Unpopular Opinion Time....

Concerning the "accept pedophilia" movement: first of all, ANYBODY saying "Legalize pedophilia" is a predator - Period. Point blank - and they deserve whatever GOD has in store for them (MATT 18:6 comes to mind).

THAT BEING SAID.... that's REALLY not what the movement is about. I know that may be a difficult concept to swallow, but it's the truth. 

What those behind the movement - yes, myself included - are REALLY saying, is NOT that it should be legalized. Quite the opposite is the goal, actually. 

You see, being sexually attracted to minors IS a thing that DOES happen, and it *really is* beyond the control of those who suffer from it.

"'Suffer from it'?? Really, Journy??? How could you say that, when it's the CHILDREN who suffer?"

Well..... about that.... (And this is coming from someone who was molested as a child and raped as a teenager by a 36 year old man)

Did you know that only about 20% of child abusers can actually be labeled as pedophiles? The number may actually be less than that, even... but the point is that the *majority* of offenders are actually creatures of opportunity... rather than monsters who specifically sought out children. 

The fact is, the *majority* of pedophiles have never, and will never (hopefully!!!) offend. I have to add 'hopefully' there, though, because....

These are people - often overall GOOD people - who have to struggle to overcome something they were born with.... and the world has condemned them to do so silently.

Imagine, for a brief moment (and hopefully all you have to do is imagine; I would HATE for anyone to actually have to live this): You, with all your hopes, dreams, aspirations, and loves in life, struggle with this disorder. You KNOW it's wrong, and the thought of acting on it and actually harming one of our precious little ones makes you feel SICK inside... even sicker knowing that YOU are the one feeling these things.

You DESPERATELY want this 'thing' about you to just go away.... but it doesn't. You want to seek treatment, help... but you know that if you tell ANYONE, you will very likely lose that person's respect, love, and presence in your life. 

So you isolate yourself. You, like the rest of the world, condemn yourself to exile, to a world void of any form of *appropriate* love and acceptance....

Aaaaand, now we have an INCREDIBLY dangerous situation; people who isolate themselves, rather than reaching out and receiving help, often eventually feel as though they have nothing to live for. People with nothing to live for are much more likely to say, "fuck it, nobody cares about me anyway." ...and a person who says "fuck it ___" is much more likely to offend than someone who feels the impact of love and support of those they consider important. 

I know that this is a hard movement to even consider, let alone get on board with. Emotionally, I GET IT. **Personally**, I GET IT. 

But... I also *get* it. 

I UNDERSTAND how dangerous isolation can be, ESPECIALLY when you are already struggling, trying to avoid the very thing that makes you sick inside. 

I UNDERSTAND that the potential anger, hate, and fear they could face will cause most people to isolate themselves instead of seek treatment.

And I UNDERSTAND that, though the responsibility lies with themselves alone, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN LEGALIZE PEDOPHILIA!!! No!! Our children MUST be protected at ALL COSTS!!!

....but what if that cost is OUR being willing to reach out in LOVE, and to say, "Hey, you're a good person; let's find you a good therapist so you stay that way."

Is that a cost we'd be willing to pay??