From the "I can't stand to hear really stupid arguments from both sides" department comes the arguments used by Christians to debate for and against homosexuality. The two most common are these:
Pro homosexuality: Homosexuality is a genetic trait. If God does not make mistakes, then God must be OK with homosexuality since He made it a genetic trait.
Anti-homosexuality: You still can't prove that it's genetic.
Now, the latter argument is just silly. As Christians, we should not denounce scientific findings as unprovable just because they challenge our beliefs. This particular finding is pretty well supported, and the scientific community has come to accept it as fact.
So, Christians in my audience, repeat after me: "Homosexuality is genetic." Good. Have a cookie.
Just because you acknowledge that it is genetic does not mean you have to concede the second point in the pro-homosexuality argument: namely, that God endorses it for that fact. Check this:
Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned
Romans 7:23 - but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
When Adam and Eve committed the first sin, their transgression made possible that all people should sin. The sinful nature came upon all mankind. Just as Paul says in the second quote, while he tries to do good, his body continues its desire for sin, making him a prisoner of sin. All people must fight sinful desires. One man may desire adultery, in that he lusts after every woman he sees. Another man may be covetous, and unable to control his desire for the things his neighbors own (to the point, perhaps, of stealing from them or bankrupting himself). Another man may be prideful, unwilling to believe that anyone else could be a Christian, or unwilling to believe that they have the same desire to serve God that he does. All of these things are sin, and all of them can become so exceptionally strong, that they do just as Paul says and make prisoners of us all.
Further, there are some genetic derivations that make people more susceptible to these sins. Take, for example, this article on a genetic link to violent tendencies. There is a gene that generates enzymes which consume serotonin. Serotonin is necessary for fighting off violent feelings. So people with this genetic trait cannot help but be violent toward others. Often, this results in violent assaults and even murder.
However, would anyone suggest that these people should indulge in their desire for murder? Far from it! If anything, we want them to avoid doing this, even though they are prone to do so. We do everything we can to force them to be nice, through laws, punishment, and medication. But if their genetic code says they should be violent, shouldn't we let them? No! That would cause our crime and violence problems to go up even higher than they are now.
Homosexuality is not dangerous to society as violent tendencies are, but the argument used is the same. God does not make mistakes, this is true, but every single one of us has certain predispositions - genetic or not - toward sin. Each of us are called to "take up our cross," to bear the proverbial monkey on our backs forward. God can and will forgive us at the end of our road, but only if we don't continue to indulge in our sins willingly. We must fight, regardless of how hard it is, regardless of what complications have been made for us.
God does not tempt us, but He does TEST us. One man's test may be homosexuality, another may be lust, another may be putting things ahead of God, another may be violence, but all who are called must put off the sinful nature.
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Sunday, February 25, 2007
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9 comments:
Honestly, I've never heard of any undisputed evidence that h-ity is genetic. What scientific evidence that h-ity is genetic do you refer to?
First, I'll ask: "with regard to the other things I said in my post, does it really matter whether it's genetic or not?"
Second, while homosexuality hasn't had a specific breakthrough that would directly point to a "gay gene," The numbers are pretty astounding in support of it being genetic in some fashion. Here's a link to a website that summarizes the issue pretty nicely.
Nope, it doesn't matter at all. I'm just not ready to concede that ground in the debate. I don't buy it.
Usually, it goes like this:
ME: H-ity is morally wrong.
SOMEONE: But it's genetic.
ME: There's no scientific evidence for that. Even if there were [insert Gamelot's post here]
:-D
ALAN
I can accept that. However, I think you will find that conceding the point will get people to more readily believe what you have to tell them (or at least saying "ok, let's assume that's true") which is really what in essence I'm trying to get across. Yes, I believe it's genetic, I believe there is significant scientific research to back that up, but the real point remains that whether it is genetic or not it's still something we're expected to control.
Now, I will say that just like any other extremely powerful sin, it takes a lot of help and a real desire to control it. People aren't going to just magically overcome it one night. Even if someone decides that they are going to fight against their sin (be it homosexuality or anything else), it's a struggle every second of their lives to do so. We as Christians need to be more understanding of that fact and willing to help each other - to look at a person and see the sinner and not the sins, to say "you're more important than your sins, and I'm going to love you and try to help you regardless."
The next thing that Christians need to learn is that God must be in control of the healing process. If a sinner comes into a congregation and confesses his sins, he doesn't need the individual people of the congregation to decide what they think is best - especially if that ends up destroying him. They need to come together as a congregation to make decisions rather than acting as individuals.
I doubt this will ever come to pass again.
Maybe, maybe not. I am blessed to be able easily to envision my church doing that very thing, as described in Galatians 6:1-2 - "1Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Heck, I've seen it w/ my own eyes. It's still out there, Gamelot. Praise God.
If there's a God, that cares about wether we follow some strange teaching, then he'd just make that mandatory.
THerefore, if there is a God, he doesn't care what the heck we do.
Ekdikeo,
God DID make it mandatory.
What do you mean?
ALAN
Chanced upon your blog and I applaud you for your thinking and yr perception. These are thoughts that often cross my mind but you have articulated it well with your phases and quotes.
I've done some research into whether or not homosexuality is genetic and have found that while there is a genetic predisposition for some people to be gay, there is no predetermination that someone will be gay. Thus, I very much agree with your post, Gamelot.
Interestingly enough, with the same tests scientists use to prove that genetics play a role in determining sexual orientation, they also proved that whether or not someone is a "homophobe" is partially determined by genetics. So, if a person is going to use the "born that way" argument, they'll have to accept that those who are opposed to it may just be "born that way".
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