breaking the hush

I don’t get it! I mean, I DO get it, but I don t! I heard of a friend that recently revealed himself to be a homosexual. Not only that he is gay, but in a relationship with another man. Okay, this part, honestly I understand. You know attraction to the same sex. What I don’t understand is that this man I believe is still claiming to be a Christian? Now, my understanding of a Christian is one that believes the entire scripture, right? Now, I am not gay bashing—remember, Hello! Read my story! I UNDERSTAND! I GET IT! I understand the feelings if being BORN attracted to the same sex. No matter what I, or anyone else, especially straight Christians that have never experienced those feelings, thinks; it’s there. Whether we were ‘born’ that way as GAGA belts or if it was from rejection from a parent confusing sexual experiences during childhood, the feelings are there. THIS, I understand, again read my story. What I DON’T understand is how one can be a Christian (something that in several other countries would be suicide), could have, at one point, tasted and seen the goodness of God, believed the inspired Word of God in its entirety and then live a homosexual lifestyle as if nothing is wrong. Here’s the deal-I don’t see living a homosexual lifestyle any different from LIVING in any other sin. This includes those little old ladies that sit in the pews of the church every week full of anger, gossip, bitterness and maliciousness; or those straight men full of lust and perversion, acting on their thoughts on a daily basis. All of this is LIVING in sin and the Word is very clear on a deliberately unrepentive heart. Now, are you sinning just because you are ATTRACTED to the same sex, for whatever reason? BY NO MEANS! 

In Romans, Paul addresses the struggle with sin. We are born sinners! Period! Whether that means selfishness, pride, lustfulness, deceitfulness, or homosexuality-sin is human nature! Also in Romans, Paul gives us a hope as Christians to CHOOSE to live righteously through God’s Spirit. Romans 8:58 says, ‘Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds SET on what the NATURE desires (sin); BUT those who LIVE in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what is the Spirit desires. The mind of SINFUL MAN IS DEATH, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace, the sinful mind is hostile to God, It does not submit to God’s law, NOR CAN IT DO SO. Those controlled by the sinful nature CANNOT please God.’

Let me remind you that Paul is not yelling any of this through a megaphone at a gay pride parade. He’s writing these things to the CHURCH; Men and Women who have chosen to follow Christ, no matter what the sacrifice—whether that means giving up their ‘natural desires’ or even their LIVES! They are true brothers and sisters in Christ! (See September 13, 2013 Blog-‘Don’t Call Me Brother’;). And if anyone understood the nature of homosexuality it was the Romans (Historically, they actually raised young boys to have sexual, intimate relationships with older soldiers for purposes of greater loyalty and comradery in battle.) For the Romans, homosexuality was very much culturally acceptable. So, for Paul to address this with the church was necessary and was a struggle even then. Speaking to the Corinthians, he told THEM that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God. ‘Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers…’ 1 Cor. 9-10. Remember, he’s speaking to the church. In the next verse he gives us hope, ‘and 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 God!’ Now, if you’re not a Christian and living a homosexual lifestyle, I, as well as Paul, expect you to sin. Hello, it’s our nature! And if we never give our hearts to the Lord and choose to count the cost, to pick up the cross and follow Him, then we will continue to be sinners and nothing but sinners.

Sinning SHOULD be expected. 1 Cor. 5:12-13 says, ‘What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? (Sinners will sin); Then Paul says, ‘Are you not to judge those inside?’ If you choose to be a Christian that means you chose to count the cost, and the cost for eternal life, the adoption into the family of God, peace that passes all understanding, connection with our Creator, a relationship like none other and ordained direction into a plan and will beyond our own comprehension, and you also CHOOSE to deny your flesh, your born sinful nature, giving in to the desires of lying with a person of the same sex and choosing to live a fulfilled righteous life through the help of the Holy Spirit; A free Gift, Comforter, Life Compass given when making the decision to count the cost and follow Him.

I can speak from experience, that I understand the desires. Knowing that they can never be met, that it just seems hopeless and pointless and the anger with God for ‘making’ you that way or ‘giving’ you those unattainable yearnings. But, I can also tell you that if you continue to fight, there is hope. As I choose to resist those desires and seek Him, He even replaces them with His own. A desire to marry and have beautiful, God ordained sex with a wife who will love, support, and pray for me, FULL of mercy! She will become a wonderful mother and we together will be fulfilled choosing to live a life ordained and led by our Abba Father; A Father who loves me, her, and even our unborn children, every former and current idolater, adulterer, prostitute, homosexual, the drunk, slanderer, and swindler, my friend and even you, so much that He sent His beautiful son to this wicked world to die for each of us, whether we TRULY accept Him or not, to give us a hope, a way out of death, out of our sinful nature into a present and eternal life of righteousness. And this gift, I understand. I understand that He walks with me through the fire. And His grace is sufficient for me to continue to choose Him no matter how strong those homosexual desires may EVER be, I MUST CHOOSE HIM! I have tasted and I have seen that God is good and I can no longer live a life that does not please Him. Yet, my friend does? I don’t get it?