Christianity & Homosexuality - the debate in India

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Can a person be a Christian and a homosexual at the same time?

I've been floating around a major Indian newspaper and its articles and blogs on the recent debate on legalizing same-sex sex. There seem to be certain things that I have not seen discussed there so I will mention them here. My 2 paisas' worth...

1. It seems to me that the reasons for same-sex attraction are many. What I have observed in my life - is that in some cases, there was some kind of a childhood issue. For example, a homosexual could have had a father who was very remote or distant or even absent, or the opposite, overbearing, and rough, and physically abusive. Kids are different. Some are more sensitive than others. Some need to be held more often than others. I have also come across cases of people being molested during their childhood.

Then quite frankly, there are people who seem to come from picture perfect families, and yet still struggle with same sex attraction. I have not met any folks from this background personally however, but they are there.

2. Some people have changed. I know this because I know a person who left homosexuality and finds women attractive now. I know this because I have read accounts of such persons. I know this also because the Bible acknowledges this:

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." ~ 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

3. While some can and have changed, lets face facts, others may not and have not been able to change ever, and this during the entirety of their lives. Yes, they may have found forgiveness for their sins and have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, and are producing fruit. However, they still struggle with same-sex attraction. Becoming a Christian has not made this attraction go away.

Henri Nouwen was one of these folks. He struggled yet lived a celibate life. (More on this below).

4. We need to distinguish between what a person is and what the person does. A person can be a homosexual and not be involved in homosexual activity. There are people who are alcoholics who have been sober for 20 years. You can love a person for who they are and yet still not like what they do.

5. As I mentioned previously, if a person has repented of their sins and turned to Jesus Christ, and find that they still struggle with same-sex attraction, they also need to accept that they may struggle with this attraction for the rest of their life. This is a tough and painful teaching. However these Christians needs to accept that they are homosexuals, and that they may have a constant ache all of their lives. (More on this below).

6. There is something similar with healing. In my life I have seen some Christians be miraculously healed of X, and others struggle with X for the rest of their life. Joni Eareckson Tada comes to mind. God works differently with different people. My friend Jeremy - his grandfather, age 70, was the town alcoholic. When he became a believer, he stopped drinking automatically. Not a drop. He even lost his desire for it. In addition, he also stopped physically abusing his kids and grandkids. This man bucked a lifetime of bad habits overnight. Other alcoholics who come know Jesus do not experience the same grace. They struggle with the bottle for years.

7. The Church needs to accept such people with open and loving arms. The Church needs to grow up. Can a person struggling with same-sex attraction walk into the doors of your church and be viewed as the rest of us are? - Sinners in need of Christ.

8. Note - To experience temptation is not a sin. Christ Himself was tempted in many ways. So also to have same-sex desires is not sin. To act on them however is.

9. Finally, one other thing - while a Christian homosexual may have a constant ache all of their life, and may have to be celibate, yet still God will pour out His grace upon them. Yes - there is that famous verse of Paul's :

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
~ I Corinthians 12:7-10

God will not simply give you grace sufficient, He will pour out his grace on you, more than you can ask or imagine.

10. Henri Nouwen struggled with same-sex attraction, and from what I have gathered, it was rough at times. On the other hand, God simply poured out His grace upon Nouwen. Nouwen was such a rich blessing to so many people. Henri Nouwen died having lived a full life.

I think that God matches suffering with grace. If the ante of suffering goes up in a person's life, then so too does the grace at work in their life. Actually, God not only matches grace for suffering, but I think overwhelms suffering with grace. Amazing things will go down in their life. This is my experience.

11. The above can also be applied to heterosexuals singles who struggle with unfulfillment. These are folks who strongly desire to get married. Their bodies ache and burn and long for the opposite sex. They pray day and night asking God to provide someone for them. The too long for a special someone in their life. They too long for relief for their physical bodies. They too long to have children. They too long for fatherhood or motherhood. They too struggle with loneliness. They too have a 1,001 aches that are constant. And yet God never provides any one for them for the rest of their life. These folks also will experience God's grace in rich abundance!

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
~ Ephesians 3:20-21

My 2 paisas' worth...