There are people who live what is now called an "alternative" lifestyle. I am able to sympathize with the feelings they voice about their situation while making my stand on the subject crystal-clear. Some of these dear people have a background of childhood physical abuse. Others feel that they were just born that way, while some simply do not feel comfortable with the opposite sex. This is an area where Satan has doen some of his most successful work in the area of deception.
Those not in this camp could get sucked into finding their outlook reasonable if the Word of God wasn't present to say otherwise. As understandable as all of these explanations may be, if you choose to agree with those who defend themselves by saying they are "just doing the best they can with the lot they've been given in life," the bottom line truth is that God still calls this sin. And He graciously offers a way out if one chooses to take it.
God's perspective, however, does not need to be delivered in veiled disdain or judgmental fervor, but rather with love and an understanding that the outward mode of behavior covers a deeper need and a level of pain that surpasses normal discernment. Speaking the truth in love and compassion is important. No one questions the love of a parent when he or she corrects a child. Everyone understands that the parent doesn't want the child to indulge in anything that would be harmful to her. To cite a wrong does not imply that the person is unaceptable, just that their mode of behavior is not conducive to victorious living. Sin is sin to God, period. From homosexuality to adultery, fornication to lying, stealing to you name it, He hates it all. Why? Because He doesn't want us to hurt ourselves or one another, and He knows the bottom line---though it may be pleasurable for a season, sin ultimately produces physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
But herin lies the problem because sin is rooted in self-centeredness and rebellion. Sin says, "I want it my way and I want it now!" When people violate the Word of God, they can choose several ways to work it out. One, they can repent. Or they can cast blame, go into denial, or find a way to justify their behavior. Notice the closing statement of a passage from Romans: "They encourage others to do them too." If everybody's doing it, then it must be alright, no? Sounds like the beginning of a movement to me! The more people you get to go along with you, the less resistance you'll encounter. Everyone knows that the majority rules. The greater the mass of followers grows collectively, the more the movement is empowered to solidify its position, economically and otherwise. Pretty soon you have an immovable institution in place that uproots and overthrows the foundation of godly principles. And while people who never took the time to understand those who were hurting, or to offer them effective healing, stand wondering how things got so out of control, these same wounded soldiers, numb to their own pain, limp away, dusting off their hands and proclaiming they've won the war.
If you would like to read this in full, please purchase the book The Power of Femininity by Michelle McKinney Hammond.
Very well put Carrie
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