Homosexuality

One of the burning issues in today's Christianity is how to treat and interact with gays.  It's an issue that has opened up Christianity to a lot of criticism for a view that many view unfair or judgemental, especially in the last couple of decades as gays have become more a part of society.  Honestly, I believe that many in the Church are at a loss with how to teach about Christianity.  The age of today, especially here in America, is possibly the most sinful and permissive that the world has seen.  Promiscuity is flaunted and allowed over a larger area than ever before.  It bombards us in the media and voices itself in sexual slurs ("that's what she said!") at school.  Our society has taught us, as young Christians, that homosexuality is acceptable and even natural, and that it should be accepted as part of American society.  This is one reason that Christianity has taken hits on it.  However, one cannot be a Christian and endorse homosexuality, any more than one can be a Christian and endorse murder, rape or stealing.  All of these things, including homosexuality, are expressly declared sins by the Bible.  It is unacceptable to follow the brainwashing of society over the word of God.

A question that I am faced with most often is, why is being gay bad? People can't help the way that they are - they're born like that.  Isn't it wrong to "persecute" (lol) people for something they naturally are? 

First of all, I personally do not believe that.  No baby is born homosexual.  Often, when boys and girls approach puberty and are still at a slight loss as to what is going on with their bodies, experimentation occurs and young people can be easily decieved into thinking that homosexuality is natural.  If one is kept out of the contact of the other sex or is merely a late developer sexually, that can also lead to experimentation.  Several clinical studies have shown that there is an increased chance of being homosexual if one has a nonexistent or distant father-son or mother-daughter relationship, which can lead to craving of a member of the same sex.  Not only is there absolutely no scripture saying that a person could possibly be created homosexual, but the idea is scientifically unverifiable and the concept is slowly fading away.  If homosexuality was genetic, it would be almost impossible to change.

But for the sake of argument, let's pretend that somehow people can be born homosexual.  Well, all people are born sinful.  Everyone struggles most with different sins - for many, it is being too judegemental.  Some are envious.  Others lie or steal.  Being born with the tendency to be that way is not an excuse for any sin.  Let's imagine someone who was born with a special enzyme, which is inherited genetically.  It's called monoamine oxidase-A, also known as the "warrior gene".  This particular enzyme often reduces the person's ability to feel remorse or merciful, and sometimes results in an increased level of violence.  Let's say that, because of this gene, which renders the carrier much more violent, the "warrior" kills a person without remorse.  Is this action wrong? After all, they were "born that way".

But, many would argue that homosexuality can't be compared to my example because it's "not hurting anyone".  As I have stated before in this blog, God always has a plan.  To be honest, he knows what's best for the human race far better than the human race does.  He doesn't make rules for the fun of it.  In the Bible, God specifically forbids foods such as pork or shellfish to the Jews.  Turns out, at that time, the methods of cooking and preparing those foods were less than adequate and often resulted in food poisoning.  God forbids certain molds to remain in the house - the same molds that we now know to be pretty harmful to human beings.  In Romans 19:4-6 Jesus says "Haven't you read that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?"  In this case, it's not that hard to see consequences that have already taken hold.  Although AIDS was not caused by homosexuality, "gay sex" is commonly agreed to be the factor that has most advanced its spread.  Now there's something that I wish we had avoided.  When people say that sexual immorality is permissible as long as "no one gets hurt", they are tricking themselves.  Sin hurts people in the long run, and often in the short run as well.

God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, male and female.  He meant for them to have sex together and it was holy.  The idea of homosexuality is an unnatural perversion upon something that God created for us.  It's an idea that came not from the Lord, but from the sins of man.  Before the homosexual can turn from this perverted lifestyle, he must recognize that it is wickedness and plea to the Lord for assistance in freeing himself.  Leviticus 20:13 says ""If a man also lies with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them".

So where does this leave us, as Christians in an atmosphere of homosexual acceptance? First and foremost, remember that homosexuals are objects of God's love just as everyone else.  Although they are sinners, we are ALL sinners.  Romans 5:8 says ""But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us".  Hate the sin but not the sinner, and pray that they realize the truth.  The homosexual has to realize that what they are doing is not natural, it is wrong.  Only then can they move forward under the instruction of the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 :  "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be decieved: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And that is what some of you were.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God".