Be Ye Doers. . . Of The Word!

It seems the issue of homosexuality has taken the court by storm. You can't pick up a newspaper, turn on the television or hold a conversation for any length of time that this topic doesn't come up. In the newspapers, supposedly "high ranking," "knowledgeable" men and women voice their "opinions" and views on the subject. Television programs are becoming lenient, if not encouraging people to become gay. The news reports show the bickering, the riots and public protests of people all across America; some for, some against homosexuality. In conversations, people voice their opinions, beliefs and ideas openly with friends, Church members and even hated enemies.

One of the biggest problems among doctors and scientists, on this issue, seems to be whether people are "born" as homosexuals or "bred" through their family, friends and surroundings to choose a life of homosexuality.

I was watching a show one time on TV and a scientist was trying to prove that homosexuals were born gay. He said, "Part of their brain was made different." Maybe we should check the brains of the rapists, the bank robbers, the dope pushers and the extortioners. Maybe it is not their fault that they do these things, maybe their brains are just different. Now let's get back to reality. NO ONE IS BORN GAY!

Yea or Nay for Gays

Another interesting facet of the homosexual issue is that all across the country, people are not interested in whether or not homosexuality is a sin. They just want to know how you cast your vote. Do you vote "yea for gays" or do you vote "nay for gays?" People seem to think that because we live in a democracy, the majority is always right. Therefore, if the majority of the people are for homosexuality, it's OK then. With this logic, examine Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

If the majority is always right as many Americans will suggest, then it is alright to go to hell. If you want to go with the majority, that is your decision. I think I will stay on the "straight" and "narrow," with the minority.

The Facts

Earlier in this article, I made a statement that "No one is born gay." If I make this statement without any Scripture to back it, then it is only my opinion and it is no better or worse than anyone else's opinion. On the other hand, if there is Scripture to back up my belief, then it is not opinion, but rather fact from God's Word. By reading Romans 1:18-32, we see that God has related to man, through the Apostle Paul, the consequences for unbelief in God. It is of interest to note that God put the sin of homosexuality in with unbelief in God. Although we will not discuss that issue in depth, we want to concentrate on verses 26 and 27 of Romans chapter 1. "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet."

In these two verses, we see that God gave them up because of their actions, namely homosexuality. God considered their actions as "vile affections." The word "vile," in Greek, means: indignity, disgrace, dishonor, shame. Would God consider an act that He saw nothing wrong with "vile?" These two verses also show that man with man and woman with woman is not natural.

Calvinism and Homosexuality

John Calvin, born 1509, known to many as a French Protestant Reformer, taught in "his" doctrine "Total Depravity;" in other words Predestination. The Calvinistic belief was that no man had any control over where he spent eternity. It was totally up to God whether a man or woman went to Heaven or hell, and man could not change his own destiny. In fact, Calvinism taught that each individual was predestined to hell or Heaven before they were born.

If people were born as homosexuals, (and we know that it is God that creates every individual), then God would be creating people who have no choice where they spend eternity. Just like the doctrine of Calvinism taught.

For example, if God made a man or a woman to have desires for someone of the same gender, it wouldn't matter if they actually committed the act of homosexuality or not, they would still lust after someone of the same sex. This alone would condemn them. God does not create any man or woman to be a homosexual. This is a sin that, as James says, ". . . when he (man or woman) is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:14-15)

People are not born gay! It is not an alternate lifestyle! It is a sin which an individual decides to commit or not to commit.

The Closet

What kinds of things do you have in your closet? Many of us have all sorts of things stored away (or hidden) in our closets. In fact, we would probably be embarrassed if our visitors were to look in them.

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Coming out of the closet" when referring to a homosexual admitting his/her sexual preference? What was that homosexual doing in the closet in the first place? When people use the phrase "coming out of the closet," they are referring to a person who no longer tries to hide his/her homosexual desires. For some reason, unknown to this writer, these people think that they are hidden in the closet. You can't hide something as "vile" as homosexuality, (or any other sin for that matter) in a closet, no matter how remote the location. There is One who is always present in every closet, nook or cranny, anywhere on the face of this earth. You can't hide any form or fashion of sin from Him. Jesus says in Matthew 6:6: "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

Jesus is in the closets and every other place on earth. If you are hiding in the closet of homosexuality, the closet is no place to hide. To come out of the closet may mean to let the world know that you are a homosexual, but Jesus has known all along. If a homosexual really wants to "come out of the closet" or "come clean" with Jesus, he may do so by admitting that he is living in sin. Repent of your sin of homosexuality, believing that Jesus is the Son of God, and confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Be immersed in water for the remission of your sins, and arise to walk in a new way of life, leaving the old life of homosexuality in the closet, (or wherever you choose to leave it) and be faithful to Christ until the end. If you do these things, you won't have to worry about Jesus looking into your closets.