HOMOSEXUALITY: ARE PEOPLE BORN GAY?

Dear Community:

The time has come again for me to address one of the religious and political hot buttons of the day: Homosexuality. This subject has caused persons to ask is homosexuality a choice? Or, are people simply born that way? Or, can we even know one way or the other?

While I certainly know that a subject of this nature will bring about some sensitivity to many, nevertheless, I feel very strongly that it should be addressed on this site. Be assured that my only motive for such a posting is to engage all of you in meaningful dialogue.

I want to speak as an Evangelical Christian and from a Christian worldview. Therefore, I want to start this discussion off by asking the simple question: Are homosexuals born Gay?

First, I believe that the answer is both yes and no! To those who might be familiar with me personally, you might be somewhat surprised. However, before you draw any premature conclusions, I would respectfully ask that you read on.

I say yes in the sense that according to the Scripture mankind was/is born a sinner, has a sin nature, and is separated from God. thus, man has the propensity to commit all kinds of sinful acts, including homosexuality, adultery, fornication, lying, cheating, gossipping, backbiting, etc. etc.

I say no in the sense that no one was born with a “Gay Gene.” Proponents of gay marriage and the homosexual lifestyle would have us to believe that the only reason why people have “Same Sex Attractions” (SSA) is because there is something abnormal in the function of their brain and consequently, they are driven to the gay way of life.

This discussion really first began in 1993 when Science, a respected research journal, published a study by Dean Hamer that ignited a “Born Gay” myth that later exploded into a firestorm. Hamer claimed that Science was “on the verge of proving that homosexuality is innate, genetic and, therefore, unchangeable–a normal variant of human nature.”

In actuality, though, no such discovery had been made. In fact, Mr. Hamer himself (also a gay-identified man) later responded, “environmental factors play a role. There is not a single master gene that makes people gay…I don’t think we will ever be able to predict who will be gay.”

The Scripture helps us to understand God’s position on the matter, and gives us some insight into the heart and mind of God as it relates to this destructive behavior. The Apostle Paul in writing to the Church at Rome made a powerful statement concerning the “Wrath of God” being poured out against all “unrighteousness and ungodliness .”

He writes in Romans 1:26-27: “For this cause God gave them up into vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.”

From these two verses we learn a great deal. We see that homosexuality is against nature for mankind. If gay people are born gay, why would God tell us it is against nature?

God said being homosexual is against nature because not one single person ever was or ever will be born gay! It is a lifestyle that people have chosen and it is a sin!

Let me state once more just in case you didn’t read it right: All human beings are born sinners, have a sin nature, separated from God, and have the propensity to commit all kinds of sinful acts! In either case, God still holds mankind responsible for their actions and will someday judge people according to His holy standard of righteousness.

Every person born into this world has the responsibility to recognize his sinful and lost condition before a holy God, repent of his sin, and receive God’s free gift of eternal life through His dear Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ! Apart from that truth, no flesh will ever be justified in His sight! What say you?

What Does God Think of Same Sex Marriage?

Dear Friends:

The time has come for me to address a very serious and divisive issue in our Country: Same sex marriage. The political winds are blowing ever so strong, and people in the Country have declared war on each other concerning this controversial subject.

While many persons from the political arena have spoken, most of America and other Countries have forgotten about another voice that has already spoken clearly on the matter. His name is Jehovah God! He is the one who created “male & female” in His own image.

He is the one who performed the first marriage ceremony in the garden of Eden, thus, He instituted the sacred covenant called marriage. In the book of Genesis, God revealed His plan for sexuality .

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27) What is this “image” stuff all about you might ask?

The image of God is both male and female and is reflected in a godly union between male and female where the creative power of God, His life-giving, His self-giving and His moral nature are perfectly expressed. This is only possible in a heterosexual union.

When the Creator created a partner for Adam He created Eve, not another Adam! This means that perfect partnership requires some level of difference as well as a level of similarity so great that Adam could cry out loudly, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.”

Therefore, sexual intimacy between a man and a woman is the normal method of male/female bonding (emotionally and physically) because it corresponds to the design of our bodies and because it is the normal means by which offspring are created,

If God had intended the human race to be fulfilled through both heterosexual and homosexual marriage, He would have designed our bodies to allow reproduction through both means and made both means of sexual intercourse healthy and natural.

The medical experts are on record in telling society that homosexual anal intercourse carries a high risk of disease; this is recognized in Scripture where gay men are said to “receive in their bodies the due penalty for their error (Romans 1:27).

What did our Lord Jesus teach concerning this subject? “And He answered and said to them, have you not read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female” (Matthew 19:4nkjv) .

“But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female” (Mark 10:6). When Jesus was asked questions about marriage He went straight back to the defining passages in Genesis that say that marriage is between male and female and is meant to be life long.

Jesus saw the creation accounts in Genesis as authoritative in His day. And what is authoritative for Jesus is authoritative for Christians also While our Lord did not specifically speak on homosexuality, His establishment of the Genesis passages as the fundamental passages on marriage leaves no doubt as to the outcome!

When we read the passages of Scripture found in Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and 1 Timothy 1:9-10, these three references indicate that homosexual passions and acts are unnatural, shameful, and contrary to sound doctrine and deny entrance to the Kingdom of God.

This being the case they cannot be the basis of a Christian marriage sanctioned by God’s Church. The Church exists to save people, not to bless the means of their damnation! No marriage can be sanctioned by the Church if the very basis of the marriage involves acts that put the couple out of eternal salvation.

No matter what our politicians may legislate, the Law of God is clear that a marriage is not a God-ordained marriage if it is a same sex union.

Early today, I watched with a great deal of sadness when the Mayor of San Diego, California recanted his position on same sex marriage. Just two days ago he said that he would veto a bill sent to him to approve of the same sex union.

However, he supposedly learned recently that his own daughter confessed to being a lesbian. This, he says is what changed his mind…and conviction about the matter.

I thought to myself “what would I do if one of my daughters were gay?” “How would I respond if the shoes were on my feet?” My answer: I would love my daughters while staying true to my convictions! I would respect their right to choose their lifestyle while expecting them to respect my right to follow my heart felt conviction over the matter.

I think that the Mayor had a golden opportunity to show his City as well as the United States what a man with God-given convictions really look like…and he failed!

A few years ago the voters in the State of California passed a proposition stating that marriage in California would only be recognized between a man and a woman. However, some of the gay activist Judges, politicians, (Congressman Mark Leno in particular) were not too happy about the results.

They have now come up with something in an attempt to under-mind the voters and overturn the major victory in the proposition. This new bill has passed both chambers and is expected to be sent to the Governor’s office. The very good news is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has promised to give it a great big VETO!

On a personal note, I’m thankful to the Lord that we still have some politicians who have a healthy fear of God and who understands that they have a Judge who will call them to give an accounting of their stewardship. Therefore, I want to applaud our governor for having the inner strength and conviction to uphold what God Himself has instituted in the world concerning male-female relationships.

Please fee free to give your take on this issue. I love the challenge and even the heated arguments as it will cause all of us to look within and determine what is important to us: God’s decrees or the ways of sinful humanity?

Blessings to All!

Taking A Look at the Whites & Bynum/Weeks Debacle!

Dear Friends:

I am sure that by now most of us know just about everything from the Randy and Paula White announcement of their impending divorce. Additionally, we have heard about the unfortunate physical assault on well known female evangelist Juanita Bynum by her husband, Bishop Thomas Weeks.

These two events have cause many persons to become discouraged in their Christian walk as these persons have a tremendous amount of influence of some in the Body of Christ.

Regardless to what you think of these circumstances, there are underlying messages in both cases that we ought to give some serious consideration as they are indicative of what is going on in the culture.

First, let’s look at the Whites, who looked sad on TV as Randy made the announcement that they had decided to end their 18 year marriage. I certainly think that all of us should be sad for these two persons as well as for the divine institution of marriage which has fallen on very hard times in terms of people’s reluctance to honor this God-ordained institution.

Interestingly, when Randy & Paula made their announcement, neither of them cited any biblical reasons (Adultery & Abandonment) for coming to this unfortunate conclusion about their marriage. Randy did say, however that “Paula is an amazing woman, wife, minister, and Mother. This is just the result of two persons going in different directions.”

These words still haunt me, and I know for certain that this divorce IS NOT met with God’s approval! The obvious question is why would Randy initiate a divorce from an “amazing woman, wife, minister, and Mother?”

In a word, Self-Indulgence. Yes, you heard me right! As everyone knows, Paula is really much bigger than Randy as is the case with Juanita and her husband’s situation.

I really believe that this decision has nothing to do with their not loving each other, but, because of their selfish ambitions! I believe that Paula is big enough that she no longer need Randy’s covering and protection. She is bigger than he is without a doubt!

The bottom line is there is no biblical reason for this divorce, and the Whites, being Pastors should be concern with setting a Godly example for others to follow! As it stands now, they are telling their church and the world that whenever Christian people have problems, be it marriage or otherwise, we have no one to turn to to help us rise above those things that would destroy our testimony before an unbelieving world.

Also, what about others who are having marital difficulties? What do the Whites say to them? What does Randy have to say to the congregation now that he has demonstrated that even he will not obey the Scripture? What does he say to the man who wants to leave his wife for another woman? After all, the person is probably thinking “if Pastor can’t fix his problems, then who am I to try to salvage my marriage?”

Let me be bold enough to make the following statement: Randy and Paula White need to be set down, go through a period of counseling, get some soul healing, establish some integrity, work on their damaged marriage, and be taught the True Word of God, and not the heresy they have espoused for years!

As for Juanita Bynum’s circumstance, this is a simple case of “Reaping what She has Sown!” For the record, we are taught in Scripture that we reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow.

When Bynum and Weeks met he was already a very married man! However, Juanita, who claims to be a “Prophetess” (there is no such thing by the way)

Made the declaration “The Lord has told Me that this Man is My Husband!” And, of course the two of them began to date, which eventually led to Week’s divorcing his former wife..

Please understand the Evil that is associated with this entire soap-opera. Imagine a “Prophetess” claiming to speak in God’s name, ascribing her lustful intentions and sin to a Holy God who has already declared in His Word “The marriage bed is honorable, but Adulterers and Whore-mongers God Will Judge!”

The Old Testament makes it clear that the test of authenticity for any so-called Prophet is in the accuracy of what they prophesied. And, if what they said didn’t come to pass, they then were to be stoned to death!

In this case, Ms. Bynum clearly did not hear from God! She lusted after another woman’s husband, decided that she would have him at any cost…even lying on God, who disdains falsehood on all levels.

I can promise you that this ordeal isn’t over with yet from God’s perspective. While He is certainly a merciful and gracious God, no one can dishonor and defame His Holy name and get away with it! Moses was right when he declared “Be Sure Your Sins Will find You Out!”

I sincerely pray that both the Whites and the Bynum/Weeks repent of their sins and turn to Christ in sincerity. On a personal note, it has caused me to look at my own life, ministry and marriage to see if I’m authentically representing Christ in these respective areas. Will you join me?

Can you really speak things into existence?

Dear Friends:

Before I left for vacation, I introduced a popular teaching that is espoused by much of the word of faith movement. In essence, this teaching says you have the ability to determine your outcome by merely speaking positive words to your situations and you shall have what you say!

Sometimes this teaching is known by the designation “positive confession,” or by “speaking things into existence.” In either case, both concepts are false! Where in the Bible do we find that God says that you can have whatever you desire…or speak?

We all know about the wrong interpretation of the words “we speak those things that are not as though they were..”(Romans 4:17) and then try to use these words so as to say that God is our “Cosmic Genie” and therefore, He must follow our script and give us what we speak!

When one read the afore-mentioned words of God through Paul, it is clear that the word of faith have taken these words out of context! In fact, this movement says that“God uses the force of faith to create His reality”, and deny the obvious, which is, God Himself is the object of Faith; He does not use faith to create His existence. All truth and reality emanates from God Himself and not the other way around.

If God is obligated to do as we say, then please explain the following:

1. Why couldn’t David convince God to save his son, who was born as a result of his sin with Bathsheba though he prayed all night long?

2. Why didn’t God stop the Israelites from wandering in the wilderness for forty years though Moses interceded for them time and time again?

3. Why didn’t God release Paul from his “Thorn in the Flesh” though he sought God on three occasions to remove it?

These are very basic and simple questions to make the point: God is not our Servant; we are His! I like what Bible Teacher, Author, and Pastor, Dr. John MacArthur says about this:

“In no way can we write our own ticket with God and expect Him to follow our script, nor should any true believer ever desire such a scenario.The life of a Christian is spent in pursuit of God’s will–not a strategy to get Him to go along with ours.”

Let me have some feedback (Biblical answers please, not your own imagination).

Blessings!