There are two dimensions to standing up against the troubling issue of homosexuality. One is the personal; the other is the political. Christianity speaks to both, and our youth can learn the solid reasons why compassionate, faithful Christians should continue to uphold traditional morality.
1. The first point our youth need to be told is that there continues to be no evidence homosexuality is inborn or pre-determined. Despite the fervent wishes and claims of many advocates, science has not accepted any research as validating a biological origin. The assumption that this has been "decided" is everywhere, but it's not true, and to embrace this idea is to violate Christian doctrine as well as science.
Clearly, humans are designed for heterosexual union, a natural reality accepted in virtually every culture and religion since time began, which is why homosexuality has been prohibited in most societies worldwide. Where people are confused on this point,a wealth of evidence points toward changeability in sexual desire and behavior. Some of this evidence arises from the many thousands (perhaps more) of former homosexuals who are now publicly describing their journeys out of the lifestyle.
The practice of bisexuality provides more evidence that choice and flexibility are quite well known and accepted even among advocates of homosexuality. And within the homosexual community are many testimonies of change: sometimes called "fluidity" and sometimes bisexuality or "queer" orientations. It doesn't take long to find self-contradictions within the "gay" community that confirm the known reality of change and choice.
God designed males and females as distinct, separate types of humans. Jesus ( who Himself was and is God) affirmed this in Matthew 19:4-6. We are fearfully and wonderfully made ( Psalm 139:14) and we should embrace God's design, give Him thanks, and do our best to maximize the health and physical gifts He has given us.
2. Homosexuality and gender change have always been considered very serious, creation-violating sins in Scripture. Current trends toward accepting these sinful practices, astonishingly by some who claim to be Christians, amount to heresy. These so-called "progressive" ideas don't ring true with the simple, clear directives in the following Bible passages:
- Genesis 19 (the story of Sodom and Gomorrah)
- Leviticus 18:22
- Leviticus 20:13
- 1 Kings 15:12
- Matthew 19:4-6
- Romans 1:26-27
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
- 2 Peter 2:4-11
In addition to these passages, the prohibition on homosexuality and gender change are essential parts of overall sexual morality and the biblical model of the natural family and marital relations. There is no description of an acceptable homosexual relationship in Scripture (David and Jonathan, or Ruth and Naomi are recent, invalid constructions of heretical faith).There is no description of a cross-dresser or someone who changed sex in Scripture. These would be, as the Leviticus passages say, "abominations."
The current desensitivity about such practices is quite troubling. God has not changed, and the fact that humans are so casual and profane about very serious sexual matters calls for us to be very concerned about the future of our culture. We are "parading our sin like Sodom (Isaiah 3:9)" and God cannot be pleased about this. Humility and a return to God's Word are called for.
3.How do we treat people we encounter who claim homosexual feelings? We should treat them with civility, but we should never, never affirm this sin in their lives. This is hard to do today without offense, and this calls for prayer. Tact and kindness are the goal, although there may be times where stronger verbal admonitions are appropriate. But great discernment is needed. This is a huge test of Christians as well as a huge opportunity to witness. We need to stand for what God has taught and help lead these folks to the truth. They are precious to God and if they will re-learn the foundational blessing that God constructed them to be fully male or female, He would be glad to welcome them home, just as any of us, if lost in sin, would hope to return to the Father as prodigals.
4. For those committed to unrepentant homosexuality or cross-gender identities, we must do everything we can in the public arena to restrain the influence of their behavior and deception on others--and by this we mean everything that is peaceable and within the law.
We must vote against same sex marriage and work to elect public officials who support traditional marriage. We must not affirm this terribly misguided sin in public policy--not in "hate crimes" laws giving added legitimacy to homosexuality, nor in employment laws requiring that employers recognize these behaviors with respect. We must do what we can to prevent homosexuality being taught in our schools. We must not approve "sexual orientation" policies that consider disapproval of homosexuality or sex identity change as "discrimination." All these manipulative strategies enable the continuation of these sins, the further erosion of our cultural morality and the silencing of free speech about these behaviors, including attempts to rescue the captives to these lifestyles.
We need to re-educate Christians to stand up for the truth. We must ask non-Christians who also see the problems with homosexuality (and there are many such citizens) to stand with us to oppose the public embrace of this behavior.
5.It is not kind to "tolerate" this behavior. This does not mean we expose people in this sad lifestyle--no more than we would do with any sin-- but when an opportunity clearly presents itself, or when asked, we must stand up against it. We must always remember that the price for standing up may be difficult in the short run, but may mean a whole new life, here and eternally, for someone who is moved by our witness.
