Part One: Finding the Truth Hidden in Plain Sight
Turn on the TV and you might find someone’s version of the Modern Family, with a gay male couple and their adopted daughter getting tons of laughs. You could see a teen struggling with his homosexuality while trying to remain full of Glee. Or you could catch a half-naked performance by one of today’s most popular singers—who has been suspected of being transgendered and is Gaga for her gay fans.
If it seems that the gay lifestyle is becoming accepted in the media, that’s because it’s becoming accepted in the United States. Nine states have legalized gay marriage, and twelve others perform legal unions between gay couples.
Even though forty-one states still have laws or constitutional amendments restricting marriage to between a man and woman, the majority of Americans today accept the gay lifestyle, just not gay marriage, according to a 2010 Gallup poll. Last year’s poll was the first time in ten years of administering it that the acceptance rate crossed the symbolic fifty percent threshold, standing now at fifty-two percent of Americans calling gay and lesbian relations “morally acceptable.”
Perhaps most shocking to me, an aspiring author of young adult novels, is the institution of a new award by the American Library Association, the Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award, for the best novel of the year relating to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered experiences.
This evidence of today’s tolerance of homosexuality is not limited to atheists, liberals, or the unchurched.
Sally Gary, assistant professor of communication at Abilene Christian University is the director of a nonprofit organization called CenterPeace, devoted to helping college students who struggle with same-sex attraction. According to an article in the June 2011 issue of The Christian Chronicle, Gary says this age of tolerance has led to “a generation of believers who do not see anything biblically wrong with homosexuality.”
These accepting young people are the leaders of tomorrow, and even the Christiansamong them are choosing to respond to homosexuality with Christ’s compassion, forgetting about His attitude toward marriage and sexual relations and the Bible’s condemnation of homosexuality.
Sisters, this is frightening. I don’t know about you, but my first instinct when I see something scary is to cover my eyes. But we cannot do that now. The city of Sodom did not become evil in one night. It was a slow creep, a steady slide that was ignored by most, and embraced by others. No, turning our heads away in revulsion, apathy, or helplessness will not work now.
This series will explore how Christians can hate the sin by saying “no” to any form of participation or celebration of the gay lifestyle, but also reaching out in love to those struggling with this heavy burden of same-sex attraction.
But first, we must know what exactly it is that the Bible says about homosexuality. Unlike popular opinion, God’s Word hasn’t changed over the years.
Romans 1:24-32 describes homosexuality as an abandonment of the natural way of life for the unnatural. An important thing to note about this passage is that God gave homosexuals up to their vile passions—they could no longer see the unrighteousness of their behavior; they had become hardened to it. Doesn’t this describe the attitude and arguments of homosexuals today?
When Ellen DeGeneres won the Emmy for her television show way back in the dinosaur days of 1998, she told gay teens in her acceptance speech, “There’s nothing wrong with you. Don’t ever let anybody make you feel ashamed of who you are.”
I understand that gay people struggle mightily with same-sex attraction before “coming out,” that shame and feelings of inhuman strangeness are terrifying to them. But the Ellen attitude of “be who you are” is not right, not when the part of yourself you’re embracing is unnatural, both in scientific and Biblical terms.
That’s right, I played the science card. That’s one that gay defenders usually reach for, pointing to many studies that have sought to prove that being gay is not a choice. But the fact is, a “gay gene” has never been found. What has been discovered is that the human brain is highly elastic: Sally Gary pointed out that gender identity is formed early and is highly influenced by environment and familial relationships. Studies have also shown that what is called “reparative therapy,” or helping homosexuals defeat their sinful urges, has worked.
However, the most compelling piece of science to corroborate the Scripture about the unnaturalness of homosexuality is basic human anatomy: homosexuals lack the ability to reproduce, the primary quality needed for survival.
A Christian knows that this life is not the one that truly matters, though; it’s the next. Can homosexuals go to heaven? Modern society might say, “How could someone as caring and genuine as Ellen burn in hell?” Or “What about homosexuals that attend or even minister at churches where their lifestyle is accepted? Surely these people so full of love and compassion will not be cast out of heaven?”
God hates to see any of his precious children sent to the fires of hell, but the truth is, the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, Paul lists many sins that constitute unrighteousness, homosexuality included. Not only will the people who place money before God, or who practice sex outside of marriage, or give themselves over to alcohol not enter heaven, but neither will those who live a lifestyle that includes unnatural lusts and sexual relations.
Many people who seek to wield the Scriptures to justify homosexuality will point only to the teachings of Christ, apparently believing other parts of the Bible to be either fallible or very specific to the culture in which it was written.
It is true that Jesus never condemned homosexuality, but he also only spoke about sexual relations within the bounds of marriage and between a man and a woman. We, too, must speak out on how God intended marriage and sex to be used to further His creation and His Gospel.
In the next article, we will study how Christians can separate themselves from gay acceptance and stand strong for godly romance and love. We must not allow the media or even the commonly held American opinion to tell us that homosexuality is acceptable. The city of Sodom should show us that this is not a new problem, but it is one that can destroy a society.
By Kimberly Mauck
Kimberly lives with her husband and two daughters in Durant, Oklahoma, where she is a part-time college English instructor and a freelance writer. She also writes forKatharosNOW, a webzine for teen Christian girls, and her own blog Virtuous Woman…Virtually.
Welcome! We are so glad you stopped by. Come Fill Your Cup is a group of Christian ladies dedicated to equipping women for study and service. We know you are busy and that life’s hectic pace pulls you in so many directions, but you can’t truly be the woman God desires unless you take time to fill your own cup…not with spa days (though we love a good spa!) or the latest novel…but with God’s Holy Word. We want to help you with that! Our goal is to reach you in the midst of your busy day and give you encouragement, education, and fellowship as you strive to live the life God has laid before you. Our prayer is that we can help fill your cup so that you, in turn, can overflow to all those around you. So, as we like to say…come fill your cup, and let it overflow!
Nice article. I also do not believe there to be a “gay gene”. I think there might be a tendency type gene, similar to alcoholism or addiction which makes some more susceptible but it all boils down to choice. I love the verse in 1 Corinthians 6 that you referenced. It states that “effeminate and abuses of themselves with mankind” will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, but, look further….. verse 11 is my favorite. “And Such were some of you”! Wow, they were effeminate (homosexuals), they were abusers of themselves with mankind (sodomites) yet now they are not. To me that’s pretty clear. It’s a choice we make and although it might be our tendency, we must learn to control it and follow God. I don’t see it much different than the alcoholic who must avoid alcohol or the thief who must control his urge to steal. I look forward to future articles.
This is such amazing research. Thank you for the time and effort you have put into it, I can’t wait to read the next step in the series. Thank you for tackling the tough issues with poise, scripture, and non-acceptance.
I found this article very interesting. Homosexuality, just like all sins, has been around since sin entered the world with Adam and Eve. And just like all sins, a Christian should strive to avoid participating in and spiritually tolerating homosexuality. However, I don’t think anyone should be surprised that sexual immorality is something many people struggle with today, and it saddens me when I see Christians separate homosexuality from other sins making it seem a greater sin than, say, lying, coveting, or even pornography. It’s not any different.
In fact, I started struggling with female-to-female sexual attraction when I was much younger than I am now. Counseling has helped me regain a healthier attitude regarding sexual orientation. Now, I’ve never had a sexual experience with a female, but since temptations don’t just suddenly go away, and Satan is always trying to get us in our weak spots, I have had to learn to bounce my eyes as much as a Christian male does when he is trying to not lust after a woman does especially if he is facing a porn addiction. Just like a male with porn addiction, I don’t love my significant other (he’s an amazing man of God) any less nor can another person ever replace him, but this is my personal struggle. With God, it has become much easier.
This is a very valid point that homosexuality is equal to other sins, Jacqueline. But I think it’s one that we in the church don’t talk about like we do other ones, so it’s important to know the truth on it. Thanks for sharing your experience; it’s so important to know that same-sex attraction is a sin that torments Christians and nonChristians alike.
I always got annoyed when people would say they were “born that way”… but now I’m wondering if that’s true…I’ve heard several gay people say “Why would I choose this?” I wouldn’t want to choose something that put a target on my head. This isn’t San Francisco where it’s acceptable, we’re in Oklahoma a pretty over all conservative state. Until it’s proven though I don’t know. I’m not going to shun someone because of their life, that’s not right as a Christian to do that. I wrote a post about this here actually… http://my-new-world-kayep.blogspot.com/2010/10/here-we-go.html It’s a big topic for sure.
This is a subject that hits close to home and it’s not an easy one to tackle. That is, it isn’t easy to tackle and communicate the love that is behind the words. What the Bible says is pretty plain and clear. Homosexuality is a sin. Period. Romans 1:24-32 is very bluntly descriptive as to how God feels about homosexuality, describing it as impure, dishonoring, degrading, unnatural, indecent, depraved, and improper (more on this in a moment). We cannot doubt that God sees homosexuality as a punishable, damnable sin.
When we’re considering the question of whether or not homosexuality is a choice, of prime concern is whether or not God is a loving, just God. If He is (and I believe scripture is quite plain on this as well– 1 John 4:7,8; Romans 3:4-6), He will not condemn for something in which the offender has no choice. If I punish my child for his blue eyes, I am unloving and unjust indeed since he has no volition in the matter whatsoever. Since we have established from scripture that God does condemn homosexuality (1 Corinthians 6:9,10), that God is a loving and just God (1 John 4:7,8; Romans 3:4-6), that a loving God cannot condemn for what is not of one’s will (logic says so), we must conclude that homosexuality is a choice. The logical progression looks like this:
1) God is a loving and just God (1 John 4:7,8; Romans 3:4-6)
2) God condemns homosexuality (1 Cor 6:9,10)
3) A just God will not condemn for what is not a choice.
Therefore, homosexuality is a choice.
Now… back to the descriptors God uses about homosexuality. Romans 1:24-32, as mentioned, is plain in its condemnation of same-sex relations. BUT it is equally condemning of other sins including greed, gossip, slander, boasting. Romans 1:32 says that those who practice such sins are worthy of death. Now, I am 99% sure that anyone past the age of accountability reading this cannot claim innocence on all points condemned in this passage. I certainly cannot. So, while many Christians are quick to condemn homosexuals for their sinful choice in lifestyle, we must not forget to look in the proverbial mirror and remember that we too have earned our condemnation. What’s more, we can be washed, sanctified and justified of homosexuality and other damnable offenses (1 Cor 6:11). In case you’ve never been washed of your sins, check out this article on how to do just that.
I always thought in terms of the parable of the rich young ruler. “And Jesus said to his disciples, “Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). Everyone has a different vice, something that tempts them. Are you willing to give it up and follow Him?
That’s a great parallel. There are things that tempt me that don’t tempt my husband and vice-versa. We all have our own “bent” and tendency. The question, as you put it so well, is are you willing to give it up and follow Christ? Are you going to put Him first or you first? Many an alcoholic will tell you they don’t feel they have a choice in their action, but we know they do. Is it difficult? Absolutely. Yet, we (and indeed God) expect them to work at and do their utmost to overcome this temptation and sin. Likewise, those prone to same-sex attractions must work to overcome the temptation. I appreciate SO MUCH what Jacquline shared about her struggles. It gives those of us who do not likewise struggle a window into her walk. It is a valuable insight as we seek to help bring Christ’s sheep into the fold.
Great article Kim! Hard topic to tackle, and you did so firmly, but with grace as well. I’m interested in seeing the next one and getting the “and what to do about it” aspect as well.