I am not a gay Christian. But I have many close friends who are. I am friends with gay, transgendered clergy and gay and lesbian churchgoers. I am friends with gay men who believe in and love Christ with all their heart.
This is a subject that is widely debated in America. There are a million opinions on the matter, but for me, it all comes down to a few key things:
This is a subject that is widely debated in America. There are a million opinions on the matter, but for me, it all comes down to a few key things:
Gay people--Christian or not--are quick to say that they were born that way, with an affinity for attraction to their own gender. I know that there have been dozens of studies into the genetics of homosexuality (Including the infamous twin study) and that most of them have been concluded to find that there is no genetic difference that supports homosexuality. But what everyone is ignoring, is that there is no genetic difference that supports heterosexuality, either.
If the homosexual genetic makeup looks the same as the heterosexual genetic makeup, you cannot simply shout: "Ha! There is nothing to say homosexuals are 'born this way'!" You have to shout: "HA! There is nothing to genetically say that homosexuals OR heterosexuals are 'born this way'!" My point is this: if there is no difference, there is no difference. If our genetic makeup doesn't differ to make us homosexual, it doesn't differ to make us heterosexuals.
But scientists have known for decades that sexuality isn't necessarily reflected in DNA. There's no real question there. The question then is if sexuality is a combination of environmental, sociological and societal constructs. Of course, it is. Our environment, culture and society account for and influence loads. But my base point is this: people are born with either homo or heterosexual feelings. It's just not reflected in DNA. (Just like DNA doesn't reflect whether someone is going to find the color red pleasurable or revolting or if they are going to be akin to violin music or the warbling, ghostly notes of the bass guitar.) But because DNA doesn't say so, doesn't mean it wasn't present a birth.
"Tell me about the day you decided that you were going to be heterosexual." That's what I say to Christian heterosexuals who bash homosexuals. They cannot assign a date to their sexuality and neither can a homosexual. They can talk about the day they realized they were homosexual, but that has more to do with the societal and cultural pressures that view homosexuality as taboo and require individuals "to come out" in the first place. If society required heterosexuals "to come out" it would be just the same. There'd be a time when they realized, but there wouldn't be a time when they decided. If you do not decide to be a certain way, it is innate. You are indeed born with it. Homosexuals and heterosexuals are born with it.
But what about all those verses in Romans where Paul shouts about homosexuality? You know the ones: Romans 1: 18. 24 and 26-32. Where Paul lists sins that deem the sinner worthy of death for committing. Yes, homosexuality is listed there but so is "being filled with unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
That's quite a list, there, Paul. But anyone who does any of those things is worthy of death. That means 100% of the population of the planet is worthy of death. ("For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.") But why aren't we instantly killed the very second we commit one of these fatal acts? Because of Grace.
In Romans 3, Paul says, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
For me (and for Paul), Grace doesn't give us liberty to sin without repentance. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Romans 6: 1 and 2.
My understanding of that verse isn't that sinners should keep sinning so that Grace can exist. Sinners are going to keep signing because we are sinners and because Grace is Grace, it is going to keep existing. One is not necessarily a catalyst for the other. Through the fall, we are all sinners and through God's mercy, we have Grace.
I think the issue many heterosexual Christians have with homosexual Christians is that they put an expiration date and a limit on Grace. Grace isn't a commodity that must be used up by the end of an arbitrary day. Grace is there and will be there. Heterosexual Christians are quick to judge and question someone's faith based on their sexual preference, when really, it has nothing to do with them.
According to Romans 1, we all should be dead for coveting, for lying, for inventing evil things, for being disobedient, for homosexuality. But we aren't. Why? Because of Grace. Why then are heterosexual Christians more ready to accept that divine Grace when it comes to things like, oh, I don't know, God not killing their disobedient children than homosexual adults?
Because Christianity today reflects that flawed pyramid business model: just as the preacher is at the top of the pyramid (and incorrectly so), so do Christians nowadays rank sins. We think lying and disobedience is somehow less of a sin than homosexuality or murder. But according to Romans 1, they are all punishable by death. If the punishment is equal, surely the offense must be, too?
For whatever reason, Christians have harped on homosexuality as being the world's worst sin. Gay people get treated worse than child molesters, abusers and rapists by Christians. They get treated worse than liars, thieves and inventors of evil things. Why? I don't know. At the end of the day we are all covered by Grace and while our actions may not be 100% Biblical, 100% of the time, shouldn't that be between the individual and God? You know, personal relationship and all that.
Yet there are campaigns against gay people. Heterosexual Christians don't think homosexual Christians deserve the most basic rights--like the right to be beside the love of their life when they are dying. Or the right to have their relationship acknowledged by governments. But, where are the Christians making a fuss when murders are allowed the same rights non-murdering, heterosexual Christians have? What makes one sin more acceptable than the other? Furthermore, who gave Christians the gall to 1. Decided this for themselves and 2. To act upon this decision and get so offended by another's lifestyle?
It's crazy and it makes Christians look stupid, small-minded and petty. God says sin is sin. Sin is punishable by death. But then, there's Grace. When it comes to homosexuality, most heterosexual Christians switch off at the Grace bit. They grab their pitchforks and they're ready for a gay hunt. Ignoring the still small voice that is whispering, on refrain, "Grace abounds, Grace abounds, Grace abounds...."
If the homosexual genetic makeup looks the same as the heterosexual genetic makeup, you cannot simply shout: "Ha! There is nothing to say homosexuals are 'born this way'!" You have to shout: "HA! There is nothing to genetically say that homosexuals OR heterosexuals are 'born this way'!" My point is this: if there is no difference, there is no difference. If our genetic makeup doesn't differ to make us homosexual, it doesn't differ to make us heterosexuals.
But scientists have known for decades that sexuality isn't necessarily reflected in DNA. There's no real question there. The question then is if sexuality is a combination of environmental, sociological and societal constructs. Of course, it is. Our environment, culture and society account for and influence loads. But my base point is this: people are born with either homo or heterosexual feelings. It's just not reflected in DNA. (Just like DNA doesn't reflect whether someone is going to find the color red pleasurable or revolting or if they are going to be akin to violin music or the warbling, ghostly notes of the bass guitar.) But because DNA doesn't say so, doesn't mean it wasn't present a birth.
"Tell me about the day you decided that you were going to be heterosexual." That's what I say to Christian heterosexuals who bash homosexuals. They cannot assign a date to their sexuality and neither can a homosexual. They can talk about the day they realized they were homosexual, but that has more to do with the societal and cultural pressures that view homosexuality as taboo and require individuals "to come out" in the first place. If society required heterosexuals "to come out" it would be just the same. There'd be a time when they realized, but there wouldn't be a time when they decided. If you do not decide to be a certain way, it is innate. You are indeed born with it. Homosexuals and heterosexuals are born with it.
But what about all those verses in Romans where Paul shouts about homosexuality? You know the ones: Romans 1: 18. 24 and 26-32. Where Paul lists sins that deem the sinner worthy of death for committing. Yes, homosexuality is listed there but so is "being filled with unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
That's quite a list, there, Paul. But anyone who does any of those things is worthy of death. That means 100% of the population of the planet is worthy of death. ("For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.") But why aren't we instantly killed the very second we commit one of these fatal acts? Because of Grace.
In Romans 3, Paul says, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
For me (and for Paul), Grace doesn't give us liberty to sin without repentance. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Romans 6: 1 and 2.
My understanding of that verse isn't that sinners should keep sinning so that Grace can exist. Sinners are going to keep signing because we are sinners and because Grace is Grace, it is going to keep existing. One is not necessarily a catalyst for the other. Through the fall, we are all sinners and through God's mercy, we have Grace.
I think the issue many heterosexual Christians have with homosexual Christians is that they put an expiration date and a limit on Grace. Grace isn't a commodity that must be used up by the end of an arbitrary day. Grace is there and will be there. Heterosexual Christians are quick to judge and question someone's faith based on their sexual preference, when really, it has nothing to do with them.
According to Romans 1, we all should be dead for coveting, for lying, for inventing evil things, for being disobedient, for homosexuality. But we aren't. Why? Because of Grace. Why then are heterosexual Christians more ready to accept that divine Grace when it comes to things like, oh, I don't know, God not killing their disobedient children than homosexual adults?
Because Christianity today reflects that flawed pyramid business model: just as the preacher is at the top of the pyramid (and incorrectly so), so do Christians nowadays rank sins. We think lying and disobedience is somehow less of a sin than homosexuality or murder. But according to Romans 1, they are all punishable by death. If the punishment is equal, surely the offense must be, too?
For whatever reason, Christians have harped on homosexuality as being the world's worst sin. Gay people get treated worse than child molesters, abusers and rapists by Christians. They get treated worse than liars, thieves and inventors of evil things. Why? I don't know. At the end of the day we are all covered by Grace and while our actions may not be 100% Biblical, 100% of the time, shouldn't that be between the individual and God? You know, personal relationship and all that.
Yet there are campaigns against gay people. Heterosexual Christians don't think homosexual Christians deserve the most basic rights--like the right to be beside the love of their life when they are dying. Or the right to have their relationship acknowledged by governments. But, where are the Christians making a fuss when murders are allowed the same rights non-murdering, heterosexual Christians have? What makes one sin more acceptable than the other? Furthermore, who gave Christians the gall to 1. Decided this for themselves and 2. To act upon this decision and get so offended by another's lifestyle?
It's crazy and it makes Christians look stupid, small-minded and petty. God says sin is sin. Sin is punishable by death. But then, there's Grace. When it comes to homosexuality, most heterosexual Christians switch off at the Grace bit. They grab their pitchforks and they're ready for a gay hunt. Ignoring the still small voice that is whispering, on refrain, "Grace abounds, Grace abounds, Grace abounds...."