The Broken Image: Restoring Personal Wholeness Through Healing Prayer

Leanne Payne's book brings together the classical views of both orthodox theology believed through the centuries about sexuality and the Healing Power of Christ (see writings of Patristic Fathers such as Irenaeus, St. Basil, Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory Nazianzus) as well as psychoanalytic theory predominantly accepted before the removal of Homosexuality from the DSM III (and still developed by practioners today such as Nicolosi and Socarides, among others). Those who are of the more recent Gay Affirmative persuasion (i.e. the last 20 years or so) and who espouse the complete impossibility of change or reorientation for those whose values are in conflict with their sexual attractions will disagree with this and may have many vitriolic epithets and accusations for theologians and theorists of the same persuasion as this book. But the theoretical and theological basis of Payne's writings resonate with a broad spectrum of theologians such as Joseph Pieper, Thomas Aquinas, and Donald Bloesch, and with psychological theories drawn from both psychoanalytic and developmental perspectives such as Object Relations and Logos Therapy. As she is coming from a purely Christian worldview, she promotes the transforming and healing power of God through the redemptive work of Jesus in his incarnation, life, death and resurrection. For those who are not espousing this worldview, they may find those aspects of her work objectionable. And for those who espouse some sort of christian worldview that embraces homosexuality as normal and part of God's design, objections may also be strong and passionate. But in a truly tolerant and multi-cultural society, there must be room to agree to disagree, and within that mileu, Payne's work deserves as good a hearing as any soundly researched and founded work would, however particularly founded and researched it is on certain pervasive worldviews and perspectives within the multitude of alternate ones existing in our culture today.

Finally, words of hope for those who have struggled with homosexuality. As I read The Broken Image, I was amazed that Leanne Payne wrote of things that were deep in my heart that I'd never seen in another book. I found healing and comfort in her teaching and then in her subsequent books. I'm grateful that Ms. Payne had the courage to speak some truth into this emotional topic. If I had gone along with the old rhetoric that homosexuals can't change and that you just have to reconcile that between yourself and God, I'd still be bound in the chains of discontent that held me for so many years.

Payne brings the essential elements of healing prayer ministry into focus within the context of sexual woundedness and the homosexual struggle. Case studies are effective means to show the dynamic results of prayer as well as to examine the psychological, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the issue at hand. This is must-read material for those who struggle as well as for those who care and seek understanding.Before reading the book, I thought that "inner-healing" prayer in general, and prayer for the healing of memories in particular, were charismatic inventions with little or no clinical grounding. Paynes's material, however, was well researched and showed a surprising depth of understanding. In speaking with a secular psychologist about the premise and methods explored in this book, I found that they were cutting-edge principles in the psychiatric community. But beyond the mere clinical aspect, I must commend Payne for the faithfulness of the book to the Scriptures and the character of Christ. It is His message of hope for all who hurt that is extended in these pages so masterfully. This is the most compelling introduction I have found to the subject of inner healing prayer, and should be read by every Christian pastor, counselor, parent, and friend in the post-modern world.