles/my%20battle%20for%20freedom%201170%20x%20330.png" alt="men talking over coffee" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/92" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Owen</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2024-01-29T14:58:51+00:00">Mon, 29/01/2024 - 14:58</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--article.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>I have been battling with porn for most of my life. My first encounter with hard core porn came between the ages of 11 and 12. I never thought at the time how much this would destroy me. Years passed and I would regularly watch videos or look at magazine images. At the age of 18, I made a commitment of faith, but, sadly, not very much changed in my behaviour. A week before my 21st birthday, my life with Jesus took a big step forward. I began getting help with my alcohol dependency, but my issue with porn remained unaddressed. The subject would come up in church but, as with many people, I would say, “Not me - I don’t do that sort of thing.”</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-quote-text no-border" style="background:#59adc4;">&#13; <div class="widget-content">&#13; <div class="content" style="color:#fff;"><i style="color:#fff;" class="icon fa fa-quote-left"></i> I now better understand how this addiction takes hold of my mind </div>&#13; </div>&#13; </div> &#13; <h3>Slipping back</h3> <p>Sometime later, my old life re-surfaced. I moved away from following God and began a same-sex relationship - this came to end in 2008. In finding my way back to Christian fellowship, I began to pray for help with my porn addiction. My drinking had stopped and I had been dry for 8 or 9 years, which is still the case today. But porn remained a big issue - I would pray for help, but would keep on slipping back into using it; I think I only managed about 6 months of freedom from it. An accountability partner was recommended, yet knowingly I hid things - I would just have two computers and show my accountability partner the computer that I didn’t use for porn! Even with  the best intentions to stop, the addiction felt unbreakable. </p> <h3>Finding help</h3> <p>More recently, I was going through the “Your Version” Bible study guides and came across a 30-day guided programme called “Freedom from Porn”, so decided to sign up. When the 30 days were completed, I also found the related free app online (search on Apple or Android for “The Freedom Fight” or find the website <a href="https://thefreedomfight.org/">thefreedomfight.org)</a>. With help from the app, I have finally broken free from porn for an extended period. The recommendation to engage with an accountability partner, in order to be open with another person, became so important to me. Sharing this desire for support with the men’s group that I meet with monthly was not easy, but the benefits I have received from being honest in this area have encouraged me so much.  Since writing this review, I have been free from porn usage for over 150 days. What has also helped is daily Bible reading and praying. Nevertheless, there have been a few close calls with temptation to view porn; I can only say that God has strengthened me to resist. </p> <h3>Benefits of using software </h3> <p>How does the app work? Well, you need to be committed to a daily check-in. Firstly, you write down a few words about how you are feeling. There is a checklist to tick the word that best describes your mood. Then there are short videos to watch, which give you helpful information about the effects of porn; that leads to a better understanding of the way this addiction takes hold of your mind.  There is also the option to link up to an accountability friend, or to join a group, so that you can invite others to support you in this struggle.</p> <p>If this is your battle too, I do hope that you find an end to the fight. May I ask for your prayers in the temptations that I have, as I pray for all who read this, to take up the challenge to stop themselves? You can be free. </p> <h3>Ongoing challenges</h3> <p>The biggest thing that has changed in starting this process of release is how dangerous I see porn as, even “light” porn. Adverts for men’s clothing or fragrance can be triggering to me. God has pinpointed other issues since my victory, that I need to work on, like controlling my swearing. God’s ongoing mercy is essential in every area of my life, but I know that God is good.</p> <hr /><p>This article was originally published in the Winter 2023 edition of the TFT magazine, <em>Ascend</em>. Click the button below to download your copy.</p> <p>&#13; <style rel="stylesheet"> <!--/*--><![CDATA[/* ><!--*/ #button-mba26nsh7u9u{background:#fff;color:#000;border-color:#00599c;} #button-mba26nsh7u9u:hover{background:#00599c;color:#fff;border-color:#00599c;} /*--><!]]>*/ </style></p><div class="clearfix"></div>&#13; <a href="https://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/sites/default/files/newsletters/2023Q4ascend.pdf" class="gsc-button medium " id="button-mba26nsh7u9u">&#13; Download the Winter 2023 edition of Ascend </a> &#13; &#13; <p>  </p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-format--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-format.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-format.html.twig * field--list-string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-format field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Personal Story</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-category--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-category.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/accountability" hreflang="en">Accountability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/self-control" hreflang="en">Self Control</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/singleness" hreflang="en">Singleness</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/supporting-others" hreflang="en">Supporting Others</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-more-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-more-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-more-information.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-more-information field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"> <p><em>Please note that any external resources below are intended to complement the main answer given above and may not entirely match TFT's position.</em></p> <p>***for FAQs ONLY, replace this text with links to further articles, books, audio and video. Examples below for each media type.</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-link"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>Living Out article: 'Is it ok to be gay?' '</h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This article (click link above) goes into more of the biblical passages.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-video-camera"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>ERLC video: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">***CHANGE VIEW MODE TO SOURCE HTML AND INSERT SHARED EMBED CODE FROM YOUTUBE HERE, BUT CHANGE WIDTH TO 100% TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE*** This video sets out some more arguments on the matter.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-headphones"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>UCB podcast: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This podcast (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-book"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>IVP book: 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This book (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">Written by Colin</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> Mon, 29 Jan 2024 14:58:51 +0000 Owen 646 at https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk Jesus took my guilt and shame https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk/jesus-took-my-guilt-and-shame <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">Jesus took my guilt and shame</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-image--article.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="item-image"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> <img property="schema:image" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/articles/Jesus%20took%20my%20guilt%20and%20shame%201170%20x%20330.png" alt="holding a light bulb" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/92" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Owen</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2024-01-19T14:45:10+00:00">Fri, 19/01/2024 - 14:45</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--article.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>One morning, while still in bed, I had a big light bulb moment. I suddenly realised that I had got myself into a big hole. I was drowning, and I wasn’t really sure how I got there. I had become addicted to pornography.</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-quote-text no-border" style="background:#59adc4;">&#13; <div class="widget-content">&#13; <div class="content" style="color:#fff;"><i style="color:#fff;" class="icon fa fa-quote-left"></i> My moral compass was gradually eroded </div>&#13; </div>&#13; </div> &#13; <p>I was, I like to think, a respected Christian. I had a good life, a good job and dreams for the future. So, how come I ended up in this place of despair? It had begun, as so many things do, many years before, in a place of loneliness and pain, depression and fear, and, to be honest, stupidity. It started slowly; my moral compass was gradually and incrementally eroded. None of which is an excuse, but (following years of counselling and support) gave me some explanation for what led up to the moment of sinking in the Slough of Despond, and what the triggers were. The guilt and the shame were my own, but there were reasons. If only I had dealt with them earlier and been honest about the fear, anxiety and depression I was living with, then maybe… although you can’t go back in time. All you can do is make sure you never go there again and (hopefully) help others. I was brought up learning that all pornography was wrong. Once I had crossed that line, sitting alone in secret, the slow, painful movement towards the chat rooms and addiction grew. I shouldn’t have been anywhere near it. I knew that. But my repentance and remorse came too late. </p> <h3>Opening up</h3> <p>Honesty is everything. Telling my family, closest friends and church leadership where I had got to was the most painful thing I had ever done. If only I had gone to them earlier. If only I had sought advice. But I was a Christian with supposedly everything together, and admitting I had issues would be a failure. I was not allowed to fail. So, I had to bottle it all up. And my problem became a very dark, hidden thing. I would not have got through it all without the brilliant care of those I confessed to, my counsellor and even my very understanding doctor. The entire process, from the light bulb moment to now, has taken over four years. The depression and thoughts of suicide would have overwhelmed me if it wasn’t for the brilliance of those who looked after me, going above and beyond anything I deserved. I was given the right advice and care, undertook courses and am standing now. </p> <h3>Receiving forgiveness</h3> <p>Those around me helped me understand that I had done something that was damaging me, but that it shouldn’t define the rest of my life. As Brené Brown puts it, “Shame is ‘I am bad.’ Guilt is ‘I did something bad.’” Or, as the US rapper Lecrae puts it, “Guilt says, ‘You failed.’ Shame says, ‘You’re a failure.’ Grace says, ‘Your failures are forgiven.’” I had done something bad, but that did not mean I had to live with the shame for the rest of my days. Isaiah 61:7 says, “Instead of your shame, you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace, you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.” Jesus came to take my guilt and shame. I had to repent and take responsibility for where I had got to, but forgiveness means not living in that darkness anymore, and I need to learn to forgive myself for my failures. If God can forgive me, then I should seek to do the same. As Isaiah 43:25 states, “I am the one who blots out your transgression for my sake, and I‘ll remember your sins no more.”</p> <h3>Moving on</h3> <p>I still have anxiety attacks and suffer from depression. I still live in fear of others finding out about this deep sin and some of the worst of me. I still struggle to accept the forgiveness shown by those around me, let alone my Saviour. But I am (slowly) getting there. However, I hold on to my faith and those around me. Thinking about it, maybe it would be more honest to say that God, and those around me, hold on to me. </p> <hr /><p>This article was originally published in the Winter 2023 edition of the TFT magazine, <em>Ascend</em>. Click the button below to download your copy.</p> <p>&#13; <style rel="stylesheet"> <!--/*--><![CDATA[/* ><!--*/ #button-vqadycrkgghc{background:#fff;color:#000;border-color:#00599c;} #button-vqadycrkgghc:hover{background:#00599c;color:#fff;border-color:#00599c;} /*--><!]]>*/ </style></p><div class="clearfix"></div>&#13; <a href="https://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/sites/default/files/newsletters/2023Q4ascend.pdf" class="gsc-button medium " id="button-vqadycrkgghc">&#13; Download the Winter 2023 edition of Ascend </a> &#13; &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-format--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-format.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-format.html.twig * field--list-string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-format field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Personal Story</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-category--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-category.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/self-control" hreflang="en">Self Control</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/singleness" hreflang="en">Singleness</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-more-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-more-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-more-information.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-more-information field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"> <p><em>Please note that any external resources below are intended to complement the main answer given above and may not entirely match TFT's position.</em></p> <p>***for FAQs ONLY, replace this text with links to further articles, books, audio and video. Examples below for each media type.</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-link"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>Living Out article: 'Is it ok to be gay?' '</h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This article (click link above) goes into more of the biblical passages.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-video-camera"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>ERLC video: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">***CHANGE VIEW MODE TO SOURCE HTML AND INSERT SHARED EMBED CODE FROM YOUTUBE HERE, BUT CHANGE WIDTH TO 100% TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE*** This video sets out some more arguments on the matter.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-headphones"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>UCB podcast: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This podcast (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-book"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>IVP book: 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This book (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">Written anonymously</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> Fri, 19 Jan 2024 14:45:10 +0000 Owen 645 at https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk Can one walk upon the coals? https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk/can-one-walk-upon-coals <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">Can one walk upon the coals?</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-image--article.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="item-image"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> <img property="schema:image" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/articles/can%20one%20walk%20upon%20the%20coals%201170%20x%20330.png" alt="walking on coals" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/92" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Owen</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2024-01-09T14:35:37+00:00">Tue, 09/01/2024 - 14:35</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--article.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p><em>“Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.”</em> – Proverbs 6:28-29 (NIV)</p> <p>The short answer to the rhetorical question in Proverbs 6 (“can one walk upon the coals?”) is probably, “yes, you might get away with, but it’s wise not to take the risk”. If it were that easy, this article could stop right here! But we all know that we’re tempted to flirt with temptation, particularly sexual temptation. How can we convince ourselves to keep well away from temptation? Let’s use Proverbs 7 as a short three-act drama to illustrate what happens within us when we flirt with temptation and allow ourselves to progress on the stepping stones towards sexual sin. It’s a tragedy in three acts. The quotations below are from The Message translation/paraphrase, as it is quite hard-hitting and might help us to hear familiar verses in a new way.</p> <h3>Act 1 – We walk too close to temptation’s door</h3> <p><em>“As I stood at the window of my house looking out through the shutters, watching the mindless crowd stroll by, I spotted a young man without any sense. Arriving at the corner of the street where she lived, then turning up the path to her house. It was dusk, the evening coming on, the darkness thickening into night.”</em><br /> – Proverbs 7:6-12 (The Message)</p> <p>In this first act, our protagonist is pictured as a foolish young man walking close to the house where he knows the seductress lives: she represents sexual temptation, but really the focus is upon his foolishness in walking close to where she lives. </p> <p>The passage also mentions the time of day. For this young man, night-time was approaching. For many people, there can be a particular time of day (or time of the week/month/year) associated with vulnerability to sexual temptation – even being aware of when this is for you can help to prepare you to be ready to resist temptation’s pull. </p> <p>The application for us is to think about the ways we personally might walk in the direction of sexual sin. What are our “stepping stones” towards sexual temptation? These might include:</p> <ul><li>Places (actual locations where we may have “acted out” sexually in the past)</li> <li>Websites or apps (places online where temptation is only a click away)</li> <li>Trains of thought (fantasies or memories, perhaps about particular people from the past, that we know are unhelpful and likely to unsettle or arouse us)</li> </ul><h3>Act 2 – Temptation comes out to meet us</h3> <p><em>” Just then, a woman met him—she’d been lying in wait for him, dressed to seduce him. Brazen and brash she was, restless and roaming, never at home, walking the streets, loitering in the mall, hanging out at every corner in town. She threw her arms around him and kissed him, boldly took his arm and said, ‘I’ve got all the makings for a feast—today I made my offerings, my vows are all paid, So now I’ve come to find you, hoping to catch sight of your face—and here you are! I’ve spread fresh, clean sheets on my bed, colorful imported linens. My bed is aromatic with spices and exotic fragrances. Come, let’s make love all night, spend the night in ecstatic lovemaking! My husband’s not home; he’s away on business, and he won’t be back for a month.’”</em><br /> – Proverbs 7:13-20 (The Message)</p> <p>In the drama, the seductress is lying in wait for the young man, ready to take advantage when he is weak. For us, there might be actual people from the past who would be ready to drag us back into sexual immorality in a moment of weakness.</p> <p>But in our technological age, we also need to guard against the big organisations that know our weak spots all too well. For example, a streaming service like Netflix can build up over time a surprisingly accurate picture of the type of “click-bait” that will work well on us individually. For each of their products, they have a range of thumbnail images, from which they will pick the one that their algorithm thinks is most likely to make you click on it – perhaps one for this male actor and a different one for that female actress, carefully selected just for you! How do they know? Well, it will be based on your clicking history from the past. And for different people, there might be a streaming service or website or app that is a particular snare.So, Act 2 of this drama particularly invites us to ask ourselves in what ways does sexual sin come out to meet us? And how can we guard against such approaches?</p> <h3>Act 3 – The point of no return</h3> <p><em>"Soon she has him eating out of her hand, bewitched by her honeyed speech. Before you know it, he’s trotting behind her, like a calf led to the butcher shop, Like a stag lured into ambush and then shot with an arrow, Like a bird flying into a net not knowing that its flying life is over.”</em><br /> – Proverbs 7:21-23 (The Message)</p> <p>This is where the drama comes to its tragic conclusion. The young man was out walking in her neighbourhood at night (Act 1). She comes out to meet him and he stops to chat. And he listens as she flatters and sets the stage for the final act (Act 2). And only after all these other things have happened does he finally commit the sexual act (Act 3). At each of these stepping stones, he is free to make a wise decision to turn back, but it becomes increasingly difficult to resist.<br /> By Act 3, the young man has more or less surrendered himself to sexual sin. He is so far down the path of seduction that resistance seems all but impossible. We might think of times when we ourselves have felt helpless to do anything other than to follow through with sexual sin. But we will almost certainly have made unwise decisions earlier on the path to sexual immorality.</p> <h3>Epilogue – This is a serious matter</h3> <p><em>“So, friends, listen to me, take these words of mine most seriously.<br /> Don’t fool around with a woman like that; don’t even stroll through her neighborhood. Countless victims come under her spell; she’s the death of many a poor man. She runs a halfway house to hell, fits you out with a shroud and a coffin.”</em><br /> – Proverbs 7:24-27 (The Message)</p> <p>In the Epilogue, the focus comes upon the unnamed onlooker who is dispensing his words of advice. He calls us to take his warning seriously, and not to fool around with sexual temptation. We should look upon those drawn into sexual immorality with pity, because turning our back on God and embracing sexual sin is a route to spiritual death.</p> <h3>Afterword</h3> <p>Proverbs 7 is a dramatised warning not to go anywhere near sexual temptation. We are all vulnerable to temptation, and the time to protect oneself from being ensnared is not late at night, when we are tired and triggered. Rather, this passage invites us to steer well away from temptation’s door, to be very conscious of how particular people and devices might approach us at moments of weakness, and to be under no illusions about the ability of sexual temptation to entangle us and lead us away from God. We can be thankful to God for the wisdom of this book – let us take these words most seriously.<br />  </p> <hr /><p>This article was originally published in the Winter 2023 edition of the TFT magazine, <em>Ascend</em>. Click the button below to download your copy.</p> <p>&#13; <style rel="stylesheet"> <!--/*--><![CDATA[/* ><!--*/ #button-lgj9sa8pb245{background:#fff;color:#000;border-color:#00599c;} #button-lgj9sa8pb245:hover{background:#00599c;color:#fff;border-color:#00599c;} /*--><!]]>*/ </style></p><div class="clearfix"></div>&#13; <a href="https://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/sites/default/files/newsletters/2023Q4ascend.pdf" class="gsc-button medium " id="button-lgj9sa8pb245">&#13; Download the Winter 2023 edition of Ascend </a> &#13; &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-format--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-format.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-format.html.twig * field--list-string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-format field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Article</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-category--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-category.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/accountability" hreflang="en">Accountability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/bible" hreflang="en">Biblical Teaching</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/self-control" hreflang="en">Self Control</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-more-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-more-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-more-information.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-more-information field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"> <p><em>Please note that any external resources below are intended to complement the main answer given above and may not entirely match TFT's position.</em></p> <p>***for FAQs ONLY, replace this text with links to further articles, books, audio and video. Examples below for each media type.</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-link"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>Living Out article: 'Is it ok to be gay?' '</h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This article (click link above) goes into more of the biblical passages.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-video-camera"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>ERLC video: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">***CHANGE VIEW MODE TO SOURCE HTML AND INSERT SHARED EMBED CODE FROM YOUTUBE HERE, BUT CHANGE WIDTH TO 100% TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE*** This video sets out some more arguments on the matter.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-headphones"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>UCB podcast: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This podcast (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-book"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>IVP book: 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This book (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">Written by anonymously</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> Tue, 09 Jan 2024 14:35:37 +0000 Owen 644 at https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk Resources for women struggling with porn https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk/resources-women-struggling-porn <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">Resources for women struggling with porn</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-image--article.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="item-image"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> <img property="schema:image" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/articles/resources%20for%20women%201170.png" alt="books for women" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/92" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Owen</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2023-12-30T14:21:12+00:00">Sat, 30/12/2023 - 14:21</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--article.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>At least it’s not porn.” This phrase ran through my head somehow giving personal validation to my choices as a young teenager to gaze upon historical artwork of unclothed persons, dwell on human anatomy in science textbooks, and re-watch scenes from some popular movies. I was allowed to see all of these things, so surely it wasn’t wrong. I kept telling myself, “it’s not porn,” but I was still using it as visual stimulation and it morphed into erotica in my mind. These desires and habits became ingrained, and the trajectory was set. As I got older and moved outside of a computer guarded by my parents, I sought stronger images and could no longer claim the excuse, “at least it’s not porn,” but rather had to admit that I had a real problem with pornography.</p> <p>I am not alone. Some statistics suggest that as many as 87% of Christian women have watched pornography. The Covenant Eyes website states that 15% of Christian women watch porn at least monthly. This number increases significantly as you look specifically at younger generations of women. Yet many churches and resources continue to portray pornography as a men’s problem, and women who need help can feel excluded. If that is you, know you are not alone.  Here are some helpful resources, specifically for Christian women struggling with pornography.</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-quote-text no-border" style="background:#59adc4;">&#13; <div class="widget-content">&#13; <div class="content" style="color:#fff;"><i style="color:#fff;" class="icon fa fa-quote-left"></i> It’s the gospel that transforms hearts, minds and lives </div>&#13; </div>&#13; </div> &#13; <h4><a href="https://beggarsdaughter.com/">Beggarsdaughter.com</a> (blog)</h4> <h5>Associated resources: <em>Triggered </em>(free pdf). <em>Quenched: Discovering God’s Abundant Grace for Women Struggling with Pornography and Sexual Shame </em>(book) by Jessica Harris</h5> <p>This blog has significantly shaped how I think about recovery and freedom from sexual sin. In one of my favourite posts titled, “What Does Freedom From Pornography Look Like,” the author asks her reader to picture what their life would look like free from pornography. She suggests that far too often, people expect their life to stay as is, just without clicking on porn. This, she says, ignores the bigger picture of healing, redemption, and freedom that Christ brings into our whole lives.She talks about singleness, her own story, the need for better conversation in the church around women and pornography, hope and healing for those struggling, and more recently, as her life stage has changed, how her history with pornography has impacted her marriage and motherhood. She does not struggle with same sex attraction (SSA), but she has some posts that acknowledge the reality of SSA and how that can impact porn use. It was reading her posts and following some of the resources she suggested that led me to reading and thinking more about my own struggles with SSA.</p> <p>She has not added much to this platform in the past year, but her previous posts remain relevant and helpful. She also has a page of listed resources for Christian women struggling with pornography that includes more books, devotionals, small group resources and videos than I could mention here.</p> <p>One resource also available through her website is a free pdf titled, <a href="https://beggarsdaughter.com/free-resources/triggered/"><em>Triggered</em></a>. She considers three categories of triggers: internal, external, and inevitable. After defining each category, she develops what is unique to each type of trigger both in how it manifests in our lives and in how we best respond. This practical and realistic tool could also be helpful when considering triggers related to SSA not just pornography.</p> <p>More recently, Jessica Harris has released a new book titled, Quenched, that I would highly recommend. This whole book centres around the story of Jesus and the woman at the well in John 4. It is not a book of practical steps to break free from porn, but rather one that solely points to Christ and how his love meets us in our places of shame and offers living water. </p> <p>This book came out in 2023, more than a decade since my days of being trapped in pornography, but God used it to reveal shadows of shame still hiding in corners of my heart that need healing. The title, Quenched, comes from the picture that water not only can be used to put out fires already ablaze, but can also soak the ground so future fires won’t be able to break out. May we be so quenched in living water with our desires fulfilled in Christ that the fires of sin cannot find a foothold in our lives.</p> <h4><em>Dirty Girls Come Clean</em> (book) by Crystal Renaud Day</h4> <h5>Associated resources: <em>90 Days to Wholeness</em> (devotional). <a href="https://sherecovery.com">sherecovery.com</a> (website).</h5> <p>Crystal Renaud Day first released a book in 2011 titled, Dirty Girls Come Clean. This is a short, accessible read that brings light to women trapped in pornography through Crystal’s own testimony and suggested steps for moving towards healing. She describes these steps using the acronym SCARS, encouraging one to Surrender to God, Confess, seek Accountability, take Responsibility, and Share. This is a great place to start if you want to know you’re not alone and get some ideas for how to begin seeking freedom from porn.</p> <p><em>90 Days to Wholeness</em> develops those steps further into an interactive devotional. Each day there is a scripture verse, a short thought, and a question/prompt for the reader to answer. The author wisely recognizes that these steps are less about behavior and more about the heart. As with many things, it would be easy to give surface level answers to the prompts, but it’s in really sitting with them and allowing God to draw to mind the honest deeper state of your heart that you will likely find the exercise of answering the questions more helpful.</p> <p>As her training and ministry expanded, Crystal founded <a href="https://sherecovery.com/">SheRecovery.com</a>. This is now a paid membership-based platform where women addicted to pornography can find help and community. The basic monthly membership (currently $25 USD/month) provides access to unlimited meetings, much like Alcoholics Anonymous, which happen daily on Zoom. However, based in the USA, only a few of the meetings occur at times that would be generally reasonable in the UK time zone. The premium membership (currently $30 USD/month) also allows access to a private chat group for community. This paid platform was set up after I was already well into in my recovery, so for me, it didn’t seem worth joining, but I can see how it could be beneficial for someone especially in the height of their struggle. If you are outside the United States, the website will convert into dollars from your currency when you pay.</p> <p><a href="https://sherecovery.com/"><em>SheRecovery.com</em></a> also offers some free resources. Most notably, their podcast allows you to hear from counsellors, theologians, authors and others who speak about faith, pornography, recovery and freedom. There is also a free Facebook group in which many women find community and a place to ask questions and share struggles. A decade ago, I found that group quite helpful, but since the paid community options have emerged, I have found the Facebook group less well moderated and some of the ideas posted need to be considered with a bit more wisdom and discernment.</p> <h4><em>Restored: A Woman’s Guide to Overcoming Pornography</em> (book) by Alice Taylor</h4> <p>This is the most comprehensive and practical book that I have read for women and pornography. It uses personal stories, biology/science, and faith/theology to provide a well-rounded assessment of pornography, addiction, and recovery. Then it offers practical questions for reflection and action steps to connect the material to your own life and road to recovery. I appreciated that the author defines addiction, but also recognizes that you don’t need to be clinically addicted to pornography to need help in this area. She also draws out some things specific to women like how your menstrual cycle can impact desire and temptation.</p> <p>When discussing accountability partners, she recognizes that for SSA women it may be tricky finding a woman with whom to share intimately about your struggle with pornography without it becoming a trigger for SSA. While this is not primarily a book about SSA, it was nice to have that seen and recognized. Also, some of the chapters on intimacy and right thinking about God in light of struggling with sexual sin are absolutely applicable to SSA even for those not struggling with pornography.<br /> The chapter on masturbation provides one of the most grace-filled yet wisdom-driven discussions I have heard on this topic. Even at our TFT women’s conference earlier this year, there were different perspectives put forth about masturbation. Recognising there are differing views even among believers, the author does not mandate what is right or wrong, but rather provides a structure to think through your motivation and what is going on in your mind, heart, and body at a time you might choose to masturbate. She helps you consider what is right and helpful in your own recovery and walk with Christ.</p> <p>There is some danger inherent in any book that describes steps to recovery. Namely, it can provide the false sense that simply going through the steps will necessarily lead to healing and a diminished struggle. This book and these steps may be a tool God chooses to use, but it’s valuable to remember that it’s the gospel that transforms hearts, minds, and lives.</p> <p> </p> <hr /><p>This article was originally published in the Winter 2023 edition of the TFT magazine, <em>Ascend</em>. Click the button below to download your copy.</p> <p>&#13; <style rel="stylesheet"> <!--/*--><![CDATA[/* ><!--*/ #button-1cvy3yc3gt0m{background:#fff;color:#000;border-color:#00599c;} #button-1cvy3yc3gt0m:hover{background:#00599c;color:#fff;border-color:#00599c;} /*--><!]]>*/ </style></p><div class="clearfix"></div>&#13; <a href="https://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/sites/default/files/newsletters/2023Q4ascend.pdf" class="gsc-button medium " id="button-1cvy3yc3gt0m">&#13; Download the Winter 2023 edition of Ascend </a> &#13; &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-format--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-format.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-format.html.twig * field--list-string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-format field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Article</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-category--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-category.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/accountability" hreflang="en">Accountability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/self-control" hreflang="en">Self Control</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/supporting-others" hreflang="en">Supporting Others</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-more-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-more-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-more-information.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-more-information field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"> <p><em>Please note that any external resources below are intended to complement the main answer given above and may not entirely match TFT's position.</em></p> <p>***for FAQs ONLY, replace this text with links to further articles, books, audio and video. Examples below for each media type.</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-link"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>Living Out article: 'Is it ok to be gay?' '</h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This article (click link above) goes into more of the biblical passages.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-video-camera"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>ERLC video: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">***CHANGE VIEW MODE TO SOURCE HTML AND INSERT SHARED EMBED CODE FROM YOUTUBE HERE, BUT CHANGE WIDTH TO 100% TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE*** This video sets out some more arguments on the matter.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-headphones"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>UCB podcast: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This podcast (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-book"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>IVP book: 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This book (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">Written by Sarah</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> Sat, 30 Dec 2023 14:21:12 +0000 Owen 643 at https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk Flourishing as a living sacrifice https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk/flourishing-living-sacrifice <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">Flourishing as a living sacrifice</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-image--article.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="item-image"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> <img property="schema:image" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/articles/flourisihng%20as%20sacrifice%201170%20x%20330.png" alt="Man looking back" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/92" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Owen</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2023-12-20T14:04:01+00:00">Wed, 20/12/2023 - 14:04</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--article.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>Many same-sex attracted Christians feel that respecting God’s design for marriage means that they have to sacrifice their desire for a same-sex partner. I was challenged recently with the question of whether giving up a sinful relationship really can be counted as a sacrifice. Is it not merely an act of obedience?<br />  </p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-quote-text no-border" style="background:#59adc4;">&#13; <div class="widget-content">&#13; <div class="content" style="color:#fff;"><i style="color:#fff;" class="icon fa fa-quote-left"></i> A life of spiritual sacrifice is one that is wholeheartedly given over to God </div>&#13; </div>&#13; </div> &#13; <h3>What is a spiritual sacrifice?</h3> <p>This got me thinking about what the Bible teaches us as Christians about sacrifice. The Cambridge Dictionary definition of sacrifice is “to give up something for something else considered more important”. But what does the Bible say? The vast majority of references in the Bible, even in the New Testament, refer to the temple sacrifices as atonements for sin: the blood of animals was shed as a substitution for our sin. But the book of Hebrews makes it very clear that this type of sacrifice is no longer required for those who trust in Jesus’ work on the cross. This is because “where [sins] have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.” (Hebrews 10:18).</p> <p>However, following Jesus is more than a passive receiving of his work on the cross: Jesus says, “whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”. The cross is a picture of self-sacrifice: Jesus is inviting us to lives of self-sacrifice too.<br /> The New Testament does have some references to what sacrifice looks like for Christians: Peter calls us “to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”. Sacrifices now no longer involve the killing of animals (remember, Jesus has taken care of sin on the cross); but the call of every believer to sacrificial discipleship involves “spiritual sacrifices”. Prior to Christ’s death, believers needed to take their physical offerings to the priests who would sacrifice the animals on their behalf. In Christ, however, every believer is a holy priest, able to make their own spiritual sacrifices in the way they live their lives. But what does this mean in practice? Well, the author of Hebrews calls us to “continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise” (Hebrew 13:15) and not to “forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrew 13:16). So, worship and good works are spiritual sacrifices. A life of spiritual sacrifice is one that is wholeheartedly given over to God.</p> <h3> What’s this got to do with same-sex relationships?</h3> <p>The Apostle Paul applies the language of sacrifice specifically to our bodies:<br /><em>“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”</em> (Romans 12:1-2)<br /> Paul’s “therefore” takes this idea of our bodies being living sacrifices and links it to the argument that he has been building in chapters 1-11 of Romans. In particular, it is in stark contrast to the degradation of bodies described at the start of the letter:<br /><em>“Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.” </em>(Romans 1:24) <br /> Whereas ungodly people are given over to sexual impurity and specifically same-sex activity (Romans 1:26-27), the Christian by contrast is called to offer his/her body as a living sacrifice, which does “not conform to the pattern of this world”. It seems that Paul is actually saying that sexual purity, abstaining from the sexual immorality so prevalent in our world, is an act of living sacrifice, which is “your true and proper worship”.</p> <h3>Worshipping through sacrifice</h3> <p>It is really important to remember though, that our sacrificial lives aren't in any way a payment to God. Our sacrifice is a response to the great news of the gospel, that Jesus has become the ultimate sacrifice for us. That's particularly clear in the Romans passage - we are to offer ourselves up “in view of God's mercy” rather not to gain God's mercy by our own merits!</p> <p>When we think about offering our bodies as living sacrifices, we need to be careful to avoid any feelings of pride in doing so. God has ordered this world, and He’s made it clear that none of us is entitled to a same-sex union. Even though aligning our lives with God’s ways involves sacrificing our desires, we shouldn’t pity ourselves or allow a sense of martyrdom to take hold. Rather, we should present this sacrifice with a genuine attitude of “true and proper worship”. </p> <p>Our culture tells the celibate person, “don’t waste your life!”, but no sacrifice is wasted in God’s economy. On the contrary, it is magnified. I am reminded of the story of when David was hiding from Saul in the Cave of Adullam and his body “longed for water” (2 Samuel 23:13-17). His companions took great risks against the enemy to bring water back to David from Bethlehem. Rather than drinking the water, however, he poured it out on the ground as an act of worship. His sacrifice demonstrated to those around him that his God meant more to him than his bodily appetites. By giving up this temporary treasure, which would have greatly satisfied his thirst, it was transformed in God’s sight into an eternal treasure in heaven. Likewise, when we offer our “bodies as a living sacrifice”, by abstaining from bodily desires, we worship God and show him to be the one who is greater than any temporary gratification. Indeed, our sacrifices demonstrate to us/others what we really value in life. Such acts of worship actually build our faith and are an amazing witness to those around us.<br />  </p> <hr /><p>This article was originally published in the Winter 2023 edition of the TFT magazine, <em>Ascend</em>. Click the button below to download your copy.</p> <p>&#13; <style rel="stylesheet"> <!--/*--><![CDATA[/* ><!--*/ #button-bxw4rb5xytym{background:#fff;color:#000;border-color:#00599c;} #button-bxw4rb5xytym:hover{background:#00599c;color:#fff;border-color:#00599c;} /*--><!]]>*/ </style></p><div class="clearfix"></div>&#13; <a href="https://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/sites/default/files/newsletters/2023Q4ascend.pdf" class="gsc-button medium " id="button-bxw4rb5xytym">&#13; Download the Winter 2023 edition of Ascend </a> &#13; &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-format--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-format.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-format.html.twig * field--list-string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-format field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Article</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-category--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-category.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/bible" hreflang="en">Biblical Teaching</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/church" hreflang="en">Church</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/relationships" hreflang="en">Godly Relationships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/self-control" hreflang="en">Self Control</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-more-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-more-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-more-information.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-more-information field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"> <p><em>Please note that any external resources below are intended to complement the main answer given above and may not entirely match TFT's position.</em></p> <p>***for FAQs ONLY, replace this text with links to further articles, books, audio and video. Examples below for each media type.</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-link"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>Living Out article: 'Is it ok to be gay?' '</h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This article (click link above) goes into more of the biblical passages.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-video-camera"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>ERLC video: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">***CHANGE VIEW MODE TO SOURCE HTML AND INSERT SHARED EMBED CODE FROM YOUTUBE HERE, BUT CHANGE WIDTH TO 100% TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE*** This video sets out some more arguments on the matter.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-headphones"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>UCB podcast: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This podcast (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-book"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>IVP book: 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This book (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">Written by Stuart</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> Wed, 20 Dec 2023 14:04:01 +0000 Owen 642 at https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk My singleness celebration https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk/my-singleness-celebration <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">My singleness celebration</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-image--article.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="item-image"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> <img property="schema:image" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/articles/singleness%201170.png" alt="singleness celebration" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/92" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Owen</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2023-11-19T10:35:35+00:00">Sun, 19/11/2023 - 10:35</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--article.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>This August I will be having a ceremony to dedicate myself to a life of singleness. A ceremony like this is not a common thing. I’ve heard of one or two people who have done something similar, most notably Kate Wharton, who was on the leadership team of New Wine for some years. </p> <p>But it’s certainly unconventional, so I’d like to talk about why I’m doing this, by telling you some of my story. What I am describing here is my personal sense of calling to lifelong singleness. Other single people will be called to singleness for a time, so I'm not advocating that every single person follows my example.</p> <p>When I was growing up, I thought that I needed to be in a romantic relationship to be a complete person. I assumed that one day I would meet a girl who was “The One”, we would eventually get married and then all of my problems, insecurities and struggles would go away. My upbringing was Christian and I knew that God had a good plan for my life; I assumed He was fully on board with this idea. After all, marriage is a good, God-ordained thing, so surely, He would want me to have it, right? </p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-quote-text no-border" style="background:#59adc4;">&#13; <div class="widget-content">&#13; <div class="content" style="color:#fff;"><i style="color:#fff;" class="icon fa fa-quote-left"></i> I want to publicly show people that a single life is a valid option </div>&#13; </div>&#13; </div> &#13; <h3>The big plan</h3> <p>In my younger teens, I noticed that I was physically attracted to (very few) boys/men, but didn’t think much of it. When I was about 15, these feelings extended to romantic attraction as well. I didn’t feel any conflict with this and my relationship with God at any point though. I felt as close to God as ever, when I was figuring these feelings out, despite never hearing any teaching about same-sex relationships. I didn’t think same-sex attraction really affected the “grand plan” for my life. I just thought “The One” for me would be a man instead of a woman, but my future would be mapped out the same.</p> <p>My desire to be in a romantic relationship became a bit of an obsession and I ended up developing a crush for one of my friends at school. At the age of 16-17, neither of us handled it particularly well. We fell out, but eventually made up, yet I still felt this massive emptiness inside. I thought that only a boyfriend could fill it and bring me happiness. The fact that I wasn’t in a relationship was really disappointing to me, together with the subsequent realisation that I was enslaved by this need. Interestingly, nobody explicitly told me “You are incomplete without a partner” or “If you are single, you are ‘less than’”, but those were the beliefs that I’d embraced over the years. </p> <h3>Happy ever after</h3> <p>Some of what I’m describing may be familiar to you; after all, most films and TV shows involve a romance for the main character (though this has started to improve in recent years), and almost all pop songs are about romance (or sex). I don’t think it is just the media, or even the secular world which promotes relationships. There is also an underlying belief in Christian circles that everybody is on a path that will one day lead to marriage and children. If you don’t fit into that ideal, then something has gone wrong.  I personally desired the rosy picture of a perfect marriage that would mean a ‘happily ever after’ scenario (because that’s a completely realistic picture of what marriage is like!). Without that, it felt like I had all this love to give to someone, but nobody wanted it. </p> <h3>Freedom</h3> <p>When I was 18, during the summer after leaving school/college, I was finding singleness really difficult. At a Christian festival, I called out to God, asking how much longer I could take living like this. Suddenly, God said that all this stuff I was worrying about didn’t really matter. I was so loved by Him, by my family and friends, and a complete person as I was. This love inside me could be directed towards others, and, most of all, towards the God who loves me more than I could ever comprehend.</p> <p>That was a real turning point in my life. There was an amazing sense of freedom. I was no longer enslaved by this need to be in a romantic relationship. It was great to have experienced that before I went to university, because it meant I could be myself and make friends without feeling the need to scout out a future husband to try and fill a hole. Being single was the right and best thing for me and the way I could fulfil God’s ministry. How glorious!</p> <p>I’ve been living with that revelation ever since. I admit it has been challenging and I have developed romantic feelings for someone over that time. Nevertheless, singleness is my calling. </p> <h3>Public recognition</h3> <p>So, why have a ceremony? There are three main reasons I want to do this. </p> <p>The first is that although I’ve been living this way for a few years, I want to make a formal commitment before God to say this is the life that I’m going to lead for Him. </p> <p>Secondly, I can have an opportunity to show my non-Christian friends what God has done for me. With some of my Christian friends and family who have had weddings, they’ve invited people who usually wouldn’t set foot inside a church. They came to church for a wedding and experienced love and welcome. <br /> I’d be delighted to invite my friends to the church I’ve grown up in and pray that they will feel the Holy Spirit through the service. </p> <p>The third reason I want a ceremony is to publicly show people that a single life is a valid option. Our culture tends to say (and has for many years) that having a single life is the worst possible thing, “dying alone” is something to be avoided at all costs, even if that means you have to “settle” and get married just for the sake of not staying single. And yet, for some people being single is the right and best thing for them as a lifelong calling. Remaining single does not mean being alone; I’ve been able to cultivate friendships, in a way I don’t think I would have done, if I  weren’t single. </p> <h3>Lifelong commitment</h3> <p>Am I too young to be making such a big decision? What if something changes down the line and I meet someone who is a “perfect match” for me? Isn’t this a really big sacrifice? Those are valid points - it will involve sacrifice and is not a decision I’ve taken lightly. I see this commitment as the equivalent one in marriage. If I met someone when I was 18, and we started a relationship, and now at the age of 26 I said I want to marry them, that would probably be considered quite normal. And yet marriage means putting another person first for the rest of your life, saying to that person “I won’t ask ‘what if someone better comes along’ - I choose you now and will continue to every day of my life”. But despite all the challenges of marriage, it is no doubt completely worth it - a beautiful sacrament blessed by God. In the same way, I’m choosing to live a life of commitment to Jesus, which will involve great sacrifice, but will also bring me untold riches and joy. God has taken me on a wonderful adventure so far, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else He has in store for me, as I enter the next chapter of my life. </p> <hr /><p>This article was originally published in the Autumn 2023 edition of the TFT magazine, <em>Ascend</em>. Click the button below to download your copy.</p> <p>&#13; <style rel="stylesheet"> <!--/*--><![CDATA[/* ><!--*/ #button-ixakl89dp70s{background:#fff;color:#000;border-color:#00599c;} #button-ixakl89dp70s:hover{background:#00599c;color:#fff;border-color:#00599c;} /*--><!]]>*/ </style></p><div class="clearfix"></div>&#13; <a href="https://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/sites/default/files/newsletters/2023Q3ascend.pdf" class="gsc-button medium " id="button-ixakl89dp70s">&#13; Download the Autumn 2023 edition of Ascend </a> &#13; &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-format--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-format.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-format.html.twig * field--list-string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-format field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Personal Story</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-category--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-category.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/self-control" hreflang="en">Self Control</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/singleness" hreflang="en">Singleness</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-more-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-more-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-more-information.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-more-information field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"> <p><em>Please note that any external resources below are intended to complement the main answer given above and may not entirely match TFT's position.</em></p> <p>***for FAQs ONLY, replace this text with links to further articles, books, audio and video. Examples below for each media type.</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-link"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>Living Out article: 'Is it ok to be gay?' '</h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This article (click link above) goes into more of the biblical passages.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-video-camera"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>ERLC video: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">***CHANGE VIEW MODE TO SOURCE HTML AND INSERT SHARED EMBED CODE FROM YOUTUBE HERE, BUT CHANGE WIDTH TO 100% TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE*** This video sets out some more arguments on the matter.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-headphones"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>UCB podcast: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This podcast (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-book"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>IVP book: 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This book (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">Written by Tim</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> Sun, 19 Nov 2023 10:35:35 +0000 Owen 633 at https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk How God set me free https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk/how-god-set-me-free <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">How God set me free</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-image--article.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="item-image"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> <img property="schema:image" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/articles/god-set-me-free-1170-x330.jpg" alt="bird cage" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/fields/image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/92" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Owen</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2023-06-14T12:24:37+00:00">Wed, 14/06/2023 - 13:24</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--article.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>In my late teens, I adopted a stray budgie that had flown in through my next door neighbour’s window and landed on his head whilst he was asleep. After trying unsuccessfully to locate the owner of the bird, I kept the budgie, naming it Wally (after the neighbour), not knowing that it was actually a female! Uneasy with keeping birds in cages, I left Wally’s cage door open for her to come and go as she pleased. She loved to have a fly around the room, but always returned to her cage after her excursions. I was fascinated by the fact that every day, she chose to return to captivity, even though in the natural world she would be a wild bird, free to fly anywhere she pleased.</p> <p>As a same sex attracted female, now married to my husband for thirty three years, I have often felt like Wally the budgie; as a Christian, I am set free from the bondage of sin, and yet time and time again I have returned to the ‘cage’ of secret fantasies and desires, never enjoying true freedom. I loved verses in the Bible that speak of a believer’s freedom in Christ (e.g. ‘So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’ John 8:36) but deep down, I knew that I wasn’t really experiencing that kind of freedom. </p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-quote-text no-border" style="background:#59adc4;">&#13; <div class="widget-content">&#13; <div class="content" style="color:#fff;"><i style="color:#fff;" class="icon fa fa-quote-left"></i> As a Christian, I am set free from sin  </div>&#13; </div>&#13; </div> &#13; <p>From a very young age, I had lived in a fantasy world, probably using my thought life as an escape from reality. Even as young as 4 or 5, I remember fantasising that I was a man, always the hero in my dreams, rescuing a distressed female. As I became a teenager, the fantasies became romantic with me and any girl or woman that I happened to have a crush on at the time. And then entering adulthood, these thoughts became sexualised and felt more dangerous as the line between fantasy and reality was becoming blurred. I think I must have set up some kind of neural pathways in my brain from a very young age, so that my brain became programmed to need fantasy and escape on a daily basis.</p> <p>As I approached my fiftieth birthday in 2019, I became particularly distressed about my inner life not matching up to my outward Christian appearance, and I became desperate for change. My family and I attend the Summer New Wine conference each year, and this particular year, my husband and I went forward in response to a great talk to make a deeper commitment in our ministry. As we stepped forward to the front, a woman came bounding up to us and started to speak words from God about our ministry, prophesying into various situations and hurts that we had experienced as church leaders. She then noticed my name badge and said that the name Catherine means pure, and that God sees me as His pure daughter. As she said these words, I found myself screaming very loudly. (Just as a side note, I do not usually do things like this and feel uncomfortable when people scream or yell in church gatherings, so I was just as shocked as everyone else at the noise that came out of my mouth!) My legs then felt very weak and I had to get to the floor. I remember being in a position as if giving birth, and taking lots of deep breaths. All I could think was that I could trust God, whatever He may be doing to me, and so I wanted to breathe in as much of the Holy Spirit as I could. Another lady then came up to me and said that God was doing a new thing in me and that it was a time of new birth. I don’t know how long I was on the floor, but afterwards, I was unable to walk properly for a good half hour.<br /> So what on earth was God doing to me and in me? At the time, I had no idea what was happening, but it felt very freeing, whatever it was. For a few months after this, I didn’t have a single sexual thought or desire. </p> <p>Surely God hadn’t taken away all my sexual desires?! But after a few months, thoughts started to return, but I was able to fight them. I didn’t actually want them anymore, but just longed for the presence of God that I had felt so tangibly at New Wine. I haven’t been perfect since; there have been a couple of occasions when I let fantasies control my mind again, and I have also found that my attractions are still towards females. But what has changed is that I am not controlled by my desires or thoughts anymore. I feel free at last! And because I am experiencing true freedom, I feel much more confident in sharing the Gospel with others now, as I truly believe in and am experiencing the freedom that Jesus promises to His believers. I know that He can do for others what He has done for me. I am also able to look people in the eye now, without the feeling that I am hiding something all the time. And the ‘new birth’ that was spoken over me at New Wine has included a much deeper involvement with TFT. Lockdown made it so much easier for me to join meetings as everything went online, and I am gradually being drawn in to being part of this ministry which I am really excited about.</p> <p>I know we will not experience perfection this side of Heaven, but I do believe that it should be every believer’s experience to be truly free. God deals with each of us differently, and so freedom won’t look the same for each of us, and we don’t have to scream loudly and lie on the floor to experience it. He will deal with us in whatever way we need, and we can trust Him completely to take us on a journey that leads us out of the cage and to being ‘free indeed’.</p> <hr /><p>This article was originally published in the Summer 2023 edition of the TFT magazine, <em>Ascend</em>. Click the button below to download your copy.</p> <p>&#13; <style rel="stylesheet"> <!--/*--><![CDATA[/* ><!--*/ #button-3y5fp6srddch{background:#fff;color:#000;border-color:#00599c;} #button-3y5fp6srddch:hover{background:#00599c;color:#fff;border-color:#00599c;} /*--><!]]>*/ </style></p><div class="clearfix"></div>&#13; <a href="https://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/sites/default/files/newsletters/2023Q2ascend.pdf" class="gsc-button medium " id="button-3y5fp6srddch">&#13; Download the Summer 2023 edition of Ascend </a> &#13; &#13; <p>To give space to discuss certain articles in greater depth, the TFT staff team will be recording occasional podcasts under the banner “Ascend Higher”, covering the issues raised in a more conversational style. To hear it for yourself, you can use the audio player below.</p> <iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1526276887&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/true-freedom-trust" title="True Freedom Trust" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">True Freedom Trust</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/true-freedom-trust/ascend-higher-episode-13-how-god-set-me-free" title="Ascend Higher Episode 13 - How God Set me Free" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Ascend Higher Episode 13 - How God Set me Free</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-format--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-format.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-format.html.twig * field--list-string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-format field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Ascend Higher</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-post-category--article.html.twig * field--node--field-post-category.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-post-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-post-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/accountability" hreflang="en">Accountability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/contentment" hreflang="en">Contentment</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/self-control" hreflang="en">Self Control</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-more-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-more-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-more-information.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-more-information field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"> <p><em>Please note that any external resources below are intended to complement the main answer given above and may not entirely match TFT's position.</em></p> <p>***for FAQs ONLY, replace this text with links to further articles, books, audio and video. Examples below for each media type.</p> <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-link"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>Living Out article: 'Is it ok to be gay?' '</h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This article (click link above) goes into more of the biblical passages.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-video-camera"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>ERLC video: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">***CHANGE VIEW MODE TO SOURCE HTML AND INSERT SHARED EMBED CODE FROM YOUTUBE HERE, BUT CHANGE WIDTH TO 100% TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE*** This video sets out some more arguments on the matter.</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-headphones"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>UCB podcast: 'Is it ok to be gay?' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This podcast (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; <p> </p><div class="widget gsc-icon-box left text-dark">&#13; <div class="highlight-icon"><span class="icon fa fa-book"></span></div>&#13; <div class="highlight_content">&#13; <a href="***URL LINK"> <h4>IVP book: 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' </h4>&#13; </a> <div class="desc">This book (click link above) details...</div>&#13; &#13; </div>&#13; &#13; </div> &#13; </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author-information--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">Written by Catherine</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/gavias_charityplus/templates/field.html.twig' --> Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:24:37 +0000 Owen 619 at https://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk