God and the Gays: To Be or Not to Be (Chapter 1)

Introduction:

Regardless of whether you're gay or straight (or undecided) – the hot topics discussed within these pages are sure to be provocative! Who hasn't wondered what's going on? Even the Church leaders are confused and the laity divided. Is sex all there is? Find out what life's all about - read on! Dedicated to my understanding mother who said: "No matter who you are or what you do, you're still my son and I love you."

David Ben-Ariel

CHAPTERS

Chapter 1
To Be or Not to Be

Chapter 2
God and the Gays: All that Glitters isn't Gold

Chapter 3
God and the Gays: Once Gay, Always Gay?

Chapter 4
God and the Gays: Of Vice and Men

Chapter 5
A Time to Heal



Chapter One

TO BE OR NOT TO BE...

Homosexuality.... Is it a matter of choice? Are some born that way? And if so, then how could God condemn it? Or does He? Does it make a difference? Who offered it as an "alternative lifestyle?" Are same-sex drives due to conditioning? Are gays and lesbians a quirk of nature? Something queer to jeer? Would it have been better to have never been born? All of these questions and more are only a few of the many that race through people's minds; causing controversy, heated arguments and emotional wounds, as words fly back and forth carelessly.

It could be safe to say that homosexuality is the result of many factors. But who's to blame? Must we even lay a guilt-trap at anyone's door? Maybe mother, then again there's the father who didn't figure for too much. Society? Genes? The stars? Most people know their sexual orientation by their teens. They don't just suddenly discover they're "straight" and "come out" about it. Let's get real.

Who's to accept the responsibility for our actions? Some have felt "gay" ever since they were very young and therefore imagine that they were born gay. Others seem to pick up, adopt or assimilate homosexual tendencies through association. They must have already had an inclination towards it. It rubbed off on them. Then there are those who were bored and needed a change. They wanted to try it and see if they liked it. Sometimes, due to "force" of circumstances, men in prison, boy's homes and/or monasteries, might resort to homosexual activities. Later, as soon as possible, some of them revert to heterosexual ways, while others continue to enjoy the "best of both world" as a bisexual. Are "bestiality is best" fans born that way? Or are incestuous relationships something innate? Do we have a predisposition chemically for incest? Are we set up for such a fall from birth? Would that justify or excuse us? Is promiscuity merely a part of man's "animal instincts?" Is the challenge of the chase a primeval hang-over from the "days of the hunt?" Actually, ALL of the above are simply DISTRACTIONS! It's not a question of who or what we're most comfortable with, prefer, like or are attracted to; those are only attempts to sidestep the real issue!

God isn't only the Creator, but the Sustainer of the entire universe. As such, his Majesty's Government - headquartered in the highest heaven - has issued (at Mt. Sinai) various health rules and regulations (Malachi 4:4). The Creator-King has predetermined, in His infinite wisdom, which "food and drugs" are safe and sound for our consumption.

If we keep uppermost in mind the reason for our mortal existence, the SUPREME PURPOSE for our human-being; to establish contact with our Superior-Being and develop a relationship with Him - then we'll know and understand that everything God does is for our benefit. God wants to help us, not hinder us. He enjoys encouraging us to attain our goals and fulfill our potential (Luke 12:31-32). Father does know what's best: what He has in store for us is beyond our wildest dreams (Ephes. 3:20; 1 Cor. 2:9)!

The High Cost of Living

Whoever chooses to be a card-carrying member of the homosexual community is entitled to all of it's privileges and persecutions; but you should first COUNT THE COST to see if it's too high of a price for you to pay, like Christians are told to do (Luke 14:28).

If anyone decides to engage in illicit sex or become entangled in "foreign affairs," they're living a lie if they think that God could possibly approve of their improper conduct, and they're compounding their problems if they lead others astray by attempts to endorse such flagrant sin (Rom. 1:32). Do what you want, but don't misrepresent God and His clear-cut Biblical teachings. Don't try and put words in His mouth or censor what He's actually said (Rev. 22:18-19).

Yes, GOD IS LOVE! That's why He hates certain practices with a passion. He frowns upon a dishonest life of stealing, an unfaithful habit of "cheating" on our spouse, a disrespectful attitude towards our parents or persons in authority, religious holidays that are hollow and don't hallow His name, senseless killings and character assassination, idolatrous distractions that come between God and us, an endless trivial pursuit and preoccupation with ourselves and others, instead of putting God first. God loves us and wants us to love Him too, but He considers love more than a four-letter word: love is an attitude exemplified by actions, words that are backed up with deeds (Jas. 2:26). That's why Jesus said that if we really loved Him, we'd show it and not just say it (John 14:15).

Safe-Sex

Since God is love, and Father knows best, He wants us to practice safe-sex. A safe-sex that's good and wholesome, clean and pure, and only available within a marriage where both partners keep their vows and honor their commitments (Heb. 13:4). Sexual intimacy, cuddling and coitus, belongs in the bedroom (of the Biblically-bonded), and it's to involve the union of both minds and bodies (Gen. 2:24). Married couples are challenged to become compatible in every sense of the word. A marriage certificate doesn't have to be "just a piece of paper" or become another broken record! God does recognize the fact that marriage isn't for everyone (Mat. 19:11), but expresses His will that singles remain celibate (1 Thes. 4:3).

God only promises to bless those foods (or relationships) that are sanctioned by His Word (1 Tim. 4:4-5). He's not unsure of Himself or His ways, He's not fickle or foolish, and His Word is reliable, dependable, and not subject to change. This hasn't caused the scriptures to be too popular at times, but they refuse to succumb to peer pressure and remain true to themselves. They're not what needs to change anyway. We do. God hasn't lowered His moral standards or compromised with His food laws, but offers to help raise us to His God-Plane. Christ can cleanse us of our unclean lives (Acts 10:15, 28), because God hasn't called us to remain in Egypt but to head for the Promised Land. Don't just stand there, get a move on it! And leave your excess baggage (sin) behind.

Kosher Food

Although God created us with a hunger drive, an appetite, He doesn't want us to become gluttonous pigs. Neither does He want us to act like horny dogs (1 Cor. 6:13). God's also shown us that just because various food items have been mislabeled "delicacies," we don't have to shove them into our mouths (Lev. 11). We're expected to be mature, not act childish. God warns us to guard the doors of our mind, don't set ourselves up for a fall, and discern what we digest (Ephes. 4:27; Heb. 5:14). We're instructed to scrutinize our food for thought and remember "we are what we eat" and "we become what we think" (Prov. 23:7). God doesn't only want us to watch what we put into our mouths, but what we allow into our minds (Philip. 4:8). For a free list of "government approved" food for thought; what's clean and unclean, pure and impure, kosher and non-kosher - check out Ga. 5:19-23; Ephes. 5:11 and Philip. 1:11.

We're not supposed to remain raw material. God's given us a brain to become refined and keep our baser "instincts" in line (2 Pet. 2:12). The Holy Spirit offers us the help we need to accomplish this job (John 1:12). We should refuse to be reduced to an animal level, simply sensual creatures, choosing a higher standard of living instead. The "if it feels good do it" and "if it looks good eat it" lack of mentality ought to be regarded as an insult to those striving for God's higher intelligence.

Regardless of why you're gay, bisexual or "trysexual" (you'll try anything once), whether or not you've had any choice in the matter - you do have a choice to exercise proper self-control. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SLAVE TO YOUR SENSES (John 8:34), or allow sexual temptations to dictate mindless reactions (Gen. 19:4-11).You're not forced to act upon every thought that enters your mind. You can resist suggestions and reject impulses (2 Cor. 10:5). Every fleeting thought, random idea or stray notion doesn't have to take root and grow if you don't give it fertile ground (Jas. 1:13-15). You can consider its source and nip it in the bud. A "NO TRESPASSING!" frame of mind can be developed to defend you against intruders. Protection is possible. You can say NO! You can curb your appetite! YOU CAN CHANGE!

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