Growing up in Nigeria, West Africa, Homosexuality was a non-spoken word in homes and in the church. I do not recall if I ever heard any preacher talk about homosexuality act in any form or recollect parents asking their kids if anyone ever touched them indecently or molested them. I would not have had interest in the topic myself if I was not rudely awoken to the reality of my past. My quest for knowledge started when God took me to the genesis of my life when He mandated me to write about the iniquity of our nation in my first book, “From The Bleeding Heart of God…To A Bleeding Nation.”(A must read!). It was not until then that I started discovering the revealing truth about homosexuality. Homosexuality is what I call a sexual vice!
The truth is the society that I grew up in does not endorse such abominable act, and besides that, you could barely hear anyone verbalize such dilapidated acts. Therefore if you are one with such thoughts or feelings, you will be jolted out of it before you attain adulthood; ending the abnormality in your sexual orientation. Well, most people that were known back in high school as lesbians are now married with kids, which proves the point I am stating. Subsequently, growing up in West Africa did play a vital role in my outcome as an individual besides the mercy and grace of God.
Now married and living in the United States of America, I look back and sometimes I sit down and ponder on the “what ifs”? What if I had grown up in the United States of America? Or the United Kingdom, or Netherland, Germany, or other parts of the world where the society accepts such abnormality, what would have become of me?
Living in America has exposed me to damnable and iniquitous acts being practiced in and out of Christendom, and the latest news these days are gospel artists coming out of the closet announcing their sexual preference or orientation; some who had practiced heterosexual relationships prior to now or most of their adult lives are now professing to be homosexuals, and also having illicit sexual affairs with same sex genders.
Living in America has exposed me to damnable and iniquitous acts being practiced in and out of Christendom, and the latest news these days are gospel artists coming out of the closet announcing their sexual preference or orientation; some who had practiced heterosexual relationships prior to now or most of their adult lives are now professing to be homosexuals, and also having illicit sexual affairs with same sex genders.
Jennifer Knapp, who sold a million records and won a Christian music’s prestigious Dove Awards vanished in 2003, and resurfaced in April 2010 with a barefaced confession of being in the same-sex relationship for the past 8 years. Knapp said in an interview: “I am aware that the evangelical community has problems with divorce and many other facets of their artists, let alone homosexuality,” Knapp said. “I really felt a strong obligation to be able to address that because for many people, it was really clear that they would not participate in buying a record because it was against their beliefs.”
“For many people who buy Christian music or have been familiar with me and my writings as a person of faith, I felt like it was the honest thing to do,” she added. “The last thing I wanted to do was to have someone go out and buy a record and feel like they had been hoodwinked.”
“For many people who buy Christian music or have been familiar with me and my writings as a person of faith, I felt like it was the honest thing to do,” she added. “The last thing I wanted to do was to have someone go out and buy a record and feel like they had been hoodwinked.”
Knapp is not the first gospel artist to come out with such audacious confession. In 2008, Christian singer/songwriter Ray Boltz came out as a gay man after a 20-year career in the industry.
In 2009, gospel star Tonex (pronounced toe-nay), went public with his homosexuality as a guest on “The Lexi Show,” a popular program on the Christian channel, The Word Network. I sat down by my computer to actually watch Tonex’s interview in its entirety on YouTube and was perplexed and mesmerized at the same time.
Tonex was profoundly clear on his thoughts on homosexuality. He stated: “Many times you hear people blame their sexual experiences or explorations on molestations and rapes, and I want to say yes, I was indeed molested. True, I was exposed to sexual activities and exposed to things that obviously at my age I should not have been exposed to, which opened up a box of awareness. However, I’m not blaming those situations on the choices I made later…could have been a foundation or seed planted but I take ownership for every bit of sexual exploration I have made.”
In retrospect, Tonex was given over to his own lustful desires. How do I know this? When Lexi asked if Tonex’s homosexuality was a struggle, he stated “It was not a struggle, yeah, and people like to blame the struggle on molestation…be honest and stop blaming it on that experience.” This is well expressed by Paul in one of his writings: “Wherefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves” (Romans 1:24, [Read the whole chapter]).
In 2009, gospel star Tonex (pronounced toe-nay), went public with his homosexuality as a guest on “The Lexi Show,” a popular program on the Christian channel, The Word Network. I sat down by my computer to actually watch Tonex’s interview in its entirety on YouTube and was perplexed and mesmerized at the same time.
Tonex was profoundly clear on his thoughts on homosexuality. He stated: “Many times you hear people blame their sexual experiences or explorations on molestations and rapes, and I want to say yes, I was indeed molested. True, I was exposed to sexual activities and exposed to things that obviously at my age I should not have been exposed to, which opened up a box of awareness. However, I’m not blaming those situations on the choices I made later…could have been a foundation or seed planted but I take ownership for every bit of sexual exploration I have made.”
What I love most about Tonex’s confession is that he didn’t put any blame on his past experiences or the devil, but took full ownership of his present state. I know Christians are known for putting all blame on Satan for ALL their sinful acts, and magnifying him bigger than what he is not. I strongly believe, a sinner should take full responsibility for sin blatantly committed, and not blame anyone else, but to seek the face of God for mercy. Also note that Tonex’s desire and wantonness led to his present state.
Tonex Gay Admission (Part 1)
Tonex Gay Admission (Part 2)
Tonex Gay Admission (Part 3)
Tonex Gay Admission (Part 1)
Tonex Gay Admission (Part 2)
Tonex Gay Admission (Part 3)
This brings us to the core of this write up which is, God is more than able to deliver anybody from the demonic act of homosexuality but the willingness of man wanting to gravitate towards such exploration is man’s sole decision. Temptations, addictions, or lust is common, but God says come to me and I will show you the way out of it!
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Although sometimes we fall, but that’s when His word is there to be proven to be true! God will keep His word if you give yourself completely to Him because He is more than able to keep you from falling.
Consequently, I say this “No one was born a homosexual!” No one! It is a lie of the devil and you can be delivered from that mindset if you allow God speak to your heart. For God has no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but for all to come to repentance.
I believe no devout Christian or gospel artist falls into sin intentionally, but the lust of the eye, added to man’s desire to explore that lustful desire, breeds forth iniquity in its finality. God wouldn’t take you where He wouldn’t be able to keep you. Sometimes our pursuit for the unknown gets us to start questioning an Infinite God with our finite minds that gets us thrown into a whirlwind not endorsed by God. Although God sends us signs to know when we are delving on the wrong paths, but we ignore those signs blatantly because our emotions and sensual desires have taken over our senses or mindset, and gotten us lost in the midst of the winding turns of sins. God then gives you over to that which you lust after if you refute His ways.
Watching the whole clip of Tonex’s interview, or reading about Knapp’s, did not make me condemn them nor made me judgmental of their conduct, but made me more humble, and wanting to reach out to God more, and be completely consumed by His presence. I strongly owe my ‘present’ and ‘future’ to God; His words will I continually write on the tablets of my heart that I may not sin against Him. Can you imagine the risk of taking “a break” from God? Satan is not just roaming the earth looking for whom to devour for nothing? He is waiting for you to take “a break” from His presence to lure you into full blown sin!
This article is not to indignify any artist, nor is it to be emitted for gossip, judgment, or criticism; because no one can say he is not guilty of one sin or the other, but it is the grace of God that has kept us thus far. It is only God who can keep any man from falling. I love the way Jude put it in verse 24, “Now to Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless…”
In conclusion, I will leave you with these words: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (2 John 2:15-16).
God bless you all.
Debbie Kuks
Writer, Author, Psalmist
© 2010 Debbie Kuks World, Inc.
To find out more about Debbie, visit www.debbiekuks.com
