An Immoral Orientation
The Bible is clear that, ever since the fall of man, all of humankind is innately sinful. Furthermore, the Bible specifically calls homosexuality sinful. It is an orientation against the law of God written on everyone’s heart and is called a “degrading passion” by God in His word.
Unfortunately, in trying to be helpful, some have suggested that sexual orientation should not to be considered a sin and that only homosexual activity is to be judged as sinful. However, if sin is being bent or orientated away from God and His will then isn’t that precisely what homosexual orientation is?
Also, regardless of whether or not the homosexual orientation of an individual is innate or chosen, like all sin, the practice of it is a rebellious choice that stems from a sinful nature. Just as an innately heterosexual man is not overwhelmingly compelled to have an affair with a married woman, regardless of how much he loves her, a homosexually orientated person need not outwardly comply with his sinful nature. Similarly, no heterosexual couple should have sex before marriage no matter how right it may seem to them.
Some contend that they don’t see homosexuality as sin. Who are they to dictate to God what is and isn’t sin, when He has already given us His view? And, God points this out because what He intends for each of us is far better than a life in sin, no matter how good it may seem.
An Unnatural Orientation
Concerning adultery, the Lord said that just to look on a woman with lust already constituted adultery. In other words, orientating oneself toward the sin was equal to the sin. But, unlike the sin of fornication or adultery, which are a moral compromise within the natural heterosexual order, homosexuality is more like paedophilia, incest and bestiality, which are unnatural to begin with.
Are we eventually going see P, I and another B added to the LGBTQ list, just so that those who are supposedly misunderstood as being deviant can be accepted? Consider, for example, an article in the Telegraph by Andrew Gilligan, entitled, ‘Paedophilia is natural and normal for males’, which reports how ‘some university academics make the case for paedophiles’.
When it comes to psychological deviancy, it appears that what is normally considered unnatural is being deemed “natural” by virtue of it having occurred in the natural. We are being told to adjust what we consider normal to accommodate the existence and experiences of deviants. However, if, for example, someone was born without a nose, even though it occurred naturally, it would be “natural and normal” for humans to think, “That’s not natural!” or “That’s not normal!” Clearly, what occurs in the natural is not always natural.
It is God who decides what is “natural,” not us. And, He makes it very clear that mankind’s “natural” orientation is a heterosexual one. Within that boundary God then is clear that monogamy is His intention for those who wish to marry and that marriage is the only place for sexual intercourse.
Born Again and Transformed
We are all in need of a Savior to rescue us from our sinful nature and the consequences of having one. In other words, we all need rescuing from both our orientation to sin (which is sinful in and of itself) and also from the sins that come from our sinful orientation. If you repent of your sins and turn to God, He will forgive you and you will be born again into eternal life with Him. At that point, deviant mindsets that used to control you, no longer need to be the definers of the new you. Yes, they may tempt you, but they are no longer in charge of you. Christ is! In Him you are connected to a new source of life, God Himself. To the extent that you let Him, His Spirit empowers you to live in a completely new way. He is your new orientation and He resets all your faulty orientations toward Him. With God we can be governed by a new moral orientation, which is His Very Moral Being within us.
When we come to Christ, we are completely spiritually changed, being made spiritually new and alive to God. At this point we begin a journey of further transformation through the renewing of our minds and the putting to death of the improper impulses (lusts/desires) of the body. Certain unsavoury soulish and physical triggers may easily be activated by thoughts that still remain. These have the potential to lure a believer into sin. However, because a Christian has crucified their flesh, as long as they walk in the Spirit, these old ways need no longer influence a person.
In this sense, remnants of a homosexual orientation may still exist in the old mindsets and learned bodily triggers of Christians who were homosexually orientated when they came to Christ. Nevertheless, in Christ, such a person is no longer subject to the flesh (the pull of the mind and body) and 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, renew their minds and be transformed.
Conclusion
Like a snake that strikes, it’s innate in humans to sin. This sinful nature is an immoral orientation that we are all conceived in and born with. While some are perhaps bent toward homosexuality at conception, others may have become corrupted by choice. Regardless of our sin or its origin, our inability to change is evidence of just how badly we need rescuing. Whatever your sinful ways may be, whether they are innate or learned, God can undo the consequences of the fall and give you a restored life.
Rob Morley
Real Church Life 