This week Kevin continues to examine the tough issue of sexuality by talking with Joe Dallas, an expert on sexual addiction and homosexuality.  Dallas is an author, conference speaker, and ordained pastoral counselor.  His writings have been featured in both Christian and secular media (such as The Christian Research Journal and The Los Angeles Times), and he has made appearances on a variety of television programs (ABC Evening News, The Joan Rivers Show, and others). Joe has a Masters Degree in Christian counseling and is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.  He is the program director of Genesis Biblical Counseling, a ministry that helps men deal with sexual addiction.

Joe’s life is a fascinating story that makes him uniquely qualified to speak on issues of sexual identity.  In his youth he experienced attraction to both men and women, and lived a promiscuous bisexual lifestyle before becoming a Christian.  Even after he came to God, it took Joe years to leave his lifestyle behind.  From 1978-1984 he worked at a pro-gay church, was a homosexual activist, and believed that homosexuality and Christianity are compatible.  A change occurred when he realized that he wasn’t really listening to what the Bible had to say about the issue, but was projecting his own opinions onto it.  In order to truly start following God’s leading, he moved to a new city and got involved in a Bible-believing church.  After accepting the truth about his lifestyle Joe took a huge step of faith: regardless of what sort of feelings and attractions he would have in the future, regardless of whether he would ever have another relationship, and regardless of whether he would ever marry or have a family, Joe decided to submit his sexuality to God and stop practicing the homosexual lifestyle.

After living in obedience to God, Joe was fortunate enough to meet a woman he was attracted to, and she became his wife.  However, Joe acknowledges that not all people with homosexual attraction will have the same experience; others turn to God and never have a change in their attractions.  As Kevin and Joe discuss the issue of sexual identity, a central idea emerges: each person’s sexual desires and experiences are different, but anyone can choose to honor God through their lifestyle and behavior.  Joe shares his perspectives on a variety of related issues, such as how Christian parents should react if their child comes out as homosexual, and what the church should do to reach out to homosexual communities.  Through it all, Joe shows that shows that God is loving, and because of this he calls us to be holy.  Though sexuality is complex, it can also be manageable, even after one has fallen into addiction.

Visit Joe’s website at JoeDallas.com for more info on the counseling resources and services he has to offer.

This episode first aired on July 12th, 2015.