Author Teaches Children About Homosexuality

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (BNc)- Homosexuals have long written children’s books promoting their agenda, such as Jennifer Has Two Daddies (1983), Daddy’s Roommate (1991), My Two Uncles (1995) and Heather Has Two Mommies (2000). Now an illustrated children’s book teaches the Biblical truth. Author Sheila Butt has written Does God Love Michael’s Two Daddies? to promote God’s love for all people, while showing, in a loving way, that homosexuality is wrong.

Sheila is a wife, mother of three, grandmother of eight, writer and motivational speaker. She was graduated from East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tenn, with a B.S. in English and History. She has done graduate work in Greek and Hermeneutics at David Lipscomb University. Her book No Greater Joy is about raising children to love the Lord.

Sheila granted BNc the following interview by email about her book, Does God Love Michael’s Two Daddies?.

BNc: What prompted you to write this book for children?

Sheila: I have had it on my heart and mind to write this book for almost 15 years, after finding many books in the “Family Living” section of a very prominent bookstore selling children’s books promoting the homosexual agenda at that time.

However, when my six-year-old granddaughter came home from school one afternoon and asked me if Brittany Spears was gay, I knew it was time to get the book into the hands of parents who want to know and teach the biblical truth concerning homosexuality. When I asked Emma why she wanted to know if Brittany Spears was gay, she responded, “Well, I saw her kissing that other girl.” Sooner or later our children are going to have to engage the culture, and it should be our goal to give them the love for the Lord, the love for other people and the biblical truth to do just that.

BNc: How has the book been received in the brotherhood? among religious people in general? by homosexuals?

Sheila: Christians seem to have received the book with a sigh of relief that someone has addressed this issue for our children. Other organizations, such as the American Family Association, Americans for Truth and Campus Crusade for Christ have reviewed the book very positively. Charlene Cothran, editor of Venus Magazine, a formerly homosexual publication that is now being used to help others turn from the homosexual lifestyle, has praised the book. I have read some criticism from the homosexual community who seem to be reading much more into the book than was ever intended by this author.

BNc: One criticism of the book is that the homosexual couple is racially mixed, designed to increase prejudice against gays. How do you respond to that?

Sheila: There was never any intention to prejudice anyone against homosexuals or anyone else. Our Lord is not a respecter of persons (Gal. 2:6; Rom. 2:11; Eph. 6:9), and I certainly am not. It was not the intent of this author for the couple to be bi-racial. It might be possible from the illustrations to draw that conclusion, but that was never my intention.

Someone from the homosexual community also mentioned on a blog that I must not love children, which could not be further from the truth. Anyone who knows me knows that I consider children one of the greatest blessings in this world, and I understand from the Scriptures how very precious they are to my Lord (Matt. 18:3-7; 19:14).

BNc: Have you received or been concerned about threats because of the book?

Sheila: No, I have not received any threats and don’t expect to. The book clearly teaches that God loves every person, including homosexuals as much as He loves you or me, but that we all need to be “washed, sanctified and justified” by the blood of Christ when we sin (Eph. 2; 1 Cor. 6).

BNc: How can parents best use your book to teach their children?

Sheila: The best way to use the book is to introduce it the first time your child asks about homosexuality. The book teaches God’s design for marriage. For older children, there are Scriptures in the back of the book to use for a more in-depth study.

BNc: How would you describe your experience in writing and teaching on marriage as a bond between a man and a woman?

Sheila: I have had a great deal of experience in teaching children of all ages for the past 34 years. I have a degree in English and have studied Bible at the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. I have done graduate work in Greek and Hermeneutics at David Lipscomb University. My husband Stan and I have traveled throughout the U.S. teaching a biblical seminar entitled “God’s Design for Marriage.” We have been happily married for 36 years. We have three sons and seven grandchildren.

BNc: Any recommendations on how to protect our children from homosexual influences?

Sheila: My advice would be to protect our children as long as we can, but in the meantime, fortify them with the powerful truth of God’s Word. Teach them the Word of God as truth. They should see the Bible characters as real people and their lives as examples for us to follow. Truth is not cultural. It is not situational. It is not “your truth” or “my truth.” The truth of God’s Word is eternal and it is greater than any one of us. Teach your children to love the Lord with all of their heart, mind and strength and to love others as Christ did. Our children are going to have to be courageous and strong. They need to learn to never be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. As parents, we need to believe ourselves and to teach our children that “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 9: 31). This same chapter of the Roman letter goes on to teach that it is God who justifies and God who will condemn. That is not our responsibility. Our responsibility is to teach the Word of God. Jesus, Himself, tells each one of us in John 12, verse 48, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”

BNc asked Christian bookseller Janice Horne, owner of JADE Books & Gifts in Lebanon, Tenn., about the book.

BNc: What led you to include this book in your offerings?

Janice: The first deciding factor was the solid reputation of Apologetics Press and my knowledge of Sheila’s strong stand for the truth. I’ve read some of her work for ladies, and I like her writing style.

BNc: How will this book fill a needed gap in teaching children about homosexuality?

Janice: This book is unique because it is the only publication, to my knowledge, written for children which teaches the truth about homosexuality on a level both children and adults can understand.

BNc: Do you see any risks of backlash or attacks from offering this book for sale?

Janice: I don’t anticipate any negative response at all. However, I’ve been attacked before, by my own brethren no less, for taking a stand for right on other issues. If I’m attacked as a result of promoting this book, I’ll just increase my efforts to promote it. The devil has been working very hard with this issue, and we need to fight back with everything we can. Future generations are depending on us to hold fast to the faith.

BNc: Any comments or observations you think pertinent?

Janice: As a Christian and the owner of an independent Christian bookstore, I love this book! It presents the truth kindly, lovingly, logically and simply. The illustrations are beautiful and realistic. The quality of this book is excellent.

Released in 2006, the book targets ages 7 and up. The 16-page hardback is illustrated by Ken Perkins, measures 8.5″ x 11″ and retails for $7.95.

“This book has tremendous potential to positively influence the lives of thousands of children growing up in tumultuous and confusing times,” the publisher wrote on the AP website.