When you
were in school, did you ever question whether you wanted to smoke or not? How
about doing drugs? Just about everybody considers stealing something at one
time in their lives. Most of us do not follow through, but many do. Perhaps it
is something as ordinary as skipping a class or as harmful as ganging up on
some unfortunate, weaker student. Our behavior is subject to adjustment in the
same way that our clothing style is largely controlled by trends. What begins
as peer pressure in one place, at one point in time, may someday emerge as a
full blown cultural characteristic.
And so, you may have been exposed
to the trend that dictates to young people that they need to question their
sexual orientation. Perhaps you are asking yourself, "Does it really
matter whether I am heterosexual or homosexual?" If you did not attend a
university that promotes such diversity you may never even have given your
sexuality a second thought. But, now, here you are - wondering if your
"straightness" is really just a cloak for your
"homophobia." It seems that homosexuals are all around you and, in
fact, many are in influential positions, and, to your
surprise, they are generally thoughtful, sincere and sensitive people.
As you agonize over these
questions you are already thinking ahead. What about pedophilia and other forms
of what you used to think of as aberrant sexuality? What about incest,
bestiality and rape? Who decides what is right and what is wrong? How does a
society change from regarding a certain behavior as unlawful and ungodly to
regarding those who oppose the behavior as unlawful and ungodly? Where does
this peer pressure come from?
The educational system is a
powerful vehicle for societal engineering. We used to want to equip our
children to be able to live in the world but now forces are at work to equip
our children to live in a different world altogether. Our world is changing
because those who want to change the world are seizing the opportunity to train
our young ones to live in a world of different standards. At one time education
was viewed as a vehicle for enlightenment in the Word of God. That ended a few
decades ago when God was removed from classrooms in this nation. That paved the
way for change in ideas, attitudes and behaviors. Where we used to conform to
the power of the mighty Word of God, we now are at the mercy of the winds and
doctrines of men - peer pressure. Prior to that time homosexuality was a sin
and therefore unacceptable in our culture just like pedophilia and rape. Nowadays,
homosexuals are viewed as being the same as anyone else and those who have a
problem with that are the problem. Is it wrong to ask questions about sexuality?
NO. But who can answer such a question? Only our Creator.
He is not allowed in the classroom but He is never far from your heart wherever
you are. Here is His answer...
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God
blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill
the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air
and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
(Gen 1:27,28)
Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is
detestable. (Lev 18:22)
Because of this, God gave them over
to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural
ones. 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. (Rom 1:26,27)
God has remained consistent in
His condemnation of homosexuality and, even though it goes into the realm of
"unnatural" sins, we need to remember that the result, for the
individual, is the same as for other sins.
Do you not know that the wicked will
not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: 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 will inherit the kingdom of God.
(1Co 6:9-10)
You also need to remember that,
regardless of how you have lived your life to this point... you can
change...and God will forgive you.
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 our God.
(1 Cor 6:11)
Here is a biblical truth that we
need to take into account in all areas of morality...
Do not
be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 1 Cor 15:33
Be careful about where you turn
for answers to questions about your sexuality. Our society does not even accept
the terms "good" and "bad" anymore but God does.
The question of sexual preference
is a simple question of right and wrong that each one of us must answer. If you
have not answered the question of Jesus Christ, you will not be equipped to answer
the question of sexuality. None of us can stand in the presence of God outside
of His life. It is His resurrection that makes sense of our lives and His love.
May we offer an invitation in
response to the question? We will gladly help you think things through from the
standpoint of the Word of God, if you so desire. Then you can choose between
peer pressure and spiritual conviction.
Thank you for reading this. You
might also be interested in reading Rainbow Correction
Finger
Lakes Church of Christ
PO Box 4917
Ithaca, NY 14852-4917
607 844 8066
Arthur Barry -
Minister
Find us on the Internet
Beyond
all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was
vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
1Timothy 3:16