August 25, 2020
Watch: Viral YouTuber Lohanthony Denounces His Sexuality, Says He Found Jesus
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Popular YouTuber Lohanthony, who has been making viral videos since he was a young teen, seems to be denouncing his sexuality in his latest video called "Jesus delivers - surviving sexuality."
In his video, which was uploaded last week, Lohanthony, 21, talks about his "sexuality and call to Christian celibacy." He also shares that he's now sober after struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, and that he was sexually abused as young child and "older boy." He said that the experience "wounded" him, adding that he began a "decade-long search for gay love that would ultimately end with disappointment... a void, which was later filled by Jesus Christ."
"It's no coincidence that through pursuing my same-sex attraction, I was also addicted to alcohol, I was also addicted to weed, I was also trying hallucinogenics, I was also addicted to money, I was addicted to views, I was addicted to attention," he said.
The website Insider spoke with LGBTQ advocates who said the YouTuber's message "was rooted in harmful homophobic sentiment in the Christian community, which can be dangerous to young LGBTQ people and their families."
Nevertheless, Lohanthony said in his video that he is "not here to condemn anyone, not here to say what is sinful and what isn't sinful, not here to judge anyone." He also took to Instagram Monday to share a photo of a rainbow, adding a lengthy caption:
above is one of the verses shared in my testimony to Christ ... i shared my call to celibacy and sobriety well aware the majority would not understand. i shared my story with the hope that even just *one* person feeling stuck, hopeless, empty and unfulfilled by earthly pleasures could hear how Jesus fills and how His love overflows.
Jesus is one name but He uplifts our lives in a multitude of ways. He helped me overcome lust, addiction and disappointment ... with Him, i am always satisfied.
thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. i hold my brothers and sisters in Christ close to my heart ... and i am praying that we never forget God's promise to remain here with us. i pray we can all see that nobody is excluded from salvation through Christ, and i pray we can all come to Him and place our past at His feet. God bless.
Twitter users and fans alike were alarmed by his latest video. Find some reactions and Lohanthony's video below.
