I've been involved in countless conversations over the issue of homosexuality. Is it a choice, or just how some people are wired at birth? Is marriage between same-sex partners a right they should be afforded in America? And the list of questions could go on as long as you'd be willing to scroll down this webpage.
For a change, I'd like to post a short and sweet blog entry in order to simply and succinctly set the record straight on the Biblical Christian's perspective on the topic commonly referred to today as "the homosexual lifestyle".
First and foremost, homosexuality is not, please allow me to repeat, NOT a lifestyle... Or a biological anomaly, or anything else other than a choice that a person makes in order to engage in what the Bible, in fact, Jesus Christ Himself refers to as sexual sin, or lust of the flesh...
And please also allow me to set the record straight - we Christians do not hate homosexuals, we are not, once again NOT "anti-gay" or "anti-homosexual marriage" in the same way that we are not "anti-liar" or "anti-theft" - our command from Christ is to seek and save the lost, as we once were...
We too, were once slaves to sin - the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, hatred, disobedience, dishonesty, idolatry, blasphemy, covetous behavior - and there are some of us who still struggle very hard against the temptations that arise every day to return to our past lives of wretched depravity.
However, we were warned that the sins we'd committed, for some of us, sexual sin was the least of our offenses against God, would incur His wrath on Judgment Day. And we came to the realization that if we were to die in our sins without forgiveness, that we would rightly deserve condemnation and hell.
And that is why we are not in any position to hate those who practice homosexual sin, anymore than we could hate ourselves over our own sins... We are not interested in denying anyone of their "rights" while at the same time, we are neither interested in legitimizing any of the other sins mentioned in God's moral law as acceptable.
People talk about how unloving we Christians are to tell homosexuals they are wrong, and that they should repent of their sin and turn to Christ for forgiveness. Consider this question - would you rather have a glass of cold water, or a handful of 1 carat diamonds?
I'm willing to bet, even though I'm not a betting man, that anyone whose not a skeptic at this point, would choose the diamonds... Why wouldn't you? They're MUCH more valuable and will bring you MUCH more pleasure and happiness in this life than any glass of water ever could... Now think of this - you're in the middle of the desert with the same choice to make, and you're dying of thirst...
That glass of water doesn't look so bad now, does it? And the diamonds? Who needs 'em? If you don't make it out of the desert, you won't be able to cash them in anyway...
Now consider the sinner - and we've ALL sinned and fallen short of God's glory, and deserve His wrath - he is like the person standing in the middle of the desert, with a handful of diamonds, wishing he had a glass of water... And there is the Christian, standing there with the life-sustaining glass of water, and yet, the sinner does not want it - because of his hatred for everything the Christian stands for and represents, he clings tighter and tighter to the diamonds and the clock ticks away, closer and closer toward his demise...
Some will say I gave this illustration in order to scare some into believing - not true, I used it to show how foolish a person can be who clings to the things they love, even though they will lead to certain death, rather than to deny themselves the temporary comfort of this life in order to ensure salvation in the next...
Well, so much for short and sweet - more than anything I was hoping to clear up a common misconception or two. We love homosexuals, and thieves, and liars, and disobedient children, and idolators, and those who drag the Lord's holy name through the dirt... Just don't be surprised when we speak out against that which we ourselves were once held captive to.
Because we have been forgiven of and delivered from those sins, we are not willing that anyone else should be held prisoner, serving a death sentence for crimes that Jesus Christ gave His life to satisfy.
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: "Preach the Word!" Be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:1-5
