"Where does homosexuality stand? Ed called it a sin which I guess it is but it is a very difficult topic. I've had gay people in my life (as friends and acquaintances) and they are just not attracted to the opposite sex. No matter how much they are forced by families or friends they will not be "converted" to be straight."
This is such a complicated and controversial topic and I'm sure I can't completely cover it in one post. Let me just address what I think is the key issue the person who asked the question seems to be struggling with. If someone is born with a natural attraction for the same sex that they cannot seem to change no matter how hard they try, can we still say that homosexuality is a sin? I found something on another blog that states this way better than I could. I don't know who wrote it, but I agree with the way this is written.
"Something I hear over and over again is the idea that if a homosexual orientation cannot be changed that calls into question whether or not homosexuality is sin. I have never heard any biblical or theological rationale for this. The premise is: If a biological condition (or other circumstance) does not change, it is blessed by God. (Just to clarify, I do not think a homosexual *orientation* is sin. Having attractions and desires are part of being human. And we have all kinds of desires and attractions for any number of things the Bible prohibits us to *act* on.) There is nothing (that I know of) in Christian theology that would suggest that if I cannot change something it must be from God. On the contrary, Paul talks about doing what he does not want to do and being in conflict with himself. He speaks of the thorn in his flesh from Satan that does not change despite his prayers. Jesus said we would have trouble in this world. Yet, we are often so surprised when we do."
Being a Christ follower is hard. Sometimes Christians and churches convey the idea that if you give your life to Jesus, He will make life less of a struggle and fulfill your innermost desires. It's just not biblical. There are desires and tendencies within every person that, to express them through my actions, would be sin. Again, the desires are not sin. The actions are. The tough part (and to be honest, I personally wish this weren't true) is that I may go through my entire life with a desire that I cannot act upon because to do so would bring separation between me and God. For someone with a homosexual orientation, it may mean a life of celibacy. Or it may mean a lifelong struggle to redirect his or her sexual tendencies into more God honoring patterns. I personally know people who live in that struggle every day but continue to submit their sexuality to God. Do they do it perfectly every day? Of course not. But they are no less Christian than I am. I don't perfectly live out the struggles with sin that I have. Neither do any of us. It's a day by day process of living under the guidance of God's Holy Spirit. Now, some homosexuals have claimed to change their attractions. That's a huge debate right now. But as someone who believes in the transforming power of the Spirit, I know it can happen. Others may never be able to change. It does not change the truth of scripture and our responsibility towards it.
And one last word: No matter what, we as Christ followers must show love, grace and acceptance to ALL people regardless of where they are in this journey of following Jesus. I believe Christianity, as a whole, has done a pathetic job of representing Christ to the homosexual community. Their struggle with sin is no different than mine and yours and they deserve no less dignity and respect and grace than anybody else. The church should never compromise the truth of scripture but neither should we exclude anyone from the lifelong journey of discovering what full devotion to Jesus really means and what it looks like when it's lived out.
3 comments:
Very well said Jason.
jason, that was exceptional.
Jason, I have a few friends out here at college that struggle with homosexuality. They know my beliefs on it, and one of them asked me the other day, "How can you be a Christian and yet be so liberal when it comes to homosexuality?" I explained it as saying, "It's not that I'm liberal per say, but that I'm loving of all individuals - because Christ loved all, so should I." That seemed to help them understand a little bit, but they were still confused on why so many Christians bash on homosexuality as if it's a much worse sin... if only I had been able to tell them what you just blogged. Thanks for the insight, for next time.
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