“Examine me, O God and know my mind, test me and discover my thoughts. Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 130:23-24

For the past 5 years, America has wrestled with legislation surrounding same-sex marriage. Most people in the gay community regard people in opposing Christian circles as homophobic, prejudiced, bigoted misanthropes.

You may recall the flack that ESPN newscaster Chris Broussard got in 2012 when NBA player Jason Collins came about his sexuality. Broussard - a born again Christian - responded to a question about Collins claiming to be a gay Christian, saying that one could not carry the label of both homosexual and Christian at the same time. The sportscaster wasn’t trying to be malicious. He spoke from a real place of heartfelt convictions.

However, singling out, persecuting and demonizing anyone for their intrinsic nature is disconcerting, at the least. For me, the Sudanese mother who stood in the shadow of death for not renouncing her Christian faith bears a striking similarity to the gay high school student who is pummeled by jocks after school for writing “I like Mike” in his notebook. Contrary to what many believe about a Christian like me, I feel the pain of both this mother and this student. Why? They are both battling a society of hateful zealots.

Yet, I think that oftentimes the LGBT community offers an unfair assessment of people like me and Broussard. They are dismissive of humane people with genuinely cherished beliefs. Many of those vilified are not mean-spirited, are God fearing and thoroughly sympathetic to your plight and struggles. We are decidedly conversant with the weakness of the flesh and how sin morphs itself into something very attractive – like the loving embrace of a man.

We all have to face our thorny issues.

In fact, everyday somewhere in the straight Christian community, there are those of us who battle  with alcoholism, fornication, adultery, abortion, illegitimate children, abandonment, spousal abuse, sex trafficking, pornography or drug addiction. Not one of us is a paragon of virtue. Not one of us is in the unique position of being able to point the finger at the other guy, especially not the gay guy. We are all in dire need of a Savior to extend us some grace and mercy.

We fully grasp the notion that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

But whether we like it or not, sin has consequences. I just heard this in a sermon by Pastor Karl Francis of Living Word Open Bible Church in Cooper City, Fl.

In a marriage seminar that same day, he claimed that you cannot change another person or circumstances; you can only change yourself. He compared it to a pebble in your shoe. The other person is not being affected and only you can alleviate your discomfort by stooping down, taking off your shoe and discarding the irritant.

On an episode of the Dr. Phil Show, a lady who determined that she was an avowed lesbian at 13 stated at the age of 40 she was now confused about her sexuality. She was experiencing urges to have sexual relations with men.

At first glance, the above 3 statements appear thoroughly unrelated and disconnected. Please bear with me.

The Bible declares that I was born in sin and shaped in iniquity. My natural inclination is to do evil and live my life contrary to the will of God. Hence, the reason Jesus came was to give us power to rein in and subdue our sinful nature. At this juncture, I need to remind all of us that the meaning of sacrifice is to accept the loss or destruction of something for an end, cause or ideal.

“As a Christ-follower, I must be willing to sacrifice my preferences for God’s purposes. If I am to be an agent of change for my Lord, then I need a new vision-a new way of seeing things and people around me. God loved the world so much that He gave his only son. Surely I can love those around me enough to give up certain comforts and routines so that can Impact someone’s life with the love of God.”

                                                                                                                -  Pastor Walter Nelson

                                                                                                                 Impact Church, Lake Wales, Fl.

As long as I live on this earth, there will always a tug of war within me -- between my fleshly desires influenced by Satan and the knowledge and pursuit of righteousness commanded by  God.

As much as I’d like to:

I do not shoplift that fancy iPhone in Walmart with all the latest gadgets and apps.

I do not pursue or seek to go to bed with that curvy, highly desirable, voluptuous woman.

I do not kill my boss or my neighbor even though they make me as mad as hell.

Why?

I consider it. I am tempted by it.

But my renewed mind tells me it is not right. It is against the will of God and – if I go through with it – I am warned of severe unpleasant circumstances. I discipline my body and bring my thoughts under subjection so I do not choose the wrong path and confuse my life, muddying my destiny.

If I am to be a faithful follower of God, I must deny myself and take up my cross daily and walk in the way he describes and dictates. I must live according to his purpose and not on my own terms.

He is the potter, I am the clay.

He is the creator, I am the created.

He is omniscient and sees the end from the beginning.

There are things in the Bible I do not like, understand, condone, consider unfair and inconvenient.

A man was stoned to death for gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.

Solomon, the penultimate example of God given wisdom and wealth worshiped idols.

Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land for a single error caused by frustration with a hellish stiff-necked, obstinate group of people.

Hosea was told to marry a prostitute and with her raise a family.

Ezekiel was told to eat a man’s excrement.

Notwithstanding our thoughts, opinions, ideas, disagreements or objections, his word  - which we as ethical believers are bound and obligated to accept in its totality - has something very clear to say about homosexuality.

“So God created man in his own image,in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” Gen. 1:27-28.

 

“You shalt not lie with a male as with a woman,it is an abomination.” Lev. 18:22.

 

“For their woman exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men like wise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving  in themselves the due penalty of their error.” Rom. 1:26-27.

 

For those amongst us who are scientists and atheists or who do not believe in a Supreme Being and regard what I am saying as nonsensical, naïve and without basis in reality, this is not for you!  At this point, you can discontinue reading as I am not a scientist or atheist and not qualified to address you or your issues.

However, there are those in our company who profess to be Christians and are practicing homosexuals or lesbians and I do want you to reconsider your ways.  I appreciate the way you live your life. It may feel so normal, liberating and right. Nevertheless, the way of the cross is not by feelings but by faith and obedience to his word.

For one to accept or condone homosexuality as normal and God-ordained, we must tear out of the Bible the above verses.

We will have to agree that God has made an error with some human beings and that they are exempt from the command to be fruitful and multiply.

We would have to conclude that we have misconstrued the verses and they are not applicable for today or there is a mistake in the translation from the original script. However, that stance may uncover a Pandora’s box of troubles with no reasonable, predictable end in sight. 

My mind reflects on Bishop Noel Jones who on Oxygen’s Preachers of L.A. asked Bishop Ron Gibson, “Did God really make or intend for men to be monogamous?” Indeed, that has been the bane of Christianity from its inception. We end up interpreting scripture to buttress our position or fall in line to support our sins. As much as you and I’d like it you, it does not work that way.

Does one’s genuine, monogamous love for your partner override all other considerations? Is God and everyone else obligated to accept it?

Regrettably, we cannot, as we all are subject to the same limits and restrictions by God. He is no respector of persons. We must all fall in line and follow his commands or suffer the consequences. We are all governed by the same rules.

It is his universe and he has outlined the prerequisites for entering his kingdom.

We must allow room for him to be God the Supreme Judge and make the difficult decisions which we must deal with regardless of our emotions.

We cannot change him so we should allow him to change us, not matter how we feel or think. We must allow him to wipe away our personal desires and replace them with his.

“Behold I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

“Blessed are those who wash their robes,so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the (sexually immoral) and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and  practices falsehood.” Rev. 22: 12 -15.