The Bible shows clearly that homosexual activities are sin. However, what about the "orientation" itself?

This subject causes wide disagreement among Christians. One official publication of the Catholic Church says the act of homosexuality is sin, while the condition of homosexuality is not.

Most Protestants agree with this collusion. To take a good look at this controversy, we must take a few steps back and see what we are talking about.

Definitions.
What does orientation mean?

To the homosexual, orientation means the focus of their sexual desires. Most gay people believe that they were born with a same sex orientation and that it cannot be changed.

In other words homosexuality is God-given. If that were true, the homosexual condition cannot be sin. God’s gift to mankind cannot be tainted with sinfulness.

About the word homosexual. Where did this term come from? Homosexual is not a Biblical term; actually, it did not exist until the middle Nineteenth century. |Before the Nineteenth Century, there were designations for the homosexual. "Buggerer" was a term used during the Middle Ages. After that era, other terms developed; sodomite, degenerate, pederast, urning. Then in 1869, a Hungarian doctor introduced a new word; homo from the Greek word for same; and sexual, thus describing someone who was sexually interested in the same sex.

The apostle Paul also had terms to describe homosexuality. In 1 Corinthians 6:9, he used two Greek words: malakoi, meaning soft or weak and arsenokoitai, meaning men going to bed together (with a sexual implication). Koitai is the root word for the English word coitus, meaning sexual intercourse. Why would Paul mention homosexuality twice in the same verse? The accepted interpretation throughout the centuries has been that Paul is condemning both passive and active homosexuality.

Passive homosexuality is allowing your body to be used sexually by others, or being on the receiving end of a sexual encounter. Active homosexuality would be taking the reverse role, aggressively seeking sexual pleasure with one’s own sex.

Whatever one’s role in a homosexual act, Paul says that person is not blameless, that he must bear responsibility for his actions.

Although there is much support for these definitions among respected Greek scholars, this interpretation of 1 Corinthians 6:9 is typically rejected by members of the pro-gay church.

State of Being? These two Greek words are nouns, but many consider them as adjectival nouns. This raises an important question: From a Biblical perspective, can someone "be" a homosexual?

I believe that Paul implies that people are labelled by their behaviour. Look at the rest of the passage. Paul describes other sins, using terms like fornicators, idolaters, and adulterers. Just as a person is not born to be homosexual, people are not created by God to be controlled by these sins.

No conclusive scientific proof exists of anyone being born a homosexual. No one is predestined genetically or hormonally to become gay; they are directed towards homosexual feelings by unfavourable life circumstances. Homosexuality is not an identity. Homosexual behaviour is simply a sin, like other sins.

Orientation. Many agree that the behaviour is sin. However, what about the homosexual orientation itself, the inclination toward same sex desires, even when those desires are not acted upon.

First a definition. Gay men commonly use the term orientation; to term what stirs sexual arousal, both virtually and in fantasy life. So if a man is sexually aroused by the site of other males or has daydreams of homosexual activities, then he has a gay orientation, For the female, definition is a bit different, centring on emotions and a deep sense of identity with other self professed lesbians. Lesbians form deep emotional ties which lead to physical intimacy, rather than sex being the primary motivator in relationships.

Few gay men and women consciously choose their homosexual orientation. So if our same sex desires are somehow forced on us by circumstances, how can anyone call such orientation sin?

Is not the gay person as innocent as the next person born with multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy? We do not label such physical limitations as "sin," so why do we put the "sin" label on homosexual orientation?

One inter-nationally known Lutheran leader, Larry Christianson, answered the question this way: "Some in the church have argued that the sin is not in the orientation but in the behaviour; It is not wrong to be gay or lesbian, they say, but it is sin to give any impression of that orientation. We regard the separation of the orientation and the expression of it, in this way to be specious" (from Homosexuality: Truths and Half-truths).

Responsibility. What does God hold us responsible for? To accept the healing and deliverance He extends to us. To accept the gay identity or celebrate that homosexuality is sin. We should gladly part with that identity when the God-given opportunity comes.

Of course, God holds us responsible for all ungodly sexual behaviour. Beyond that, we are also responsible for out unwillingness to change, to mature, and to strive toward being all that God intends us to be.

It is no accident that ex-gay ministries are flourishing. When the gay community sent up it’s cry for freedom some twenty year ago, God answered that call, but in an unexpected way. God did not grant approval to homosexual behaviour; He sent His Spirit to supernaturally initiate healing ministries. Since that time, the message of deliverance has reached multitudes of homosexuals. A few have accepted what God offers; many others have refused His gift of change and healing. They have ignored the instruction and strayed "from Words of knowledge" (Proverbs 19:27).

Approval. There is another thing for which God holds us responsible, that is; inappropriate approval of gay lifestyle.

The first chapter of Romans speaks of homosexuality as a result of separation from God (man went his own way not considering God as worth knowing). This chapter clearly speaks of homosexuality as sin as a fallen condition.

The last verse of Romans 1:32 says " … they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Thus, God holds us responsible for any approval of the gay lifestyle.

In the light of these verses, lets go back to our original sin? In my opinion, the answer is this: The original condition caused by factors beyond the control of the individual is not sin. However, at the same time an unwillingness to accept change, is sin. In addition, any kind of approval of the homosexual relationship is sin.

Freedom. How can one move away from homosexuality? First, we must see what lies behind the word orientation. This term is, for all practical purposes, nearly synonymous with the word identity. To move from a homosexual orientation, we must remove the label homosexual or lesbian from our life. We become deceived when we use sin to shape our God-given identity.

We all struggle with something or another. The person struggling with homosexuality has many problems, perhaps many others far more intense than homosexuality. For most of us, our one sin is self-centredness.

They are Christians who struggle, and one of their struggles is homosexuality. They are not homosexuals who struggle with Christianity. Making a clean, decisive break with everything connected with the homosexual lifestyle will greatly aid us in finding the truth, We will find that our lives do not centre on that identity.

The way they view themselves is vitally important. Scripture tells us that we are what we believe we are. "As a man thinks in His heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7).

Process. Since there was a process involved in accepting homosexuality as orientation, there is also a process involved in moving away from it. Moving away from homosexuality began in early life when we became caught up in comparison. Insecurity causes us to compare ourselves with others and to build a negative image of ourselves. This negative image caused us to admire others who we thought were in some way better than ourselves. Soon this admiration turned to envy and the envy eventually became sexualised. We must acknowledge our envy of others, renounce this, and confess it as sin. To reverse this process, we must accept ourselves as God made us. He sees each one of us as unique and special.

As we separate from everything homosexual and become involved in church fellowship, Bible studies and other Godly activities, our old way of thinking about ourselves will be pushed out by the acceptance and sense of belonging we receive from our Christian friends, and from God our Father. He longs for an intimate relationship and constant fellowship with us and as we work on this, and get His Word into your heart, daily, we will grow stronger and In time will no longer think of ourselves as homosexual.

Be patient, remember, that healing is a process. Resolve to obey God in the next step that He shows you. Follow Him one day at a time. Your priority is building and establishing your relationship with you and getting His Word into your heart. This is what will strengthen you in your new walk

For Further information contact :

Restoring Wholeness Ministry
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