Standing Firmly Against Homosexuality, Part 2

This article is a continuation of the first and previous one bearing this same title. After looking at the medical and scientific reasons for rejecting homosexual behavior, let us now consider some national and biblical reasons.

The National Reasons

Secondly, Evangelical Christians should reject homosexual behavior for national reasons. Homosexual behavior places children at risk.  The protection of our youth and young men from this aberrant lifestyle, sexual abuses, and violent rape by homosexuals is the mandate (http://www.frc.org). Legally and socially sanctioning homosexual practices can only result in our children becoming more vulnerable to those who prey on them. Homosexual literature already promotes preying on young boys! “Approximately one in twelve adults seen by sexual assault services are men” (http://laurelhouse.org.au).

Homosexual practices will drive up medical costs nationally. One way to reduce medical insurance cost is to reduce medical risks. Conversely increase risk drives up medical cost. Homosexual behavior is high risk for AIDS and other STDs; thus driving the cost of medical premiums upward for the average American. 

Homosexual activity transmits HIV and STDs throughout the country. With the increase of homosexual practices there will be an increase in the vulnerability of the American population to HIV/AIDS and STDs. This could lead to a national AIDS crisis (http://www.cdc.gov /hiv/statistics /basics /ataglance.html). The prevalence of HIV and the vulnerability to contracting HIV is a grave problem on the continent of Africa because of homosexual behavior. An AIDS infected population can dramatically slow economic and social progress. Potentially it will negatively impact the growth, development, education, and employment opportunities in every facet of the country.

Biblical Reasons

Thirdly, Evangelical Christians should reject homosexual behavior for biblical reasons. God’s Word irrefutably condemns this behavior in the Old  Testament. This is part of the reason the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed directly by God (Genesis 19:4-5-12-13). The Law of God prohibited and condemned homosexual behavior for the nation of Israel (Lev.18:22-30; 20:13).

God’s Word explicitly and consistently condemns this behavior in the New Testament (1 Cor. 6:9-11; 1Tim. 1:10; 2 Peter 2:6-9; Jude 1:7)

God’s Word clearly condemns this behavior whether practiced by men or women (Romans 1:24, 26-27; McDonald & Farstad, 1995). Homosexual behavior is an unnatural rebellion against the Creator! The rejection of homosexual practices is not merely Christian intolerance. The standard is divine and not social, political, or personal. God’s standard promotes human welfare and wellbeing, but homosexual practices are destructive on multiple levels. Homosexual practices are wrong because they are violations of the design and purpose of God for human relationships.

“God values monogamous, heterosexual marriage (Gen. 2:22-24),” reproduction within that marriage covenant (Gen. 1:22-28), and heterosexual family life (Psalm 127) (Alban (2012), p. 562, 563).

Applying Our Reasons to Objections

Forthly, Evangelical Christians must wisely respond to objections, and articulate this position with truth and compassion.

Objection #1: The Bible does not condemn loving monogamous homosexual and lesbian relationships (Wood & Marshall, 1995). The Bible consistently characterizes homosexual and lesbian behavior as immoral and sternly forbids them. Research demonstrates that homosexuals generally do not maintain monogamy beyond five years—65% are promiscuous. In addition, monogamous homosexuals engage in sexual acts of greater risk for HIV and STDs (Frank Truek).

Objection #2: The field of psychology does not condemn homosexual conduct nor view it as deviant behavior. This is because they were bullied by homosexual activists, lobbyists, and political correctness. The APA’s change was not based on a preponderance of evidence, or groundbraking clinical research. The new notion of sexual identity, later sexual preference, and now sexual orientation, has pervasively shaped the current cultural debate. Indeed this was the ideological wedge used to force the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders in 1973. It is still the most effective tactical concept employed in the debate (Hindson & Caner, 2008, p. 270). Dr. Stan Jones, Provost, and Professor of Psychology at Wheaton College has conducted extensive study into the scientific basis for homosexuality and he found the evidence weak and inconclusive.

Objection #3: Homosexual Americans, as a “third sex” have a right to conduct themselves accordingly, and the freedom to intimately engage others. “Homosexual activists groups are pressing for homosexual men and lesbians to be identified as a special class with special protections under civil rights legislation” (Hindson & Caner, 2008, p. 268-272). But sexual orientation does not qualify as a civil rights issue; it is a ‘special rights’ issue that actually undermines the US Constitution.

Objections #4: Bible references to homosexual behavior are related to idolatry (religious sex slaves), male prostitution, and false worship and are limited to these alone. The Bible says nothing specifically about the homosexual condition …, but its condemnations of homosexual conduct are explicit (Wood & Marshall, 1995). Homosexual behavior is prohibited in Scripture (Lev. 20:13) and was a major cause of the divine judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:4–5, 12–13). The apostle Paul listed homosexuals among “the unrighteous” who would not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9), and declared that God’s wrath stands against such behavior, whether practiced by men or women (Rom. 1:26–27) (Youngblood, Bruce, & Harrison, 1995).

Beloved, the course of action we must take is transparently clear. For medical, national, and biblical reasons Evangelical Christians should not embrace, remain ambivalent, justify, or continue silently about homosexual behavior and its accompanying consequences.  

Evangelical Christians should unitedly and uniformly reject homosexual behavior for medical, national, and biblical reasons. I am calling on Evangelical Christians to adopt this position, to actively oppose homosexual behavior with wisdom and compassion, and to share the hope of Christ with homosexuals and lesbians that they may be forgiven, cleansed, and freed by the grace of God. First Corinthians 6:9-11 teaches that God will save repentant homosexuals and lesbians. Share this message with them that they may be saved. Also get informed on this subject as a defense against the fallacious propaganda passed off in many of the mainstream media outlets. Read Dr. Stanton L. Jones’ books Homosexuality: The Use of Scientific Research in the Church’s Moral Debate and God’s Design for Sex book series. Visit reliable websites like America for Truth about Homosexuality (AFTAH), and Gay Christian Movement Watch, and D. L. Foster who are upholding biblical standards of sexuality (gcmwatch.com). If your children are in the public education system, inquire into what they are taught about homosexual practices. Follow through by having a biblical conversation with your young people about how God views homosexual practices.  

The sexual revolutions, the liberal media, and hyper-political correctness are influencing Americans to view homosexual behavior in a positive light. This cannot be true of Evangelical Christians; we must be guided by the truth. It is only with the truth that we can reach out to the homosexual with love to lead them to Christ and out of the homosexual lifestyle. 

Why Are Americans Accepting The LGBT Culture?

 The radical changes in sexuality and sensual expression brought on by the sexual revolution gave rise to lax social moorings, wild erotic experimentations, and barefaced homosexual and lesbian behaviors in America. Though such behaviors were initially met with resistance and general rejection in America, such is not the case today. In an article entitled, A Survey of LGBT Americans, the Pew Research Social & Demographics Trends survey reports,

An overwhelming share of America’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults (92%) say society has become more accepting of them in the past decade and an equal number expect it to grow even more accepting in the decade ahead. They attribute the changes to a variety of factors, from people knowing and interacting with someone who is LGBT, to advocacy on their behalf by high-profile public figures, to LGBT adults raising families (June 2013).

In this new millennium (the last decade) key figures are crusading for the acceptance of homosexual behaviors/orientation as perfectly normal and even desirable. Same sex marriage (civil unions), the redefining of marriage, and political correctness are related hot social and political points of concern. As a result, any voice of dissension or objection is labeled homophobic, intolerant, hateful and bigoted. Legitimate expressions of First Amendment rights are being suppressed, vilified, and outright refused. Some pastors are quite shy about making statements that sound “judgmental” or “condemning” in relation to these LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) behaviors. They do not want to appear to be picking on this particular sin. In this instance though, the objectors and dissenters seem to be the true voices of reason.

Even the President of the USA, Barack Obama, generously endorses LGBT special rights, culture, and practices. Note what the Pew Research survey says,

When asked in an open-ended question to name the national public figures most responsible for advancing LGBT rights, President Barack Obama, who announced last year that he had changed his mind and supports gay marriage, tops the list along with comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who came out as a lesbian in 1997 and has been a leading advocate for the LGBT population ever since then. Some 23% of respondents named Obama and 18% named DeGeneres. (June 2013)

Homosexuals were among the Olympians who represented our country in the recent Winter Olympic in Sochi, Russia partly as a result of our president’s determination. Several celebrity television personalities openly flaunt their LGBT lifestyles, some

denominations are ordaining gay clergy members, and American society seems more receptive and respectful of the LGBT population.

No doubt, everyone recalls the recent firestorm in the media when Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson made anti-gay comments (based on the Bible) in a magazine interview. There was a time in our nation's recent history when his statements would not have even raised and eyebrow. Now days...his words are controversial and bigoted. To top it all off, the LGBT magazine The Advocate even considers Pope Francis as their 2013 Man of the Year. Presumably this is because of his rather compassionate comments related to civil unions. Of course the Catholic Church has endured multiplied scandals related to pedophilia and homosexual practices among their priests. Again the point I wish to emphasize is that everything is being done to create a gay positive atmosphere in America. I personally find this development alarming because Americans are being feed lies.

Endorsements through every modern media outlet coupled with supposed reliable scientific evidence is generating a broader appreciation for gay lifestyles. Be not deceived; this is a calculated and concerted efforts to pass off these strange and divergent behaviors as normal. The gay community can sense these changes in American society as well. Once again I quote from A Survey of LGBT Americans, the Pew Research Social & Demographics Trends survey reports,

For the most part LGBT adults are in broad agreement on which institutions they consider friendly to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Seven-in-ten describe the entertainment industry as friendly, 63% say the same about the Obama administration, and 57% view the Democratic Party as friendly. By contrast, just 4% say the same about the Republican Party (compared with 76% who say it is unfriendly); 8% about the military (47% unfriendly) and 4% about professional sports leagues (59% unfriendly). LGBT adults have mixed views about the news media, with 27% saying it is friendly, 56% neutral and 16% unfriendly (June, 2013).

Furthermore, these trends, political correctness, and the new positive climate have prompted some Evangelical churches and Christians to rethink their traditional position on homosexual practices. This is tragic because there is zero compelling evidence suggesting that our traditional stand against LGBT practices is wrong or misguided. This is not the time for Bible-Believing Christians to fold under the pressure of a growing popular trend. No, this is the time to stand firmly for what honors God, what is truly right for our country, and what is best for people who indulge in LGBT practices.