Reflections on Homosexuality

Pastor Matthew ^ | 8/5/2012 | Matthew R. St. John

[Morgana]

While a student at Dallas Seminary a good friend of mine and I went to an IHOP to study for a Hebrew exam. My friend seemed unusually anxious, tender and, admittedly, a bit awkward. At some point during the evening I finally asked him if he was okay. He looked around cautiously, then in a whisper said to me, “I need to tell you something I have never told anyone else before.”

“Okay,” I said. “You can tell me anything.”

“I’m gay.” With that, I stood up from the table, invited him to stand up, and gave him and a hug and told him he was my brother and that I loved him.

I don’t think that heterosexuals like me can even begin to fathom the intense anxiety embedded within the heart of a gay individual, particularly if he or she is still in the process of attempting to be public about his or her inner-world. Being sensitive about such things, while at the same time affirming and embracing values that are higher than whatever brokenness and messiness we have, whether gay or straight, is tough.

Ironies Christians Must Wrestle With

Here are some ironies that I see regarding homosexuality and Christianity in general. First, I am blown away by the number of couples who claim to be Christian who are living together outside of a sanctioned marriage covenant, are sexually active, etc., and yet willing to denounce homosexual marriage as inappropriate and sinful.

I am also intrigued that our more liberal friends in the church and society move heaven and earth to dismantle the biological/genetic differences between men and women, and yet go to great lengths to amplify the supposed biological/genetic differences between a homosexual and a heterosexual.

I wonder how many heterosexual married men sitting in our pews voice disdain for homosexuality but go home and quietly turn to the Internet to watch lesbian porn.

The church seems so concerned about gay marriage, but I wonder where we were when “no-fault” divorces were first redefining our culture.

What if all the money and manpower available to Chick-Fil-A on August 1, 2012 were directed by Chrisitans toward eradicating the water crisis in Africa or poverty in the inner-cities of America?

When in general terms gays and lesbians find genuine love and care from within their own community and not from followers of Christ, then perhaps their claim we are homophobic is right on.

Values We Must Own, Whether Gay or Straight

Hebrews 12:15-16 puts forward a remarkable statement that on the surface is confusing: See to it . . . that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. The confusion comes because in the Old Testament story of Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of soup (see Genesis 25:29-34) there is not one reference to sexual immorality. What is it that the writer of Hebrews is saying?

He is laying out a principle of life, one that is applicable to the heterosexual person and homosexual person, and it is this: Esau was born hungry and needed food for survival, but that did not necessitate Esau letting his hunger define him and cause him to set aside God’s very best (in his case, the all-important blessing of birthright) for lesser things (a bowl of stew). From this insight consider the following reflections:

First, being born a certain way, whether real or perceived, does not justify forfeiting God’s best for our lives. Esau was hungry, understandably so, but to throw aside what God had designed for his life due to his hunger was completely inappropriate. The assumption that one has a disposition toward certain behavior or beliefs does not justify settling for something that God has not prescribed. As it relates to sex and sexuality, this means that settling for something less than God’s prescription of a one-man/one-woman covenant relationship, as ordained by God in Genesis 1 and 2 and affirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19, is sin, whether one is gay or straight.

Secondly, we must discern how to satisfy our real or perceived dispositions without settling for something less than God’s best for our lives. For Esau it would have been to strongly deny the temptation to forfeit his birthright, satisfying his hunger with something less than the grandiose enticement put before him. As it relates to sex and sexuality, for any of us, straight or gay, it must mean amplifying meaningful intimate relationships without the sexual overtones. It might mean embracing or at least acknowledging an orientation while not letting certain behavior get the best of us.

Thirdly, it might mean we simply don’t get the bowl of soup. “You mean, I am not allowed to be sexually engaged unless it fits within the one-man/one-woman covenant relationship?” Yes. That is exactly what that means. The only alternative to the marriage covenant between one man and one woman is celibacy, regardless of whether one has a gay orientation or a straight orientation. There are no exceptions to this.

Fourthly, we must distinguish between conditioning and conduct. Esau was conditioned by the fact of his existence and his immediate environment to be hungry. Being conditioned a certain way is not inherently wrong. It is what one does with that conditioning that merits attention, and for him it was to throw good things away to satisfy his hunger. With this in mind, it is notable that the Bible never speaks against homosexual orientation–only those who “practice” consensual homosexual acts (see 1 Corinthians 6:9, for example). This has huge implications for gays and heterosexuals–how we perceive one another and ourselves.

Important Take-aways

Any sexual practice beyond the scope of one-man/one-woman convenant marriage is sin, whether one is homosexual or heterosexual. Period.

We are exhorted to limit our fellowship with believers who persist in sexual immorality (see 1 Corinthians 5:9-13), whether gay or straight. This may even include family members or friends that we dearly love. The goal, of course, is restoration (see Galatians 6:1-2).

We should welcome all who in their hunger and thirst for righteousness willingly humble themselves before the Lord Jesus (Gal. 6:10).

Quit arguing with gay people about whether or not they were born gay. All of us have real or perceived dispositions to contend with. The question is whether or not we will fully surrender ourselves to the Lord’s will for our lives.

There is never a place for mistreating or being disrespectful to a homosexual. Or anyone, for that matter. Ever. Doing so is evil.

If heterosexuals have found themselves mistreating or being hateful toward homosexuals, then they must repent. We must remember that Jesus bled for all people. Everyone has worth and dignity.

If homosexuals (and heterosexuals, for that matter) are making sexual choices apart from God’s one-man/one-woman covenant marriage context, then they must repent. God never condemns the orientation, but he is crystal clear regarding his expectations for the unique and powerful gift which is sex.

[Morgana]

"I wonder how many heterosexual married men sitting in our pews voice disdain for homosexuality but go home and quietly turn to the Internet to watch lesbian porn."

I need not ask how many FReeper men do the same!

[Yosemitest]

Those who support homosexuals are against our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
These anti Christ people only bring destruction on us ALL.
I have NO sympathy for homosexuals!

Homosexuality is a "Mark" of disobedience.

It was given by our Heavenly Father to test us
to see ... if we will OBEY our Heavenly Father,
and abide by His commandments, statues, and ordinances.

Someone once asked

"Why are they [homosexuals] all so angry?"

The answer is in the definition of "REPROBATE".

rep·ro·bate \ˈre-prə-ˌbāt\ a. [L. reprobatus, reprobo, to disallow; re and probo, to prove.]

1. Not enduring proof or trial; not of standard purity or fineness; disallowed; rejected.

Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them. Jer. 6.

2. Abandoned in sin; lost to virtue or grace.

They profess that they know God, but in works deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. Titus 1.

3. Abandoned to error, or in apostasy. 2Tim. 3.

And the reason"why" is given in the Bible.

God has a cure for homosexuals.

But will we OBEY our Heavenly Father?

[miss marmelstein]

I refuse to be preached at by some dopey pastor who has not lived in a gay activist metropolis for over 30 years like I have! I learned everything I need to know about gay male behavior working at Studio 54 in the 1970s (Truman Capote, Mick Jagger and Roy Cohn - I mean you!).

[ReformationFan]

I’m Protestant but I think this is an interesting Roman Catholic response to this topic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgnfpEY59XU

[Hardraade]

Arrrgh. Sometimes I just can’t keep my trap shut!

http://junipersec.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/talibunnies/

[Morgana]

That is funny because I am Catholic and the preacher who wrote this article is Protestant.

Honestly I feel he made some good points in bringing to light the lack of sexual morality of even heterosexual Americans.

We need to hear this more often from both Protestant and Catholic clergy.

[savagesusie]

Good arguments. There always is compassion in Christianity—or should be. But to ever act like sodomy is not an obvious sin is grievous, as it is for other sexual sin. To enable sinners is evil. To push for laws that recognize the act of sodomy as a “right” is also evil. “Just Law” forbids it.

To not condemn evil, is also evil. Sinners always should understand what is Right and Wrong-—and they do, if they listen to their heart. People should never encourage sin, and dragging people into the sewer. That is really unchristian and confuses the next generation.

Christian Ethics are the basis of American Jurisprudence-—or was when we had a Constitutional government of Rule of Law (Justice).

[JoeDetweiler]

You may be right, but I’ve never seen any Freeper men argue that, because we do it, it mustn’t be labelled a sin.

I sin every day. Whether I repent or not is between my higher power and me.

[Old Sarge]

The homosexual goal is simply one thing: Unrestricted Access To Young Flesh.

[SoFloFreeper]

A lot of good and a little bit of error in this article. Overall, though, I agree heartily with his message.

Homosexual behavior is not right and the behavior is to be eschewed. Abuse of homosexuals is not godly behavior.

All of us are born sinful—whatever sinful habits we learn, whether sins of a sexual nature or of a different kind are to be avoided.

[SoFloFreeper]

What do you think he got wrong? He seems to have hitten quite a few marks correctly.

[MHGinTN]

Is not this ‘pastor’s’ tolerance of what God has told us is intolerable the very reason the sexual degeneracy presence is growing in the congregations and poisoning the pulpits?

[Morgana]

I believe Pastor Matthew’s main point was something to do with what Jesus said about helping your brother when you have something in your own eye. Know what I mean.

We are quick to be very harsh on homosexuality, with good reason, but on the flip side look at how much heterosexual sex offends God?

Every day Wagglebee, and other FReepers like him including myself post stories of how condoms are being passed out to 12 year olds. Okay those 12 year olds are not making water ballons with the condoms! So we can all see that sexual morality in America has gone in the tank and it is not just homosexual sex.

[ReformationFan]

I think the homosexualist movement would probably never have gained the power it has now if it weren’t for the acceptance of the birth control pill and abortions earlier in the 20th century. Both Rome and the major Protestant denominations had the same view about these issues until the Anglicans endorsed usage of contraception around 1930. The whole divorce of procreation from the act of sex paved the road for the mind-numbing idiocy of same-sex “marriage” today.

[CatherineofAragon]

"What if all the money and manpower available to Chick-Fil-A on August 1, 2012 were directed by Chrisitans toward eradicating the water crisis in Africa or poverty in the inner-cities of America?"

Pastor Matthew, I'm really sorry Chick Fil-A Wednesday bothered you, but incidentally, what did you think about the militant sodomites trying to bully people AWAY from CFA? Any disapproval for them?

Pastor Matthew, it's true that there's a water crisis in Africa. There's a drought in the US as well. What should we do about that?

Also, Pastor, how exactly do you propose we go about "eradicating poverty" when Jesus plainly said that the poor will always be with us? Are you privy to some special information He didn't have?

[CodeToad]

People have the right to make moral judgements for themselves. We as a society reject homosexuality for our own personal reasons, be it religious or it simply is disgusting to us. What has me bothered is that regardless of why we have chosen our views, we have them and are entitled to them, yet, the homosexuals want us to accept their behaviors without question. They want to remove our freedom of choice, which does violate our rights to religous freedom.

[maxwellsmart_agent]

There is evil in a man who, knowing he is a man, and knowing what is expected of him in this life, stands there and says he is gay. He is given all the body parts of a man. He was given all the mental parts of a man. For him to say he is gay is a perversion of nature, nothing else. All that is necessary for normalcy is for him to be what nature intended for him to be. Making up your mind to do otherwise is a choice, a choice that he should pay for.

[scripter]

You may be right, but I’ve never seen any Freeper men argue that, because we do it, it mustn’t be labelled a sin.

That's a valid point some choose to ignore.

[jwalsh07]

What he gets wrong is the same thing every liberal gets wrong. His default position is that heterosexuals are hateful and disrespectful toward homosexuals. The homosexual act deserves no respect, the Pastor himself says it is sinful. Do we now respect sin? What kind of inane crap is that? And why shou;d I respect anybody, hetero or homo, who insists on telling me how they get their jollies?

More to the point same gender people can not engage in sexual acts since the sexual act implies the possibilty of sexual reproduction.

I don’t hate or disrespect gay folks. I don’t care what they do in their bedroom until they bring their bedroom into my living room. When they do that they will get disdain, not respect.

[CodeToad]

“”What if all the money and manpower available to Chick-Fil-A on August 1, 2012 were directed by Chrisitans toward eradicating the water crisis in Africa or poverty in the inner-cities of America?””

What the Pastor fails to understand is that those are issues for the people that are affected to solve. No one can do that for them. He is saying that there are those without water or living in poverty because someone else didn’t give something to them.