Is Your Sexuality a Choice?

We, the church of Jesus Christ, need to begin our dialogue with an apology to the gay and lesbian community. As believers, we have a very poor track record for handling the issue of homosexuality. The church, by and large, has reacted to the matter in two different extremes, and neither is healthy or helpful.

At one end there are the condemning Christians, those who hold up a big, black Bible, yell slurs and accusations, and coldly present the truth of God—minus his love. At the other extreme, there are members of the church of Jesus Christ who not only condone the homosexual lifestyle, but also ordain gay clergy. These Christians propose that God approves of the gay lifestyle and that because of His love for all people, there should be no condemnation. By not presenting a well-reasoned, loving and biblical response, we, the community of believers, have done a profound disservice to all those in the gay community, including their families and friends. We have either been all truth with no love, or we have been all love with no truth. Both are extremely destructive errors for which we owe a sincere apology.

Our goal, then, should be to speak the truth, based on facts, with and through an attitude of love. We must think clearly through this issue, examining the findings of both medical and social science. We must see what God has to say through the Bible and listen to what the homosexual community believes. Our dialogue must begin with honesty and mutual respect. To take this step we must first understand the position taken by the pro-homosexual community and the presuppositions that support that position. We will then lovingly present the biblical position.

The previous three paragraphs were written by Chip Ingram in his booklet called: “Homosexuality: A Thoughtful Analysis”. I couldn’t agree more with his thoughts.

About two months ago, I had the privilege of having lunch with an amazing woman named Pam Ousley. Pam shared with me how Jesus changed her life and delivered her out of a twenty-two year lifestyle of lesbianism. It was fascinating to hear her testimony and it was a great reminder of the power of God to set someone free with His truth.

Pam helped me understand the perspectives and presuppositions of those in the gay community. Her ministry, Bold Appeals, is bringing the love and truth to many who are confused or deceived about their sexuality.

The Gay perspective is that homosexuality is a moral, alternative sexual orientation. People who promote and approve of the homosexual lifestyle begin with this premise. Homosexuality, for them, is not wrong in any moral sense; it is just different.

Some presuppositions of the gay community are: (1) Being gay is not a choice. (2) Homosexuality is a matter of genetics—“It’s not what I do, it’s who I am.” (3) God makes a person homosexual; therefore, it is normal and natural, and simply an alternative sexual lifestyle. (4) Since it is a lifestyle that is not chosen, it is a lifestyle that should be protected. (5) Therefore, homosexuality is a civil rights issue.

The Christian perspective is homosexuality is an immoral sexual orientation prohibited by God.

Leviticus 18:22 says, “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.”

Leviticus 20:13 says, "And again, “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

Romans 1:26-27 says, “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul writes in graphic, clear-cut form that homosexuality is actually an evidence that we have turned away from God to follow our own desires.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Christianity’s presuppositions are: (1) Being gay is a choice; therefore, it is not an identity. (2) This choice is abnormal, unnatural and it is a destructive lifestyle that brings pain, premature death and broken relationships. (3) Therefore, homosexuality is a moral issue instead of a civil issue.

Because these two sets of presuppositions are the antithesis of one another, there is tremendous tension and conflict over the issue of homosexuality.

Please stay tuned for part 2 of “Is Your Sexuality a Choice”?