Ex-Gay Awareness Month

Most of us have heard of Gay Awareness Month (October), but how about Ex-Gay Awareness Month?  This past September marked the first annual Ex-Gay Awareness Month.  The emphasis of this movement is simply to show that some, who use to be gay, have changed.  It’s not surprising we didn’t hear about this since our society, especially the media, places such a huge emphasis on the acceptance of homosexuality.

As you might imagine, this movement has already received a lot of criticism and backlash.  However, I’m very glad Ex-Gay Awareness Month has started because it points to an extremely important and fundamental truth about homosexuality; it is a choice.

Some might object, “But homosexuals can’t control the feelings they have.  They didn’t ask for them.”  People have inappropriate feelings towards the same gender, but some have inappropriate feelings towards the opposite gender.  Some have sinful desires to get drunk, do drugs, smoke, steal, or gossip.  Some people have desires to murder and abuse their wives or children.  Everyone struggles with something.  No one asks to have these desires.  We all have desires we don’t want and never asked for.  However, the fact that we have sinful desires does not make it right to act on them.

Supporters of homosexuality often argue that those who are gay were “born that way” and “cannot change the way they are.”  Logically, would God create homosexuals and then condemn them for something they cannot change?  Considers what God says:

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.  Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Whether it is homosexuality or some other sin, it can be controlled and changed.  Since this is the case, people are not born gay and most definitely can change their ways.  In this same book just a few chapters away, God also says, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

While we all deal with sinful desires, but God is never going to allow us to face something we cannot walk away from.  Let’s make no mistake, homosexuality is a choice, as is all sin.  The fact that there is an Ex-Gay Awareness Month, and examples of people who have walked away from homosexuality, further points to this biblical truth.

The First Openly Gay NBA Player

It’s official, Jason Collins has announced he is gay.  This makes him the very first active NBA player to do so.   Collins has been in the NBA for many years and is currently playing with the Washington Wizards.  Since his announcement, Collins has received a huge amount of support and praise.  The NBA commissioner said,  “We are proud he has assumed the leadership mantle on this very important issue.”  Michelle Obama exclaimed, “So proud of you, Jason Collins!  This is a huge step forward for our country.  We’ve got your back!”  Collins’ team, the Washington Wizards, stated, “We are extremely proud of Jason and support his decision to live his life proudly and openly” (Yahoo).  TV analysts, radio anchors, announcers, and many other players have all be singing praises to Jason for his decision and lifestyle.  Many have been labeling his announcement as courageous, bold, and brave.

Is it really appropriate to call Jason Collins’ announcement “courageous”?  In other words, if someone announced to the world they were an alcoholic, a rapist, a drug addict, or a pedophile, would it be right to call that announcement courageous?  While it certainly would be difficult to make such a statement, the word “courageous” applies to something that is heroic, valiant, and admirable.  No sin has the right to claim these wonderful attributes.  And homosexuality is most definitely a sin according to God (Romans 1:26-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:9-10; Leviticus 18:22, 29; 20:13; etc).  Jason Collins’ announcement may be many things, but courageous is not one of them.

Now let’s take a look at a statement that is truly courageous.  Chris Broussard is an ESPN analyst and writer.  Here was what he said on live TV about Jason Collins:  “I don’t believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle…If you're openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you know them by their fruits, it says that's a sin.  If you're openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality…I believe that's walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ” (ibid).

First of all, ever since Broussard made this statement, he has been heavily criticized.  Many are trashing Broussard and even calling for him to be fired.  ESPN responded to Chris’ statements by saying, “ESPN is fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins’ announcement” (Hollywood Reporter).  Second, and most importantly, what Chris Broussard said about homosexuality is completely accurate with Scripture (Look at the Scripture references above).

There is no telling what the repercussions will be for Chris Broussard.  He may lose his job or just some people’s respect.   No matter what happens, Christians should be applauding and supporting such a bold proclamation of God’s truth.  What Chris Broussard did can truly be labeled as courageous.  Even though so many around him disagree and have attacked him, he stood for what was right.

Let’s also have the courage to stand up and boldly speak the truth about homosexuality (Romans 1:26-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:9-10).

The Real Definition of “Marriage”

The Supreme Court justices are meeting to decide on the definition of marriage.  They are ruling specifically if two homosexual people can legally marry in the state of California.  However, the impact of this decision could ripple far wider than California.  If the justices choose to do so, they could eliminate every law and restriction on gay marriage throughout our nation (FoxNews.com).

Maybe this is pessimistic, but if the Supreme Court does not change the definition to legalize gay marriage this time around, it will only be a matter of time before homosexuals can marry in every state in America.  The reason this is the case is simply because the push for homosexual marriage is worldwide, not just in the United States.  Eleven countries have already legalized same sex marriage (Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden).  Laws allowing gay marriage have been proposed, are pending, or have already passed in at least one legislative house in Andorra, Columbia, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Nepal, New Zealand, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.  In the United States, nine states have already legalized gay marriage (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Maine, Maryland, and Washington).  For these reasons, the United States and many other countries will likely change the definition of marriage and legalize same-sex matrimony in the near future.

Even though this may be eminent, there is one extremely important point to remember and it is this: It doesn’t matter what any man, any judge, any state, and any country says about the definition of marriage, God has already given the real definition of marriage and it will not change.  The real definition God gives for marriage is this, “a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31).  In other words, God designed marriage to be exclusively for a man and a woman.  But if this isn’t clear enough, then let’s consider some other biblical proofs:

• God gave Adam a woman (Eve) to be “a helper suitable for him,” because clearly no other creature, even another man, was fitting for this role (Genesis 2:18, 21-24).  Verse 24 tells us the role God was referring to was marriage.
• The only marriages found in Scripture were between men and women (Genesis 7:7; 11:29; 24:67; 29:28; Exodus 4:20; 1 Corinthians 7:2; and many, many other examples). 
• The only marriage advice given in the Bible is for the relationship between husbands and wives (Proverbs 12:4; 18:22; 31:10-31; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Peter 3:1; etc).
• The only instruction on divorce is for husbands and wives (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9; 1 Corinthians 7:10-11; etc).
• Not even one approved homosexual relationship, or even one piece of advice specifically for homosexuals, can be found in Scripture.  In fact, the Bible clearly and adamantly condemns homosexuality (Genesis 19; Leviticus 18:22, 29; 20:13; Romans 1:26-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-10; 2 Peter 2:6-8; Jude 5-7; etc).
• The human body is only physically compatible with the opposite gender, making homosexuality abnormal.  Scripture also identifies homosexuality as unnatural (Romans 1:26-27).  Homosexual relationships cannot produce children and have been proven to shorten the lifespan and spread certain diseases (LifeSiteNews.com; Time).
• Scripture even reveals that people are not born as homosexuals and can change if they choose (1 Corinthians 10:13; 6:9-11, “such were some of you”).

Our culture is changing.  Nevertheless, even if the United States and every country in the world legalize gay marriage, it will not change the actual definition of marriage.  The Lord God is specific and clear that the only approved marriage is between a man and a woman.

Tolerate, Acceptance, Embrace

Neal Pollard

One of the feature stories in today's USA Today is a glowing feature about a homosexual couple getting married in Maryland, one of the states to legalize homosexual marriage in the last election.  The article is also about changing attitudes in our nation.  Chuck Raash, the author, states in the course of writing that 53% of Americans surveyed say they think that same-sex married couples should enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples.  Perhaps the statistic I found more interesting was that 36% of people surveyed have changed their mind about this issue during their lifetime.  While those numbers are not further analyzed, the tone of the article would suggest that most, if not all, have changed from opposing to accepting it.  One of the grooms summed up the "three stages" homosexuals often face when they reveal their preference to the people in their lives--"tolerance, acceptance, embrace" (USA Today, 1/9/13, A-1).  I do not doubt any of the statistics in the article, nor do I disagree with the fact of such gradual change in thinking in people's minds toward matters like homosexuality.

Yet, I would disagree with this man and those who support his lifestyle that such change is positive.  Sin is very often met with such a gradual, changing attitude.  The 18th Century English poet, Alexander Pope, is actually the originator of the thought from the afore-quoted groom.  In "Essay on Man," Pope said, "Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, as to be hated needs but to be seen. Yet too oft, familiar with her face, we first endure, then pity, then embrace."  The idea, especially in context of the whole, is that people's attitude toward sin soften through the attrition of exposure.  That is, the more we are exposed to sin, the more comfortable and desensitized to it we become.  When a sin is increasingly portrayed as positive and right and people stop speaking against it, that society inevitably moves from disapproval to embrace.

Isaiah speaks of people getting things spiritually backward, calling evil "good" and good "evil" (5:20).  Consciences get seared (1 Tim. 4:2). They become callous, having "given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness" (Eph. 4:19).  Someone may deny God's existence or that the Bible is His inspired Word, but those who claim faith in both cannot consistently do so but tolerate, accept, or embrace what He says therein is sin!

NBC’s "The New Normal"

 

If you have watched TV on NBC lately, then you have seen previews for their newest comedy called The New Normal.  This show debuted earlier this week and 7 million households tuned-in.  Take a look at the plot of this show:

“In NBC's comedy The New Normal, Bryan and David are a loving and committed gay couple with successful careers, a gorgeous house, and everything else a person could want, except one thing: a child.  But with plenty of money, the lack of an in-home womb is no problem, and Bryan and David soon rent the services of Goldie, a Midwestern mama who's just left her cheating husband and wants David and Bryan's cash to attend law school and make a better life for her precocious young daughter.  Crashing the party is Jane, Goldie's concerned grandma, who doesn't like the idea of her granddaughter serving as a surrogate for anyone, much less a gay couple, since she's a loud-mouthed and unabashed bigot.  But when sperm meets egg and a baby happens, all of these motley characters are stitched together into one big mostly happy decidedly non-traditional family” (Common Sense Media).

Judging from the title, it is pretty obvious that the goal of this show is to redefine what is “normal.”  One might think homosexuality is abnormal, but this show’s goal is to show it as an ordinary part of life.  It also seems worth noting that the creator of this show, Ryan Murphy, is openly gay.  Clearly there are some agendas he is trying to push through this show.  Murphy is also the creator of other questionable shows such as Glee, Nip/Tuck, and Popular.  Actor Justin Bartha, who plays the role of one of the gay men, said this about the show, “I actually do hope people are offended by it.  I think hopefully it will get conversations started in family homes and that families who love it will love it for what it is, a compassionate and loving family with many positive aspects.  And the ones who are offended by it or find that it strikes them as offensive, hopefully they will maybe realize that they’re bigots and they’re ignorant and possibly our show can usher in a little more acceptance” (WashingtonBlade.com).

Taking all of this into consideration, here is my take on this show.  It seems increasingly clear that NBC, Ryan Murphy, and other media avenues are pushing for widespread acceptance of homosexuality.  They also purposely put in a hardnosed and rude character, one that most people would naturally dislike, to represent those who do not accept homosexuality (aka Christians).  They are displaying the homosexual characters as nice, successful, likeable, and normal people.  All of this is included so that more people will accept the gay lifestyle as “the new normal.”

My take aside, and most importantly, what is God’s take on this show?  First, homosexuality is called unnatural (Romans 1:26-27).  This makes homosexuality anything but normal.  After all, it is impossible for two people of the same gender to produce a baby.  Their bodies are simply not compatible with each other.  Second, God only approves of the relationship between a man and a woman (Genesis 1-2; 2:18f; 2:24; Matthew 19:1f; 1 Corinthians 3:18f; etc).  This was the model He started life with and has commanded throughout Scripture.   Third, God clearly condemns homosexuality in Scripture (Genesis 19; Leviticus 18:22, 29; 20:13; Romans 1:26-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-10; 2 Peter 2:6-8; Jude 5-7; etc).

So, does God approve of the TV show The New Normal?  If we are honest with the Scriptures, we have to answer “No.”  Therefore, I hope and pray that we will stand with God and chose not to watch or support NBC’s The New Normal.