HOMOSEXUALITY: THE LAW, ETHICS AND THE BIBLE - PART ONE

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.  Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."  

I Corinthians 6:9-11

The recent Supreme Court decision on marriage has shocked us. We have been forced to re-examine the foundations of our beliefs on the purpose and nature of marriage and the laws of God on morality. Let us consider the Bible teaching on homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

When Jesus walked among men, the sinners heard Him gladly.  They knew who they were and knew that Jesus loved them and wanted something better for them than a life marred by sin.  The apostle Paul followed that example as he wrote in  I Corinthians 9:19-23,

“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more…. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.  I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”  

The main purpose of this essay will be to provide a Biblical worldview of homosexuality.  I want to share the Truth, the Gospel, with those identified as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender).  The Gospel is the only power to save the sin-sick soul, giving it an eternal rest.  Likewise, my intent is to remove all misconceptions and errors about the Bible, about Jesus, and the church in this matter.  My hope is to provide you with sufficient Scripture that deals with homosexual sins as well as to equip you as a Christian to convey that Truth in love in a persuasive manner so that those in sin might repent and live truly in the likeness of God.  My prayer to God is that I may be able to present the righteousness and Truth of God boldly that might save these dying souls from an eternity in hell. Many souls are blind and need to remove the veil from their eyes that they may understand and come to their senses.  The only power that transforms us into God’s image is the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Our goal must be to grant them repentance through God's everlasting Truth. There is no other way!  It is through the hearing of the Gospel that God saves sinners.  I am reminded of II Timothy 2:24-26.

"The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will."

The recent Supreme Court decision on marriage has shocked us.  We have been forced to re-examine the foundations of our beliefs on the purpose and nature of marriage and the laws of God on morality. After this alarming decision had come down from the Supreme Court of the United States of America about same-sex marriage, the responses and thoughts of many made me sad.  Why?  Because many seem to have forgotten what really matters. Our goal as Christians is to share the Good News, the Gospel, with sinners.  Some behave as if they are afraid of persecution for doing what is right.  Many make arguments that don't amount to a hill of beans and forget the power of the Gospel to persuade men to repent and live for righteousness.  May God help us to not bow down to that which is against God and His everlasting Word, 

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."  Daniel 3:16-18.  

Don't you think we need this as a reminder at this time in our nation?  A time of considerable deception.  YES, I am grieving with you!  Why?  

• Simply because our nation and her Supreme Court has disregarded all divine rules of order: the righteous principles of right and wrong, which our God has ordained.  
• Yes, I am grieving because of the luke-warmness, tolerance and even apostasy of the Lord's church which He purchased with His own blood.  
• I am grieving because some Christians have forgotten God's intent for marriage from the beginning, one man with one woman for life, Genesis 1:-28 and 2:21-24.  God elevates marriage far higher than many of us understand.  God chose marriage to portray to us the oneness of Christ and His bride, the church, Rev. 21:2,9.  The marriage relationship must present this picture to the world.  
• I am grieving because many have forgotten to suffer for Christ.  Those who submit to God's authority will indeed suffer persecution in one way or another.  It is sure to come!  Phil. 1:29; 2 Timothy 3:12; James 1:2; I Peter 4:12-16.  Let us follow the example of the apostles' generation who rejoiced because they were considered worthy to suffer for Christ's sake.  May the Lord help us to suffer the world's shame and put His glory on display, to glorify and magnify Him.  It is time to stand for Truth and advocate for righteousness in this nation.  It is time to imprint God's Laws in the hearts of men.

Without a doubt, homosexual immorality is a controversial issue in our culture today.  For some, it is a matter of equal rights that same-sex marriage be legalized.  For others, it is a moral issue because the Bible addresses it.  As a terrible consequence of this, much of the debate on the issue is a meaningless discussion.  The Truth is that homosexuality is a SIN.   Period!

I am aware that many of us prefer peace to war, but we must not be silent if we are to remain faithful to God's Biblical teachings.  We have no other choice!  There is no room to cry out "peace, peace when there is no peace."  It is imperative that we be reminded of what the Bible says in such areas.  

With this in mind, I will be looking at:

1. Homosexuality and the law
2. The Bible and same-sex marriage..
3. The origins of homosexuality.  
4. Is homosexuality normal? 
5. The world ethic on homosexuality.
6. The Biblical ethic on homosexuality/The Bible worldview.
7. The homosexual agenda in the Public Schools.
8. And the Christian response to homosexuality.

Let us consider this issue in two parts.  Part One will include points 1-5.  Part Two will include points 6-8.

I.  HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE LAW

We live in a culture where Christianity and God's Laws are excluded from the public arena.  The lawfulness of homosexual marriage is openly debated by legislators.  Many Christians would easily disapprove, but when they are challenged to defend their position, they are quickly silenced by objections and protests.  These protestors say that absolute morality is not the proper domain of politics.  The way a society addresses such controversies is determined by the way they choose to directly answer the following questions:

1. Can man legislate morality?
2. If so, by what standard should he legislate? 
3. And does this standard or law evolve?

The answer to each of these questions rests entirely in the Bible, that is, in one's approach to origins. The postmodern argument is that God's Laws are morally neutral and human reason is the arbiter or judge of Truth and that standards change as cultures develop or evolve. 

Today, postmodern philosophers believe that the whole idea of ethics is absurd.  They argue that the concept of right and wrong is misguided.  As a tragic result, many will accept whatever is dictated by those who are in power, without judging the fundamental moral rightness or wrongness of their dictates.  Abortion for example, is accepted and right because it is lawful.  The same is true with euthanasia, homosexuality and other similar issues.  If the majority of society allows it, it is accepted as right.  Our culture describes homosexuality as a mental disorder, alternate behavior, or simply a normal expression of sexual behavior.  God’s absolute standards become a joke.  His laws are reduced to no more than suggestions where lawlessness and confusion rule. 

1.  Can Man Legislate Morality?

It is impossible to pass a law which is free from moral implications.  So, the question is:

• From which system of moral laws can man legislate?   Take notice that all laws are either explicitly moral or procedural to a moral concept.  Each of these principles is rooted in the book of origins, Genesis.  How?
• God is the Creator of order, Genesis 1:31.  He is not the Author of confusion, I Cor. 14:33.
• God commanded man to bring order to His creation by having “dominion” over every living thing of the earth, thus laying the foundations for property rights, Gen. 1:28.
• God has established the sanctity of life as the first principle of lawful government, Gen. 9:5-6.

God's main intent for civil law is to be a restraint against evil, Romans 13:4.  Law can neither save nor sanctify.  It is ironic that the humanist argues for salvation by human legislation.  Why?  Simply, because man's biggest problem is not his environment but his sin.  The humanist wants to solve his problems through government programs and better education.  Sadly, in such a humanist world, Jesus is not honored as the True Redeemer.  Instead, we are urged to look to the State to redeem us from our worst habits and instincts.  It is the State that will save us from our hate, our prejudice, our racism, our male chauvinism, our “incorrect speech” and a thousand other common defects.

2.   By What Standard Should Man Legislate?

There are two standards by which man can legislate and govern:  the Law of God, or the will of man. We, Christians must understand that there is no middle ground.  The Law of God establishes a law order with transcendental moral principles.  When we hold these Truths, we obviously show that all men are created equal, and that they are established by our Creator with undeniably absolute rights.  

It is imperative for the Christian to respond to all the conflicts between worldly morals and Bible morals with proper understanding of the origins of our ethic.  The Christian ethic is established by the God of heaven.  He is the only authority that can proclaim what is right and wrong, good and evil. And we as Christians must accept His divine norm.

3.   Does Law Evolve?

One of the most influential jurists of the United States Supreme Court Justice was Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.  His massive treatise, The Common Law, superseded Blackstone's Commentaries. Blackstone based his entire examination of law on the supremacy of the Bible, the revealed Word of God.  He affirmed the authority of Scripture as the only legitimate foundation for any society.  He specifically disproved the theory that laws could evolve as societies evolved, changed.  He stated that all laws must be laid on an eternal foundation of righteousness, divine law, only to be found in Scripture.  In spite of his influence to a divine approach to law, his writings have been downgraded to obscurity in most law schools.  Holmes taught that right and wrong do not exist in any absolute sense and that judges must determine the most adequate approach to determine which standards are the most suitable ones at any given point in the evolution of a society.  Holmes and his contemporaries laid the foundation for legalized abortion, no-fault divorce and of course the legalization of homosexuality as well as the rejection of the Framer's vision for Constitutional interpretation.  Today, most courts embrace this evolving standard for Constitutional interpretation, rejecting Blackstone at all cost.

Since the 1960's Western culture has progressively legalized private homosexual acts between consenting adults.  In 2003 our nation, the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated all state sodomy laws, opening the doors to the legalization of homosexuality and same-sex marriages state by state.  Today, the U.S. Supreme Court has legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states such that homosexual activities are as acceptable as heterosexual activity. This crosses the Biblical moral baseline since the Bible warns against homosexuality as a sin.  As a terrible consequence of this Satanic law, freedom of speech is effectively restricted on homosexuality and free expression of Christian ethics on sexuality.  The biggest problem with same-sex marriage law is that it generates ethical and moral confusion.  Why?  Simply because God, the Lawgiver, is the true source of all laws and He, the Lawgiver, never changes, Hebrews 13:8.  God’s moral Law for men never changes as well since it reflects His character or righteousness, His holiness.  He has established His standards, “ethics,” from the beginning of creation as revealed in Scripture.  Such Laws would eternally be binding on any society.  Although these standards may evolve from culture to culture, God’s principles or morals will not.  As a result, any debate pertaining to morality, homosexual marriage and so on can only be properly addressed based upon the Genesis foundation.  Only by building upon this divine foundation can we be armed as Christians to speak authoritatively to the defining and challenging issues of our day such as same-sex marriage and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender).  

Without a doubt, our society’s view of ethics has completely changed the cultural morals of our nation and the world.  In fact, it has evolved to the point of denying all traditional Christian views of righteousness.  Sacred morals are widely criticized by the majority as hateful and destructive.  Our Lord Jesus was so right when He said to his disciples,

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” John 15:18-19. 

II.   THE BIBLE AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE:

Elements of our government and our culture have tried intensely for years to redefine and legalize same-sex (gay) marriage.  When the government legalizes same-sex marriage, they automatically generate ethical and moral confusion.  Why? Because with the passing of time, our society accepts this behavior as a civil right guaranteed by  the "equality" law and all defined ethics would take priority over established Biblical morality.  

Judiciary Equality Law eliminates God and His judgment of sin.  It introduces a moral tangle and actions against those of faith without being judged.  Such laws have but one intent, to violate God's moral baseline, especially in the area of homosexuality.  This will crush our personal ethics.  This law also will tear down a nation with a crown of shame since it is defying all of God's divine Laws.  This is detrimental to any society.  Why?  Because God is the only originator of marriage, Genesis 2:24.  Only God has all authority to define marriage.  According to God's inspired Word, marriage must be the union between a man and a woman.  Period!  It is not the role of the government to redefine marriage.  Notice what the Word of God has to say about this:

"Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people."  Proverbs 14:34

Same-sex marriage is not "marriage."  Marriage has always been a covenant between a man and a woman, for the purpose of having children and raising them to adulthood.  "And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  God blessed them; and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it."  Genesis 1:27-28.  "And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him." Genesis 2:18.  Genesis uses Adam and Eve as examples for all marriages.  "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."  Genesis 2:24.  This is the divine pattern God demands for all marriages to follow, "And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?  So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."  Matthew 19:4-6.

Marriage is a three-way covenant between a man, his wife, and God.  It involves both genders (male and female).  It requires the concept of "one flesh" which involves physical union.  The wife is to be his companion and helper or helpmeet in the having and raising of children, forming a family after the pattern of God.  Jesus also emphasized such union between one man and one woman in Mark 10:6-8.  This union is joined together by God and in His sight for a lifetime.  Mark 10:9.  This union also implies child conception since the primary reason of this bond between husband and wife is to procreate and to produce offspring, Gen. 1:28, Mal. 2:15.  There is nowhere in the Bible where you find the notion of marriage between two people of the same gender.  They cannot physically conceive and bear children!  Therefore, no one has the right to seize the definition of marriage and redefine it with the absurd excuse of anti-discrimination "equality law."  To do so is to defy and blaspheme God! They bastardize the concept of marriage.

Any society must examine the question as to whether "equality law" without "absolute morality" is a valid objective.  Is it even logical?  Equality Law claims that "all activities above a certain moral baseline are equally valid."  (They keep lowering that moral baseline!)  The truth is that without a moral baseline for judging equality, certain aspects of Equality Law are strictly flawed.  

Same-sex marriage absolutely eliminates the fundamental concept of a mother and a father for every child by law.  It denies a child either a father or a mother.  The child would always be deprived of either his natural mother or father.  Why?  Simply because he will be raised by someone who is not blood-related to him.  The child would always be lacking a mother or father role model.  It ignores the child's best interests.  They do not want a family of children.  They want a child as a toy for personal fulfillment.  Likewise, legal acceptance of same-sex marriage conceals moral values, devalues traditional marriage and weakens all morality.  Although, all homosexual activists claim that same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue similar to the struggle for racial equality, still it is false and opposes nature.  It turns a moral wrong into a civil right.  It imposes on all society its acceptance by using the government to legalize it and promote it.  It forces all public officials as well as public schools to teach its acceptability to children and punishes anyone who opposes it or shows disapproval. 

Our society considers morals against homosexuality and same-sex marriage as hateful, intolerant and destructive.  Ironically, what once was accepted by almost everybody as moral, honorable, law-abiding and upright, is now reproved, reprimanded and scolded. 

When a society is pressured to accept all kinds of immoral behavior and same-sex marriage, it is detrimental.  This evil behavior leads to other evil behaviors such as incest, pedophilia, bestiality and other forms of unnatural behavior.  It is a sexual revolution!  It offends God and we must oppose it!   And even though we, Christians, will probably be forced to accept it legally that does not mean we have to accept man's redefinition of marriage.  Even if the law sanctions homosexuality and muzzles free speech on homosexual acts, that still does not make homosexual acts moral.  What matters the most is not what anyone says against homosexuality and homosexual acts, or gay marriage.  What does matter is one's relationship with our Creator.  He is the one Who can command and edit what is right and wrong.  He has decreed that homosexuality is wrong and sinful in His sight.  He will judge and He will bring to account every thought, word, and deed.  In the Day of Judgment, God will judge all people for their sins against Him.  He will judge all who have sinned. He will do this because He is holy and righteous. 

III.   THE ORIGINS OF HOMOSEXUALITY

There are many arguments based on the nature of homosexuality, but their only aim is to prove it is inborn, unchangeable, normal and common.  Therefore, it should be accepted as equal to heterosexuality.  In order to challenge such arguments, one must dismantle all pro-gay assumptions by identifying such assumptions as either illogical, misleading or exaggerated.  I will be considering each argument.

• Argument One:  Homosexuality is Inborn and unchangeable.  Therefore, it is normal and God ordained.

As the gay rights movement has evolved, the idea of homosexuality being inborn has gained broad approval among gays.  Homosexuals claim that they were born gay.   In the Pew Research Center poll, the belief that homosexuality is inborn was connected with the support for same-sex marriage.  Over 70 percent opposed this redefinition, until they were persuaded that it was "inborn." They go so far as to say that homosexuality is "a gift from God to be embraced, celebrated, lived with integrity." This is called the "inborn theory." It implies that if something is inborn, God must have created it.  

No wonder many homosexuals truly believe they were genetically born that way and that they were determined to be gay.  The origination of such belief as well as the growth of the gay rights movement cannot be a coincidence.  To view sexual orientation as inborn is political expedient.  As a result of this, many who would consider homosexuality as immoral would support gay rights if they can be convinced it is genetically inborn.  People tend to view homosexuality more favorably when it is inborn.  No wonder these gay leaders push their gay agenda as an inborn gay theory.  It furthers their cause.

The claim that some people are "born gay" settles this issue for many because it makes them feel better about the sexual orientation or the sexual orientation of someone they care about.  

Gay rights activists refer to three different studies claiming that such studies show that there is a biological basis for homosexuality.  These three studies are known as:

1. Hamer's X-chromosome research.
2. LeVay’s study of the hypothalamus.
3. And Bailey and Pillard's study of identical twins who were homosexuals.  

Sub-Argument One:   Homosexuality is born.  In 1991 Dr. Simon LeVay proved homosexuality to be the result of structures in the hypothalamus. Therefore, it should be accepted as normal.

This argument is exaggerated and misleading.  LeVay, a neuroscientist who examined the brains of 41 cadavers did not prove homosexuality to be inborn.  His research results were not steadily consistent.  All of his subjects had smaller INAH3s (interstitial nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus). In fact, three of the homosexual subjects had a larger INAH3s than the heterosexuals.  Furthermore, three of the heterosexual subjects had smaller INAH3s than the average homosexual one.  This is the study most often quoted by those who insist that homosexuality has been "proven" to be inborn.  Levay's study, research contradicted his own theory for the following reasons:

• First, because he did not know with certainty which of his subjects were homosexual or heterosexual.  
• Second, his peers in the neuroscientific community could not agree on whether the INAH3 should be measured by its size and volume of by its numbers of neurons.  
• Third, it is not clear whether brain structure affects behavior or that behavior affects brain structure.  In other words, it is unclear whether the brain structures caused homosexuality, or if homosexuality affected brain structure.  
• Fourth, LeVay was a homosexual and was determined to find a genetic cause for homosexuality after the death of his lover.  Furthermore, his main intent, as he admitted, was to educate society about homosexuality, affecting legal and Biblical principles toward it.  
• Fifth, the scientific community did not unanimously accept this study.  They claimed that in all these three studies, these researchers were homosexuals themselves thus having a secured and established outcome.  They also affirmed that such studies did not stand up to scientific examination.  Thus concluded that "there is no reliable evidence to date that homosexual behavior is determined by a person's genes."  This conclusion was supported by other researchers as well:

"There is no conclusive scientific evidence for any genetic trait causing homosexuality, bisexual, or transgender desires."  

Sub-Argument Two:   Another argument they make is that homosexuality is inborn since a study of men with homosexual twins found that twin brothers of gay man are more likely to be homosexual than heterosexual. 

In 1991, psychologist Michael Bailey (a gay rights advocate) and psychiatrist Richard Pillard (who is openly homosexual) compared sets of identical male twins to fraternal twins.  In each set, at least one twin was homosexual.  They found out that of the identical twins, 52 percent were both homosexual as opposed to the fraternal twins, in whom only 22 percent shared a homosexual orientation.  Their final conclusion was that twin brothers of gay men are more likely to become homosexual than heterosexual.  That homosexuality was genetic in origin.   

This argument is false, exaggerated and misleading for the following reasons:

• First, because Pillard and Bailey's findings as a matter of fact indicated that something besides genes must account for homosexuality.  Baily admitted saying, 'There must be something in the environment to yield the discordant twins."  
• Second, all of the sets of twins studied were raised in the same household.  If the sets of twins in which both brothers were homosexual were raised in separate homes, it would have been easier to believe that genes played a major role in their sexual development. But since they were all raised in the same households, therefore it is impossible to know what effect environment really played and what effect if any, genes played.  
• Third, both  Pillard, Baily and LeVay did not approach their subject objectively.  Their personal feelings about homosexuality undoubtedly did not disqualify them from doing a good research about the subject. In fact, Pillard said, "a genetic component in sexual orientation says, 'this is not a fault,'" and both he and Bailey stated that they hoped their work would "disprove homophobic claims."  
• Fourth, a later study of twins produced different results from those of Pillard and Bailey's. These led other researchers to conclude that "genetic factors are an insufficient explanation of the development of sexual orientations."  

Sub-Argument Three:   The other argument about inborn homosexuality was made in 1993 by Dr. Dean Hamer in which he claims homosexuality is linked to a gene on the X chromosome which is inherited from the mother. 

Now, this argument is misleading and overstated for two reasons:

1. His results have yet to be replicated.  His study's conclusions have not been confirmed by further research.
2. Second, a later similar study contradicted Hamer's conclusions.  

All of the arguments made by LeVay, Pillard and Bailey are illogical since they assume that "inborn" means "normal" or "morally acceptable."

Thus, such an assumption is false for three reasons:  

1. "Inborn" and "normal" are not necessarily the same.  
2. Inborn tendencies toward certain behavior as in the case of homosexuality do not make such behaviors moral.
3. We cannot assume that because something is inborn, therefore it is God ordained.  God never intended for us to be mentally, psychologically, physically and sexually handicapped.  Inborn does not mean "divinely sanctioned."

Other scientists affirm that homosexuality is caused by a complex combination of social (relational), psychological and biological factors.  Others claim that biological factors are not a fundamentally genetic.  Scientific studies point out that homosexuality is what a person does in contrast to gender, race, and impairment.  This relates to what a person is.  The fact is that homosexuality is a learned behavior and its root cause is psychological rather than biological.  The root of the problem is relational rather than genetic.

It is obvious that the scientific community is not convinced that homosexuality is inborn.  They find the "born gay" theories "unfounded and politically dangerous."

If genes do not determine homosexuality, then how does it emerge?  The Bible is clear about how turning away from God can lead to homosexuality and all forms of sexual immorality.

"Their foolish heart was darkened.... They exchanged the truth of God for a lie... For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error."  Romans 1:21-27

When man refuses to acknowledge his Creator and His divine design for our lives, the consequences are devastating.  God's Word influences a person's life when it comes to his choices and behavior. Even science cannot refute this.  It is personal choice that seems to be a precursor to homosexual conduct.  The answer to such conduct is available to all through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

• Argument Two:  The other argument they make is that because homosexuality is inborn, homosexuals cannot change.  

This argument is false in nature.  They state that "sexual orientation simply cannot be changed."  A gay psychiatrist warned that "there may be severe emotional and social consequences in the attempt to change from homosexuality to heterosexuality."  Of course, this argument draws heavily from the social sciences.  The Bible at no moment supports such a claim!  Indeed, the apostle Paul affirms that homosexuals can change or repent when he declared,

"9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."  I Corinthians 6:9-11.  Such loving-kindness makes my eyes tear!!

Sadly, the gay Christian apologist does not believe this text refers to homosexuality, which brings us to the heart of the matter.  Whether they want to accept it or not, homosexual behavior according to the Bible is a SIN.  But it is a fact that it can be changed or repented of.  Jesus frees us from the guilt of sin when we repent and are baptized for the forgiveness of our sins, walking in newness of life, freed from sin, alive to God and dead to sin, Romans 6:3-14.  As new creatures in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:17.  It is a fact that you can be certain of, that any sin either big or small, even homosexuality, can be overcome through the blood of Christ, through redemption, and by God's grace.

So why do homosexuals argue vehemently that they cannot change if they really believe homosexuality is not a biblical forbidden sin?  If something is not a sin, then it will not matter if it is inborn or a choice, immutable or changeable, after all.  When the homosexual tries so hard to prove that their sexuality is inborn and unchangeable, they are betraying themselves with a certain self-doubt.  And while many mental health authorities support strongly that homosexuality is unchangeable, many others believe it can be changed.  Some secular studies have shown success in change among those who testify to have substantial healing by God and the power there is in His Word, the Gospel.  The homosexual as well as the lesbian, bisexual, and transgender must believe in the power of the Gospel to forgive sins and be transformed into righteousness rather than relying on clinical authorities to support their position.  Yes, homosexuality is changeable through the power of the Gospel.  

• Augument Three:  What is not changeable is desirable.

The other argument they make is that if something is not changeable, therefore it is desirable. This is false again.  Drug and alcohol addiction is not changeable, but nevertheless it is not desirable nor is it justifiable.  Just because I want to do something real bad, does not mean that I have the right to do it, when it is condemned by the Bible.  The desire for the husband or wife of one's neighbor may be very strong and unchangeable, but he still doesn't have the right to commit adultery.  Immorality is not normal.

IV.   IS HOMOSEXUALITY "NORMAL"?

• Another argument is that homosexuality is not a psychological aberration or mental illness.  Therefore the church should not condemn it.  

This argument draws its strength from the American Psychiatric Association (APA).   They claim that the APA Board determined that homosexuality is normal.  They say that their gay leaders began protesting demanding APA a reconsideration of homosexuality's diagnostic status and that they be also included in any further discussions with them on the subject.  APA consented and intense discussions and debates followed.  The APA along with the American Psychology Association have since positioned themselves strongly with gay causes promoting the view that homosexuality is normal. As a result of this, gays look for support among them claiming their behavior and orientation as "normal."

Now, this argument is misleading since it omits important facts surrounding the APA decision.  Their decision was not made under normal circumstances but under intimidating ones.  It was made under much conflict, threats and many questionable methods.  The fact is that APA never stated homosexuality is normal.  It did not reflect the views of American psychiatrists.  This argument is also illogical since it assumes that mental health and righteousness are one and the same.  Even if we were to say that both APA and the American psychiatrists had agreed, that still has no bearing on the Christian position on the subject of homosexuality.  The Bible is crystal clear when it speaks of homosexuality as well as other sexual sins that the issues are moral rather than psychological.  What is considered and judged as mentally sound by man does not necessarily make it morally right in the sight of God.

This leads me to this question:  If homosexuality is "normal," then why is it that we don’t find 50 percent of the population to be heterosexual and the other 50 percent as homosexual?

The postmodernists claim that what is, is okay.  That all homosexual activity is a feasible choice. That there is no guilt.  That all homosexual feelings are normal.  They say to our young, "there is nothing wrong with you."  But the question  is, are homosexual feelings normal?  What is normal? Since rational issues seem to be the primary cause of homosexuality, we are able to challenge their postmodern concept that homosexuality is "normal."  When one asks:  Are homosexual feelings normal?  The answer that is given from a perceptive definition of normality is as follows:  "that which functions according to its design."  It is obvious that from this perceptive definition, it is not normal since they don't follow the perceived design pattern.  The truth is that it is not normal because they were not designed that way!

V.   THE WORLD ETHIC ON HOMOSEXUALITY

When society rejects God and His everlasting Word, the Bible, and regards homosexuality and same-sex marriage as an equality and non-discrimination issue, then they are without ethics.

• If feelings of homosexuality are not "normal," what about homosexual acts?  
• Is there a "correct" worldview on such acts?  
• Is there any leading standard or ethic on this matter that points out such acts as "right," or "wrong?"  

Most societies tend to go by a majority set of cultural ethics.  It means that they would accept or abide by whatever culture approves of as being "right," and whatever they disapprove of as being "wrong."  This is called moral and cultural relativism.

In a world without ethics, morality and all Biblical concepts such as goodness, decency, integrity, and godliness is notably absent.  Ethics refers to a system of moral standards or principles.  It is a system of laws or rules of conduct acknowledged by a distinct group of people or society.  For Christians, morals and ethics should be absolute standards set by God.  These morals and ethics are centered on God's character, His righteousness, and Law.  Likewise, ethics describes a social system or societal structure of moral codes that govern godly behavior.  From a secular worldview, ethics always change from group to group as well as from society to society.  However, from a Christian worldview, ethics must be concrete and governed by God.  Christian ethics do not change from society to society as secular ethics do.  Discernment and wisdom are a vital part of ethics .  For that, one must be immersed in the Word of God, examining, questioning and reasoning everything.

Postmodernists (atheists and humanists) believe and maintain that ethics are socially and culturally defined.  Therefore, they have few if any absolute values.  The postmodernist argues that since there is no God, our actions are merely the result of our genetic make-up or our social and cultural environment. That what influences us is the material world around us.   They as well as the evolutionists argue that Bonobo apes found in Africa  are our cousins and that we humans share a piece of their DNA.   Therefore, we should not expect our social behavior to be totally different from that of the Bonobos.  They maintain that morality has evolved. They also argue that a human's moral and ethical behavior evolves from other non-human species such as the primitive roots of creatures like the ants.  

Where traditional Christianity diverges is in the concept that man's morality evolved from primitive morality and without the intervention of a Creator. The Bible maintains that man is made in God’s image (Geneses 1:26) and so is capable of reflecting His attributes, such as longsuffering, forgiveness, creativity and wisdom. In particular, man reflects the righteousness and morality of a moral God.   Man has not obtained this by evolution from some primitive morality. Man also is able to worship his Creator - something that is obviously absent in the Bonobo. Therefore, we must expect our society to follow a morality far superior to that of the Bonobo!

A consequence of this weak and distorted ethical view called Postmodernism, we have a distorted ape-like culture where almost anything goes.  That is why justice and righteousness suffers in such a culture. 

In an opinion poll, people were asked if they personally and strongly approved, somewhat approved or strongly disapproved of homosexuality.  A 22 percent approved in 1996 and then a few years later in 2001 a 44 approved.  This is to show that society changes rapidly when it comes to their worldview.  This poll indicates that homosexuality is quickly becoming right in the sight of many people.  It is obvious that the majority of culturally defined ethics is variable and unreliable.   Again, here we see cultural relativism.   One example is slavery.  It was socially acceptable and legal in our nation in 1850, but of course it was still immoral. Today, the reverse is true. Most importantly, if there is no absolute reference point, the trends of cultural relativism can be dangerous and no one is safe. This applies particularly to the handicapped, elderly, and unborn. There is no certain justice. The social consequences are devastating.  Another example is the liberal sexual ethics.  It has increased promiscuity and hence sexually transmitted infections such as HIV cases worldwide.  Men who have sex with men increase their risk of getting HIV.  Liberal, humanistic Law is failing society. The Bible is clear about abstaining from fornication and about saving physical union for marriage:  

"A man shall ... be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh."  Geness 2:24  

In conclusion, those who deliberately live immoral, unclean lives in the sight of God are excluded from the kingdom of God and the heavenly city (Rev. 21:27, 22:15), the New Jerusalem, Revelation 22:1-5.  The Word of God still maintains that homosexual feelings are abnormal.  That all homosexual activity (sexual acts) is sin in the sight of God.  That Jesus offers the remedy, the forgiveness for such sin.  That we as Christians must show compassion for those caught up in the sin of homosexuality without compromising the divine and moral principles laid out in the Bible.

It is up to the lesbians, gays, transgenders and bisexuals (LGBT) to decide which path in life they wish to follow:  humanistic law devoid of morality which is the way of death, or God's Law and Biblical morality which is the way of everlasting life.

This concludes part one of our study.  The second part will consider THE BIBLICAL ETHIC ON HOMOSEXUALITY.


Luci