by Cheryl AF Okimoto
My husband recently received an email titled: “Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival - LAST - CALL FOR ENTRIES.” Yes, it was a call for gay and lesbian films. Paul’s immediate reaction was, “I need to get them to unsubscribe me.” But then he thought, what if I asked people to pray for them.
Homosexuality is one of the hottest debated subjects, both in the Church and in the world. How do we deal with it? Is it right or wrong? Is it sin, or are people born with it?
What does the bible say?
V Leviticus 18:22 – You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.
V Leviticus 20:13 – If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.
V Romans 1:27 – and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
V 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
V 1 Timothy 1:9-11 – . . . the law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
If we accept the bible as the one true word of God, and the Island Christian Guide does, then we have no choice but to accept that God says homosexuality is a sin. What does that say for the studies that strongly indicate that homosexuality is an inherited trait?
All sin is an inherited trait! We are all born into original sin. We are born with a sinful nature that will tend toward the sins of our fathers, visited upon us from the third and fourth generation. Is it possible that the inheritance of the sins of our fathers brings the apparent genetic predisposition to any sin?
Regardless of the “nature” of homosexuality, or any other sin for that matter, the bible is very clear that when we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we receive a new nature! “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature,” 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares. Whatever we were before Christ no longer defines us after we become a Christian.
So, whether your “big” sin was murder, homosexuality, adultery, lying, stealing, or selfishness, when you become a Christian, God gives you a new nature. And no sin is greater or lesser than another. Sin is sin, and it’s all bad. God is God, and He’s all good. When you step into God’s family, you step out of sin’s family.
That isn’t to say that you won’t sin anymore. But you are no longer defined by your sin. You can be deceived by the devil in many different areas, not just homosexuality. Christians also struggle with adultery, divorce, abortion, alcohol and even cigarettes. When we study the bible, we see that these things are contrary to God’s plan for us, but we often give in because we see ourselves as sinners, not as saints who sin. We believe “that’s the way I am and I can’t help it.” Instead, we should accept that we are now new creatures, and God most certainly can help us. 1 Corinthians 6:11, which immediately follows the verses referenced above, says: “And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.”
Yes, we can overcome the sin of our past whether it is homosexuality, alcoholism, drug addiction, adultery, or anything else you can name. For those who are Christian and continue in any of the sins God names in the bible, ask yourself why you defend your “right” to sin. If you want to belong to God, are you truly willing to give up whatever you must to be His child?
For those who are Christian and have broken the hold of sin in your life, ask yourself what God would have you do for your weaker brothers and sisters. Does He call you to condemn and be judgmental? Or does He require you to live with compassion? Does He want you to accuse, or does He want you to pray?
May we all learn to live in love.
Condemn the sin, yes, but love the sinner.
Accept your sins as sins, not just an “alternative lifestyle.”
Whether you lack compassion or conviction, if you reach out to God, He will give you whatever you need in the measure you need it.
Copyright 2005 Cheryl AF Okimoto
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