Sex is protectively positioned between religion and biology. Otherwise… well, let’s take a look.
“The Obama Administration,” writes Chuck Colson, “has decided to promote and emphasize lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered rights – and it is doing so at the expense of everyone’s God-given freedom of religion.” (Breakpoint 1-17-12)
Colson backs up this strong statement by quoting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In an address entitled “Human Rights Agenda for the 21st Century,” (12-9-09), Clinton said people “must be free to worship, associate, and to love in the way that they choose.”
“Did you catch that?” Colson asks. “In one sentence, little noticed at the time, Mrs. Clinton showed the Administration’s true priorities. In one fell swoop, she changed our God-given right to freedom of religion, a public act, to a much more restricted ‘freedom of worship,’ a private act, which any Chinese official could go along with. At the same time, Mrs. Clinton, speaking for the administration, elevated the quote ‘right to love in the way they choose’ as a fundamental human right.”
Last December, Mrs. Clinton told a gathering of diplomats that “gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.” She also said the “most challenging issue arises when people cite religious or cultural values as a reason to violate or not to protect the human right of LGBT citizens.”
President Obama told a pro-gay-rights group, “Every single American – gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, transgender – every single American deserves to be treated equally before the law.” Colson rightly asks, “Does that include marriage?” There are those in this present Administration who have expressed their support of so-called same-sex “marriage.” This Administration has refused to defend the Defense of Marriage Act. Where is the threat to religious freedom? If so-called homosexual “marriage” can be defined as a civil right, then those who oppose it on Biblical grounds could be branded as practicing “sexual discrimination.”
So, how did we come to this place? How is it that sexual liberty trumps religious liberty? That sexual freedom is the one right above all rights? The one right upon which no one else dare tread?
We were taunted with one question, “Did God really say . . . ?” We doubted divine creation. Put ourselves in place of God. Raised our will above His. Determined our own identity. When we see ourselves, first and foremost, as “sexual beings,” then one might assume the right to express that sexuality according to personal preference. But, God created us to be more than our flesh side. We are each a soul. We are created in His image and, though fallen from that perfect image, we are not captive to sexual instincts. The Savior, Jesus Christ, pulls us out of ourselves and away from harmful choices. His Spirit equips us to avoid sensuality and, instead, pursue purity and holiness. Things of God. When we fail, all is not lost. We are not destined to despair, but invited to confess. Ask for forgiveness and help. Start over. And over… and over…and over.
A good way to start over is to leave foolishness behind. We have been too long in “human sexuality” class and not nearly long enough in Biology 101.
Heterosexual is a biological term describing how a mammalian species reproduces. The “higher” species reproduces sexually. The lower invertebrates reproduce asexually. Therefore, the suffix “sexual” refers to reproduction. The prefix “homo,” which means “same throughout” with “sexual” is an oxymoron. Mammals can’t reproduce with two like genders: male with male or female with female. For the sake of civilization, let’s get our biology straight.
Who better to consult than the Master of biology. When He finished speaking animals into existence, God put His hands to work on His greatest masterpiece. Humans. He made two genders: male and female. Count them. Not three or four or five, but two. He shaped man, then built woman from man. He made them equal, but different. Gender is determined by our anatomy. (If you’re not sure which one you are, look down.) An individual male or female, not paired, might be lonely, but they can actually survive without sexual involvement. However, if they want to continue the human species, they must “fit together.”
God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” (Genesis 2:18). “Fit for him,” taken literally, means “like his opposite.” Do you comprehend this? Male and female are compatibly different. Their different anatomy allows husband and wife to “fit together” in order to bring new life into the world. It is for our physical, emotional, spiritual, and generational health to live as male or female in a way that honors God rather than self.
God tells man and woman to avoid sexual immorality and sensuality, but never once does He tell us to avoid being male or female. As a man or a woman, single or married, we have a choice. We can live in a way that glorifies God and makes the world a better place… or not.
Mock God, Mr. President. Re-define creation, Mrs. Secretary of State. Replace freedom of religion with “freedom of worship.” Disregard biology and let people “love as they choose.” Claiming to be wise, you lead many on a path of foolishness.
The Holy God stands in contrast. “My ways are not your ways.” While we have opportunity, let us speak of holy things. Oppose foolishness. “Fit together” in marriage. Grow children. Explain what it means to love. To be human.
Ezerwoman's Blog 
If a women were “fit” for a man, wouldn’t that also mean that they should work, clean, take care of the children…if they were truely fit then they would be able to do EVERYTHING a man did not want to do…God also stated that man would not play with the skin of a pig but football was born…does that make every person that played football a sinner? I do think God made a helper…but I do not think he limited it to a man and a women…he let us find who makes us happiest…whomever they may be.
But, didn’t God make a helper for Adam, not let him choose a helper, and wasn’t that helpmate a woman? I don’t think there is any room in the creation narrative for us to say God let man choose his helpmate. or that his helpmate could be male. God designed this relationship – man and woman – and he gave them complimentary roles. That doesn’t mean women have to do everything men don’t want to do. It means a husband and wife create one effort, according to their strengths but with a common goal of serving the Lord and their neighbors.
I don’t quite get what the “skin of a pig has” to do with anything or playing football. I think a man and a woman fit together like puzzle pieces, that is how they complete each other. God made us that way biologically to recreate. It is very good and complimentary.
Footballs used to be made from pig skin; that’s the football reference.
And Karen that is a good point so doesn’t that also mean that two men or two women can create one effort as well, as long as they complement one another with the same common goal of serving the Lord?
If God was so set in his ways then that also means that no one has had a choice for what they do…straight women never “choose” to love a man but they do, because God created them that way. So gay and lesbians aren’t “choosing” to love another man or women, God created them that way as well. I think God just wanted his people to be happy, not get heckled over their personal choices of who they love.
Remember that the bible was written by man, in a time period where gay sex was very common. Romans and Greeks had no issues when one man wanted to love another, so if we revert back to that, then it was written while it was socially acceptable to do what suddenly today it is not, and therefore today we are changing what God has given us to interpret because some people don’t understand or don’t want to believe that there may be people different from their own.
These are all thoughtful comments and I appreciate the dialogue occurring here. I’d like to point out a few things too.
I am fairly certain that myinnermostthinking is correctly referencing history when he asserts that sex between males was “very common” and also “socially acceptable” in both Roman and Greek societies. But, let’s dial back to the time before the Romans and Greeks built their societies.
If we reference Old Testament Scripture and even non-biblical history, we discover that the presence of male with male or female with female sex was already prevalent amongst early peoples. The Romans and/or Greeks did not “invent” it – they were not the first to “discover” it. We can see in Leviticus 18:22, which was authored, or passed on verbally, in the date range of 1445-1444 BC, that it says, “Do not practice homosexuality; it is a detestable sin.” This is but one law that God set for His people in a list of many (not to lay with members of family, or with animals, or with a woman menstruating are a few others) pertaining to sexual behaviors. God set forth these laws, and the others involving dietary practices, and yes, the touching of pigskin one, as well as others, to set His people apart from the other humans they lived around. He was saying essentially, “Yes, it is socially acceptable in these societies to do XYZ, but as my people, do not do them. Set yourselves apart.”
As we all know, laws are terribly difficult for us humans to live by. We break them all the time sometimes intentionally and sometimes by accident. The Israelites were no different. So, Christ came.
When the Good News arrived, proclaiming salvation and forgiveness, the laws of the Old Testament did not fall by the wayside to be forgotten and viewed as irrelevant. No. They still stood to convict early believers, and now us, to still stand apart from the society in which we live. Jesus Himself said, from John 15:19, “The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you do not. I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you.”
Essentially, it was never “socially acceptable,” according to the Almighty God, for God’s people either in Old Testament, New Testament or current times to be “of the world.” We have always been called to live apart from it, as in, to not accept its ways, but only the ways of the Lord.
So, while it was certainly “common” and also “socially acceptable” in Roman and Grecian times for like genders to lay together, that did not give permission or an excuse to God’s people to do so.
We must ask ourselves, by what are we allowing ourselves to be informed? On one hand we have the most read, most stolen, most purchased, most widely translated (all this must mean something) set of texts that have been archeologically, and evidentially corroborated to rely upon for our moral standards and social behaviors. On the other hand, we can let our moral standards be informed by the societal pressures and mores of whatever decade or country we happen to live in.
I would add that we currently live in a culture and a society that finds profanity acceptable – it is all over TV, movies, and the local mall hang-outs. We find disrespecting one’s parents socially acceptable as well – just look at how many older children are sucking their parents dry of resources for retirement. We permit, and even find funny, binge drinking and partying – let’s be honest, everybody loves a good “you’ll never believe what I did last night” story. And, gossip runs rampant on Facebook and Twitter. But this culture should be where we find our ethical guidance?
While these things are “common” and “socially acceptable” they are also all things God calls His people to NOT participate in. Most Christians would agree that not participating in these aforementioned things is good for us and that we should encourage others to not do them either. Why would all other sins, including homosexuality, (breaking of God’s law) be any different?
So, while the Bible was formally written and canonized over years that did overlap with the Roman and Greek societies participating in homosexual acts that were “socially acceptable,” that does not mean that the Christians of that time or the current time using the Bible as we see it today, were or are meant by God to be influenced by those practices. Again, “being in the world, not of it,” means that we do not adhere to the same ways of life as others around us.
Personally, I think that God DID ALLOW FOR some people to be straight and some people to be gay. I think He also allowed for some people to be prone to addiction and others not. He allowed for some to struggle with anger, pride, gossip and worry. Funny way to say it, but to quote my husband, “He gave everybody a different car to drive. Some people’s cars are harder than others’ to steer.” I do believe that God loves every single person on this earth throughout all of time. I believe that He desires a personal relationship with all of us. Scripture is full of points about this. Scripture also points out that God is perfect, He is righteous, and He HATES sin – when we break His laws. Is it right for us to ask God to change His standards for things that are “socially acceptable?” Better question, “Do we want God to change His standards for things that are “socially acceptable?”
I also need to go back to the “car driving” concept. I do think that homosexuality is a breaking of God’s law. I do think it is a sin. But, I also think it might be one of the toughest sins to overcome. In reading about it and hearing of the struggles homosexuals have with families and friends, not to mention bullying and other despicable acts, I imagine that it leaves many feeling very alone, vulnerable, and lost. And, I see that it is these emotions, which Satan plays on to pull the beloved creation God made, who has a tough car to drive, away into a life of more sin and pain. Into a life that all of a sudden not only involves breaking God’s law about homosexuality, but also becomes a life built on pride in breaking of God’s law. But through the merciful love of Christ, all sins can be forgiven. While some people have tougher cars to drive, it is through the healing of those people, the ones that seem to have the highest mountains to climb, that God can receive the most glory. And, He made us to glorify Him!
And, I forgot to add this:
With Christ we can overcome anything! The question we have to honestly ask ourselves, is, DO WE WANT TO?
MommyLiberty5013…thank you for all you brought to this discussion. I was writing a response at the same time, saved my work/refreshed my page, and enjoyed reading your insight. Though we have some of the same points, I’ll still add my thoughts…
I am not convinced “God…stated that man would not play with the skin of a pig.” However, I do agree that God called that animal unclean as he instructed His people in the Old Testament, before Jesus Christ, about the laws they were to keep. Leviticus 11:7 explains that a pig “is unclean to you.” The “you” is not referring to you and me today. God is talking to people who lived under the Law while waiting for the promised Savior who would lift these regulations. It’s interesting to note that in the New Testament, one of God’s people (Peter) objected to eating food that he saw as “common or unclean” (Acts 10:14). God reminds Peter that this is no longer the case because Jesus Christ has done away with the need for those rules. “Christ obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises [forgiveness of our sins and life forever]. For if that first covenant [pig skins, etc.] had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second” (Hebrews 8:6-7).
And actually, yes, every person who plays football is a sinner. But, it has nothing to do with the sport. It has everything to do with who God says we are from birth. Every human being is a sinner, and we “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
God is pretty set in his ways. In fact, he’s dead set in His ways. His ways determine our judgment…and His Son (THE WAY, truth, and life) is the answer to the salvation of humans. Nowhere does God say that no one has a choice in what they do. God gives humans the opposite of your claim. We are given a free will, and God does not force decisions upon us.
I appreciate your insight in saying that “straight women never ‘choose’ to love a man.” Love is a gift from God, as He is the definition of love. Without the love of God, selfish actions/desires masquerade and pretend to be love. Left on their own, a straight woman or man do not have the capacity to love anyone.
God defines dishonorable passions as when “women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to natural, and the men…gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error” (Romans 1:27). That’s what God says about a man or woman “choosing” to love someone of the same gender.
Are “natural relations” subjective? Perhaps according to some people. Not with God.
Gay sex was common when God inspired the words of men written in the Bible. What was “very common” at that time, God did not condone. He did not then, and He does not now. God does not care what sinful humans have deemed as “socially acceptable.” He calls it what it is: sin. He’s set in his ways. Every day. Not just “suddenly today.”
Great response MommyLiberty. I read these posts earlier today and was also thinking of how we take scripture and try to apply it in ways that allow us to live the life we want, not the life God wants. In creation (as told in the Bible, written by men but inspired by God), God created a man and a woman and then told them to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion (take care of) the earth. I guess this was God’s first commandment, given before sin. That is all he wanted us to do and He created the perfect way for that to happen – one man and one woman joined together to be fruitful, multiply, and care for the creation of God. There wasn’t any variation on the plan. Then sin entered the world when Adam and Eve listened to that question “Did God really say?” and we are still asking the same question today, trying to make our choices in life fit with what God laid out for us. Was God so set in his ways? Yes. God’s ways don’t change, no matter how much we try to pick and choose scripture to try to fit our sinful choices.
But, God’s way also includes forgiveness, for every sin. I totally agree with MommyLiberty, some sins are harder to overcome than others, but we have to acknowledge our sins and receive forgiveness, over and over again. Our lives are to be lived to God’s glory, and in our weaknesses, His power is magnified. May God guide us through His inerrant Word as we discuss these issues.
Alicia, I was going to come back on and say something about God being “set in His Ways” but you have said it well! I am thankful for a God who is set in His ways. Set in His ways enough to keep His promise to send us a Savior and set in His ways enough to send His Son to die for our sins. A God who is set in His ways enough that as a baptized saint and yet also a sinner, fed on His Word and Sacraments, I can KNOW that my sins are forgiven and that I have a place in heaven. I don’t need a God who changes his mind. I have a God who never changes and never fails. Blessed assurance!
And, here — Alicia and Karen — is the peace that passes all understanding. Thankfully, His ways are not my ways. Nor do they change. On this rollercoaster ride of life, mine do. And with changing ways come failures and unhappiness. Ezerwoman, both saint and sinner, thanks God for being set in His unchanging-for-my-benefit way.
Sorry I’m so late to get back in this conversation. Great responses here. I do want to reply to “Myinnermostthinking” on my reference to the “skin of a pig” I wanted a clarification if that was a reference to the fact that we don’t obey all the ceremonial laws of the OT. There seems to be a lot of that brought up when arguing in favor of homosexuality, asserting that we “pick and choose” which laws to obey. I appreciate that others have touched on this, in that Jesus came to fullfil those laws and give us a new covenant.
However, I don’t think we want to imply that only Christians are supposed to obey the laws of nature. The natural or moral law in the 10 commandments or the Tao are common to all religions and all civilizations. Because the Romans and Greeks thought homosexuality was socially acceptable doesn’t make it so. Hilter and the general German population thought it was socially acceptable to kill Jews (and basically anyone that wouldn’t go along with them), but we know that is wrong.
Christianity isn’t law based. Moses came to give the law (but even before that killing was wrong).
CHRIST came to give us forgiveness for breaking the law, by taking our punishment on himself. Repentance is acknowledging that we are sinful and being sorry. When we recognize that Christ is our Savior from sin, we don’t sin more. We repent and pray for Him to help us change. That is what Christianity is, not living a perfect life and not making our own laws.
So, my point is, homosexuality is unnatural, against the laws of nature. It isn’t only Christians that believe that. Something worth thinking about is, if everyone had always kept sexually pure (one man + one woman for life) what would our world be like. I think we wouldn’t have so many of the problems that we do. So many things: disease (STD’s and HIV AIDS), poverty (single parent families etc) pornography and child molestation, would be lessened or nonexistant. Children would be more secure in their homes. I know it can’t happen because of sin, all of the evil in this world comes from sin brought on by Adam and Eve thinking they could be like God. Thank you, God, for sending us a Savior in Jesus!
I just don’t get why he would make homesexuals if he viewed it as wrong…if he was so loving why would he make someone prone to sin. If God wants us to be happy why would he create us chemically designed to sin…to me that just doesn’t make sence. If we are born to feel a certain way about someone or our DNA says that we will act a certain way, God had to have known that he was setting himself up for failure. And in that case I say it’s his own fault that we sin…don’t geneticlly make someone in a way that is in many of your eyes a “failure”. But then again I am sure it is writen somewhere in the Bible that we shouldn’t question his judgement or that he is not supposed to be able to be easily understood. And if it is, then the authors used that as a scape goat to all the unanswered questions.
I don’t see why it is that big of an issue. Gay people don’t go home at night and think of what straight people do in their own homes, and I’m sure you all don’t stay up all night thinking of gays. In the end we can always just have our anointing of the sick sacriment and everything is forgiven anyway (again a Bible loop hole if you ask me).
I do REALLY like the car anallogy though so bravo on that one “MommyLiberty5013”.
And Kie the general German population did not even know that Hitler was killing Jews…most people committing those crimes were doing them because if they didn’t they would have been killed themselves. Not saying that this is an excuse or goes for all Germans but there were a large chunk that had no idea or were forced to do what they did.
“if he was so loving why would he make someone prone to sin.”
We are all “prone to sin” but we can’t blame God. He made Adam and Eve perfect. It was when they rejected His one command that the world fell into sin. The DNA argument is a red herring. Some people are born genetically more prone to alchololism. Do we then say they must be drunks or do we say maybe you shouldn’t indulge in alcohol?
As for the Germans, it was legal to kill Jews, it was an everyday happening. I would guess not all the Greeks and Romans were homosexual either. I still say just because they accepted it, doesn’t mean it was right.
Is gay love really “love”? I would submit that it cannot be love. A man can “love” a man in a non-romantic sense, in the sense that all people should “love” each other. Thus the command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But the form our love takes–that is governed by God. A mother loves her daughter, and a father loves his son, but this kind of love is god-pleasing love. In the realm of vocation, there is even love shown by surgeons when they cut into another human being–but it is not considered “love” when this is done by someone who is not in the medical field.
Scripture tells husbands to “love” their wives as Christ loved the Church. Gay “love” falls into the category of lust, not love.
“Myinnermostthinking”… you might take a look at my post “No Heckling Someone Different.” God can’t create anything flawed or sinful. Flaws and sins are the opposite of God who is perfection. He created the first man and woman perfect. He warned them against the one thing that he knew would spoil that perfection and the beautiful relationship between God, man, and woman. They ignored the warning. Thumbed their nose at it. Chose to do what seemed right in their own eyes. You and I are affected by the consequences of that first sin. We have struggles. Life is hard. Yet, in love, God still warns: “No! Don’t do this or that sin… because you will be hurt if you do.” He puts up boundaries for our own protection. Marriage between one man and one woman is one such boundary, protecting a fragile relationship and making a safe place for children..
Myinnermostthinking, you said that “today we are changing what God has given us to interpret because some people don’t understand or don’t want to believe that there may be people different from their own.”
In fact, all the Biblical statements against homosexuality (both Old and New Testament) are quite clear and leave little or no room for different interpretations. It’s also safe to say that our culture, like the Romans and Greeks, leans toward accepting homosexuality. A few church denominations have even fallen into the trap of accepting it. Homosexuality is becoming more culturally acceptable all the time. So it doesn’t make sense to argue that we are changing our interpretation of Scripture to fit with something “suddenly” becoming unacceptable in society. As a Christian, I wish I didn’t have to stand by a view that is considered by my culture to be hateful and discriminatory. It’s an uncomfortable stance, but one that I must take because it has been God’s stance from the beginning.
But I do want to point out a mistake that many Christians in America are making. Many of us have come to see homosexuality as a worse sin than all the others. Those of us who don’t struggle with that particular sin are so comfortable publicly condemning it because we can puff ourselves up and feel self-righteous. Some who call themselves Christian even use it as an excuse to be hateful, violent, bullying. How did Jesus respond to those blatantly living in sin? He hung out with them, talked and listened to them, loved them. He met them where they were and managed to do so without ever being a push-over when it came to their sin. We would do well to remember that we are all in the same boat. Heterosexual lust is as sinful as homosexual lust. Christians clamor for the Defense of Marriage Act. But how many Christians would be on board if the Defense of Marriage Act outlawed divorce? Divorce is another sin about which God is painfully clear. It’s just one example of countless sins. We all have unrepentant sin in our lives. Thank God for forgiveness and salvation through Jesus. I pray we never forget when correcting our brothers and sisters to do so in love, and to first take the planks out of our own eyes (Luke 6:41-42). By the way, I think all the commentors on this post have done a great job of this. It’s just something we all need to be reminded of sometimes, especially when discussing issues like homosexuality.
Rev. Beisell…I really feel bad for your congregation if you preach like that to them…it is people like you that make kids scared to be who they truly are.
Lust is when a priest takes advantage of a child. Love is when you want to be with a person for the rest of your life. That is why wedding vowels speak of being with someone through sickness and in health, good times and bad. I never hear of vows speaking of being with someone as long as they are of opposite sex.
I respect your decision to “sign off” on this discussion, Matt. (May I call you by your first name?) Sometimes even thinking and caring people can begin to, as you say, go in circles. Sometimes our worldviews are just too different. Sometimes there is no common ground. I will add just one thing that might be of a little help. I’ve always believed that God is the God of Love. He created love. Without God, there can be no real love. But, God did not force Adam and Eve — or any of his creatures — to love. Love to be real love must be reciprocal. To love God is to obey Him. But, He does not force our obedience. He wants our willing obedience because we trust Him. The first man and woman failed to trust God. And, when they fell into sin, their love was no longer perfect. Their bodies were no longer perfect. Man and woman looked at each other differently. And, yes, women began to look at women in a sinful way as men looked at men in a sinful way. This went against God’s original and perfect creation of human beings that were His crown of creation. Romans 1 tells us what happens when we men and women “do what is right in our own eyes.” God could stop it all, but I think He desires that we come to realization of our own hurtful sin and try to resist choices and behaviors that cannot please Him. Thank you, Matt, for your patience with dialogue. Thank you, too, Nicole, for a very articulate and kind response. May we, as the human family, strive to be gentle with one another while never compromising God’s Word. God’s Word is either what He says it is, or it isn’t. Same goes for Jesus Christ who calls Himself the Word. He is either who He says He is, or He is a fool.