God and the Gays: Once Gay, Always Gay? (Part 3)

If we accept the Bible as the literal Word of God,principles is self-destructive (1 John 3:4; Ezek. 18:31).
and believe that God says what He means andGod forbids any hanky-panky, plain and simple! He
means what He says, then we can't escape the factdoesn't target homosexuals or put them first in the
that God expressly forbids any premarital orline-up of sex-offenders (1 Cor. 6:9).We need to put
extramarital sex. The Bible doesn't fool around, iteverything in context, within perspective and Biblical
gets straight to the point. The Hebrew God isn't shy.focus. Too often today, especially on the too many
He's also not ashamed of the anatomy He's equippedtalk-shows (Mat. 12:36), things are too easily
humans with. He pulls no punches and doesn't allowdistorted, twisted, and confused. These vital issues
anyone to pervert His plans. Within the Instructionare usually viewed from the wrong angle, broached
Manual that God gave to Israel (to give to thewith dishonest motivations and questioned by
world), were explicit blueprints for building successfulprejudiced people (Gen. 3:1). How they live for the
relationships between both God and man. Thatapplause of their "broad-minded" crowd (John 12:34)!
scriptural foundation assures us of strong and stableGenerally, you can't reason with such a
bonds, blessed by God (Ps. 127:1). Anything thatmob-mentality or argue with their sick minds (Mat.
contradicts God's building codes undermines and7:6). God condemns those "enlightened" hosts who
condemns itself.The Bible bluntly states: 1) There's noturn things upside down (Isa. 5:20; 2 Cor. 11:14).
room in its quarters for "gay rights." HomosexualityRegardless of their ratings or rantings, they're not
isn't within the bounds of acceptable behavior. It'stoo popular with God. We don't have to remain
practice isn't permissible within the Christian Camp andslaves to sin. Christ can set us free (John 8:36).
will quickly find itself dumped outside of the City limitsShould the living dwell among the dead (John 5:25)?
(Rev. 22:15). Anyone who dares to defy this banWhy stay down and out, when you're able to
automatically excludes himself from society at largeimprove your situation, rise above your
and brings the death penalty upon himself (Gen. 2:17).circumstances, and be within God's grace (Col.
We're not supposed to tolerate any deviation,2:13)?Once gay always gay? How about once an
whatsoever, from the "strait and narrow" path ofadulterer always an adulterer? Better yet, once a
our God. 2) Cross-dressing, transvestism, is also outsinner always a sinner (1 Cor. 6:11; 1 John 1:9)? WHO
of the question (Deut. 22:5). God doesn't want anysays so? Only if you choose to become a "hardened
"half-breeds" to promote their hybrid ideas that don'tcriminal." You can make progress toward perfection!
mix too well with God's Word (Lev. 19:19). There's noYou can refuse to go with the flow, change the
ifs, ands, or buts about it - no quack psychologicalcourse of your thought-patterns, and escape from
explanations or accepted justifications: it's not allowed!the belly of the beast (Ephes. 2:1-6). You can stage a
Everything's to be black and white, right or wrong,revolt and go free! You don't have to die in
male or female; there's no sense in blurring"Egypt."Once a sinner, NOW a saint! There isn't any
distinctions or causing unnecessary confusion (Ezek.sin too great, or problem deep-rooted, or mind that's
22:26). 3) Gay prostitutes shouldn't even attempt toscarred, that Christ can't reach or touch or heal (Ps.
walk the streets, because they'll find out the hard139:7-12; Mat. 15:30). Who would dare condemn
way that it's a dead end (Deut. 23:17-18).God wantswhom God has forgiven (Rom. 8:1)? God sent Christ
to spare us all and safeguard our homes and mind. Heinto your world to save, not destroy; to forgive, not
doesn't want us to go past the point of no-return!damn; to help, not hurt (Luke 9:56). Even Jesus'
Once you break down one moral barrier it's easier toHebrew name declares His good intentions toward us
break down another. Once the floodgates of hell are(Mat. 1:21).Pulls From the PastWithout a doubt, there'll
opened, everyone's swept away and sexual anarchybe strong pulls from the past and pressure to revert
reigns!The barometer of a nation's fall from grace andto old, familiar ways: testing our resolve, trying our
descent into depravity - just before national captivitymettle, and cross-examining our conversion (Deut.
and deportation - is whenever homosexuality begins8:2-3). They're to be expected (1 Pet. 4:12), but
to lose its purposeful stigma (Rom. 1:28). That andshould be put in proper perspective (Heb. 12:11-13).
every other Biblically-attached stigma is to help keepThe very fact that you're now a part of the
us in line, remind us of what we're doing, and force"Resistance Movement," and engage in bitter conflicts
us to pay the fine. Instead of attacking the doctor's(refusing to surrender), proves your patriotism and
diagnosis, we should concentrate on improving ourdisplays your determination to win (Ga. 5:17). God
condition!We're free to ignore or reject the scripture'srespects and will reward your efforts (Heb. 6:10; 11:6).
counsel against homosexual activities, but weThey've been brought to His attention repeatedly
shouldn't pretend that the Bible's silent on the subject.(Ps. 116:15). You're not left to fend for yourself! You
If someone continues to smoke even after they'vemight feel like it, but you're not all alone. We have a
read the Surgeon General's warnings against it, so beGreat Helper, an Unseen Assistant, who can handle
it. But they shouldn't deny that they've voluntarilyanything that might befall us during this battle (Heb.
increased their risks of contracting a variety of4:14-16).When we're pardoned, WE'RE EMPOWERED
diseases.Reason for LivingOur reason for livingto overcome our past (Jn. 1:12). God enables us to
shouldn't be sex - but to develop a properwithstand the onslaught of sin, and remain within the
relationship with God! Life is meant to be far moregood graces of our Governor (Isa. 9:11; Jude 24).
meaningful that momentary physical pleasures. WhenAlthough you may still feel "gay," your reorientation
Jesus said that "man shouldn't live by bread alone,"hasn't taken full effect yet (Ephes. 4:23; Jas. 1:4),
He revealed there's another dimension - the spiritual -DON'T GET DISCOURAGED! Be happy that you've
that completes us and transcends the mundane. Ourmade progress, and that you're even trying to better
daily request for "bread" (in the Lord's prayer sample)yourself. That's a miracle in itself. Trust in God (Philip.
isn't only a humble petition to meet all our physical4:13). He'll see you through thick and thin, and He'll
needs, but that we'll also be spiritually sustained (Johnstay by your side "come hell or high water" (Isa.
6:35).The supreme purpose in our respective lives43:1-2). It's true that "We conquer by continuing."
should be to know and become more like out FatherDON'T GIVE UP! Keep up the struggle: everything
in Heaven (Mat. 5:48). Especially when you consideryou believe in is worth fighting for (Matt. 11:12). You
God created each kind after its kind, and then Hecan rest assured that you're very precious to God.
made mankind after the Godkind! We're offered theHe knows you by name."Once gay always gay" is a
opportunity to increasingly bear the divine image anddamn LIE! It denies Christ's ability to save and
more closely resemble Him (in characteristics) daily.slanders His sacrifice as insufficient! We don't have to
We're urged to live compatible with His gloriousbelieve that propaganda though it's repeated a
Kingdom. At the resurrection, we'll be born again andthousand times. It's nothing more than psychological
enter the Kingdom of God.If we want to be onwarfare (2 Cor. 2:11). It's jealously directed against
God's wavelength, come up to His level, and live inthose who've sobered up and have made an
peace and harmony (with the law and order of Hisabout-face in life (1 Pet. 5:8).Conversion - change - is
universe) - we need to realize and accept thatpossible, but it demands patience. Purification is a
certain "trees, food, and fruits" aren't kosher, but areprocess that takes time ( 1 John 3:3; Isa. 48:10). It all
off-limits, taboo! We need to avoid those pitfalls andbegins in the mind. We don't have to remain subject
steer clear of such danger-zones if we're to surviveto sin's every whim and desire (Rom. 6:14). Slowly
this unique journey (Prov. 4:15). We don't want tobut surely, the homosexual obsession will lose its hold
become another casualty along the way (Prov. 15:10).over our lives. God can rid us of its side-effects,
God hasn't singled out the gays for any specialbreak our hobbling habits, and release us from the ball
treatment - or persecution! He's not homophobic,and chain of our past (Isa. 45:2).Christ will gently
racist, or sexist: God is Love.And because God lovesassist and energize us as we carry on (Isa. 40:29).
us all, He has high hopes and dreams for us. That'sWe're to unburden ourselves before the Father in
why God's graciously given us some guidelines andheartfelt prayer (Mat. 11:28-30; 1 Pet. 5:7), like Jesus
helpful instructions for happy, healthy, anddid when He was here (Heb. 5:7). Everyone's offered
wholesome living: the Tree of Life (1 John 5:3). Thesethis opportunity of a lifetime: to start over, have a
voluntary restrictions (you are a free moral-agent)new lease on life, and to wipe the slate clean. It's our
are intended to enhance our lives and enable us tooption. It's your choice.David Ben-Ariel is a
truly enjoy our experiences as humans (John 10:10;Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon:
Deut. 4:40). They gently regulate our food, thoughts,Europe's Rise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle
worship, behavior, drink - every facet of our lives -East and Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others
and benefit every fiber of our being. Sin is sin (Rom.improve their understanding of that troubled region.
3:23). Transgression - the breaking - of these practicalCheck out the Beyond Babylon blog.