Ever since God made woman to be the highest fulfillment of man’s need for companionship in this life, the devil has been relentless in his efforts to distort the purpose of sex and channel the fear of loneliness into the pursuit of deviant sexual practices. God’s plan, recorded by His prophet Moses in Genesis 2:18-25 and reaffirmed by His Chosen One in Matthew 19:1-9, has always been one man and one woman for life. Death is an obvious severance of the bond, and He permits divorce in the case of fornication, but otherwise the expectation is for willing individuals to make a covenant for mutual companionship and to consummate that pact in lawful intercourse.
Reality falls far short of expectation, doesn’t it? This is nothing new. From the beginning men and women have strayed from the righteous path to companionship, homosexuality being one such example of the type of ruin people cast themselves down to when they don’t have faith in God’s plan for marriage. We see this sin promoted all the time, especially in the information age. I love the Internet and satellite TV, but when it comes to the in-your-face advertising of sex, especially homosexuality, it’s TMI (thank God for filters!).
It would be discouraging to be hit over the head with it all the time were it not for the edification we receive from faithful servants of the Lord who take a stand against sin. To my brethren, I am thankful for all that you do in the Lord. However, I fear that not all of us take a balanced approach to defending the faith against the immoral sexual practices of the world we live in. I speak from experience: I myself have had some misconceptions about homosexuality that I needed to free my mind of in order to be more in line with God’s pattern in my heart. I’d like to share some with you.

1. Homosexuality is wrong because it is gross. It is gross. As a man, I look at some women and think that there could not possibly be anything more beautiful than her in all of God’s creation. To think that some men don’t think that way and seek to satisfy their passions with another man is disgusting to me, and the same is true of women with women. We are affronted by how unnatural the act is. Even an atheist would concede that sex was obviously meant to be between man and woman – any study of biology would tell you that. The Holy Spirit (via Paul) comments on the fact that homosexuality is a violation of the natural state of things in Romans 1:26-27, but this is a somewhat deeper observation than the visceral reaction that homosexual unions provoke in some people. But is this what makes it wrong? It’s a subjective ethical measure to be sure – lesbians intrigue some heterosexual men. It’s also a comfortable attack on homosexuality – even heterosexual Gentiles might concur that they are grossed out by it. But is that what makes it sin? No, for sin is transgression of the law (1 John 3:5). The law was laid down about companionship and sex “from the beginning” (Matt. 19:4). What makes it wrong is that it is a false way to use your body and denies God’s sovereignty over all creation, including our flesh (Romans 1:20-25).

So what? When someone presses us for our views on the matter, let us not take the way of cowards. Do not be afraid to say that you can’t condone it because it is a sin against God. Is that harder to say than “I’m just not that way”? Sure. Is that harder to say than “I’m sickened by it”? Yep. But it is the way of true faith. Remember what Joseph said to Potiphar’s wife when she tried to seduce him: “How then can I do this great evil and sin against God?”

2. It’s going to destroy the country, so the best approach is to let the government fix it. I’ve never heard anyone say this in so many words, but this attitude is reflected in the way that we frame many of our discussions on homosexuality, and in our political habits. What this misconception often reveals is a disconcerting preoccupation with preserving a “Christian nation” (there being no such thing in fact, ironically), and a lack of faith in the power of the gospel. It’s true that homosexuality was the bottom-of-the-barrel sin in Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19, when God rained annihilation down on those early city-states. But being a sodomite doesn’t just happen; as we saw in Romans 1, there are faulty foundations in the heart that lead to that kind of behavior. In other words, a lack of faith in God leads to a life of sin. Where does faith come from: the government, or the gospel? You already know that the answer to that one is in Romans 10:17. It is justifiable for people to be concerned about the fall of a nation in the midst of exponential sin (Proverbs 14:34). But, we do not live in a theocracy (John 18:36) and it is not our mission to build a perfect society. In fact when you look at the intent of rulers in Romans 13:1-8 you see that their role is entirely reactive, as all governments inherently are. The sword is an instrument of justice that is wielded against those that have already committed crimes. Where is their prerogative to proactively stop deviant sexual behavior that springs from a lack of faith in the heart stated in this chapter? It isn’t. Well if not them, then who? Parents, specifically fathers (Ephesians 6:4). Dads, do you have enough knowledge to train your sons why they need to look for a godly woman to marry, or your daughters to look for a godly man? Or, do you just tell them to vote Republican? I know one thing: if Christian parents are unable to do it, our immoral government is definitely ill-equipped for the task! It is also the responsibility of the local church to be the sounding board for truth (1 Timothy 3:15), and each of us has an individual responsibility to live a life of godliness and seek to influence others positively by our example (1 Peter 2:11).

So what? I know people love this country just as I do, and are concerned about the rampant immorality that is infecting it. The best thing you and I can do is to make sure we are included in “the ten” (Genesis 18:32), if you understand me. Who knows how much mercy God may shed on the many on account of the persevering reverence of a faithful few? Don’t be content to leave moral leadership in the hands of adulterers like Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and John McCain. Moreover, we must put our faith in the power of God’s word to keep us sexually pure, and perhaps deliver some even from the vileness of homosexuality (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)!

3. All we need to do is teach that homosexuality is wrong, right? Not exactly. It isn’t enough to empty the heart of everything that defiles it (Mark 9:20-23) – you have to infuse it with something that will refine it (Philippians 4:8). Speaking to matters of companionship and sex, what might one meditate on to refine the use of their flesh and enjoy proper companionship? First of all, we need to remember that God meant for marriage between one man and one woman to be good. Actually, He meant for it to be very good (Genesis 1:27-31, 2:18; 1 Timothy 4:3-5). What we need to understand is that marriage can be good – the question is, do we believe it? Too many people don’t. Gay people have a point when they point to the divorce rate among heterosexuals and say that there might be a better alternative. There is, it just isn’t going to be found in homosexual relationships. But don’t think that it is enough to just get with someone of the opposite sex. You need faith in the promised goodness of marriage, but that goodness will only be reached if both parties do their part to make it good (Ephesians 5:22-33). Parents, what kind of example does your marriage set for your children? Will it encourage them to conform to God’s pattern, or do they see epic fail? What can YOU do to fix any shortcomings in your relationship? Remember, you won’t be able to control your mate’s mind. So, how about that example? Also, what do you tell them about their sex drive (1 Corinthians 7:1-5)? Yes, we all must control it so that it doesn’t control us. But we have to admit that it exists, and that it exists for a mate of the opposite sex. God made woman to complete man in every aspect of his nature, including physical (Luke 2:52, Matthew 19:5, 1 Cor. 6:16). There is nothing wrong with that. I realize it can be a tricky balance to achieve, but it must be done. Too often sex is avoided altogether, and that’s a disservice to your children. If they don’t learn it from you, they’ll get it from someplace else.

So what? Again, it all boils down to faith. Do you trust God’s plan? Do you LIVE it? That is going to make all the difference, but it is going to involve a lot more effort, a lot more study, a lot more time and energy, and a lot more prayer than just saying homosexuality is wrong.

Homosexuality is nothing new, despite it’s increased popularity in our culture. God’s expectations for marriage are nothing new, despite mankind’s continued failure to live up to them. Let us seek to encourage one another to offer our bodies to God as vessels of sexual purity; for the married, renew your commitment to the Lord to honor your vows to your mate and enjoy the promised blessings of marriage as He designed it. Let us follow the Lord’s pattern on all matters of sexual conduct and companionship, and have enough love toward those people we meet who practice homosexuality to try to reason with them about the jeopardy of their soul. Remember, Jesus died for them too.

...imagine a smart guy like him just losing it after two hours of State of the Union babble.

...not an argument I would make, but it is fun to see the humorous Marsh-wiggle throw this into the Green Witch's face in The Silver Chair when she tries to make the heroes forget that Narnia exists.

'One word, Ma'am,' he said... 'One word. All you've been saying is quite right, I shouldn't wonder. I'm a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won't deny any of what you said. But there's one thing more to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things--trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Supose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play-world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we're leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that's small loss if the world's as dull a place as you say."

Getting extradited to the C. I. of A. more than likely. "Truth is treason in the empire of lies".