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When Jesus came to the temple in Jerusalem, and seeing the way the temple courts were misused He became very angry. In the same way Jesus was critical of the church leadership because they were forsaking their sacred call to holiness. In Matthew 12:19 He said, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good.” These were very strong words spoken to the religious establishment of the time, words that left no doubt how their witness was hurting the church. The same words apply to many of us today. The debates of same sex-marriage and abortion are widely dividing God’s church more than anything has ever done before. Why is it that these two debates have become such dividing forces in God’s church today? I will address the subject of homosexuality today. My approach is guided by Truth and without prejudice or judgment of anyone. I believe that the main reason for the division over homosexuality in the church is the rejection of absolute Truth. In Leviticus 18:22 God clearly gives a COMMAND in regards to it, “Do NOT lie with a man as one lies with a woman,” (The same applies to women, not to lie with a woman as with a man), in addition to this the Lord said, “that is detestable.” What part of detestable de we not understand? All other sin we commit is also detestable on to the Lord. Some people argue that God was not clear in His instructions about homosexuality. That is a lie. So, what are we doing? We try to make it acceptable so we don’t have to deal with the stigma. In areas where God is not clear we choose to make our own rules rather that accepting God’s Word as the ultimate authority in human behavior and faith. But, in regards to homosexuality God has spoken very clearly. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever that we may follow all the words of this law.” God has revealed enough of His Truth for His people to listen and make godly choices. But, we don’t. In John 8:43 Jesus said, “Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say, you belong to your father the devil.” If we have a problem understanding God’s Truth it may be because we do not belong to God. The ability to accept God’s Truth as written, and to do it comes by faith. It isn’t through “academic knowledge” that we discern spiritual Truth. 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 says, “Knowledge puffs up, and love builds up, but the man who thinks he knows something, does not yet know what he ought to know.” So the answer is not in trying to dissect God’s Word, as an academic or philosophical subject, word by word, but to studying it in the proper context and with the spiritual eyes and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Unless you are born again, you are not capable of approaching God’s Word with the discerning of the Sprit of God; hard as you try, you will not. Also, in our own rebellion we are less prone to call homosexuality by its true name: “sin.” If we all try to lead more obedient lives, we’d have less trouble calling sin, by its name. I am not saying these things because I am sinless or that it is ok to be critical about other’s behaviors. I am merely trying to call sin by it ugly name in hope you will see it too. We have to start somewhere, and hope to reach the lost to repentance as commanded by God. I am not saying these things to mean that we should hate gays, or that they should be rejected because they are more sinful. They are not more sinful that the rest of us heterosexuals. We are saints who sin sometimes too; there is no little or big sin. In God’s eyes sin is sin no matter its size. We are not supposed to judge either because we are all susceptible to fall in the same manner: we have thieves, adulterers, murderers, drunkards, liars, and all sort of ungodly behavior in our churches too, and we are all subjects of God’s judgment. One way to love one another is at times, to tell a truth they need to hear - that may save their lives or marriages - not necessarily what they want to hear. We need to stand opposed to their assumption that behavior is not sinful, or that they were born homosexual. We need to love them enough to want to see them be restored to God, and love them if we hope to stand as Christ’s church. Jesus said, “Love one another,” this is especially important when trying to minister to homosexuals because none of us is without sin. In time, as they grow closer to God, the Holy Spirit will convict them about their sin and the need to change too. I am merely picking on the homosexuals today because they do not admit that God calls their “lifestyle” sinful. We need to speak the truth in love, and they need to hear this truth. The apostle Paul spoke of the behavior of the churches in the future in 2 Timothy 3:1-9. These verses tell us how in time godly people will depart from sound biblical teaching to follow after their own self-worship. We are told to put on love in all we do, but in an effort to be kind, compassionate and loving to their sheep, some shepherds forget their first love. Jesus spoke of some of these people in John 8:43 and today, these also include some clergy. We know that some religious leaders of today fail to accept absolute truth. Some of them succumb to peer pressure, some worry about the flock leaving the pen, thus they become pleasers of men rather than pleasers the Lord whom they serve. Churches then become social clubs rather than a group of believers who thirst and hunger after God. They do not grow closer to God or have a personal relationship with Him. In John 10:27 Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Have you ever heard the expression that if a lie is repeated enough times it will eventually be accepted as truth? A lie will always be a lie. One of the biggest lies permeating the Churh today is that some people are born homosexuals. There isn’t such a thing, folks!! To accept this lie is to accept that the perfect God who calls homosexuality detestable, made a mistake. The saddest part of this thinking is that some clergy have accepted this lie that stands so clearly opposed to God’s Truth. Otherwise we would not have the case of churches bowing down under pressure to give blessing to same-sex relationships and unions, and the ordination of homosexual clergy. Just as pulpit preaching stands against all the other sins, in hope they will turn from it, pulpit preaching should also stand against homosexuality, and not explain it away, excuse it, or enable its progress in society. So, how did the lie get started? We live in a fallen world, and man’s body is subject to sickness, diseases, birth defects, and as such, a woman can eventually appear less feminine, if her ovaries later cease to function or function but very minimally, the opposite sex hormone in her body (we are ALL born with both hormone) takes over. Does this mean they are doomed to become homosexuals? Absolutely not. These people are totally capable of becoming successfully heterosexual people. I know of several such cases. Godly parents and family do make a difference. So, it is the same in the case of males who appear or act less masculine. We are all conceived with the ability to produce both hormones-male and female- that is because Eve came from Adam’s rib. But one of them dominates during the early fetal stage and that is how we become male or female. People do not like to accept that just as other parts of their bodies can succumb to illness or defects their sexual organs also are susceptible. They attach some stigma to it, and opt rather to accept the lie But, then, if even the shepherds in the churches promote untruth, the people who are prone to fall for the lie will find an excuse to accept it, and will never receive the call to change. So what about those who are homosexuals but do not appear different? You can talk to any psychologist about this subject and he will tell you that the great majority of the people in this group turned homosexuals because they were exposed to molestation by a homosexual early during their formative years, and judging by their body’s response, in time, they became confused about their own sexual identity. Then, not having a relationship of trust and respect with the parent of their same gender to talk, or to lean on for support further compounded the problem, and in time they became defined by their homosexual thinking. So, how do you help your child who seems less feminine or less masculine than others, or leans toward homosexuality? Love your child, talk to your child, nurture your child, develop a relationship where trust and respect are mutual, don’t reject him/her, teach them about God, encourage their smallest efforts, teach them Scripture and when they grow up they will not depart from them. Spend time with your children, be involved in every aspect of their lives so they will come to you when something happens, and confide in you. Make your available and approachable to your child especially during the formative years. You have a great responsibility to your child, so he/she has the best chance to grow up to what God created him/her to become, not what society says they should be. The latest statistics by Focus on the Family tell me that children are spending an average of 25 minutes per day with a parent while spending 25 hours a week in front of the television set, a great disparity in the quality of time that sets the tone for the development of a healthy father/child relationship. Parenting inside a same-sex union is not about just raising a child, but it is about bringing up a child who may be desensitized about homosexuality, and a place from where they in time may choose this lifestyle too. Remember that children learn what they live. God warned us about turning our children away from Him. When you participate in any ungodly behavior that your child may eventually copy, you are in fact, turning him/her away from God. So please understand, this letter is not about judging the gays among us. I am saying these things because gays also need a dose of Truth if they have any hope to turn away from the belief that homosexuality is their destiny. Same sex unions stand opposed to God’s plan for humanity. He said, “multiply and populate the earth.” Marriage is an institution created by God with this purpose in mind. He created Adam and from his rib He created Eve; God did not create Adam and Adam. Obviously two Adams or two Eves cannot populate the earth. So then, same-sex unions become an institution from which they can legally adopt, and “have” the children they would never have together in a biological sense. This then, clearly becomes the answer to their inability to procreate with each other, and a future platform from which homosexuality can some day seem normal and harmless. The same-sex union gives the participants the legal right among other things, to raise a child in an environment clearly not blessed by God. Why would any church espouse such behavior? How do we help turn the tide? We seek and accept God’s Truth by faith. Rebellion is the mirror all ungodliness: our opposition to accept absolute God’s Truth. Jesus said, “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believes in me to sin, it would be better for him (the parent or whoever) to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. “ Matthew 18:6. That is a pretty powerful warning to anyone, about all sin, and homosexuality is one of those. But then, if we reject absolute Truth, we reject the possibility of being accountable in the eyes of God. When we have no fear for God, we become godless; the people described in 2 Timothy 3:1-9, and our father is the devil. We should never get over God. He is our first love, and the Lord of our lives. Your behavior is not dictated by the winds of change, but by what God has to say about it. Your character is what you do when no one is looking, and what you are willing to stand up for –even alone- when everyone is looking. Let us work to develop our godly character for the sake of relationship with God, to help our children see God, and for God’s honor and glory. Yours for defending the Gospel.
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