The taboo thread . . . .

[Byfaithalone1]

Is homosexuality chosen or inherited?

Does this question impact the way in which a believer would respond to a homosexual?

BFA

 

[StormyOne]

Is homosexuality chosen or inherited?

Does this question impact the way in which a believer would respond to a homosexual?

BFA

I believe either is possible, i.e. some may be born with that orientation and some may choose it.... It makes no difference really, those who say they follow Christ are to love homosexuals, they too belong to God....

 

[Byfaithalone1]

I believe either is possible, i.e. some may be born with that orientation and some may choose it....

Perhaps, and I don't want to paint with too wide a brush. I will say that I have known homosexuals who exhibited behaviors at a young age that implied another orientation. I can imagine that this may not be the experience of every homosexual.

It makes no difference really, those who say they follow Christ are to love homosexuals, they too belong to God....

Sadly, it seems that some do not.

I recently taught a series of classes in my church on the book, Unchristian, by David Kinnaman. This book forces Christians to look at themselves as others see them. Because there is a chapter relating to homosexuality, I led a discussion on this subject. It was eye-opening to see how certain Christians view homosexuals. I saw more hate than love and it was disappointing.

One thing that I noticed is that there are Christians who make a distinction between "unbelieving homosexuals" and "homosexuals who profess to be Christian." They treat these two groups differently.

I also noticed that there were some folks in my class who were open in declaring that they would not patronize any gay-owned business (regardless of the nature of the business), that they would not give money to certain charities that benefit homosexuals (such as AIDS charities) and that they would oppose the hiring of a homosexual to teach in a public school. All of these open declarations were surprising to me.

It seems that this discussion always returns to the subject of "sin." I tend to conclude that this subject reveals something about how we view God and how we think He views sinners.

BFA

 

[shanegorry]

I have met a number of people who seem to have this orientation due to abuse at an early age.

Perhaps we should ask, is SIN chosen or inherited? Unfortunately the whole human race was abused at a very early age. In the beginning in fact. Of course there where also choices made where the consequences were inherited by future generations. Thankfully our father accepts us ALL non the less.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

I have met a number of people who seem to have this orientation due to abuse at an early age.

Perhaps we should ask, is SIN chosen or inherited? Unfortunately the whole human race was abused at a very early age. In the beginning in fact. Of course there where also choices made where the consequences were inherited by future generations. Thankfully our father accepts us ALL non the less.

You raise some great points! Thanks for chiming in. Like you, I have been mulling over the concept of "the sins of the fathers passed on to their children." We can see evidence of this in a number of areas including obesity and addiction.

BFA

 

[ricker]

You raise some great points! Thanks for chiming in. Like you, I have been mulling over the concept of "the sins of the fathers passed on to their children." We can see evidence of this in a number of areas including obesity and addiction.

BFA

If homosexuality is "passed on" or somehow genetic, does that make a difference in our understanding of homosexuality being a sin? Was the Bible written in a time when people weren't as enlighted, such as possibly with the slavery issue? Are loving homosexual couples in a monogamous relationship really sinning? Is there room for multiple understandings of the issue in a denomination? Are we to judge others? These are questions that are affecting many church organizations worldwide.

 

[shanegorry]

When I raise the biblical idea that we are all born into sin I find I get one of two responses from most christians when debating homosexuality. One groups trys to uncomfortable defend degrees of sin, that is some things are more sinful than others. The other group tend more toward leaving it to God to judge in his wisdom and focus on there on walk with Christ while helping those they can no matter who they are. Then I wonder if all these people end up in these camps by nature or nurture?

 

[Norbert L]

Is homosexuality chosen or inherited?

Does this question impact the way in which a believer would respond to a homosexual?

BFA

I believe the sum of your first question is answered by another question, does a person choose to sin or is it inherited?

And a believer should respond to a homosexual in a way that is no different than they should respond to an alcoholic.

I believe Christians should pay particular attention to the parables spoken by Christ, where a master forgives a servant his debt but that servant turns around and starts beating others because he knows those people owe something he is responsible for too.

Knowing, "let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Heb 12:1), when responding to any sinner, a person should be mindful of "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." (Luk 6:31)

With that in mind it may be possible to remove the beam in one's eye and when confronted with a situation, to do your best to remove the splinter in another person's eye.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

If homosexuality is "passed on" or somehow genetic, does that make a difference in our understanding of homosexuality being a sin?

As far as I can tell that point has not been at issue in this thread. Unless someone steps forward and says otherwise, I'm assuming that all of us are in agreement on this point.

With that said, I believe it can make a difference in the minds of certain people. Certain folks seem to be very committed to the idea that homosexuality is solely a choice. This may trivialize the issue.

I've known people who have been plagued by addiction for most of their lives. This doesn't make addiction any healthier. However, it does explain why a person may face it for a lifetime and it ought to elicit compassion rather than condemnation. Perhaps all of us are unrecovered addicts in one form or another . . . .

Was the Bible written in a time when people weren't as enlighted, such as possibly with the slavery issue? Are loving homosexual couples in a monogamous relationship really sinning? Is there room for multiple understandings of the issue in a denomination? Are we to judge others? These are questions that are affecting many church organizations worldwide.

Great questions.

BFA

 

[jpcedotal]

I believe either is possible, i.e. some may be born with that orientation and some may choose it.... It makes no difference really, those who say they follow Christ are to love homosexuals, they too belong to God....

love the sinner, hate the sin.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

love the sinner, hate the sin.

I'd like to propose an amendment to this common statement:

"Love the sinner." Period.
​

If we must add something to this statement, perhaps we would add:

"Get to the point that you are so aware of the beam in your own eye that you don't even notice the speck in your neighbor's eye."
​

BFA

 

[ricker]

I've known people who have been plagued by addiction for most of their lives. This doesn't make addiction any healthier. However, it does explain why a person may face it for a lifetime and it ought to elicit compassion rather than condemnation. Perhaps all of us are unrecovered addicts in one form or another . . . .
BFA

The underlined is a very good point.

 

[BigRedBus]

Was the Bible written in a time when people weren't as enlighted, such as possibly with the slavery issue?

I suspect this is so... we can unconsciously absorb the social attitudes of the ancient Near East very easily via the Bible. That's not a good thing.

Are loving homosexual couples in a monogamous relationship really sinning?

I really can't see how they are.

Is there room for multiple understandings of the issue in a denomination?

I would like to think so, but unfortunately some denominations are more amenable to this than others.

Are we to judge others?

Certainly not, and particularly not in this area. I haven't even walked a few steps in a gay person's shoes, let alone a mile. So who am I to comment about choice or behaviour?

These are questions that are affecting many church organizations worldwide.

Agreed... and I think that compromise has to be the way. The world has changed, and churches must change with it. The ones that don't will become increasingly irrelevant.

 

[ricker]

I suspect this is so... we can unconsciously absorb the social attitudes of the ancient Near East very easily via the Bible. That's not a good thing.



I really can't see how they are.



I would like to think so, but unfortunately some denominations are more amenable to this than others.



Certainly not, and particularly not in this area. I haven't even walked a few steps in a gay person's shoes, let alone a mile. So who am I to comment about choice or behaviour?



Agreed... and I think that compromise has to be the way. The world has changed, and churches must change with it. The ones that don't will become increasingly irrelevant.

Thank you for your input! You have given me some interesting points to think about.
God bless! Rick

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

The world has changed, and churches must change with it. The ones that don't will become increasingly irrelevant.

Irrelevant to what, exactly?

 

[StormyOne]

love the sinner, hate the sin.

Not possible... humans cannot separate sin from the sinner as humans are not God... just love... for love covers a multitude of faults.....

 

[Pythons]

I have met a number of people who seem to have this orientation due to abuse at an early age.

I've also met a number of people who classify themselves as gay who say the exact same thing.

Perhaps we should ask, is SIN chosen or inherited? Unfortunately the whole human race was abused at a very early age. In the beginning in fact. Of course there where also choices made where the consequences were inherited by future generations. Thankfully our father accepts us ALL non the less.

Excellent point! In fact I'm going to make sure I remember that. We have inherited sin and while the practice of homosexuality is sin I don't think it's more of a sin then any other classified sin in Scripture. We are all in the soup together.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

Not possible... humans cannot separate sin from the sinner as humans are not God... just love... for love covers a multitude of faults.....

My point exactly. Well said.

BFA

 

[Adventtruth]

Is homosexuality chosen or inherited?

Does this question impact the way in which a believer would respond to a homosexual?

BFA

Thats a debate that never ends....but I dont think it makes a difference where it came from...its still wrong. IF one is born with it ....its still wrong and needs to be resisted.

AT

 

[ricker]

Thats a debate that never ends....but I dont think it makes a difference where it came from...its still wrong. IF one is born with it ....its still wrong and needs to be resisted.

AT

Thing is, many Chrtistians don't believe it is wrong. Contextually it was wrong only because of the attitudes of the times including the absence of socially acceptable "committed" relationships. Homosexual acts back then was either by rape or prostitutes or heterosexuals out for a fling.

What say you?