Seriously. How about some support for our brothers and sisters in Christ? And SHAME on Dawson McAllister!!!

Exodus is not the cause it is the symptom. The cause of all this trouble is ignorance. That is the true enemy. There is enormous ignorance about sexual orientation in some parts of the church as there was in society for many decades. As more of us who have been tried the ex-gay path tell our stories and the gay Christian movement continues to grow then the Exodus message of change is possible becomes increasingly irrelevant and transformed to change is unnecessary. Self love is healthier than self loathing.

This is the result of a public hue and cry over bad behavior. In short, Apple got caught in the act of being itself, and the picture wasn’t particularly pretty. The anti-gay app is part of a concerted effort to keep gay American citizens and tax payers in a perpetual state of second class citizenry. It’s a cultural meme that is losing its potency as more and more young people see if for the simple, exploitive bigotry that it is. The lesson of Apple is not that the country is lurching into some kind of scary form of censorship, but that more and more Americans don’t want to support organizations that demonize their own families.

Because this post has been updated, many of the comments have been unpublished that did not reflect the point of the post.

Sorry, I should say "this leads me to think" rather than "this reveals." Conceivably it could be a bizarre coincidence that the exact same story happened twice with different names in different places, but that's not what it looks like to me.

All in all I feel like we'd be better off working for peace, truth, understanding and love. Using the Bible to hurt people just doesn't make sense to me.

Sodomy between two homosexual men is not normal and never will be, if you
think it is normal than you are as sick as they are.

People, like Dan, are an ever shrinking minority in this country. He believes gay people and supporters of equality are sick. Fortunately, Americans clearly realize that homophobes, like Dan, are sick. His comment is right up there with the comments of Fred Phelps. Dan is on the losing side of history and will be remembered in the same light as the KKK and other bigots.

I am truely surprised at the theological insight is of those who attack the Bible and Christianity in particular.

People who willingly sign their name to a libelous petition, characterizing Exodus International as hateful and bigoted, have problems far beyond their understanding of what might constitute God-honoring sexual behavior.

The question is simple.Do you find homosexuality normal and acceptable?The vast majority of people do NOT.That being said;Homosexuals are not a race,culture,or religion in need of special rights or designation.A person feeling repulsed or physically sickened by observing to men french kissing or holding hands walking in the mall,is NOT homophobic or hatred.It is a geniune reaction to a non-repentant sinner, flaunting their sin.In as much as being expected to watch a pedophile gropping a child in public.Having to accept this behaviour because some bought off politicion or super-liberal judge says so.This is totaly UN_ACCEPTABLE.Morals in society were addressed and formulated;tried and true;LONG

As a Christian, I signed the petition to remove the app. Why? Even though I believe homosexuality to be a sin, I don't think what Exodus International does is the most Christ-like approach. We are to first and and foremost love and serve others, not tear them down. Why single out homosexuality as a sin? Lying is a sin too, and murder, adultry, blaspheming... Modern churches love to single out homosexuality because they themselves don't struggle with it.

No, people like Dan are not in a minority, he is in the majority. The rest of us have just put with the disgusting "parades" and the disgusting visible behavior we see. No matter how you twist God's Word, and no matter if it is ONLY 9 verses, those 9 verses are very clear, it is an abomination before God. If God has truly put the Holy Spirit in you, then you know, whether or not you will say it out loud, that it is a sin, it is wrong, and it is an abomination to God. If it's an abomination to God, it's an abomination to me. Maybe pretty soon the rest of us will speak up, we are the ones that fear attack. You are the attackers. If you would just privately live your lives without shoving it down the throats of everyone, including children, you wouldn't be bothered. I posted the statistics of how many homosexual men have had over 1000 partners, you know yourself about gay baths, meeting total strangers in rest rooms and having sex, and all the sordid, disgusting behaviors you participate in or have participated in. The statistics also show that gay marriages are for the most part "open", and no, they are not just like heterosexual couples. I may never post another word, but you can do all the word twisting you want, but it won't work with God. He has stated what his judgment will be of you and others who continue to practice immoral behavior, which is listed over and over in the NT. I hate your behavior, but I don't hate you. I sincerely pray you will change. Do you think that any scientists who find that they don't think it is inborn and that it represents in reality, 1% of the population, not the larger numbers in their lies, would write a paper that would never be published? No, because even science has to be politically correct. Some of us are getting sick of the politically correct agenda being forced on the rest of us, who at least read God's word and do our best to follow it. It includes rebuking those who sin, look up the word rebuke in a concordance, it's in there many, many times so don't bother with the attack.

It is interesting to see that those pushing to ban this app are advocates of having their view on sexuality be respected and accepted in the public arena. Yet those very same people use their influence to push out the now minority voice in America who define healthy sexuality as between a man and a woman. They have become the ones who are discriminating against people. I pray that they realize that they are promoting a double standard where only those who embrace the LGBT lifestyle will be able to have "free speech" in America.

I highly respect Alan Chambers and the ministry of Exodus. I know a couple close friends who have struggled with homosexuality and through their relationship with Christ have been healed. Check out this link that was a radio interview with Alan Chambers. It really shows his heart:
http://cloudfront.equalitymatters.org/static/equality/pdf/FamilyLife.com-20110216-HelpHomosexual.pdf

Phillip claims most Americans believe homosexuality isn't normal. Fortunately, every poll I've seen disagrees with his opinion. I suppose that means most Americans believe the anti-gay are abnormal.

People seem to be ignorant on purpose, it's weird. Homosexuality is only wrong from a biblical point of view, end of story.

We live in a secular world, and besides what the bible states homosexuality has been proven to be normal time and again. Do you have to agree with it? No, but there are too many studies out showing the psychological damage that "gay conversion therapy" can cause. That's why the app needs to be removed, if you want the feelings gone and believe in God then use your relationship with Him to get the answers you need. Don't rely on a group with false-data to teach you to live a heterosexual lifestyle.

Christians are so dumb sometimes! I am not your brother if you have the view that homosexuals are evil. They are people, just like anyone else, and they don't choose their sexuality. Acting upon the urges is a choice, but no more than acting on liking someone of the opposite sex. If you feel it's wrong for you, then pray and get whatever answer you need. God will know what's best for you.

Stop being ignorant and refusing to accept scientific FACTS, it gives Christians a bad name.

I read somewhere that God has a set time when he sends Jesus back in all the power of God to put a stop to all evil that is being done on our little world. The more evil you see, the closer the time. But as bad as things are they are not anywhere near as bad as they are going to get. Jesus tells us about it in Matthew 24. If Jesus is correct the world will become a slaughter house of human bodies. Brutal violence will reign supreme everywhere, in a huge Satanic mess of blind hatred, until that day Jesus puts a sudden end to all who hate what is good and love what is evil. It does not matter what they have to say about this. Ignore it. That's the way it is. Guaranteed by God. Absolute.

Experience with homosexuals reveals basic unfulfillment and frequent unhappiness with efforts to escape and ending up in increasing confusion, for example same
sex marriage. God knows and warns us that His creation cannot find peace and joy in the homosexual lifestyle practiced/advocated by homosexuals. Theirs is a true deadend road which breaks with God's plan for humanity. Pastor Howard L. Watson
Check out my website for my teaching.

i agree with Dan, and the catholic church teaching, sodomy is not normal , never will be, the truth is the truth whether no one believes it, and a lie is a lie whether every one believes it.

It is scary when people, especially clergy and their organizations fail and refuse to recognize from deep study that the very word "Homosexuality" was never, ever used in the original writings of that which make up the Holy Bible. What was used is "SODOMY" which is not specific to homosexuals but alto includes heterosexuals. It would be better to be CELIBATE than engage in pre-marital sex and even if married to refrain from sodomy altogether. It is spireful and hateful to abuse and misuse Holy Scripture, more especially when what has been and is being produced is tainted with alterations, modifications, etc. to suit the religious political agendas of clergy who act like the Sanhedrin and Pharisees of Christ's time. No single hebraic word in the times of Christ could be used for "homosexuality". Christ did talk about "Eunuchs" and I would suggest you read it...and learn truth!

I think Apple should pull the apps for MAD (mothers against drunk drivers) and AA. Because I find it appalling that someone would actually suggest that my free will decision to drink alchohol is any of their business. Or worse, to call my love getting buzzed with alchol a disease? How hateful. (I'm just kidding.)

Why do Christians seem to point out homosexuality more than adultery or lying ? Not because of homophobia, but because homosexuality is a sin that's trying to be mainstreamed by a radical agenda. Liars are not having Liar Pride marches. Drunks are not having Drunk Pride marches. Everybody admits that these behaviors are sinful. You might have been born with a genetic predispostion to be a drunk or a rapist or homosexual. But you cannot use that as an excuse. Deal with the sin. Don't call it something else.

Why do gays want to single out one sin and say it's okay?

The APPLE Company has declared war on Evangelicals, and all we do is remain silent. Where are the conservative political leaders demanding an investigation? Shame on you all, shame on the Body of Christ. Your freedom of speech is slowly being chipped away and you look like fools.

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS – DO NOT GIVE THEM TAX BREAKS IF THEY CENSOR FAITH.

CALL YOUR SENATOR, YOUR CONGRESSMAN -- SPEAK OUT!!!!!!!!

Speaking of ignorance some readers clearly are too lazy and dishonest to actually go to the Exodus web site and read what they believe. Let me copy/paste an excerpt here so honest, truly tolerant persons (unlike the hypocritical, manipulative, judgmental, narrow-minded, authoritarian political correctness establishment using cultural dominance and a facade of civil rights, free speech and tolerance as instruments of oppression) can discern for themselves if that organization is really homophobic or promoting a "gay cure".

"While many consider 'success' to be a total elimination of same-sex attraction, others would say that 'success' is living in congruence with their beliefs. Exodus does not have a compiled body of data that notes a 'success rate' over its thirty-year history, but anecdotal evidence is similar to what other groups dealing with life-dominating issues such as Alcoholics Anonymous seem to show. About one third of the individuals who come to an Exodus member ministry turn from homosexual behavior towards heterosexuality whether that includes marriage or celibacy in singleness. Another third of the individuals who contact us do return to homosexual behavior and still another third waffle between the two. Regardless of the life choices made after contact with an Exodus ministry, many say they are better off for having had contact with an Exodus ministry and have benefited from their interactions with Exodus staff."

Bottom line is, Exodus was promoting conversion therapy, which has been thoroughly shown to be ineffectual at best, and detrimental at worst, since it contributes to the idea that homosexuality is wrong, leading to self loathing, depression and even suicide among the most impressionable people who bought into this sick notion.

And news flash, homosexuality isn't neither wrong nor unnatural. At least not in any factual way, supported by evidence. Quite the contrary, actually, since a lot of evidence has shown how natural it is.
And that is really the crux of the matter. If you can't show your claim to be valid from the standpoint of sound, testable and individually verifiable evidence, then you don't have anything to show.
Which is ultimately why religion is growing more and more scarce in members, with every former believer and every new generation which dogma fails to ensnare with it's fallacious premises and empty promises (and that IS a provable claim).

Losstarot,

Let's be clear. if Jesus had a boyfreind, then the ruling, conservative religious types would have found it easy to level a charge against him at his trial.

They didn't.

Please don't try to pervert Scripture to justify your own agenda

If all things are equal and all people are to be tolerant... then what's the big deal here? This most certainly smacks of a one way view! Why is it OK to cry out for tolerance of same sex, but not OK be tolerant of one man, one woman... You'll not see this printed in today's media, BUT simply put, TO DEFEND TOLERANCE, YOU HAVE TO BE INTOLERANT. Period.

My intention is not to pervert scripture, Martin, but to simply show there is no evidence whatsoever to:
1) Claim it's valid or historically accurate, let alone holy or divine
2) Assert that this Jesus character existed, and even if he did, that he was the fellow purported by this highly edited, doctored, translated (and mistranslated) as well as intentionally manipulated collection of myths, outdated misconceptions and instructions on how to offer proper sacrifices, all done by many a political and religious figures to promote their current, relevant views and objectives.

So no, I'm not saying that Jesus had some charming manservant as a boyfriend, I'm saying you don't have any evidence to show the guy even existed or that the supernatural myths described in the book he stars in are valid or correct in any testable, probable way, and therefore any argument that has such book as one of it's premises is likewise incorrect from the onset.
Clear?

Now then, I've been told many times that Jesus is at the door, and I should let him into my heart. The lock yields easy, Jesus, you only need the right key: evidence.

"Apple doesn't allow racist or anti-Semitic apps in its app store, yet it gives the green light to an app targeting vulnerable LGBT youth with the message that their sexual orientation is a 'sin that will make your heart sick' and a 'counterfeit'. This is a double standard that has the potential for devastating consequences."

Doesn't get any simpler than that.
The anti-gay zealots can publish their creeds in their church bulletins and on their websites; they can't expect a modern successful company like Apple would want that junk associated iwth the Apple or Mac brand.

I feel like "anti-gay zealots" is a characture of what is actually going on here. What I don't understand is why Christians always have to be depicted this way. COME TALK WITH US! See what we are really about before making value judgements based upon what some other people told you. There used to be something called civil public discourse where we could talk about such things without brash name calling. I think it's something worth returning too instead of making policies that ban civil discussion over such issues.

Their arguement is that it offends large groups of people, and homosexuality doesn't, wow

The author is very good to point out that while Christians support the free expression of all views, even those they find sinful or distasteful, those supporting the very vocal gay agenda do not. They believe in censorship. They mislead by suggesting their numbers are large, and their presentation is always in the form of demands and threats, never dialog or requests. I hope all business in this country will stand fast against their threats and this effort to intimidate. Americans need to understand that this nation is now involved in a spiritual war, and this is merely one of the war's fronts. Truth be told, the gay lobby is a tiny minority here, but I can assure you that the eventual outcome will include bloodshed.

Losstarot: There are no less than three Jewish writers who testify to the historicity and ministry of Jesus, as well as a couple of Roman historians. None of them were pro-Christian in any sense; in fact, some were hostile to the movement. So it serves them no good purpose to vouch for Christ. Your comments are both uninformed and also a deliberate attempt to distort Scripture. To suggest Jesus was gay, and so on, only turns support away from you. Consider it a huge waste of your time -- no one is convinced.

Bastiencade, et al.: To those who say homosexuality is not a choice: Where is the "gay gene" you keep looking for? It doesn't exist. You will never win support through lies and deception. You are less than 1% of the population! What does exist is total condemnation of the act of sodomy as sin in Scripture and by a majority of Americans. Some Americans may tolerate your sex acts but by far they do not approve and never will. Apple cares nothing for you and your "cause," only in your money and business. You'll just have to live with the facts, sooner or later, and I imagine that must cause all manner of psychological problems. Meanwhile, all your uncivil behavior and public displays will guarantee we will come to a flashpoint soon, the results of which will not be to your advantage.

The acting CEO of Apple (Tim Cook - Steve Jobs is on medical leave) is an openly gay man. Can you reasonably expect a company run by a gay man to allow an application that says homosexuality is a sin and should be "cured"? I don't think so.

Now that people are allowed to be openly homosexual AND hold positions of power in major corporations, it is becoming harder and harder to discriminate against them, because _they_ are making the decisions that effect themselves. This is the reality of modern America.

(And in my opinion, a major improvement over how things used to be. I honestly wonder when reading these comments: have some of you guys ever met a gay person? Or had a gay coworker? They are just regular people.)

Somewhere between 100,000 and 150,000 people signed the petition, which is their right. If Apple was reacting to a large group of people who found it offensive, that isn't surprising.

They might also be reacting to a letter that Dr. Gary Remafedi, who's quoted on Exodus' website, sent to Steve Jobs and Tim Cook last week. He objected to the app and not only asked them to remove it but said that his research was being distorted and misquoted. He stated in part that "[Exodus' website] erroneously cites my research (Remafedi 1992) in support of claims that homosexuality can be changed. Various professional organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental or physical condition. Programs which aim to change sexual orientation have been opposed because they are unwarranted, ineffective, unethical, and harmful." The full text of the letter can be found at http://gayrights.einnews.com/pr-news/355749-scientist-calls-on-apple-to-remove-ex-gay-app-that-distorts-his-research

There's been a lot of harrumphing about 'free speech' but no one's free speech has been violated: Christians are free to hate gays as much as they want and to say so. And judging from some of the comments here, there are plenty of you who do that with enthusiasm.

There's so much ignorance on homosexuality, inside and outside of the church.

You're right to say Christians are ridiculous, arrogant, and hurtful to hone in on all "homosexuals" as carrying some evil coordinated master agenda.

You're also right to say homosexual behavior is sinful according to God's Word, the lifestyle self-destructive, and the entire issue a major battleground for truth in the Body of Christ today.

Homosexuality is more like divorce than you might think. When you see a distraught single mother with her child, you could assume someone sinned (or perhaps died) for a family to look like that, but you don't know who. Likely fault on both sides. You could judge by what you see, and obsess over a fellow person's failures. We churchgoers are good at that: somehow it makes me feel better about my own struggles.

But the most Christ-like response is to care, love, protect, believe the best, and see if you can help these people in some way. Maybe they need hard truth told to them. More likely, they need someone to listen and be an expression of perfect love as Jesus is.

Great link, Evan. http://cloudfront.equalitymatters.org/static/equality/pdf/FamilyLife.com-20110216-HelpHomosexual.pdf

Exodus is doing stellar work on this issue. Christians who respect their fellow man - and believe in the healing power of Jesus - should support this organization that loves the unloved when no one else does.

Exodus gets it, and their blog is an excellent source for anyone who wants a more biblical perspective on homosexuality, our culture, and the right tone to use in defending traditional marriage: http://exodusinternational.org/blog/

Regarding reparative therapy for those wanting to change their sexual orientation, it has about the same success rate as treatments for other compulsive behaviors, like drug and alcohol addictions. A third to a half change for good. In fact, changing one's sexual orientation is much like recovering from addiction: Some change and never relapse, many change but do have relapses that they can again recover from and some never change. If you frame the issue like an addiction, which it is in many ways, getting free from that addiction follows familiar paths, not a small part of which is pursuing a spiritual path to long-term change.

There's not a single medical or psychological association in the world who supports the notion that sexual orientation -- whether heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual -- is comparable to addictive behaviors such alcoholism, drug abuse, or, say, religious compulsions. The fact that there is so much misinformation about this topic wantonly spewed on this particular Website is -- one can only conclude -- a measure of the caliber of its audience.

Anyone who has dealt with the addictive nature of homosexual sex knows the power and destruction of it. Brain chemistry alone indicates the powerful addictive nature of this. Kathleen the two may be separate issues, but there is a definite link. Who cares what liberal thinking psychology says about this, it only shows us how little they really know or how deceptive they have become.

@ carmen
Actually, in Leviticus it says "thou shalt not lie with a man as thou would lie with a woman," and god ain't talkin about sleepin.

Amen!, to what is in Leviticus about the same sex lying in the bed together,it doesn't get more clearer than that.God made marriage to be a covenant between a man and a woman as an example of what He wanted the church to represent and multiply mankind in the natural way He created life to be not the way man wants it to be.When mans eye's are blind to the truth of God's word they will always lean on their own understanding.Also we all need to remember our own habitual sins and turn from them by the power of the Holy Spirit that God gives to all who have excepted His only Son Jesus for the remission of sins.With Jesus all things are possible and He wants to help all of us that struggle with sin because we live in a fallen world but without Him we have death and destruction.Read the book of John about Jesus for answers. Blessings to all

I'm amazed at how promoting moral sexual standards is viewed as hate. What about people who are married and are attracted to other individuals?

Should they not have the right to choose to act in accordance with thier moral beliefs to remail sexually faithful and exclusive in their marriage, even when those beliefs oppose their physical attractions?

Additionally, should'nt those in the church and living in society sharing these communities be allowed to teach and promote a view of sexual morality?

For some people there are still moral standards that hold a higher meaning than physical satisfaction.

The pulling of the app is religious and moral discrimination, and an attack of freedom of expression and speech.

Society is no longer happy with anything that relfects sexual morality. We live in a society of whoredom and perversion in every form and it will no longer tolerate anything else.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers...

They will reject the truth and chase after myths...

His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work...

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever...

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing...