The Christian Response To Homosexuality Series

Series: America, Bless God

There are many, many issues we could talk about in regards to this election. However, I am only going to choose a few. It is our job to come down standing on the truth and to help all those around us do the same.

There is a large poster of Tiger Woods on the 18th green of a beautiful golf course, with a huge crowd surrounding him. But instead of acknowledging the scenery, Tiger was stooping down with hands cupped around the sides of his eyes and brim of his cap, so that he saw only what was in front of him- his critically important putt. The caption above his head read, "Sometimes to accomplish more, you have to see less."

I also hope that we will take the opportunity to speak to people about these issues of the day.

In my estimation we are all about 2 degrees from someone caught in the sin of homosexuality. I encourage you to give them a tape of this morning’s sermon as the Spirit leads you to do so.

The Christian response to Homosexuality

Sunday sermon October 10th 2004

Three sided approach (Not a three step, 1,2,3) such as first do “this” then “this” etc.

Be Completely Honest

1) About Homosexuality

a. Homosexuality is a sin.

Romans 1:21-27 "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. {22} Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools {23} and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. {24} Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. {25} They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen{26} Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. {27} In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

b. Environment contributes to the developing of the homosexual lifestyle.

"When I was 13, I was raped by a family friend. I was too afraid to tell anyone, especially my dad. So I ’stuffed’ down the fear and anger for the next 15 years. Bitterness brewed inside. In fact, my real self, my femininity, was buried by it, although I didn’t realize it for years. My father warned me to never trust men. In my third year of college I met a woman who gave the unconditional love I’d been seeking for years, but never received at home." -- Starla Allen, former lesbian

"I was afraid to play with boys since they called me ’sissy’ and ’momma’s boy.’ Since my father was emotionally cold and unavailable, and seemed to only value femininity, I fantasized about being a woman." -- Perry Desmond, former transsexual

Factors that should be considered are:

i. Early sexual abuse or violation

ii. Emotional detachment from the same-sex parent

iii. Cross-gender identification

iv. Poor gender role-modeling

v. Peer degradation

Many psychologists are treating homosexuality successfully today.

Charles Socarides, president of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (an organization uniting therapists and other professionals who believe homosexuality is not inborn and can be changed). Says,

"Changing sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual, such a change would be unthinkable, if there were any truth at all to the biological or hereditary causation of homosexuality."

Stanton I. Jones, professor of psychology at Wheaton College, says,

"Every study ever performed in conversion from homosexual to heterosexual orientation has produced some successes," ranging from 33 percent to 60 percent.

c. Sexual sins bring death.

d. Sexual sin will never deliver what it promises

Intimacy (and the meaning of true love) has been robbed from the American people.

2) About what real marriage is.

Speak the truth in word and deed

Many people see God’s plan for marriage as “Not important”, or “Old Fashioned” or of no “Value”:

I have had people say to me, in an attempt to justify their sexual sin,

“Doesn’t God want me to be happy.”

We are told that our bodies are not to be used to simply please ourselves, but they are to be the temples of the Holy Spirit, which resides within us, and that we should not pollute them by any means, be it heterosexual or homosexual relationships.

a. To mirror God’s image.

i. At the very core of the nature of the Trinity is relationship.