For those with same-sex attraction (SSA), the desire to please God and the desire for sexual satisfaction are constantly in conflict. Hence the title of Joe Dallas' classic book Desires in Conflict, which aims to give "Hope for Men who Struggle with Sexual Identity."
The back cover of the book sums up the contents:
"The conflicts are real.
"The desire to love God.
"The desire to be loved in a way God prohibits.
"The desire for a normal sex life.
"The desire to satisfy feelings that seem normal—but aren't.
"The desire to be transparent.
"The desire to avoid the pain of misunderstanding.
"The conflicts certainly are real—but so are the solutions. You won't find any quick fixes in this book. What you will find is effective help for restoring sexual wholeness and moving ahead in your Christian life."
But it's not only for strugglers. The book is also a great help for those who want to understand the problem of same-sex attraction. In today's world most people have a loved one in their own family or a close personal friend who is gay. This book will help you understand their problem and at the same time enlighten you as to how some have changed. There are many books on the subject of homosexuality available today—but this is one of the easiest to understand. It is written to be understood by the general public, by strugglers themselves and those who want to understand their struggle.
Joe Dallas is truly an inspiration—a man who was able to overcome his homosexual desires, leave the gay lifestyle, marry and have children, and then dedicate his life to helping others follow the same course.
The book was first published in 1982 and has been updated and reprinted at least once.
Joe Dallas is a past president of Exodus International and lectures extensively at seminars helping people to come out of the gay lifestyle as he himself did. He also directs a biblical counseling practice in California. He has written for a number of publications including Christianity Today, Christian Research Journal and the Journal of the Christian Association of Psychological Studies. In addition to writing Desires in Conflict, he is also the author of A Strong Delusion.
Desires in Conflict is published by Harvest House and can be ordered from religious bookstores. It is also available on the Internet.
This article appears in the following topics: Homosexuality / Same-Sex Attraction