Myth: God endorses homosexuality

Trivia question: Who wrote the famous book “Free To Be You And You Me?

Marlo Thomas

What statements have you heard in support of homosexual activity?

Statements: There’s a gay gene. God made some people gay. Why fight nature?

What is the Nature vs. Nurture argument?

Nature: we are simply a product of our genetic makeup

Nurture: we are simply a product of our surroundings

We actually are products of both.

The causes of homosexuality is speculative at best.

Recently, it has been tied to birth order – younger siblings more likely to be homosexual.  Rather than indicating a natural component, this suggests a nurture component,

This argument is further undercut as there examples of identical twins where only one sibling is gay.

Dobson – suggests relationship with the father

Yet none of these factors guarantee one will become homosexual.

Gay gene NOT found

But let’s say one day scientists were to find a “gay” gene. This would deem homosexuality as “natural” in some people. Should all “natural” behavior  be embraced?

Genetically, some are prone to alcoholism. Should alcoholism be embraced?

What about pedophilia?  Rather than being harmful, some argue that it is beneficial for children! In Holland –a pedophilia political party is now recognized!

Name some common negative natural desires

Lying, cheating, stealing – any sin. My kids didn’t have to be taught to lie.

We’ll see later that the Bible describes homosexual behavior as anything but natural.

Regardless of all of this, homosexuality has become largely embraced by American society.  So much so, that critics of this lifestyle are looked down upon in today’s popular culture.

Words are very powerful. What term is given to one who his critical of this lifestyle?

Homophobe

What does the term actually mean?

One who is afraid of homosexuals!!!

Isaiah Washington an actor in the Grey’s anatomy TV series used the derogatory term “fag” to describe a homosexual cast member.  An apology to this cast mate would have definitely been called for but he entered “Rehab” in order to save his career. To the best of my knowledge he wasn’t dealing with substance abuse but rather to try convince others he wanted to change his ways.

Marine General Peter Pace – chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff came under fire for calling homosexuality immoral and declared openly gay people have no place in the military.

What do you think of General Pace’s statement?

 He later backtracked. He didn’t apologize for his remarks but stated that this was his personal rather than professional opinion.

How well do you think he handled the situation?

            Reality: God despises homosexual behavior

Romans 1:24-32

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

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.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

What else does the Bible have to say about homosexual acts?

Genesis 19:1-8

Genesis 19

Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed

 The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.  "My lords," he said, "please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning."
      "No," they answered, "we will spend the night in the square."

  But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.  Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house.  They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."

  Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him  and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.  Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof."

One could easily argue that it was also wrong for Lot to subject his daughters to rape. And I would agree.  Gay activists in the church claim that the issue was hospitality …

1 Corinthians 6:9
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

What words does the Bible use to describe homosexual behavior?

-         wicked, depraved, offense, indecent, unnatural, perversion.

Liberal theologians will tell you that the negative views toward homosexuality come from the Old Testament. However the terms we mentioned above came from 1 Corinthians 6:9 and Romans 1:26-27 which, last time I looked were New Testament Books.

What would you tell the non-believer who says God accepts homosexual behavior?

What would you tell the non-believer that says homosexuality comes naturally so it couldn’t be wrong?