Opinions of Friday, 11 October 2013

Columnist: Akwah, Nana

Misunderstanding Regarding Homosexuality

I will be writing a series on the Homosexuality. I realized that those whose comments tends imputes in the existence of God could be classified as living dead. To them I will devote some of my time to educate them on issues both spiritual and physical to enable those who caught in this evil but needing an escape route.

The problem our world faces now must be a worry for all that seeks the well-being of others. Gay marriage and homosexual weddings are being sanctioned or considered by many countries or states. We must know that it is a perversion or an abomination. What effects would same-sex unions have on society, on the church, on children, on government and schools, on Christians, and on marriage itself? Should homosexuals and lesbians be granted the right to marry, along with the privileges of marriage? Is homosexuality moral or immoral? Should benefits be given to "domestic partners"? Does the Bible teach that God wants us to accept and tolerate homosexuality? What should Christians and faithful churches believe and teach?

This scourge that is been force humanity has followed after years of progressive moral decline: no-fault divorce, legalized abortion, trial marriages (co-habitation) and the sexual revolution, and the gay rights movement. Granting marital status to homosexuals is one of the greatest debasements of humanity in this long progression. Why should we be concerned about homosexual marriage? Truth is missing in our social world.

Moving forward we read from Scripture "All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal." Psalms -119:160

Why Do People Deceive Themselves? The reason is that the truth is hard to handle at times, especially when the truth hurts. People today have a way of avoiding the truth about them. We do not want to see things that are often obvious because it forces us to face our own personal flaws and faults. Why do people continue to believe their own self-deception? Why do people choose to believe the lies they tell themselves? The least said of is that lies are easier to face than the truth.

The psalmist says "Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws." - Psalms -119:43

Why is the truth hard to accept? The reason/reasons come in handy. Once the truth is accepted about our lives, it forces us to take action. The moment that we accept the truth, we have a choice to make. We can either deal with the problem or deny it. We can deal with the problems in our lives and the issues that those problems raise. We can ignore the truth and live in denial. Sadly, many people choose the later and live in denial of their problems and issues. Denial is in many ways less painful than admitting the truth and dealing with self-deceptive behavior patterns.

Some people show they hate God by disobeying Him. Proverbs 14:2 - One who is perverse in his ways despises the Lord (maybe not intentionally).

John 14:15,24 - If we love God, we keep His commands. But he who does not love Jesus does not keep His words. So to disobey is to lack love - God says we hate Him. When people claim that others are guilty of hatred, simply because they warn or rebuke people they are guilty of sin; those people need to consider who really is guilty of hatred. In God's view, the person who sins is guilty of hatred, not the person who rebukes the sinner.

The homosexual belligerent disposition and demeanor enables them to live with deception which keeps them from seeing the truth. A good analogy is that deception can likened to darkness and whilst truth as light. A continual pattern of self-deception will eventually lead a person into actually believing the lie. Self-deception makes it incredibly difficult to see the truth, even when it shown to us. As long as, we are willing to deceive ourselves, we will never move into the light of the truth.

On the other hand truth demands of us to make changes that usher us into light. As the light of truth will eventually reveal the deception that we are living with and the truth will surely penetrate us in some painful ways. Sadly we may be buckled down; until the truth is revealed we will continue to walk in darkness. The truth that we face is to help make the needed changes to move forward in life. Many times, people enjoy the way they are living or they believe they are trapped and unable to change. Either way, it makes facing the truth an unpleasant situation. The truth can be really difficult but no genuine change can ever take place in a person's life until they accept where and who they are. "Buy the truth and do not sell it - wisdom, instruction and insight as well." Proverbs 23:23

There is a so much a controversy as well as misunderstanding regarding homosexuality these days. There are those who claim or say that homosexuals were made such by God. The claimants claim they are homosexuals by birth and they have no choice in the matter. Then also are those who claim homosexuality is natural, or mere lifestyle, and that, we should all accept it as such. The misunderstanding has assumed great heights that even churches are preaching acceptance and tolerance, even to the extent that some denominations are ordaining homosexuals to their priest-hoods, pastorates, and ministries.

Let's take a critical look about the truth on homosexuality? Let's ask ourselves, where can we find the truth? Does the truth come from the opinion of men? Definitely, No! The truth is not found in the opinions of men. Nor is it found in the philosophies and doctrines of man-made religion. But instead, the truth is found in the Word of God. A more accurate way of saying it is this: the Truth is the Word of God. “Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).

What does God’s Word say and state categorically about homosexuality? I refer you to Romans 1:26-27. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.” There is more we can learn from this text about truths on homosexuality.

Homosexuality is a disgustful and a shameful passion. It is not an honor. It is not something that should be of honor and respected. It is an affection or desire that is an affront and dishonorable to humanity. No one should be proud of committing this sin. Instead, it should cause shame and embarrassment.

Homosexuality is not natural. The natural and proper sexual relationship is a man and a woman who have been joined together as husband and wife for the rest of their lives. In the beginning, when God created man, he made a help meet for him. This help was a woman, not another man. Read Genesis 2:18-24. It is unnatural for a man to have sexual relations with another man. It is also unnatural for a woman to have sexual relations with another woman. As our text said, it is “that which is against nature.”

Homosexuality is a result of lewdness and lust. The text states that the men “burned in their lust one toward another.” They were not born homosexuals. God did not make them homosexuals. They become homosexuals as a result of their lust and debasement. Their actions are a result of their lascivious desires. It is a choice that is made by those who give in to such evil desires. In James we are told "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man: but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed” (Jas. 1:13-14).

Homosexuality is indecorousness and error and those guilty will receive punishment. Our text said they were “working unseemliness” and they were “receiving in them-selves the recompense of their error which was due.” Homosexuality is not the proper way to live and act. It is sin against God and a sin against one’s self. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 it is described as unrighteousness. And we are told that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Sodom, Gomorrah and the cities of the plain were destroyed because of this very thing. Those who are guilty suffer greatly because of their sin.

Homosexuality can be forgiven if one so repent. This is the good news. In John 8:32 Jesus said, “and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The truth can make anyone free from his sin, including the one who is guilty of homosexuality. In 1 Corinthians 6:11, after pointing out some people who are unrighteous, including homosexuals, Paul said, “And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” It does not matter what sins a person has committed, he can be washed, sanctified, and justified. This refutes another misunderstanding concerning homosexuality. Some say a homosexual cannot change. But in Corinth, there were homosexuals who changed. Paul said, “and such were some of you.” They believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. They repented of their sins (changed) and they were baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of the sin.

If you are guilty of homosexuality, I urge you to be washed, be sanctified, be justified, and quit this sinful practice.