After a few weeks of therapy, it has been stated that Ted Haggard is now “completely heterosexual,” having fully recovered from the three-year homosexual relationship he was involved in. [Source]
And, as is to be expected, the validity of the rehab is questioned and mired in controversy. (Why is it those who want tolerance are intolerant?)
My knowledge of genetics is limited to what a high school biology class could teach me, so forgive me for not understanding the details as to whether or not homosexuality is a genetic problem.
Whether it is genetic or not does not preclude its being a sin. God never says the sin is “not being who you are”; the sin is exchanging the natural affections for unnatural, for men to lay with men and women to lay with women. For as long as God’s Word stands, that will always be true. (As much as people would like God’s Word to be done away with and forgotten, the Lord has already promised its preservation unto all generations.)
What humans are born with is a depravity, a complete and total corruption of our very being, passed on to all who are of Adam’s progeny. This doesn’t mean that humans will always be as bad as they can be (that’d be utter corruption), but it does mean that every aspect of our being — heart hearts, our wills, our minds, our desires, our dreams, our conscience… — is corrupt and naturally inclined toward evil.
Because of this, in all technically it could be said that murder is natural. Hate is natural. The love of money, the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes… all natural. Sodomy, adultery, fornication, rape, kidnapping, gambling, sowing discord among brethren, dishonoring parents, dishonoring God, worshiping idols… On and on the list could go. All of these things are the natural workings of a corrupt and deceitful heart that is alien to God.
While it may be natural for corrupt man to do corrupt things, the actions are not natural when brought under the judgment of the Creator of the original, pure natural order.
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man–and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the women, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:22-32, NKJV
As for whether or not Haggard has been “cured” by therapy or not, I cannot say. I do know that the Bible never speaks of counseling and therapy as a solution to sin. Rather, the Scriptures call on us — nay, they demand us — to repent of our sins, placing our full faith & trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, who…
…has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6, NKJV
The depravity of man is a disease. The only cure is Christ, the only administration grace through faith.
If Haggard has repented, praise the Lord. Such will be seen if he does “works befitting repentance” Acts 26:20, NKJV, such as being faithful to his wife and not to unnatural lusts.
We live in a world where a man can become a woman and vice versa. For people to claim that gays cannot become straight (or vice versa, tragically) shows more bias than anything, and likely shows their love for darkness as well. It also shows their denial and/or outright rejection of God, for with Him all things are possible.
Father, Thank You that You are all-powerful. With You nothing is impossible, even making this dead sinner a God-lover. Without You, I despair of any hope. Beside You, nothing gives me rest.
“I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh… Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
“This is the will of God, [my] sanctification; that is, that [I] abstain from sexual immorality; that [I] know how to possess [my] own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the [heathen] who do not know God… God has not called [me] for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification… May the God of peace Himself sanctify [me] entirely; and may [my] spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls [me], and He also will bring it to pass.”
“Sanctify [me] in the truth; Your word is truth.”
“Our Father, Who is in Heaven, holy be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debters. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Your’s is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.”