Whenever I speak to a youth group on the topic of homosexuality, I always ask, “How many of you know someone who is gay?” Invariably, at least 80% raise their hands. One of the reasons I do this is for the benefit of the adults and pastors in the room. Many folks in their 40s and especially 50s and older are completely out of touch with reality when it comes to what young people are experiencing and processing on the topic of homosexuality.
At one church conference I spoke at, the leaders debated right up to a few days before the event about whether or not I, and a fellow presenter, should be allowed to speak. They didn’t think the issue was “relevant” for their youth (after all gay people are outside the church—there are, apparently, no Christians with same-gender attraction). Fortunately, one of the youth workers, who had a handful of girls in her group questioning their sexuality, managed to convince them it was, indeed, relevant.
A friend of mine recently described a good example of the generation gap that exists when it comes to perspectives on homosexuality. While on a church mission trip to Italy, my friend and her teammates walked by two women passionately making out on the steps of a public building. A mother and daughter on the team had the following conversation:
Shocked mother exclaims: “I’ve never seen anything like it!”
Teenage daughter nonchalantly quips back: “I have.”
Shocked mother responds: “What?? You have?? Where??
Not long ago, I spoke with a 21 year old gay woman who had just “come out.” She had grown up in a Christian home, was home-schooled her whole life and was (until she came out) a leader in the Jr. High group at her church. When she tried to talk to her pastor about her same-gender attractions, he didn’t have anything to say except: “It’s wrong.” Desperate for answers, she talked to a gay pastor down the street who was able to give her a very intelligent, well-thought out theological response. Many evangelical pastors, leaders, and parents have no idea what to say to their gay youth because they have never given it much thought beyond politics.
Last night I spoke to a youth group at an evangelical church in San Jose, California. These are some of the questions they wrote down on 3×5 cards. If the youth in your church asked you these questions, how would you respond?
“I have a gay brother who is getting ‘married’ in July. I just received the “save the date!” He has always looked at me as ‘that Christian guy who judges!’ I truly love him and want to be there for him, but I am completely against everything he is doing. Should I go?”
“I have a friend who is a girl and she is a lesbian, or bisexual. She told me she had been raped and doesn’t really like guys. I tried to talk to her about it but she just didn’t feel like talking about it. What do I do or say that can help her?”
“Will homosexuals go to heaven?”
“What if someone is a Christian and does not see any problem with being gay? He says he is happy the way he is. What do you do? He has come to me crying and confused sometimes. But other times he says he does not want to change.”
“How do you be a close friend to someone who is gay without sending them the wrong message—that you may like them?”
“What is the best way for us as Christian straight people to love our gay friends without watering down truth?”
“Are people born homosexual?”
“At what age does a person come to the conclusion of being gay?”
“What do you do when your best friend (of the same sex) confesses they like you more than a friend, and you feel awkward confronting them on it?”
“If what God wants is for us to give and receive love, then how can it be wrong for two consenting adults experiencing love together be wrong? Especially when there has been a sexual assault in a person’s past which makes them unable to be with men? How can God want you to be alone for life because you were [mistreated by men]? Seems unfair.”
“Is lesbianism and homosexuality more common from homes that are single parent families missing mother or father and in homes where abuse has occurred?”
“How do you answer gay Christians who say that the Bible doesn’t condemn homosexuality? Is there anything specific I can reply with?”
“How do you stop having same-sex desires?”
“Do you think someone can be born as a homosexual? Do you think God gives people over to their sin and allows them to be born that way?”
“What percentage, do you think, of gay people are actually engaging in sexual activity?
“I have a friend who is gay and has a nice guy, but I want him to come out of that because I know its sin. How do I tell him or encourage him?”
“Do you consider yourself gay or straight with homosexual tendencies?”
“Do you think a homosexual couple can successfully raise a child?”
“My sister is gay and I love her, but she is angry at the Church and she always makes jibes at me about Christians to try to get a rise out of me. I don’t know how to respond.” (asked in-person afterward).
“You said we should not tell jokes about gay people. My friends and I often say, “That’s so gay.” Everyone says it. Is that a bad thing to say? Should I not say it anymore?” (asked in-person afterward).
Christian Online Support Groups for Gay/Questioning Youth
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25 Comments
March 3, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I wish so very much that the church would begin seriously answering these questions. People want answeres, and if they can’t get them from the church, well, they’ll just go elsewhere. I’m glad you’re out there helping people with these things.
In my own story, I think I knocked the air out of my preacher when I told him about my struggles. You could have heard a pin drop. I think he thought it was a nonissue for a Christian as well. And of course he ended up rather poorly handling the situation after the fact. We’ve only recently started saying more than a “hi” or “goodbye” to each other again. It just makes me wonder how come preachers haven’t been better taught about how to handle such things. I wonder sometimes if they’re taught at all.
God bless ya.
Brandon
March 4, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Hi Karen,
Just a quickie from me on this; incredibly different, eh?
No one can answer those questions in any kind of certitude and honesty. And there is a point at which the two intersect: the “hope for change is possible” — the famous Exodus mantra — doesn’t cut it anymore. Too many reality checks have come forth from too many.
To be honest with you, to put oneself in the firing line of these largely answerless questions is strange. Why hold the responsibility for “answers” when people don’t change, family members don’t become straight, etc…?
And any of us — Exodus, you, me, anyone who presumes to know the correct answers to these questions is in deep water. Too much reality has emerged over time as stories are compared, not hidden away in ministry files, etc…
March 5, 2008 at 9:15 am
Brandon–I wish the church would begin to take these questions seriously too. And, to answer them with grace and understanding, rather than with misinformed stereotypes and condemning rhetoric.
It takes so much courage to step out like you did and tell your pastor. I am sorry to hear he did not respond the best, but am so glad you did it anyway. By being open we challenge the stereotypes that the people in our church have of those with same-gender attraction. Then they can see that we are people they know rather than “aliens from outerspace” who exist outside the church. I pray your pastor will grow in wisdom and love so he can begin responding in more meaningful and helpful ways.
AM–There is so much mystery isn’t there? Certainly some answers in life will alway elude us, but I still think its so important to grapple with these questions–to ponder and discuss them, and to address them the best we can.
For example, with the question of whether gays go to heaven, I told the youth group that people don’t go to heaven or hell because they are gay or straight. This question usually comes up because people believe homosexuality is the worst type of sin. I try to dispel that myth. Regardless of sexual orientation we are all equal before God. Gay or straight, we all find reconciliation with God by humbly accepting what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross–the forgiveness of our sins whatever they may be, and with it the opportunity to be made spiritually alive by believing in and identifying with Jesus’ resurrection.
March 5, 2008 at 9:41 am
AM one could also say that depsite the mantra coming from The Human Rights Campaign and Glesen that “change is impossible” — the famous gay activist mantra — that it to doesn’t cut it.
In fact I belive that most ex gay’s are not even Christian but leave for a myriad of reasons.Exdous is a great punching bag for the activist but I left gay lifetsyle because it offered me nothing!
In truth the sex got cold and old and after a while without genuine relationship the cards began to fall. The more homosexuality is accpeted in the culture the more you will see the voices of those both secular and religous come out of this life.
Sarah
http://www.myspace.com/freedomispossible
March 5, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Sarah, respectively, I have personally found that it is not about “coming out of this life” as though it was exiting a gay bar. What countless gays have found — including Christians is despite all the prayer, fasting, counseling, etc… the homosexual orientation does not come out of them.
What totally amazed me after I stopped going to bars was that I never had to go to them in the first place! There were plenty of Chistian women in church who had immutable orientations, too — in church, ex-gay ministries, etc…
As far as the sex getting old and cold, hmm…that can happen for straights too. And for many gays, a straight relationship is not an option, at least not a realistic one.
March 6, 2008 at 10:08 am
Hi Sarah and AM,
Thanks for your comments! I appreciate you guys interacting on this blog. May I ask you something? I am interested in what both of you (as well as anyone else out there who wants to comment) thinks about the questions these youth have asked as I’ve listed them in this post.
We can easily go back and forth on the same debate that usually happens with a discussion on homosexuality. I don’t want this post to be reduced to that same debate. What I really would like to hear is how would each of you–if you were a pastor–respond to some of these questions in a genuine, compassionate way? Or, if you were asking some of these questions to your pastor, how would you hope they would respond?
It doesn’t mean we have to have every answer figured out-but we need to be able to engage meaningfully with our youth–both those who have same-gender attraction and those who do not. Everyone is avoiding real discussion with our youth on this. What would you say? What would you hope your pastor would say or how do you hope Christian parents would respond to these questions?
March 6, 2008 at 6:23 pm
[...] Karen Keen comments on the generation gap between conservative Christian adults and their teenage children. [...]
March 10, 2008 at 1:49 pm
O.K., Karen, I will pick up the gauntlet.
There is no compassionate, genuine way to respond. The closest would be to offer the individual/groups the Scripture to “work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, etc…”
What else is offered barring a true orientation change for those whose homosexuality may be linked to molestation, etc…?
A lifetime of shut down with celibacy, a series of “oops” and “I’m really not gay, just a struggler a la Exodus speak.”
I have nothing to say to pastors and “the church” so I am not going to put myself into nervous breakdown mode getting “them” to understand. Curiously, people such as Al Mohler (of the S. Baptist convention) seemingly *does* understand and offers a pre-natal solution. A bit too late for you and I….
The problem, as I see it, Karen, is when you have “follow-up” with these questioners. This is part of Exodus’ biggest dilemmas: Where are the stories of those who are sucessess or at the very least not at constant war?
Which is why I would personally never hold a Q and A session with anyone: yet alone youth.
March 10, 2008 at 2:02 pm
AM–I am afraid your response would leave many struggling youth feeling a bit depressed! I appreciate your honesty though. Not everyone is up for engaging in this type of question/answer session with youth groups.
If it were me, what I would tell youth is that no matter what they are going through God loves them more than they can imagine and that as much as possible I will hold their hand and walk with them through their struggles, questions and pain even if I don’t have all the answers.
I would tell them that even in the midst of life difficulties there is hope and even joy that comes from knowing and living for Jesus. I would let them know that even though I have made some difficult decisions for my life, that I am very happy and well-adjusted and that having same-gender attraction doesn’t mean one’s life is doomed to be miserable–even if one decides to live single and celibate instead of having a homosexual relationship (as I have decided for myself).
AM, it sounds like maybe you could use a boost of joy and hope in your own life? I pray God blesses you with his shalom today.
March 10, 2008 at 2:41 pm
AM–I deleted your last comment. Normally I don’t like to do that, but I found it unhelpful to this discussion. I don’t want to keep having the same debate with you over and over. The purpose of this post is to encourage helpful discussion on how to help our youth.
March 10, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Karen,
You directly asked my opinion and then didn’t like it. To my mind, that speaks so much of the ex-gay mindset: nothing of disagreement need apply.
My way to help youth is not to lead them down the rabbit trail of “hope for change” whatever that means.
Perhaps you should print an intro piece to your blog that only those who agree with you need comment. I won’t waste my or your time anymore.
March 14, 2008 at 12:48 am
I think those answers would be very good ones, Karen. Despite whatever anyone thinks of Exodus and their message of change, I actually did think their Truth And Tolerance booklet had a lot of great answers to these questions (and not necessarily change oriented answers either, just honest ones). I know reading that really did help me to better understand a lot of things. I remember after about the first couple of paragraphs thinking “Finally, somebody gets it and is giving me some answers”. So, it’d be something good to look up. But just telling people how much God really does love them and being willing to walk alongside side of them, that means so much.
God bless.
April 2, 2008 at 1:46 am
Dang, if ONLY someone came to my youth group and passed out 3 X 5 cards to explore these questions! Even if the pastor didn’t have ready, helpful answers or a comprehensive resource library to refer me to, just being offered an open place to explore would have been HUGE for me.
I was in high school in the 80’s at a non-denominational Christian church in San Jose, and the isolation I felt from the silence of homosexuality was the closest thing that I could imagine hell to be. The message that I internalized from everyone’s silence was that I was unacceptable, even my questions were unacceptable. I needed company. I needed to know that God was still with me. I needed to know that another human was with me, too. Just WITH me. I didn’t even need answers at that time, just company “as is.” Feeling loved and accepted at that time probably would have calmed my system enough to know that the answers would eventually come, and that I wasn’t alone while I waited.
If I was a youth leader and offered my group a place to ask questions such as you did, I would say, “Excellent question! Would you like to try to figure it out together?” In fact, I’d do that with whatever question they’d have, about whatever topic. To be offered company in the vulnerable search for answers to scarey questions, along with permission to grow and discover at a natural, organic pace could be the most powerful, life-giving offering that we could extend to youth, as well as to each other. “Seek, and ‘we’ shall find,” would be a great youth group motto.
April 4, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Great thoughts J.D. Thanks for sharing.
July 24, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Actually, these aren’t hard questions unless one is clinging to a worldview that willfully denies reality.
“I have a gay brother who is getting ‘married’ in July. I just received the “save the date!” He has always looked at me as ‘that Christian guy who judges!’ I truly love him and want to be there for him, but I am completely against everything he is doing. Should I go?”
Yes, you should go if you can keep your opinions to yourself, and if you love your brother. Otherwise, stay home, please. He calls you judgmental for a reason, and was showing you grace by inviting you in the first place.
“Will homosexuals go to heaven?”
I don’t know. Jesus was much more concerned with rules-obsessed religious people than gays. Will modern Pharisees go to heaven?
“What if someone is a Christian and does not see any problem with being gay? He says he is happy the way he is. What do you do? He has come to me crying and confused sometimes. But other times he says he does not want to change.”
“Change” among gay men is a myth. Even Exodus is now forced to admit that no one’s orientation actually changes. Womens’ sexuality is much more complex. Love your friend no matter what. That’s how Jesus would play it.
“How do you be a close friend to someone who is gay without sending them the wrong message—that you may like them?”
Why do you assume that the gay person would be attracted to you? Do you find yourself that beautiful in the mirror, Narcissus?
“What is the best way for us as Christian straight people to love our gay friends without watering down truth?”
Actually, it’s not really your business to share you perception of “truth” with your gay friends. If they want your opinion, they’ll ask.
“Are people born homosexual?”
The science would suggest this, yes. Recent studies find differences in the brains of heterosexuals and homosexuals, and genetic studies are finding that something called “sexual antagonism” seems to play an evolutionary role. This advances the understanding of why homosexuality appears in thousands of species in the animal kingdom.
“At what age does a person come to the conclusion of being gay?”
Well, gay men, being visually stimulated, experience attraction to the same gender at the same time straight men feel attraction to the opposite gender: puberty. Science shows that men become aroused before forming a full sexual thought — that men’s sexual arousal is a purely biological response. Womens’ sexuality isn’t typically reliant on visual stimulation, so many women come into understanding their sexuality at different times.
“What do you do when your best friend (of the same sex) confesses they like you more than a friend, and you feel awkward confronting them on it?”
Be flattered, yet honest.
“If what God wants is for us to give and receive love, then how can it be wrong for two consenting adults experiencing love together be wrong? Especially when there has been a sexual assault in a person’s past which makes them unable to be with men? How can God want you to be alone for life because you were [mistreated by men]? Seems unfair.”
The fulfillment of the law, according to Jesus and Paul, is love. Therefore, whatever other commandments may exist (and/or be misinterpreted), if two people are acting in love, as in a loving mutually committed same gender marriage, they are fulfilling Jesus’s law of love.
“Is lesbianism and homosexuality more common from homes that are single parent families missing mother or father and in homes where abuse has occurred?”
No. Old Anti-Gay Wives’ Tale. In my close circle of five gay men, all of us have married parents and come from Christian homes, for example. None were molested/abused.
“How do you answer gay Christians who say that the Bible doesn’t condemn homosexuality? Is there anything specific I can reply with?”
Long response that I’m not typing out right now. Lots of resources on the inter-tubes. Lots of disagreement. Why are you so intent on disturbing your friends’ relationships with God anyway? Seriously, it’s kind of sick.
“How do you stop having same-sex desires?”
You don’t. I’m sorry. But you’re not evil. That’s just the way you’re made. Stop torturing yourself. God loves you.
“Do you think someone can be born as a homosexual? Do you think God gives people over to their sin and allows them to be born that way?”
It doesn’t matter what you “think” or “believe” about it, science is answering the question, and all signs point to YES! Are you really suggesting that God would “give people over to their sin” who haven’t been born yet? Kind of sick! We don’t need these mystical explanations anymore…diseases aren’t “demons” and sexuality isn’t a “sin.”
“What percentage, do you think, of gay people are actually engaging in sexual activity?”
Who cares? Probably about the same percentage as straight people…
“I have a friend who is gay and has a nice guy, but I want him to come out of that because I know its sin. How do I tell him or encourage him?”
Butt out, it’s not your business.
“Do you consider yourself gay or straight with homosexual tendencies?”
Well, since the second choice is about as real as unicorns, I consider myself gay.
“Do you think a homosexual couple can successfully raise a child?”
Doesn’t matter what I think, the data and easily observable reality show that the answer is YES.
“My sister is gay and I love her, but she is angry at the Church and she always makes jibes at me about Christians to try to get a rise out of me. I don’t know how to respond.” (asked in-person afterward).
Show her that you’re not like the Christians who have spiritually abused her.
“You said we should not tell jokes about gay people. My friends and I often say, “That’s so gay.” Everyone says it. Is that a bad thing to say? Should I not say it anymore?”
Eh, you should probably cool it with that. It’s not because it’s “bad,” but because it makes you look ignorant to educated people.
See? That wasn’t hard. I deleted the question that was specifically about rape, because I’m not an expert on that issue, so, unlike some people, I don’t present myself as an expert source on that issue.
July 24, 2008 at 5:04 pm
This is an incredible post for this blog. Thank you, Evan.
Now, I will be interested in seeing what Karen finds wrong and/or right with it. Much of what Evan says, I resonate with; I’m just not as succinct as putting it into words as he is which is part of the reason I come across the way that I do.
and 
July 26, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I purposely did not go through and answer every question because the post is intended to get people to think through them and reflect on how they would answer them. So I am not going to go through and answer all the questions. People need to take the time to do that for themselves. However I will say that the issues are not as simple as two-line quips. Sexuality is complex. There is a lot of emotion behind these issues for people that require sensitivity and a good listening ear.
There are a couple things I do want to respond to though. One, there is no proof at this time that people are born gay. That is, that biology is the sole factor in causation. So that is simply not factual. The American Psychological Association states: “”There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles…” (http://www.apa.org/topics/sorientation.html)
Also the “love ethic” vs. “sexual ethic” promoted by Wink is flawed. Doing whatever we think feels like love is not necessarily love. The same argument used by Wink could be used to sanction incest between two consenting adults who care about each other. Jesus said if we love him we will obey his commands. Love means there are boundaries and Scripture outlines what some of those boundaries are.
As for the issue of change. There are studies that suggest a minority of people do experience a shift in sexual orientation. And, I know of people personally who have experienced that shift. Its really because of insecurity and politics that some gays are hyper-dogmatic to try to interpret everyone else’s experience for them. It really shouldn’t threaten anyone if others have a different life experience. That is, that some change and some don’t. In any case, I refuse to get into an argument that tries to rebut someone else’s personal experience of change/or lack thereof. Those who want to read about that debate that has already taken place on this blog can read it in the post, “Can Gays Change?”
July 26, 2008 at 9:21 pm
*sigh*
Scientists don’t work within the realm of “proof,” Karen.
They work within the realm of falsification. The studies I mentioned are very recent. I highly doubt they’ve been published in the so-called “ex-gay” businesses.
But that’s why I said that the current research points to the idea that yes, sexual orientation is biological. Now, it is true that women and men work differently. This, anecdotally, is why so many of the people trotted out by so-called “ex-gay” businesses as success stories are women these days. Exodus and their ilk have been burned again and again as men who have “graduated” from their programmes have “fallen off the wagon,” so to speak, and re-embraced their true identities as gay men. It may be found that women have a little bit more leeway in sexual orientation than men do. If so, that STILL provides no good reason why anyone should want to “change” her sexual orientation. After all, if women have more leeway in the first place, then women aren’t “changing” anything anyway!
The problem, of course, is that because scientists do not have a definitive answer as of yet, the so-called “ex-gay” businesses for some reason make an intellectually incoherent leap and claim that gay people are NOT born gay. It’s completely ludicrous and shows a disdain for the current scientific evidence, but that’s completely in line with the history of Christendom (and all religion, really…), so no one’s really surprised.
As to the men, well, Karen, no matter what you or Exodus says, no one really has any proof, because no, sexual orientation is decidedly NOT behaviour. So, unless you’re hooking the men up to a machine that measures arousal and proving that “change” has indeed occurred…you’ve got nothing.
Your response about love is, frankly, insulting, and scripture is nowhere near as clear on this issue as you’ve been led to believe.
I’m sorry to be hard on you, because I believe you are acting out of a pure heart (at least I would give you that benefit of the doubt, unlike many in the anti-gay “Christian” movement), but I know the people who have to clean up the blood after your peoples’ work is done.
Believe me, the kingdom suffers for it.
July 27, 2008 at 7:15 am
Are you saying the APA works in falsification and that you have access to research they don’t? The quote I gave from the APA was just put out. So its current.
Also I have been around the ex-gay movement for 13 years and I did not experience harm from it. Nor have many other people I have met. Do some people experience harm? Certainly. I think that is probably true for every movement. I can find people who say their experience in the gay community was harmful. And I could go on a crusade, as some do, and try to falsely stereotype all gay people based on the stories of some who have been harmed by the gay community. But, I realize everyone’s experience is different. So I don’t do that.
If you are unwilling to truly listen to the stories of those who differ from you, and resort to demonizing and stereotyping those you disagree with, it will not allow room for productive conversation and engagement.
July 27, 2008 at 6:10 pm
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you WERE. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Now I’m personally not waiting around for God to miraculously heal me and make me heterosexual (He by all means could if He wants to). I’m 20 years old and I’m going to get up and start living for Him. If that means I have to be single all of my life then so be it.
July 27, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Sarah,
The word “homosexual” was inserted in the text during the 20th century.
Just so you know.
I’ll respond to you more later, Karen.
Busy with other things right now.
July 28, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Evan you seem bitter about something that the church did to you and for that I am sorry. But taking out your anger on us isn’t going to change anything and it isn’t going to change the fact that there are a lot of people who aren’t just going to sit there and let their sex drive control them. There are some of us who are bigger than that. We are humans with a conciseness and we don’t have to accept our SSA as how we are no matter what studies say.
About that verse, I personally am going to believe the bible over some random person on the internet. But for some reason if you are right I still know that Gods grace covers all and what God did for me on that cross covers every sin I’ve ever committed even being attracted to other girls.
I honestly mean no offense but I don’t know how to say what I just said any other way.
July 28, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Oh please don’t take my word for it, look it up for yourself, by ALL means!
Oh, and being attracted to girls: Not A Sin.
Unless you’re going to tell me that animals are sinning when they have same-sex relations, or that humans are to be held to a different standard from God’s creation…
That’s the thing about a truly “literal” interpretation of the Bible — it implies a lot more understanding of context and a willingness to dive deep into the text with eyes wide open for culture, themes…
July 29, 2008 at 8:57 am
To say that the word “homosexual” was inserted into the text during the 20th century is extremely misleading. It gives the impression that people recently added verses prohibiting homosexuality and that the Bible originally never said anything about homosexuality. That is simply not true.
The Bible explicitly prohibits same-sex intercourse. In fact, many pro-gay theologians acknowledge this. What many gay affirming theologians do instead is give rationalizations for why we should no longer follow the Bible’s prohibition.
The word “homosexual” conveys in English, for most people, the concept of an individual who has sex with the same-gender. Depending on the time era people have called individuals who have same-sex intercourse by different names–sodomite, homosexual, queer etc. But, they all convey the same basic premise–someone who engages in same-sex intercourse. The Bible reflects in the English translation our current modern terms–and thus, “homosexual.”
July 29, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Evan, you seem shocked by the notion that humans would be held to a different standard from the rest of God’s creation. However, were you aware of the fact that sexual monogamy is very rare among animals? Thus, if we are to use animal sexual behavior as the standard for what is “natural” or acceptable, all of us really ought to be sleeping around more. If you think this is the case, I have difficulty seeing how you are reading the same Bible as the rest of us. Even most side A (gay-affirming Christian) people I am familiar with believe that people are called to monogamy, unlike animals.
And in matters other than sexual behavior, behaviors such as cannibalism are found in the animal kingdom. Are these behaviors, too, acceptable for human beings created in the image of God?
Really, I think the fact that humans are different from and held to a higher standard than the rest of creation is a basic theological fact that even most side A people would accept.
Although I would actually agree that attraction to members of the same sex is not itself sinful, I believe that acting out sexually on those attractions is. But on this point we differ.