THE STRASBURG CHURCH OF CHRIST
Strasburg, VA
Let us restore New Testament Christianity!
THE STRASBURG CHURCH OF CHRIST
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Do you have a BIBLE QUESTION? Send it to us here. We will do our best to give you an answer from God's word. The ABC's of Bible Study Can Homosexuals Change?May 13, 2012 Last week: The Sermon On The Mount On May 8, 2012, North Carolina voters voted to change the state constitution to say that the only valid "domestic legal partnership" in the state is marriage between a man and a woman. The amendment passed 61 to 39 percent, making North Carolina the 29th state with a gay marriage ban in its constitution. A day later, President Barack Obama announced that he is in favor of gay marriage. The same day, presidential candidate Mitt Romney affirmed his opposition to gay marriage. We have previously shown that homosexuality is a sin, and that God's plan for marriage is marriage between a man and a woman (See What Does The Bible Say About Homosexual Marriage?). We have also noted that Christians must love homosexuals, as all sinners, and pray for them, and teach them the right we to live, as we have opportunity. We must not seek to do them harm. It should always be the Christian's disire that all sinners repent and turn to God. Remember, Jesus came to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:31-32). We, too, should call sinners to repentance. Our attitude toward sinners should be one of love with a desire for them to repent (See What Should The Christian's Attitude Be Toward Sinners?). But can homosexuals change? Are they born that way and cannot change, as many claim? Or is homosexuality a chosen behavior, and one can chose to stop being one? First, we must realize that God, being a just God, would not declare an activity to be a sin if one were born that way and could not change. Second, Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, NKJV, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God"1. Notice that Paul says that some of the Corinthian Christians were (past tense) homosexuals, but were now (present tense), washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. They had changed! They were no longer homosexuals! How were they able to change? Paul writes to Titus in Titus 3:3-5: For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Paul writes in Romans 6:17-18, "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." So, one changes from homosexuality the same way he changes from any other sin. When he makes up his mind to change, he obeys God's word. Then with prayer and determination, he changes. It will not be easy, but, with God's help it can be done. God cares about all of us, including homosexuals. By humbling himself before God and trusting Him, he can get strength to change (See 1 Peter 5:6-11). Are homosexuals born that way? A number of studies have been conducted the results of which have been interpreted by many to show that gays are born that way, and cannot change. However, the studies, though they indicate that a variety of genetic and biological factors play a part in whether one becomes homosexual, there are some things they do not show. They do not show that everone who is gay posesses these factors, or that everyone who has one or more of these factors is gay. Rather, they show that homosexuality is caused by a variety of factors, including genetic, biological, and environmental. So, they do not show that every homosexual is "born that way." It must also be noted that the fact that one has genetic and/or biological predispositions to homosexuality does not mean that he cannot change! Studies show that many other behaviors, addictions, etc., have genetic predisposition, such as alcoholism and compulsive gambling. These can, and often do, change. Change may not be easy, but it is not immpossible. Dave Miller, Ph.D., and Brad Harrub, Ph.D., in an article entitled, "This is the Way God Made Me"--A Scientific Examination of Homosexuality and the "Gay Gene" (Apologetics Press), report on the results of a two year study by the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). They include a summary of this report: "Of the data reported, 31 of the 84 studies showed a quantitative outcome of individuals able to change sexual orientation. These are not studies that merely speculate on the ability to change; they actually have the numbers to back it up!" Miller and Harrub conclude: Consider the obvious problem of survival for individuals who allegedly possess a gay gene: individuals who have partners of the same sex are biologically unable to reproduce (without resorting to artificial means). Therefore, if an alleged "gay gene" did exist, the homosexual population eventually would disappear altogether. We now know that it is not scientifically accurate to refer to a "gay gene" as the causative agent in homosexuality. The available evidence clearly establishes that no such gene has been identified. Additionally, evidence exists which documents that homosexuals can change their sexual orientation. Future decisions regarding policies about, and/or treatment of, homosexuals should reflect this knowledge. Yes, homosexuals can change, and many have. If you are a homosexual, you can change. God will help.L. John Bost1All emphases within scripture references are mine, LJB. |
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