- Photo: Coscurro rgbstock
Homosexuality is Unnatural and Sinful
The Bible explains that because of the Fall, all of humankind is innately sinful. More specifically, it considers homosexuality to be unnatural and sinful. Therefore, it stands to reason that an innate homosexual orientation (if it exists), or a developed one, is an expression of fallen mankind’s brokenness and sinfulness.
We All Need to be Rescued
All humans are born with a sinful nature and are inclined to sin in one way or another. Therefore, regardless of the particular characteristics of each person’s sinful nature, whether innate or developed, we are all in need of a Savior to rescue us from its awful consequence. These consequences include our separation from God, our inability to walk free of sin, and our inability to adequately make just amends for the wrongs of our past.
Is the Orientation or the Act a Sin?
In trying to help those who struggle with homosexual orientation, it has been said that the orientation is not a sin, it’s only the activity. However, this cannot refer to the lust of homosexuality, because lusting for something is considered by God to be equivalent to the sin itself. Nor, obviously, could it refer to the orientation prior to coming to Christ, because all sinful orientation is away from God, which is the essence of sinfulness. Instead, the only way in which a Christian can be legitimately associated with a homosexual orientation is when old mindsets and triggers still lurk as sources of temptations.
Our Old Orientation
Sinful orientation is not considered a personal sin if we refer to the intermittent pulls and temptations of the body and un-renewed mind in someone who has come to Christ. These old mindsets and bodily triggers no longer have control over the believer, because the Christian has crucified the flesh. However, they need to be dealt with or they can easily become sources of sin.
Alive, but Challenged
Spiritually, we are completely changed when we come to Christ. However, this begins a journey of further transformation through the renewing of our minds and the putting to death of the inappropriate pulls of the body. Certain soulish and physical triggers remain in the background with the potential to lure a believer into sin. Nevertheless, because a Christian has crucified their flesh, these old ways no longer have the ability to influence a person, as long as they walk in the Spirit.
Victory By The Spirit
It is in this sense that remnants of a homosexual orientation may still exist in a person (in their old mindsets and learned bodily triggers) who was homosexually orientated when they came to Christ. In Christ, however, a person is no longer subject to the flesh, but is free to walk in the Spirit. In fact, they must, for walking in the Spirit is the Christian life. And, to the extent that they walk in the Spirit, they will be enabled to put to death the misdeeds of their bodies and renew their minds and be transformed.
Forgiven and Empowered
However, just as everyone is likely to sin in the same area that they sinned before coming to Christ, it should not surprise us if a person who struggled with pornography has occasional lapses in the same area, or if person who was a homosexual is tempted by their old thoughts and bodily triggers. The good news is that if we have all the resources in Christ to overcome our internal challenges, and, even if we are entangled by sin, which the Bible says can happen easily, we can receive forgiveness, be restored and continue to walk in the Spirit.
Hallelujah!
Amen!
Blessings to all who are struggling in Christ,
Rob
Real Church Life 