Date: September 2004 Title: “In the beginning: Adam & Steve?” (II)

       Writing to the Corinthian Church, Paul noted that his readers had done many sinful things in the past and his list includes homosexual behavior.  For our interests here, we need to note that Paul used the terms for both the submissive (effeminate - malakos) and dominant (arsenokoite) partners in a homosexual relationship.  In becoming Christians, the Corinthians that had previously practiced such things were now washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ’s name.  However, do not miss the element of repentance required, for Paul added the warning that continued practice of these sinful behaviors would exclude even “Christians” from the kingdom of God (1Corinthians 6:9-11).  Compare this passage with Galatians 5:19-21 and Ephesians 5:3-6.

       In his first letter to Timothy, Paul mentions the continuing value of the Mosaic Law – as a “Law” system (not a salvation system) defining sinful behaviors (1Timothy 1:8-11).  Homosexuality is listed with other behaviors that continue to be “contrary to sound doctrine.”

       As the book of Revelation closes, John warns his readers that those who continue to practice what is divinely-labeled as “abominable and immoral” (cf. Leviticus 18:22) will wind up in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).

       According to Biblical teaching, there should be no question concerning homosexual behavior – it is great wickedness, an abomination in the eyes of God, and will exclude its continuing practitioners from the kingdom of God.

       Sorry if that sounds “hateful,” but that is what Scripture says and I still believe the Bible is inspired by God and this is His universe!  But the Bible is not the only angle from which one can recognize the wrongness of homosexual behavior.

       Orientation.  There are folks with actual hormone imbalance or psychological issues that might encourage some of this, but most of the current “popularity” of homosexuality is due to some other factors: reactions to abuse, confusion and disorientation re-directed by social fads and pressures, mysterious inner impulses (Satan is active here), and the inability to relate to the opposite sex through fear and cultural influences.  We learn a good bit of our “sexual identity” from our childhood experiences, parental models, and cultural influences.  It is not coincidental that increased sexual confusion has followed the “sexual revolution” of the 1960’s-70’s, the Women’s Liberation movement, and the loss of the Biblical worldview in our public structures.  I know of one case of homosexuality in my family – an uncle who had a strong, domineering father, a warm nurturing mother, and was still looking for male approval and nurture when he was “seduced” by a male ballet teacher.  Remember, homosexuals do not reproduce, they recruit!

       The Kinsey Report made it sound as though homosexuality was a lot more widespread in American society than it really is, but Kinsey used a prison population to arrive at his “percentage” figure  – not exactly “normal” American society conditions!

       Anne Heche, the former “partner” of Ellen Degeneres, has married and had a child by a man and claims that she is now where she always wanted to be.  She claims she was abused by her father and was mentally unstable while in her “relationship” with Degeneres.

       Psychologists have told me, under their breath and looking both ways to be sure no one else would overhear, that they aren’t convinced of the genetic source of homosexual “orientation.”  While a research project (directed by a homosexual) years ago claimed to find a “genetic basis” for homosexuality, a much larger study was done later and found no evidence for it.

       The author, Camille Paglia (an admitted lesbian) was quoted in Time Magazine as saying the following concerning the proliferation of pro-homosexual material in the media,

 But the objections of conservative Christian ministers who believe in the Bible are well-founded.  People on the left have got to accept that it is not simply bigotry that causes believing Christians to object to this kind of element in popular culture.”^[1]

        Nature’s Testimony.  Human beings share a particular similarity to other mammals – we are heterosexuals – it takes one male and one female to reproduce the species.  There are cases of homosexual behavior in other species and this is often cited as proof that such behavior is “normal.”  Of course, Old MacDonald’s cattle herd wouldn’t grow if his bulls all had an eye for each other instead of the cows, so “gay bulls” (very rare) usually wind up making a premature trip to the “cold white box” (a.k.a. “freezer”).  But I wanted expert opinions on homosexuality in the animal kingdom, so I asked two State University department heads (Biology & Veterinary Science) about it.  They both told me that such things were fairly rare and seemed to occur when animals are stressed and disoriented.  Not everything that happens in the animal kingdom is “normal” (or “natural”)!

       Human History.  Homosexuality has been around for a long time (as have hetero-sexual fornication and adultery).  However, there is no doubt that it’s frequency and “popularity” in human society rises and falls with cultural conditions.  After the Ionian skeptics had ridiculed the gods of Olympus (c. 600 B.C.), certain areas of Greek society saw increased amounts of homosexual behavior – especially in Sparta.  Older men had their “boyfriends” and, while the rest of Greek society tended to smirk about it, the Greeks never considered “legalizing” it.  Later, after Roman civilization had passed its peak and the old ways were ridiculed and discarded by the “progressives” (excited by Greek culture), homosexuality also increased there.  I believe that the World War II generation marked the peak of economic and military power for the United States and here we are a generation later, officially rejecting our Judeo-Christian cultural roots and welcoming “alternative” (a.k.a. “sinful”) lifestyles and worldviews.  “Diversity” is another term for “differences” and no civilization can long exist by emphasizing (and glorifying?) the things that make us different from each other and separated from our Creator. [to be continued]