Gay Worms?
Posted in The Historical Faith and tagged with Homosexuality, Jesus Christ, Sin on April 30, 2009I wrote this post a year and a half ago. The study I mention is not so new anymore, but that’s not the point of the post.
What I’m about to write could be offensive to someone who holds different views than me. Know that I am writing this not to be hurtful or insensitive, but as an attempt to speak truth to a controversial issue.
Are gay men and women born gay? The culture has leaned more towards answering “yes,” but I’ve always leaned towards “no.” Most homosexuals argue that they have always had those feelings, and I certainly can’t argue with that since I’m not them. A recent study from the University of Utah on worms found that you can trigger an apparently heterosexual female worm to be attracted to other female worms and act just like a male worm. This study is complicated further by the fact that this particular species of worms actually have both eggs and sperm, but that’s not the point at all.
Though this is a very limited study and is a long way from proving that humans can be born gay, let’s for argument’s sake say that sexual orientation is a trait that we are born with. Okay, that doesn’t make homosexuality any less sinful. A sin is a sin.
From the fall, man and the rest of creation have been corrupt. God original design of marriage has been marred by polygamy, divorce, adultery, and homosexuality. We are ALL sinners, but have various temptations. Just because it might seem easy and natural to follow my own sin patterns (and it certainly does) does not make it any less sinful. The sin is in the choice to follow the temptation (whether to relish a thought or to carry it out), not in the temptation itself.
I’m thankful that in Jesus Christ there is hope for all sinners, even one as vile as I.
Though you, my dear readers, have been nothing but the best, I want to remind you to be civil and respectful of all people and all viewpoints in the comments section. That said, I DO want to hear your comments!
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April 30th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Such a hard topic… I have personally witnessed my nephews grown up with homosexual tendancies since child birth so I do believe you are born with that… but I do feel its a sin – & yes, you are totally correct – we are ALL sinners… I just know I dont have to pass judgement on anyone! That’s God’s job!
April 30th, 2009 at 8:22 am
I agree–this subject is a challenging one to discuss! While I don’t agree with this entry, I do appreciate learning about different viewpoints. It’s so important.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:07 am
SUCH a tough topic…
I have very close friends that are gay and insist its not a choice. I just have a hard time justifying that in my head…yes, we are ALL sinners and we are born into a world corrupt with sin. I have a hard time reconciling the fact that our God would create a child with a biological difference beyond their control that would put them into not just a situation where they would sin, but a LIFESTYLE of sin. I don’t know…I’m really interested to read these comments because this is definitely one topic that I really struggle with…
April 30th, 2009 at 10:21 am
@Brittany:
Yet people seem to be biologically predisposed to other sins, such as addiction. I don’t thing it’s sinful to be tempted to sexually desire someone of your own sex just as it isn’t sinful to be tempted to sexually desiring someone of the opposite sex. Yet following through with the temptation and lingering on that thought and sexually desiring anyone outside the bonds of marriage is sinful, as is acting on it.
Also, we can’t discount the taint of original sin on all creation, including ourselves. While God certainly creates us, we come out of our mothers’ wombs already marred by our sinful heritage. Who we are now is not who God created us to be.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:26 am
As someone who has several gay friends, and watched a gay friend die of AIDS, I have an extremely different point of view than most Christians on this subject.
It does not matter to me whether a person can be born gay or not. I honestly believe that they deserve to be treated with the same respect we treat heterosexual people. I don’t look at a gay person as see them as “gay” or a straight person as “straight.” I just see people.
On the same token, I do not agree with some academics who say that sexuality is a “spectrum” in that no one is really 100% gay or straight. I do not believe that homosexuals can be “cured” because I don’t think it is a disease.
And to be even more honest, I support gay marriage, and allowing gay people to adopt children. Why? Because I believe that our nation has more important things to address besides worrying about whether or not two men or women want to get married. And if we allow people like Britney Spears to get married, then why not gay people? And to me, I would rather see a child grow up safe and secure in a loving home than in a foster home.
If Christians fought against poverty and children going to bed hungry with as much vehemence as they do against gay marriage, no child would have to go to bed hungry. Look how much money the Mormon church spent on Proposition 8 out in California. If that money had been donated to a food bank instead….WOW!
That is just how I feel. I am not arguing that I am right and you are wrong…I respect people who can stand up and voice their opinions, no matter what.
That is why I think the “controversy” with what Miss California said is just ridiculous. She honestly voiced her opinion. I am so glad our nation has such few problems that the media can spend days rehashing that story and dragging her name through mud.
And I am going to shut up now because I can ramble on and on about this.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:34 am
You make a strong and truthful point, “From the fall, man and the rest of creation have been corrupt. God original design of marriage has been marred by polygamy, divorce, adultery, and homosexuality. We are ALL sinners, but have various temptations. Just because it might seem easy and natural to follow my own sin patterns (and it certainly does) does not make it any less sinful. The sin is in the choice to follow the temptation (whether to relish a thought or to carry it out), not in the temptation itself.”
You can’t argue with that. Hate the sin, love the sinner.
Great post!
April 30th, 2009 at 11:47 am
@Jacki: Thanks for not holding back! While we obviously have different viewpoints, I don’t think that our views are really that different in heart. I too think that all people deserve to be treated with the same level of respect and afforded the same rights. Gay individuals have the exact same rights to marriage that I do. I will stand up for the institution of marriage, but I don’t think it’s the only or most important issue. (And other than making that statement right now, I really haven’t expended much energy to it.)
@Veronica: Thanks. It took me a long time and several drafts to write this post!
April 30th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Wow, what awesome comments!
I have several different comments on homosexuality. I feel that it is a part of the fallen state of man. Just like a hardening of heart towards one’s spouse, friend, or family member. Sometimes we can’t help who we FEEL love for or don’t love, but we CHOOSE to love them anyway. Homosexuality may very well be something that they are born with, but it’s still a choice to act upon it, as Ronnica was saying. I do feel that they deserve the same love and respect as any other person. We are all sinners. Jesus loved all people and so should we. I do not believe that homosexuals should be able to marry. I feel that the Bible is very clear on this topic. I think, in general, Christians are not glorifying the Lord in the area of loving and accepting homosexuals. Just because we disagree on whether it is right or wrong doesn’t mean we should love them any less.
April 30th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
@Elizabeth: I know, aren’t they all awesome?
There’s just one word of caution I want to throw out there regarding what you said. I think we (I’m using the collective term loosely, because I’m refer to people who basically agree with us) shoot ourselves in the foot when we say things like, “I do not believe that homosexuals should be able to marry.” We all know what you mean: that you don’t think that anyone should be able to marry someone of their same sex (though obviously, it’s basically homosexuals who would want to do this). By wording it the way you did, you’re allowing others to say, “See! You’re not giving homosexuals the same rights as heterosexuals! They’re being discriminated against!” Does that make sense?
April 30th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I agree with Jacki – quite a bit. I believe people are born gay. There are quite a few studies that connect it with circumstances inutero(enutero?) such as the lack of certain nutrients at certain points in the pregnancy. And another study that traced the connection to the number of brothers a man had… by the youngest boy, the mother’s chemical makeup starts to reject the testosterone, resulting in a different chemical makeup for the child.
Let’s narrow it down to this though… BEING gay is not the sin. Homosexual intercourse is the sin… as is premarital straight sex. But there are many many people who reject that truth and engage in sinful behavior anyway – and then turn around and vilify gay people for the same sin!!
Furthermore, if people are born gay would we rather they suppress it and engage in straight marriages – thereby living a lie? Is that less of an offense? I sure don’t want to be in that marriage! I know a woman who married that guy – and after they had two kids he finally accepted that he was gay and left the marriage. She didn’t understand at all, I don’t think she does still. I think she just believes he wanted out of the marriage. Can you imagine feeling forced to live a lie like that?
If we just shrug off the offense of premarital or extramarital sex – why make such a fuss over gay sex? It’s the same sin. Imagine how intolerant the majority of American would find us if we treated straight sexual sin with the same hatred many treat homosexual sin.
April 30th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Ronnica, thanks for clarifying that for me! You’re completely right and that is exactly how I feel :-)
April 30th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
@TRS:
I appreciate your comment because it really addresses sin in general. what is “really bad” and what is just “bad” is generally a sociocultural norm when in reality it should be what is biblical (disregarding the sociocultural norm). I personally feel that homosexual sex is equal to adultery or sex outside of marriage. However, I also feel that the sin doesn’t just begin with the outward behavior. Behavior is simply an outward presentation of our heart orientation. If my child throws a tantrum in a store it is because her heart is lusting after something that she can’t have. The lust itself is also a sin. This is true of all sin as well…not just that of children (or of homosexuals). I often see the homosexual behavior as an insight to their heart. The behavior results after a concentration (or stewing) on the lust/desire/want.
April 30th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
@TRS: You bring up a great point…all sex outside of marriage is sinful, no matter who the parties are involved. Everything else that I wanted to say, Elizabeth did!
April 30th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Hi there! Well said! I was attracted to your site because of your name. My name is Veronnica but my mom has always called me Ronnica as a nickname. I’ve always loved it! Was surprised to see someone else with it. What makes it even more interesting is that I also found someone online with the same first and last name as me today. I had no idea there was another Veronnica Watson (although she didn’t spell her name with two n’s like me). Have a great day!
Veronnica :)
May 1st, 2009 at 1:17 pm
@TRS: I forgot that I wanted to address something else that you brought up, what you said about men (or women, for that matter) attracted to the same sex but marrying the opposite sex. I’m not suggesting that at all. If a Christian is honestly not attracted to the opposite sex but wants to live a pure life, there is nothing that says that they have to marry someone anyway. In that case, I think it would be better for them to remain single.
May 1st, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Kudos to you, my friend, for tackling the really tough subjects. I really admire you for that.
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:53 am
As far as I know, worms are hermaphrodites… so, I’m not sure what the point of all that was. You’re right about one thing..that was a very ‘limited’ study!
Also, being a hindu, I am happy to say that I do not believe that any of us are ‘sinners’!! Thank you!
May 2nd, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I appreciate your courage, Ronnica, and your stand for the biblical truth that we are all sinners. I think it’s at least possible that homosexuality as well as other sins may have biological roots; but even if that’s true if doesn’t make those sins any less sinful. I posted a few thoughts on this topic last year when Ray Boltz announced he was gay. You can read those here if you’d like. Thanks again, Ronnica.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I can’t help it–I don’t think homosexuality is a sin. Even though I grew up Catholic, the God I think of looks at our hearts/souls, not our sexuality. As Jesus tended to gravitate toward the outcast members of society, I think if he were alive today that some of his closest friends would be homosexuals. Strike me down!
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Thanks for your post–I almost passed it up, but I’m glad I read it through. I haven’t read all the comments, but my 2 cents says that my God made us in His image and He wasn’t gay. They can blame Him all they want, but it’s all about choice, whether it’s to have an extra ice cream cone or anything else.
May 4th, 2009 at 10:48 am
@Iva: Thanks, girl. It’s not easy…as you can see, it took me 1 1/2 years to be comfortable posting this!
@Roshni: Yes, that would be a different way of looking at things. Obviously, I was writing from my own perspective/beliefs. Thanks for the comment!
@Barry: You’re right…all contributing factors (not only the biological factors, but also the environmental ones like an abusive parent) doesn’t change the fact that sin is sin.
@Mrs. Mouthy: I agree that God looks at our hearts, and I think they’re way dirtier than we have realized. He can see our motives, and I’ll admit mine are often self-centered. I don’t think God punishes/will punish homosexuals (or any of us) for their temptations, but for their sins, whether they are sins of motive, thought, word, or action.
@Betty L: It IS about choice. When I choose to sin, I’m fully capable of choosing otherwise (with God’s help). Praise God he offers it!