Homosexuality Debate

Chapter 1  The problem

Tim was a seventeen year old quiet lad in the church youth group.  One day he sent out a facebook message to others in the group saying that he was ‘gay’  The effect was dramatic.  The internet buzzed as this disclosure was dissected.  The result was that the lad moved away from his group and the area to try and start a new life elsewhere.  Doubtless we have all seen or heard of similar situations.

“I’m a homosexual and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that!”

“If a ‘God’ does exist, then surely you would say it must be God who has lovingly and purposefully made people gay, and so surely homosexuality is part of God’s plan?”

Arguments such as these are commonly made in the press and on the web. The presupposition is that one’s drives are uncontrollable and are possibly genetically induced and therefore the individual is not responsible for either the way they think or the way they act.  Yet we all know that if someone gets a fixation on some lifestyle, such as pornography, promiscuity, anger, smoking or drugs, these can become driving addictions in our minds that are very hard to eradicate.  We become what we think about. Most of us will know of people who appear to be in stable homosexual relationships and the idea is being promoted that these are the same as heterosexual marriages.  Should they be made to feel guilty because of this aspect of their make-up?

The Roman Catholic church has kept a firm line saying that marriage can only be between a man and a woman and that all sexual activity outside marriage is wrong. The Church of England has ben much vaguer.  In 1998, the 13th Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops passed a resolution “rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture”.  However Anglican national churches in Brazil, South Africa, South India, New Zealand and Canada have taken steps toward approving and celebrating same-sex relationships although there has been strong resistance among other national churches within the 80 million-member global body.

The Episcopal Church in the U.S. has allowed gay marriage since 2015."[3]  Church of England clergy have appeared to signal support for gay marriage after they rejected a bishops’ report which said that only a man and woman could marry in church."  In the Episcopal Church in the United States, Gene Robinson was elected and consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire, becoming the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion and in apostolic Christianity. This was highly controversial and led several hundred bishops to boycott the 2008 Lambeth Conference. The BBC, in

2009, reported that many clergy in the Church of England "already bless same-sex couples on an unofficial basis".

Officially the Methodist Churches ruling body has pronounced, in its book of Church Discipline,

“The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.”

“Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.”

However already many local Methodist churches have become affiliated to LGBT and in recent years, there has been pressure within Methodist churches to permit homosexual clergy to officiate and acknowledge same-sex weddings.

As the pressure to accept homosexual practices has increased, so have the concerns.  How can we discern what is the mind of God on this matter?  This is not a new question and can be answered in several different ways,  We can look at the studies on the average homosexual lifestyle and its consequences but such studies will be interpreted according to our presuppositions.  Studies can also be made about the benefits and disadvantages to societies of accepting other people’s lifestyles but again these will always be debated.  Is there no way we can determine for sure what is best for society?  This leads us to the fundamental question about how much God has said on how he wants people to live, or at least how he wants his own people to live if the others reject his ways.  The fundamental issue will always come down to the question Adam and Eve faced in the Garden of Eden,

“Am I allowed to decide what is right and wrong, has God really forbidden people to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil?”

This booklet aims to summarise some of these studies and then look at what the Bible teaches.

Chapter 2    Facts about homosexuals’ lifestyles

It has been said, ‘Hate the sin, love the sinner’.  Too often this is the order in which we think.  By ‘hating that which is wrong’ first we immediately build a stone wall between ourselves and those we talk to so that rancour replaces discussion and rancour is inevitably unproductive.  We must learn first to love those who behave and think differently to ourselves.  Only when people notice how genuine we are will they be able to discuss reasoned arguments.  Love must be our presenting feature, it must trump logic, ethics and creeds but without denying these.

Promiscuity, whether heterosexual or homosexual is rife.  The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyle found that the mean number of sexual partners British men have is 11.3 and women 7.7.  If that is the average, it mathematically means that many are far more promiscuous than the published figures.

The case is often put forwards that homosexual marriages are the same as heterosexual marriages and doesn’t God love those with homosexual inclinations as much as those who he has made with heterosexual desires?  Of course he does, but does that mean that those in either group can behave as they want? The Bible teaches that all people have been created to live under God’s rule and he has promised to give those who want to live under his authority his power, the power of the Holy Spirit.  The question is whether this is true for today?

Although some want to equate homosexual relationships with heterosexual ones, the reality is that many advocates of homosexual relationships are trying to undermine the established norms of stable societies.  They want to ‘radically alter an archaic institution.’  There is strong evidence that the average gay is very promiscuous, having ‘an average several dozen partners a year.’   A Jewish psychiatrist has written,

“It should be obvious that a fundamental conflict exists between Judaism’s core insistence on sexual fidelity and the ‘sexual freedom’ - promiscuity – at the heart of the homosexual political movement.”

The early report by Kinsey observed that long-term monogamous homosexual relationships were very uncommon.  A study of gay male couples found that 41.3% had open sexual relationships with some restrictions and 10% had no restrictions on sexual relationships with others.  21.9% admitted breaking their agreement in the previous 12 months and 13.2% had had unprotected anal intercourse with an outside partner without knowing the HIV status of their partner.

An earlier study on ‘The Male Couple’ written by a homosexual couple, found that no male couple was able to remain faithful to their relationship for more than five years.  They said, ‘The single most important factor that keeps couples together past the ten year mark is the lack of possessiveness they feel. They investigated one hundred and fifty six homosexual couples and found only seven had maintained sexual fidelity and, of those seven, none had been together more than five years. They reported,

“The expectation for outside sexual activity was the rule for male couples and the exception for heterosexuals.  Heterosexual couples lived with some expectation that their relationships were to last ‘Until death us do part,’ whereas gay couples wondered if their relationships could survive.’

One study noted that although there is often a longing for relationships with stability, sexual continuity, intimacy, love and affection, only one couple in the study had maintained a monogamous relationship for ten years.  This study commented,

‘For many homosexuals, one night stands or short term relationships are typical.’

In an autobiographical study one homosexual wrote,

‘Gay life is most typical and works best when sexual contacts are impersonal and even anonymous.  As a group the homosexuals I have known seem far more preoccupied with sex than heterosexuals are, and far more likely to think of a good sex life as many partners under many exciting circumstances.’

There has been considerable debate about the difference between Civil Partnerships and marriage.   They are very similar but the main difference is that a civil partnership cannot be dissolved on grounds of adultery.  There is an assumption that those in Civil Partnerships will have a more open arrangement within their relationship in which sex with others is accepted.  Bishop Nazir-Ali has written,

“The Civil Partnerships Act of 2005 was designed to imitate marriage: the Bishops point this out in paragraph 12 of their statement. At first, Government ministers were claiming that the then Bill was to remove hardships on such matters as visiting rights in hospitals, inheritance and security of tenancy for people living together. When an attempt was made, however, in Parliament to broaden the categories of people who might benefit from such legislation by removing prohibitions on consanguinity for certain classes of people such as mother and daughter or two sisters living together, ministers then claimed that the legislation was to provide a ‘marriage-like’ relationship for same-sex couples and that any attempt to broaden the categories of those who might benefit would be hostile to such an intent. It is, therefore, disingenuous to claim that a sexual relationship is not a presumption for those entering into these partnerships. The lack of provision for annulment and of dissolution on grounds of infidelity relate to the nature of sexual expression and to the ‘open’ kind of relationships which many have rather than to any intention to provide for those not in a sexual relationship.”

That there is a dark side to the homosexual revolution cannot be denied.  Culture Facts, an online publication of Family Research Council, recently reported on a street fair that illustrates this. The fair was sponsored in part by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF)--two very prominent groups committed to mainstreaming and normalizing homosexuality.  Yet that event featured public whippings, body piercing, public sex, sado-masochism, and public nakedness by parade marchers. Fair booths sold bumper stickers that said, "God masturbates," and "I Worship Satan," and merchants peddled studded dog collars and leather whips (not for their dogs). On the sidelines of the public fair, a man dressed as a Catholic nun was strapped to a cross with his buttocks exposed, and onlookers were invited to whip him for a two-dollar donation.  The article asks how long psychologists can be in denial about the significance of the dark side, and ignore what it implies about the homosexual condition?

Venereal Diseases

Men who have sex with men have significantly increased rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as gonorrhea, syphilis, rectal chlamydial infections, viral hepatitis and anal warts compared with matched controls.  This is undoubtedly related to the prevalence of promiscuous sexual activity. In 2017, adult and adolescent gay and bisexual men made up 70% (27,000) of the 38,739 new HIV diagnoses in the United States and dependent areas.

The studies mentioned above refer largely to male homosexuals.  There is some evidence that women tend to have longer lasting relationships and show a higher degree of fidelity to their partners.  However there are also reports that after time some lesbians look for more open relationships and enter a non-monogamous state.  One Lesbian who had had a five year monogamous relationship wrote,

“Non-monogamy is hardly scandalous or even really notable these days. In some of my queer circles, in fact, monogamy is the rarer beast.”

Problems with such statistics

There are many difficulties with such overview studies as there are some stable same sex relationships that can last many years. There can also be promiscuity and instability within long-term heterosexual relationships.

One problem that is becoming increasingly obvious is how politicised the media are on sexual issues.  In a recent radio broadcast about Israel Folau that lasted one hour, the presenter was clearly sympathetic to a libertarian position and it was notable that everyone who was interviewed by phone was sympathetic to the LGBT position.  Everybody knows the problems that occur when the media have been taken over by a political position.  A study of the media of all totalitarian states such as communist Russia and the Third Reich quickly reveals how they can alter the thinking of a society.

The proportion of society identifying themselves as homosexual is still very small.  The proportion of the UK population aged 16 years and over identifying as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) was 2.0% in 2017.  Males (2.3%) were more likely to identify themselves as LGB than females (1.8%).  Trends of this change are significant.  In the UK study 4.2% of people aged 16 to 24 years identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual, a higher proportion than for other older age groups.  In the United States approximately one in 100 American women and two in 100 American men identify as homosexual, with another four percent of Americans identifying as bisexual.  Yet the media present this new position as the norm.

Utilitarian approaches to derive ethical standards are always open to manipulation by politicians and the media.  Those with opposing views can easily be silenced or sidelined. Is there another way to determine the best way to live?

Chapter 3    Changing How People Think

How quickly people can change their views.  In many nations, there has been an increasing acceptance of homosexuality, including in the United States, where 72% say it should be accepted, compared with just 49% as recently as 2007.  In Kenya, only 1 in 100 said homosexuality should be accepted in 2002, compared with 14% who say this now.   

This dramatic change has been brought about by many people using every possible advertising and manipulating technique.  The use of these techniques has been common in the last hundred years.  The National Socialists won the votes of the majority of Germans by a mixture of propaganda, lies and force.  The Marxists in Russia did the same.  In both cases it was felt that the cause justified the means.

Early Marxists thought that the change from bourgeois capitalist control to control by the popular people, the proletariat, would only occur through violent revolution.  Antonio Gramsci was an influential Italian Marxist who considered that the way to change society permanently was to change its thinking about social norms, such as marriage.  He wanted to completely change the norms of society.  Gramsci wanted to see a ‘periphery-centred society’ where those now inside are turned into outsiders and the underdogs take control; the oppressors must be oppressed and those with privileges must lose them.  He thought this would happen, not by armed revolution but by seduction and pressure.

There is no doubt that the sexual revolution has been a main focus of the attack on society norms by such thinkers today.

"The spectacular success of the homosexual movement stands as one of the most fascinating phenomena of our time.  In less than two decades, homosexuality has moved from ‘The love that dares not speak its name’, to the centre of America’s public life. The homosexual agenda has advanced even more quickly than its most ardent proponents had expected,  and social change of this magnitude demands some explanation.”

The previously marginalised have used every means, including lies, to change how people think.  Issues of right and wrong have been obliterated by amplifying the ‘bad case’ scenario and traditional marriage has become a chosen battlefield.  The right to live in accord with a person’s inclinations is paramount.  Why should sex be restricted to the traditional view that it should be between one man and one woman?  Why should sex with animals be prohibited – who is harmed?

Media Propaganda

How has this rapid change been brought about?  Militant propaganda has been the main weapon.  The campaign to change public attitudes has been very carefully orchestrated.  One analyst has concluded,

“Although a number of lobby groups have campaigned for exposure on the airwaves, the gay lobby has been by far the most organised and best co-ordinated, soon gaining a reputation as the most sophisticated and successful group operating in network television.”

One gay writer openly acknowledged how ‘gay writers’ have cornered the market of ‘situation comedy’ writers so it is no wonder that traditional sexual ethics are ridiculed and undermined in the vast majority of these programmes.  He wrote,

“There are openly gay writers on almost every major prime-time situation comedy you can think of.”

He concluded,

“In short, when it comes to sitcoms, gays rule.”

Some of those advocating these changes in morality are open advocates of sexual promiscuity. It is widely considered that those in sexual minority groups should be allowed to behave however they want.

Offering several principles for tactical advance in their cause, the authors Kirk and Madsen called upon homosexuals to “portray gays as victims of circumstance and depression, not as aggressive challengers.” This would be necessary, they argued, because “gays must be portrayed as victims in need of protection so that straights will be inclined by reflex to adopt the role of protector.”

Few realise that the BBC’s Children in Need appeal has supported a group called ‘Educate and Celebrate’  whose website is clear about their agenda.

“Educate and Celebrate is an Ofsted and DFE recognised best practice award programme that gives staff, students, parents and governors the confidence and strategies to implement an LGBT+ Inclusive curriculum to successfully eradicate homophobia, biphobia and transphobia from our nursery, primary and secondary schools, colleges, Universities, organisations and communities.”

Presenting stories into polarised political extremes is a common approach.  If a black man is injured or killed by police, the black person is always assumed to have been unjustly treated by right-wing extremist white men.  The police are together politicised and condemned as an organisation. They are described as being totally tarnished and can therefore be treated with contempt and even as reasonable objects of violent revolution.  The truths of the individual case are overlooked and become irrelevant, it is the cause that is all important and it seems anything goes to achieve that end. Obviously when a white policeman has behaved violently and unjustifiably, he must answer his accusers through the courts.

Find figureheads

Famous people who ‘come out’ and support a cause can have a massive effect on changing the way a society thinks, especially if this is well publicised.  Scientology has been established as a new religion.  Although empty of real content it has been well promoted by such famous actors and actresses as Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Leah Remini.  The same has undoubtedly happened in the changed perception of promiscuity, gay lifestyles and the acceptance of homosexual activities. Names such as Elton John, Boy George, Ian McKellan and Courtney Love have joined this bandwagon.  Such people are put on an ‘honour role’ and are portrayed as being in some way superior to more traditional ‘straights’.  Some of these famous people invest heavily in homosexual issues.  William Jasper has named some of the stars who have helped boost

‘. . . the queer content of homosexual films and television programming and helped to line up stars such as Orprah Winfrey, Madonna, Tom Hanks, Sharon Stone, Magic Johnson, Barbra Streisand, Ted Danson and a legion of others to endorse ‘gay rights’ or raise funds for homosexual issues.”

To have lists of famous people who are active for the cause is very beneficial.  How Jesus Christ now needs more people like Paul, Peter and the other apostles who were willing to suffer for God’s truth.  See what effect John and Charles Wesley and George Whitfield  had on changing the way this country thought by boldly standing up for the truth.

Dishonesty

Dishonesty appears to have abounded in the promotion of these new ideas.   Masha Gessen, a Lesbian author and activist has acknowledged this is one of their weapons,

“Fighting for gay marriage generally involves lying about what we’re going to do with marriage when we get there. Because we lie that the institution of marriage is not going to change, and that is a lie.  The institution of marriage is going to change and it should change, and again, I don’t think it should exist.”

While not all homosexuals agree with the use of deceptive psychological tactics, leading homosexual activists wilfully employ them. “After the Ball’ is widely regarded as the handbook for the gay agenda. In this handbook, two homosexual Harvard-trained graduates, Marshall Kirk, a researcher in neuropsychiatry, and Hunter Madsen who was trained in social marketing, advocated avoiding portraying gays as aggressive challengers, but as victims instead, whilst making all their opponents as evil persecutors. As a means of the latter, they used jamming, in which Christians, traditionalists, or anyone else who opposes the gay agenda are publicly smeared. Their strategy was based on the following premises,

“In any campaign to win over the public, Gays must be portrayed as victims in need of protection so that straights will be inclined by reflex to adopt the role of protector. The purpose of victim imagery is to make straight people feel very uncomfortable.”

“The agenda of homosexual activists is basically to change America from what they perceive as looking down on homosexual behaviour, to the affirmation of and societal acceptance of homosexual behaviour."

"Thus propagandistic advertising can depict all opponents of the gay movement as homophobic bigots who are 'not Christian' and the propaganda can further show them homosexuals as being criticized, hated and shunned..."

“Propaganda is to be used whereby those who are traditional in their stance on the gay issue are portrayed as loud mouthed homophobes – rednecks of a Klu Klux Klan stripe (and no one wants to be associated with them, thus creating a feeling of shame), and such people should be shown to be disapproved of which in turn will ‘cause them to keep their heads down and mouths shut.”

They even considered it legitimate to be dishonest to achieve this end,

“It makes no difference that the ads are lies; not to us, because we’re using them to ethically good effect, to counter negative stereotypes that are every bit as much lies, and far more wicked ones; do not be bigots, because the ads will have their effect on them whether they believe them or not.”

Andrew Moffatt is a strong supporter of the ‘No Outsiders’ that promotes homosexual activity as ‘natural’. Parkside Community School, where Andrew Moffat taught and which had a 98% Muslim intake, introduced their teaching material.  The result was that parents objected, protesting outside the school and withdrawing some children from attending.  The parents were portrayed as ‘homophobic extremists’ whist the teachers were presented as caring individuals looking after the outcasts of society.  In an earlier book written in 2007 Moffatt claimed he simply wanted to let primary school children know that gays and lesbians exist but later his ambition had broadened and he has said,

“Homophobia once existed, but we don’t have it in our schools today, and that to be a person who is gay or lesbian or transgender or bi-sexual is normal, acceptable and ok.  Children also need to be learning that they may identify or may not identify as LGBT as they grow up, and that whoever they grow into as an adult is also perfectly normal and acceptable.”

Andrew Moffatt is a homosexual himself, as so many protagonists are.  They are fighting to normalise their activities.

There are many difficulties with Moffatt’s position.  To have inclinations and likes and dislikes is normal, but to act on them is different.  To be tempted to steal is not the same as becoming a habitual thief.  Many youngsters in adolescence strongly admire senior children in their school and this could be called a homosexual phase, yet most grow out of this if they do not become enmeshed by sexual activity.  All sexual activity is addictive.  Surely this is why the Biblical book, ‘Song of Songs’ repeatedly warns people, about the power of heightened emotions,

“Do not arouse or awaken up love until it so desires.” Ecclesiastes 2:7, 3:5, 8:4

The importance of the story of Adam and Eve is relevant.  They were told,

“You may not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”

This message is timeless.  Although people have been given great freedom in this world, we do not have the right to redefine what is right and what is wrong – that is God’s prerogative, and his alone.

How people are portrayed in the media does influence people’s thinking.  Clergymen are usually seen as stupid buffoons.  Whenever gay couples, whether married or not, appear in the media they are nearly always portrayed as being in a happy stable monogamous relationship, akin to a stable heterosexual marriage. Unfortunately the facts do not support these caricatures.  Most clergymen are well adjusted normal people whereas the truth is that most homosexual relationships, even marriages, are not stable.

Exert Pressure

Following the barrage of propaganda, this is the next step – make people feel that they have to comply with the new way of thinking or they will suffer.  The ‘brown shirts’ and subsequently the Gestapo in Hitler’s Germany ensured that this pressure was exerted to achieve compliance to their way of thinking.

Vaclav Havel was a leader of the Charter 77 movement in Czechoslovakia in 1989 which led to the successful Velvet Revolution.  Their motto was ‘Live the Truth’.  Eleven years earlier he had written an essay, ‘The Power of the Powerless’ in which he described the communist system that held most of Eastern Europe in an ‘iron grip’.  He recognised some advantages in the centralised economic and social cohesion but the price was high:

“Abdication of one’s own reason, conscience and responsibility, for an essential aspect of this ideology is the consignment of reason and conscience to a higher authority.”

Havel asks how normal people have come to not only accept this situation but to collude with it.  He suggests that it starts by people being asked to put up signs saying ‘Workers of the world unite.’  He complies, not because he is enthusiastic about the idea but simply because others are doing this and he doesn’t want to be seen as different. He says,

“I am obedient and therefore have the right to be left in peace.”

Sainsbury’s stores and the majority of schools are putting up posters supporting LGBT activities. Is it really because all the store managers and school heads support this way of thinking? Of course not – the way to an easier life is to be compliant with what someone in authority has said and most people have not investigated the consequences of this movement, sexual freedom,  which ultimately is the breakdown of family life as we know it.

Aggression

When I was leading a student conference in Kursk, Russia we were entertained by the local Baptist church.  We all noted that there were very few men aged over 50 present.  When we asked why this was we were surprised by what we were told.  The secret police had taken away men actively involved in the church and they were never seen again.  This is the final stage of the take over of people.

In Nigeria there appears to be a genocide of Christians. The International Committee on Nigeria is a research group that reports on terrorism in Nigeria. According to them, Boko Haram was responsible for nearly 35,000 deaths there between 2015 and 2020. Meanwhile, the Fulani jihadis reportedly murdered some 17,000 between 2010 and 2020.  What is remarkable is that these attacks have confirmed the determination of many of the Christians to keep living for Christ.

In Great Britain Christians can be persecuted at work if they take a Christian stand.  Much seems to be permitted except being an overt Christian.

Legal aspects

The following three recent case summaries have been copied from the ‘Christian Concern’ website.  They demonstrate that there are now people deeply committed to undermining the right of people to express their Christian beliefs and behave as Scripture teaches.  These judgments recognise the importance of the right to express and live by traditional Christian truths.

Felix Ngole

Felix was expelled in 2016 from his social work course at the University of Sheffield after quoting Bible verses on Facebook that were deemed critical of homosexuality.  In 2015, he had entered into a discussion on Facebook over the imprisonment of Kim Davies, the Kentucky marriage registrar jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. During a vigorous online political debate, many views were exchanged on the Christian faith. A devout Christian, Felix quoted Bible verses affirming the traditional Christian opposition to same-sex marriage and of the sinful nature of homosexual activity.

Some months later, Felix was reported anonymously to the University of Sheffield by a fellow student and was subsequently disciplined in a Fitness to Practice hearing. He was informed that he had brought the social work profession into disrepute and was subsequently expelled from the course, losing the career he had worked so hard for.  In the court hearings, the University argued that Felix had ‘lacked insight’ into the effect of his posts on social media. During his Fitness to Practice hearing, the University had told him that the expression of his Christian views was unacceptable and was effectively told either to renounce his faith or stay silent on pain of losing his career. Yet Felix says he felt he could not surrender his faith.  After a long wait for judgment, student social worker Felix Ngole finally won his case.

The High Court decided to uphold Felix’s expulsion from Sheffield University. In some shocking exchanges during this hearing, the University of Sheffield implied that Felix was not allowed to express the Christian viewpoint on same-sex marriage or homosexuality on any public forum, including in a church.    This judgment was eventually overturned by the Court of Appeal which decided that it was the university that was ‘lacking insight’ in not understanding a Christian viewpoint.  The Court of Appeal condemned the position of the university whereby people would live in fear if private expressions of views were overheard and could be reported anonymously.  The Court ruled that:

“The mere expression of views on theological grounds (e.g. that 'homosexuality is a sin') does not necessarily connote that the person expressing such views will discriminate on such grounds.”

It was further recognised that Felix had never been shown to act in a discriminatory fashion.

It is now clear that Christians have the legal right to express Biblical views on social media and elsewhere in public without fear for their professional careers.

This is the first Court of Appeal judgment regarding freedom of expression of Biblical views which sets limits on the rights of professional regulators to limit free speech on social media. The ruling is an authoritative statement of the law, likely to be relied upon in hundred of current and future cases.

The outcome of this case will have significant implications not only for Christian freedom of speech, but in relation to all free speech. For example, comments made by people on social media (often many years ago) have recently been arbitrarily used to silence viewpoints that people dislike or disagree with.

Commenting on his win, Felix said:

“This is great news, not only for me and my family, but for everyone who cares about freedom of speech, especially for those working in or studying for caring professions. As Christians we are called to care for and serve others, and publicly and privately we must be free to express our beliefs, especially when asked, without fear of losing our livelihoods.  I have suffered tremendously as a result of how I was treated by the University of Sheffield and I feel that four years of my life have been taken away from me. Despite all this, I feel overwhelming joy that what I have lost will be so much gain to Christians today and in the future as a result of this important ruling for freedom.”

Ashers Baking Company

High profile cases confirm that deliberate discrimination is being used to help the LGBT cause.  Asher’s Bakery Belfast, run by the McArthurs, a Christian family, were accused of breaking political, religious and sexual orientation laws by the tax-funded Equality Commission because they declined an order to make a £36.50 cake with the campaign slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’ for a gay rights event, because they felt it conflicted with their deeply-held religious beliefs.  The Commission has spent at least £150,000 pursuing the bakery in the courts.

The Belfast County Court ruled against them and in 2016 the Court of Appeal in Belfast upheld that decision.  However the case was then taken to the Supreme Court where the five Supreme Court judges unanimously upheld the appeal.

After the case the McArthurs commented,

“Family businesses like ours are free to focus on giving all their customers the best service they can – without being forced to promote other people’s campaigns.”

Despite this, the freedom to stand up for a belief in traditional marriage and to express that belief has been shown to be worthy of protection. It is a ruling that protects freedom of speech and freedom of conscience for all.  It is such adverse pressure from authorities and individuals, so often well orchestrated, that prevents people from speaking out.

The actor, Jeremy Irons has said in a recent Daily Telegraph that “he is ‘terrified’ of the prospect of social media backlash.”  In the past he has made comments on gay marriage and abortion but now says that ‘he has retreated from expressing his political views because things are only seen as ‘black and white’ on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.’  He added,

“With the current climate I tend to keep my mouth shut.”

It is this fear of others reactions to anything we say that prevents people saying what they really feel.  The well rehearsed and orchestrated take the stage and woe betide any who then speak up from the audience.

Chapter 4  Current Issues that ‘muddy the waters’

One of the great difficulties over the current debate on sexuality is that some Christians cdo appear priggish and ‘holier than thou’.  Many people are naturally very sensitive and the issues must be dealt with very sympathetically.  An unloving approach is most unhelpful as all of us have fallen far short of God’s standards in so many areas of our lives.  The rather blunt Instagram published by the Australian rugby star Israel Folau read,

“WARNING.  Drunks Homosexuals Adulterers Liars Fornicators thieves Atheists Idolators   HELL AWAITS YOU   REPENT!   ONLY JESUS SAVES”

This resulted in a storm of abuse and hatred, much of which does seem to be orchestrated by people associated with the very active LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) movements. These clearly have political ambitions to change the way society reacts to extramarital sexual activity.  However, what many people do dislike strongly is arrogance.  Presentation matters so much.  This Instagram comes across as if this is the view of Israel Folau but he has failed to acknowledge that all he is doing is passing on what the Bible teaches and what Jesus taught to his disciples.  What Folau has said is very similar to what Paul wrote,

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

If Folau had said more clearly that the Bible warns us all that godless behaviour will result in separation from God then perhaps the debate would not be about Israel Folau but about who Jesus is and what he says.  Jesus was clear about what makes us unclean and unfit for God’s presence, these are very widespread and surely no-one can say they are blameless over the following matters,

“What comes out of a man is what makes him unclean.  For from within, out of men’s hearts come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  All these evils come from inside a man and make him unclean.” Mark 7:20

In a subsequent radio interview one man was asked whether he had committed the sins mentioned in Folau’s Instagram and he admitted to succumbing to many, including being an atheist.  ’Who hasn’t?’ the interviewer commented.   No-one on the programme  tried to understand why Folau had exposed his views in such a way that was sure to damage himself.

One study has shown that 94 percent of atheists think that homosexuality should be accepted.  This same study also showed that 54 percent of Christians felt that homosexuality should be accepted, with 38 per cent saying it should be discouraged.  However of those who are married 58 per cent felt it should be discouraged.

It does therefore appear that religious and social backgrounds affect the way people think about these issues.  The Bible teaches that all sin is ultimately a rejection of God’s rule in my life.  In some the symptom of this rejection will be seen in sexual behaviour, in others pride or greed or countless other areas of life. What this radio programme needed, following Israel Folau’s Instagram statement, was for someone to say clearly that the reason the Bible talks so openly about our sins is to remind us that everyone is indeed guilty of living without God.  The Bible is clear, sin is ultimately any offence against God and this can be seen in many areas of life. No-one is innocent in his eyes.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

This talk of sin is the starting point to speaking of the good news about Jesus. God wants the realisation that we are all sinners in God’s eyes to move us on to find the forgiveness that he longs to give all of us.  Paul continued this sentence,

“. . . and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:24

The Christian message is not finger pointing at the wrongs of others but good news that we sinners, which includes everyone of us, can become right with God.  The church is not primarily here to direct the morals of a godless society, it is here to tell people how they can be forgiven and become God’s people. The Bible is clear, every sin we commit can be forgiven except for one - that fatal sin is the rejection of the one means we have of being forgiven, through submission to the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” John 3:36

All who have found this forgiveness of their sin through faith in Christ are then committed to living as God wants, as His representatives.  The whole Bible emphasises that God’s people must live in obedience to him, whatever the cost.  Jesus repeatedly stressed,

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” John 14:15

“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.” John 14:23

The Bible stresses that if we do not take seriously what God’s word teaches, we are rejecting God and the salvation he offers. The stakes are very high indeed. Freedom is never free and neither is there ‘cheap grace’.  God longs for his people to be a holy people, enjoying life now until we experience it to the full in the next real life.  This is what he created us for.

Chapter 5      Ethical Foundations – the place of the Bible

It is no coincidence that the opening story in the Bible is about Adam and Eve who were living in a blissful situation in Eden.  However they faced a dilemma, would they eat of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” that God had forbidden to them?  In other words, although they were free to act as they wished in a wide variety of ways, decisions about right and wrong belonged to God alone.  It is remarkable that this profound issue is the opener to the Bible although it was written so long ago. Adam and Eve decided to go their own way and make decisions about moral issues with awful consequences for them and their descendants.  They were evicted from God’s presence.

On this basis for morality, the vital question is, “If a ‘God’ exists, what does he think about our actions?” If God’s opinion is omitted from moral questions we are left with deciding on the basis of the shifting sands of utilitarianism, “What is the greatest good for the greatest number?”  The current opinion of the majority is a fickle basis for deciding what is right or wrong, just as the opinion of a powerful ruler is: both can change.  Look at how public opinion was manipulated against the Jews by the government of the Third Reich.

There are therefore some fundamental questions all people must face.  The first is ‘Who is Jesus?’.  The answer to that question leads onto the question, ‘Is the Bible the reliable Word of God?’.  Only then should we ask, ‘What does the Bible teach about sex?’

Is the Bible the Word of God?

This is clearly a key question.  If there is no authoritative word from God then who is to say how we should behave.  Nietzsche recognised that society would kill off God, not that God could actually die, but that society would live as if he was dead.  Moral rules would then be made by the most powerful man, the ‘uber-meister’ or dictator.  We have seen the consequences of this with Hitler, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung and Pol Pot all of whom took on this role.  Significantly these all tried to destroy the Christian churches and undermine Christianity.  They recognised that the Bible stands in opposition to their political stance

When discussing the relationship between the Bible and modern ethics the question arises about why we should bother with the Bible at all.

A great summary of the Bible’s claim is found in Psalm 19:7-11.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring for ever.

The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.

By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

The great lesson of the opening chapter of Genesis is that everything began when ‘God said’.  Since the beginning of history God says he has revealed himself to people through his written word.

The Bible was written by approximately 40 men of various backgrounds over 1500 years. Although the variety of authors present different perspectives there is a remarkable unity about their message.  This message, which is summarised at the beginning of Genesis, is that the God who created us sees all that is going on.  He cannot tolerate rejection or rebellion which separates us from him.  Yet he still loves us all and, longing for a reconciliation, came himself to pay the price for our sin on that cross.

The Old and New Testaments of the Bible repeatedly claim to be the ‘Word of God’ and it is helpful to summarise the claims made by this united group of authors.

Moses

Moses great concern was that God’s people should learn to love God’s word and obey it.

“Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight.” Deuteronomy 6:17

Moses passed on to God’s people what God had taught him on Mount Horeb.  There God had said,

“Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.” Deuteronomy 4:10

He foresaw the day when they have a king to rule over them.  God’s concern was that this king should always be a man devoted to both God and his word.

“When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites.  It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that they may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left.”  Deuteronomy 17:18-20

Joshua

When Joshua succeeded Moses, God said to him,

“Be strong and very courageous.  Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”  Joshua 1:7-8

He was clearly meant to have God’s word as the guide for his own life but also he was meant to teach it to others.

David

David clearly recognised that without the word from God mankind has no foundation to live by.  Early in his life he wrote,

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust.”  Psalm 56:3-4

Here he makes no distinction between trusting God and trusting his word.  At the end of his life he wrote,

“The Spirit of God spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.” 2 Samuel 23:2

Psalm 119 contains 179 verses.  It is the longest chapter in the Bible.  All but 4 of the verses refer to the word of God and its centrality in the thinking of God’s people.  Here are two examples,

“How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart: Do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”  Psalm 119:9-11

“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”  Psalm 119:97

Proverbs

The wise man is he who lives by God’s revealed truth.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed mis he who keeps the law.”  Proverbs 29:18

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”  Proverbs 30:5-6

Isaiah

The prophet Isaiah begins his book by saying to God’s rebellious people,

“Hear the word of the Lord.”  Isaiah 1:10

He claims that his message is God’s word to the people and it has God’s authority.  He refers to this word that God has given him over 34 times.  The way to test false teachers is to compare what they say with Scripture.

“To the law and to the testimony!  If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Isaiah 8:20

Any who remain sceptical about God’s authority being in the Word of God should study Isaiah chapter 53. swritten 700 years before Jesus it describes in great detail what his life was about, adding that the Messiah will rise from the dead.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah also began his book with the memory of being called by God to declare God’s message.

“The word of the Lord came to me saying . . ”  Jeremiah 1:4

“Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘Now I have put my words into your mouth.’”  Jeremiah 1:9

The rest of his book keeps repeating this theme,

“Hear the word of the Lord . . ”

That God’s word is the basis for all that Jeremiah says is repeated over 140 times in that one book.  He says that people are culpable before God if they do not listen to and obey God’s word.

“ ‘For they have not listened to my words,’ declares the Lord, ‘words that I sent to them again and again by my servants the prophets.  And you exiles have not listened either.’ ” Jeremiah 29:19

Ezekiel

If you scan through the book of Ezekiel you will find most chapters and sections begin with,

“The word of the Lord came to me . . .”

Job

He recognised the importance of the word of God,

“I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”  Job 23:12

Jesus

He was tempted by Satan with very appealing arguments.  The basis of his reply is relevant to this present debate,

“It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

“It is also written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matthew 4:7

“Away from me Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” Matthew 4:10

Jesus repeatedly explained to sincere Pharisees why they were wrong, the Bible was His authority:

“Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down.” Matthew 7:13

“Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.” Matthew 15:6

“Jesus replied, ‘And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?’” Matthew 15:3

“But about the resurrection of the dead - have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’”? Matthew 22:31-32

“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures”. Luke 24:45

For Jesus, the authority of Scripture is timeless,

“If he called them ‘gods’, to whom the word of God came - and Scripture cannot be set aside - what about the one that the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world?” John 10:35-36

Jesus confirmed that the Old Testament was all about himself.

“Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”  John 7:42

“You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. . . . But about the resurrection of the dead – have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?  He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”  Matthew 22:29-32

Jesus longed that his disciples would continue his work and teach God’s Word to all people.  After he rose from the dead, he joined Clopas and his companion on the 7 mile walk to Emmaus.  They discussed the crucifixion of Jesus without recognising who they were talking to.  Jesus said,

“How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”  Luke 24:25-27

When Jesus met with his disciples later, although he knew that he himself was sufficient authority, he still based what he wanted to say on Scripture, as this was to be the authority for the church.

“ ‘Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms’. Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations . .” Luke 24:44-47

In Jesus’ prayer for his disciples, shortly before his arrest and execution, he defines God’s truth as being his word.

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17

Stephen

In Stephen’s final speech before he was stoned, he reminded his listeners of Moses prime responsibility,

“ . . he received living words to pass on to us.” Acts 7:38

John

The apostle John, recognising the absolute authority of God’s word as revealed in the Jewish Scriptures, introduces Jesus as having the same divine authority.  Jesus was also God’s Word, with the same authority as the Old Testament Scriptures.  What Jesus said, God said.  He had God’s authority.  So he begins his record of the gospel,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

John was also clear that his role as an apostle was to pass the message God had given them through Jesus.

“This is the message we have heard from him (Jesus) and declare to you . . .” 1 John 1:5

Peter

In the book of Acts, the first statement that Peter makes is about the divine origin and authority of Scripture,

“Brothers, this Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David . . . “  Acts 1:16

In his first sermon to the Jerusalem crowds at Pentecost Peter repeatedly quotes the Old Testament as being God’s Word.  In his second sermon, given to onlookers after a lame beggar had been healed, he included the statement,

“But this is how God fulfilled what he has prophesied through the prophets saying that the Christ would suffer . . .”  Acts 3:18

Later he reaffirmed that God was the primary authority behind the book of Psalms in the Old Testament,

“You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David.” Acts 4:25

To the end of his life Peter never lost this conviction about the authority of the Bible.  In his first epistle he wrote about the Old Testament prophets,

“. . . they spoke of the things that have now been told you.”  1 Peter 1:12

In his second epistle Peter again repeatedly quotes the Old Testament as his authority,

“For in Scripture it says . . .”  2 Peter 2:6

In his second epistle he emphasises even more strongly that the authority controlling the church is the word of God,

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises.”  2 Peter 1:4

Peter reminds his readers that the true knowledge of God is rooted in the Scriptures and the apostles’ teaching,

“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.  I think it is right to refresh your memory . . .” 2 Peter 1:12

The apostles were all eyewitnesses of Jesus and consequently their teaching bore God’s authority just as the Old Testament did,

“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place.” 2 Peter 1:19

Peter continues,

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came along by the prophets own interpretation.  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  2 Peter 1:20-21

Later he specifically links the apostles writing with those of the Old Testament prophets and recognises that both have the same authority – God’s authority.

“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you.  I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.  I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles.”  2 Peter 3:1-2

At the end of this epistle Peter again reminds us that the epistles written by Paul have God’s authority behind them - Scriptural authority.

“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters.  His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:15-16

Paul

Paul, as all the other early church leaders, had no doubt that the Scriptures were God’s word to man.  Referring to the Jews Old Testament Scriptures he said,

“They have been entrusted with the very words of God.”  Romans 3:2

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

Paul, like the other apostles, often quotes from the Old Testament as having the authority of God himself.  For example,

“As he (God) says in Hosea . . . “ Romans 9:25

The prime responsibility of church leaders has always been to teach the Scriptures, both the Old Testament and the teaching of Jesus that the apostles passed on to us in the New Testament.  When discussing the role of church leaders he said,

“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” Titus 1:9

Paul says that this is just what he has done,

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures . . .”  1 Corinthians 15:3

This is all the more important because he recognised that there would be a drift away from the authority of Scripture, the word of God.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

‘Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-- with great patience and careful instruction.’

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”  2 Timothy 3:16-4:4

Paul was certain that the way to convince people about their need of salvation was to teach them the Bible’s message.  The effect of this is to convict people of their need for Jesus Christ, God’s message will cut to the heart,

“. . . and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  Ephesians 6:17

Paul, like the other apostles, is clear that people become Christians and grow as Christians when they become subject to the word of God.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” Ephesians 1:13

“And we thank God continually because, when you heard the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13

When Paul wrote to the troubled Corinthian church, he keeps drawing them back to apostolic teaching,

“. . . so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”.  1 Corinthians 4:6

The writer of the book of Hebrews

Although there is uncertainty about who wrote this book, it certainly has the marks of having an apostolic stamp on it, possibly Paul’s.  It begins,

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son . . .”  Hebrews 1:1

The opening chapter of this letter then explains some Old Testament Scriptures and shows how these have been fulfilled in Jesus.  The major concept that God communicates with us through his powerful written word is emphasised later.

“For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit . . . it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Weaknesses in the church were attributed to a lack of understanding of the Bible,

“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.”   Hebrews 5:12

James

The apostle who wrote the epistle of James was probably the brother of Jesus who became the leader of the Council of Jerusalem.  He had no doubt that God spoke to us through the Scriptures, the word of God. It is through hearing and responding to God’s message that we enter the Kingdom of God.

“He chose to give us birth through the word of Truth.”  James 1:18

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves, do what it says.”  James 1:22

Denominational Doctrines

In 1643, the English Parliament called upon "learned, godly and judicious Divines", to meet in Westminster Abbey to advise on issues of worship, doctrine, government and discipline of the Church of England. After five years of discussion ‘The Westminster Confession’ was produced and accepted.  It was subsequently adopted by the Church of Scotland and Presbyterian churches and later, with minor alterations, by English Congregationalists and Baptists.  It has thirty three chapters and attempts to define Biblical teaching.  In the opening chapter the place of Scripture is defined.  Two paragraphs are quoted here.

Of the Holy Scripture.

I.    Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church; and afterwards for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which makes the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.

IV. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.

The Church of England has been built on Biblical doctrines.   All Anglican ministers have subscribed to the Articles of the Church of England by agreeing to the Canons of the Church of England.  Canon A5 states,

“The doctrine of the Church of England is grounded in the Holy Scriptures, and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the said Scriptures.  In particular such doctrine is found in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Ordinal.”

In the Book of Common Prayer (1662) the following was included in the service for the ‘Ordering of Priests’.

“And seeing that you cannot by any other means compass the doing of so weighty a work pertaining to the salvation of man, but with the doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scriptures, and with a life agreeable to the same, consider how studious you ought to be in reading and learning the Scriptures, and in framing the manners both of yourselves, and of them that specially pertain unto you, according to the rule of the same Scriptures, and for this self-same cause, how ye ought to forsake and set aside (as much as you may) all worldly cares and studies.”   

It is clear therefore that Christian beliefs must be based on Scripture.  How the words of Scripture are to be understood is the only leeway that can be acceptable.

The Church in the west is weak because we suffer from ‘Biblical Malnutrition’.  Although the Scriptures claim to be ‘the very words of God’ (Romans 3 v. 2) we are often uncertain of its contents. Its doctrines are too often not our priorities. We need to be helped and trained to know our Bible’s better. The teaching in all our Churches and home groups should be the regular exposition of God’s word to us - both the Old and New Testaments. The way we teach the Scriptures should show that ‘the word of God is living and active’ (Heb 4 v. 12) and very relevant to all people today. Hearing God’s word will lead some to repentance and salvation.  It will also equip Christians for the spiritual battles ahead, as we are armed with ‘the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God’ (Ephesians 6 v. 17).

There is no doubt that Jesus, his prophets and his apostles, believed the words of the Old Testament were the ‘very words of God’.  The question then moves onto the authority of Jesus.  If he is God’s Messiah who has fulfilled the 330 prophecies in the Old Testament, who rose from the dead as foretold in the Scriptures, who convinced his disciples that he was God and who gave the Holy Spirit to help establish his church in spite of great opposition, then we must take heed both of him and of the Scriptures he ratified.  The Scriptures tell us God’s opinion about ethical issues as well as the way of salvation.

The real reason that the LGBT debate is fundamental is that, at root, its acceptance destroys the very basis of Christianity, that God has revealed his will in authoritative words of God given by Jesus, his prophets and his apostles.  Destroy the authority of Scripture and you destroy Christianity.

What Jesus teaches is in stark opposition to what some liberal churchmen are advocating today.  One such clergyman wrote,

“It’s difficult to watch good people (and the churches are full of them) buy into the sincere but misguided notion that being a faithful Christian means accepting everything the Bible teaches.”

This is the fundamental question, ‘Has God spoken?’

Chapter 6       What does the Old Testament teach about sex?

Genesis 1-2

Eve was created to complement Adam.  Matthew Henry, in his commentary, makes the following astute suggestion,

“That the woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.”

She is created with anatomical and emotional differences to her man; these enhance the relationship and enable them to have children.   God wants families with a father and a mother.

“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

It is clear that God’s intention was to create families composing one man and one woman and their children. They become ‘one flesh’ which suggests a sexual intimacy that God designed and thoroughly approves of.  Paul later uses this phrase, ‘one flesh,’ when referring critically to a man having sex with a prostitute (1 Corinthians 6:15-16).  Here in Genesis God’s intention is that a man and woman will have a stable lifelong exclusive realtionship.  In the Authoriused Version this verse is translated ‘and cleave to his wife.’

Genesis 9

This account is only occasionally referred to in the homosexual debate but it is relevant.  Noah became drunk and his youngest son, Canaan, ‘saw his father naked’. When Noah awoke ‘and found what his youngest son had done to him’ he cursed Canaan and his offspring.  The expression “see the nakedness of” appears in Leviticus 20:17 as a metaphor for sexual intercourse.  When associated with the phrase ‘had done to him’ and the severity of the penalty which extends to his offspring, this suggests that something more than just glancing at his naked father happened.  Canaan’s descendants became the Canaanites.  It is likely that the offences involved were rape and a homosexual act.

Genesis 19

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Canaanite cities, were destroyed by fire and ‘burning sulphur’ because of their brazen wickedness.  Lot invited two visiting angelic men to stay the night in his house.  However that evening men from every part of the city, both young and old, surrounded Lot’s house:

“They called to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight?  Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.’” Genesis 19:5

These cities became notorious for their sexual profligacy, the word ‘sodomy’ being derived from the city of Sodom.  Sodomy means anal or oral copulation between two persons of the same sex or between a human and a non-human.  Clearly multiple offences are involved in this story, coercive sex, homosexual sex and riot.

Leviticus 18

This chapter details the sexual prohibitions ordered by God on his people.  It begins by the Lord prohibiting them from behaving like the Egyptians and the Canaanites and then describes the sexual practices that are forbidden.

“Do not follow their practices.  You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees.” Leviticus 18:3-4

The list of prohibitions is not just coercive sex - they also cover compliant sex.  One prohibition is clear,

“Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable. Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it.” Leviticus 18:22

God saw that this was how the nations, including the Canaanites, were behaving and it was for these reasons his judgment was coming on them.

“Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because that is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled.” Leviticus 18:24

These passages state clearly that God sees the sexual deviations away from the sanctity of marriage as abhorrent. It is important to remember that Moses was the author behind all these first five books of the Pentateuch, so a unity of outlook would be expected.

The prophet Ezekiel criticises Israel’s sins and compares them to those of Sodom.  In Ezekiel 16:50 he uses the same Hebrew word that has been translated ‘detestable thing’ or ‘an abomination’, as that used in Leviticus 18:22 referring to a homosexual act.

“Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom . . . They were haughty and did detestable things before me.” Ezekiel 16:49-50

Leviticus 20

This chapter lists the penalties for crimes against God’s wishes.  One verse seems to refer to compliant homosexual acts.

“If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.  They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” Leviticus 20:13

The book of Leviticus is all about what it means to be a ‘holy people’  The word or its root occurs eighty-seven times in the book.  Moses was told by the Lord to say to his people,

“Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” Leviticus 19:2

It is surely significant that much of Leviticus chapters 18 and 20 refer to sexual deviations that are abhorrent to God.

It is very difficult to argue that God does not mean what the text says.  Sexual relationships between men are clearly stated to be abhorrent to God.

Malachi

The prophet Malachi describes God’s anger at the abuse of marriage that was occurring at his time.

“You ask, ‘Why?’  It is because the LORD is witness between you and the wife of your youth.  You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.” Malachi 2:14

He continues,

“Has not the one God made you?  You belong to him in body and spirit.  And what does the one God seek?  Godly offspring.  So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.” Malachi 2:15

God clearly regards a marriage as being between a man and a woman with the intention that they should have children.  The Anglican Book of Common Prayer states that holy Matrimony was ‘ordained for the procreation of children.”

It is significant that both Genesis and Malachi’s accounts refer to one man and one wife.  This has always been the norm in most societies throughout the world with the exception of where widows needed to be cared for by accepting them into another family.  It is difficult to argue clearly against polygamy and other sexual deviations if the authority of God has been rejected.

Jewish writings from the time between the end of the Old Testament and the New regularly refer to the homosexual sin that was rife in Sodom and Gomorrah.  It is interesting that some graffiti found in the ruins of Pompeii, which had a strong homosexual culture until destroyed in 79 AD, refers critically to ‘Sodom and Gomorrah.’

Chapter 7  What does the New Testament teach about sex?

Some have tried to argue that the Old Testament Scriptures have to be understood in terms of the culture of the day and can therefore be disregarded.  As the passages quoted above emphasise, Jesus did not hold to such a view.  He gave the Scriptures the highest authority, they ‘cannot be broken’, they are ‘the Word of God.’  Although the Old Testament sacrificial system has been made obsolete with its fulfilment in the sacrifice of God’s Messiah on his cross, the mind of God about ‘the knowledge of good and evil’ cannot change.  Jesus quotes Leviticus 19:18, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself,’ more than any other verse.  The apostles quote this verse ten times so this section of Scripture clearly is recognised as authoritative.

Romans 1

In this chapter Paul confirms the Old Testament teaching about sexual sin as being abhorrent to God.  He contrasts the gospel where God’s righteousness has been revealed in Christ, to the consequences of the rebellion of mankind against God.

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Romans 1:18-23

Humanity has turned its back on what can be clearly known about God both in nature and in our consciences.  The consequences of our rejection of God will be seen in the way God takes the breaks off his safeguarding of society and will let it destroy itself.  This is to be most clearly seen in terms of sexual behaviour.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Romans 1:24-27

The Greek phrase ‘for unnatural ones’ used in verse 26 is widely used in ancient literature for homosexual acts.  A popular philosopher, Musonius Rufus who lived at the time of Paul, wrote,

“But of most sexual relations those involving adultery are most unlawful, and no more tolerable are those of men with men, because it is a monstrous thing and contrary to nature.”

This passage from Romans teaches that homosexual acts by both men and women are a sign of God’s judgment against us.  They are therefore, according to Paul, both the cause and the result of his judgment.  God’s judgement doesn’t just stop with sexual deviation, moral chaos will extend to all areas of society because we have forgotten God.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32

Homosexual acts are, on this basis, sinful in God’s eyes, it does not matter who is involved or what their motives are.  It is striking that Paul emphasises sexual immorality and especially homosexual acts before mentioning all the other problems of godless life. These problems will only worsen as public opinion supports such immoral acts.

There has been some debate about who God is addressing.  Clearly he wants his church to be a holy people and this clearly involves Christian’s sexual behaviour and outlook.  What a disaster it is when those ordained to lead God’s people have turned their backs on what the Bible clearly teaches.  Yet God is also concerned for society as a whole.  Society should see that the way Christians behave has great advantages but they should also be warned, as this passage in Romans 1 does, that to turn our backs on God will result in his turning away from us and a wide variety of immoralities in society will then be the symptom of this.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:10

These two passages contain lists of the sins that God will judge severely.

“9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

In the Greek, two words - ‘malakoi' and ‘arsenokoitai', are used here to refer to ‘those who have sex with men’. These probably refer to both the active and passive roles that those involved in these homosexual acts play.  This warning is clear, those claiming to be Christians who are involved in these acts will not inherit God’s kingdom.  These warnings are given to bring us back to our senses so we can also warn others about the extremely serious consequences of willfully turning our backs on what God teaches.

The list in 1 Timothy associates those involved in homosexual activity with murderers and slave traders.

9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality (Gk arsenokoitai), for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. 1 Timothy 1:9-11

Jude

Jude also refers to homosexual acts as being immoral when he talks about the future judgment of people in the church:

“They are ungodly people who pervert the grace of our God into a licence for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” Jude 4

He then compares their sin to that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

“In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion.” Jude 7

The apostles regarded all sexual acts outside of marriage as immoral but the Greek words used here for perversion probably refers to homosexual acts.

The Bible’s message is that God has called out a people from all sorts of backgrounds to be a holy people.  We are to live as Christ lived, controlling ourselves and living as obedient servants of the Lord Jesus.  Nothing is hidden from God.  Peter wrote,

“Therefore (having had the gospel preached to you), prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you once had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:13-16

Chapter 8   What did Early Church leaders teach about homosexuality?

Although some modern churchmen have tried to reinterpret what the Bible teaches there is no doubt that early church leaders were united in condemning extra-marital sex of all kinds, as the following quotes demonstrate.

The Didache

“You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit pederasty, you shall not commit fornication, you shall not steal, you shall not practice magic, you shall not practice witchcraft, you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill one that has been born” Didache 2:2 [A.D. 70]).

Pederasty is sexual activity involving a man and a boy.

Justin Martyr

“[W]e have been taught that to expose newly-born children is the part of wicked men; and this we have been taught lest we should do anyone harm and lest we should sin against God, first, because we see that almost all so exposed (not only the girls, but also the males) are brought up to prostitution. And for this pollution a multitude of females and hermaphrodites, and those who commit unmentionable iniquities, are found in every nation. And you receive the hire of these, and duty and taxes from them, whom you ought to exterminate from your realm. . . . And there are some who prostitute even their own children and wives, and some are openly mutilated for the purpose of sodomy; and they refer these mysteries to the mother of the gods” First Apology 27 [A.D. 151]

Clement of Alexandria

“All honour to that king of the Scythians, whoever Anacharsis was, who shot with an arrow one of his subjects who imitated among the Scythians the mystery of the mother of the gods . . . condemning him as having become effeminate among the Greeks, and a teacher of the disease of effeminacy to the rest of the Scythians” Exhortation to the Greeks 2 [A.D. 190]

“It is not, then, without reason that the poets call him [Hercules] a cruel wretch and a nefarious scoundrel. It were tedious to recount his adulteries of all sorts, and debauching of boys. For your gods did not even abstain from boys, one having loved Hylas, another Hyacinthus, another Pelops, another Chrysippus, another Ganymede” (ibid.).

“In accordance with these remarks, conversation about deeds of wickedness is appropriately termed filthy [shameful] speaking, as talk about adultery and pederasty and the like” The Instructor, ca. A.D. 193

“The fate of the Sodomites was judgment to those who had done wrong, instruction to those who hear. The Sodomites having, through much luxury, fallen into uncleanness, practicing adultery shamelessly, and burning with insane love for boys; the All-seeing Word, whose notice those who commit impieties cannot escape, cast his eye on them. Nor did the sleepless guard of humanity observe their licentiousness in silence; but dissuading us from the imitation of them, and training us up to his own temperance, and falling on some sinners, lest lust being unavenged, should break loose from all the restraints of fear, ordered Sodom to be burned, pouring forth a little of the sagacious fire on licentiousness; lest lust, through want of punishment, should throw wide the gates to those that were rushing into voluptuousness. Accordingly, the just punishment of the Sodomites became to men an image of the salvation which is well calculated for men. For those who have not committed like sins with those who are punished, will never receive a like punishment” (ibid., 8).

Tertullian

“[A]ll other frenzies of the lusts which exceed the laws of nature, and are impious toward both [human] bodies and the sexes, we banish, not only from the threshold but also from all shelter of the Church, for they are not sins so much as monstrosities” Modesty 4 [A.D. 220]

Novatian

“[God forbade the Jews to eat certain foods for symbolic reasons:] For that in fishes the roughness of scales is regarded as constituting their cleanness; rough, and rugged, and unpolished, and substantial, and grave manners are approved in men; while those that are without scales are unclean, because trifling, and fickle, and faithless, and effeminate manners are disapproved. Moreover, what does the law mean when it . . . forbids the swine to be taken for food? It assuredly reproves a life filthy and dirty, and delighting in the garbage of vice. . . . Or when it forbids the hare? It rebukes men deformed into women” The Jewish Foods 3 [A.D. 250]

Cyprian of Carthage

“[T]urn your looks to the abominations, not less to be deplored, of another kind of spectacle. . . . Men are emasculated, and all the pride and vigor of their sex is effeminated in the disgrace of their enervated body; and he is more pleasing there who has most completely broken down the man into the woman. He grows into praise by virtue of his crime; and the more he is degraded, the more skillful he is considered to be. Such a one is looked upon—oh shame!—and looked upon with pleasure. . . . Nor is there wanting authority for the enticing abomination . . . that Jupiter of theirs [is] not more supreme in dominion than in vice, inflamed with earthly love in the midst of his own thunders . . . now breaking forth by the help of birds to violate the purity of boys. And now put the question: Can he who looks upon such things be healthy-minded or modest? Men imitate the gods whom they adore, and to such miserable beings their crimes become their religion” Letters 1:8 [A.D. 253]

“Oh, if placed on that lofty watchtower, you could gaze into the secret places—if you could open the closed doors of sleeping chambers and recall their dark recesses to the perception of sight—you would behold things done by immodest persons which no chaste eye could look upon; you would see what even to see is a crime; you would see what people embruted with the madness of vice deny that they have done, and yet hasten to do—men with frenzied lusts rushing upon men, doing things which afford no gratification even to those who do them” Letters 1:9

Arnobius

“[T]he mother of the gods loved [the boy Attis] exceedingly, because he was of most surpassing beauty; and Acdestis [the son of Jupiter] who was his companion, as he grew up fondling him, and bound to him by wicked compliance with his lust. . . . Afterwards, under the influence of wine, he [Attis] admits that he is . . . loved by Acdestis. . . . Then Midas, king of Pessinus, wishing to withdraw the youth from so disgraceful an intimacy, resolves to give him his own daughter in marriage. . . . Acdestis, bursting with rage because of the boy’s being torn from himself and brought to seek a wife, fills all the guests with frenzied madness; the Phrygians shriek, panic-stricken at the appearance of the gods. . . . [Attis] too, now filled with furious passion, raving frantically and tossed about, throws himself down at last, and under a pine tree mutilates himself, saying, ‘Take these, Acdestis, for which you have stirred up so great and terribly perilous commotions’” Against the Pagans 5:6–7 [A.D. 305]

Eusebius of Caesarea

“[H]aving forbidden all unlawful marriage, and all unseemly practice, and the union of women with women and men with men, he [God] adds:

‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for in all these things the nations were defiled, which I will drive out before you. And the land was polluted, and I have recompensed [their] iniquity upon it, and the land is grieved with them that dwell upon it’ ” Leviticus 18:24–25 (Proof of the Gospel 4:10 [A.D. 319]

Basil the Great

“He who is guilty of unseemliness with males will be under discipline for the same time as adulterers” Letters 217:62 [A.D. 367]

“If you [O, monk] are young in either body or mind, shun the companionship of other young men and avoid them as you would a flame. For through them the enemy has kindled the desires of many and then handed them over to eternal fire, hurling them into the vile pit of the five cities under the pretense of spiritual love. . . . At meals take a seat far from other young men. In lying down to sleep let not their clothes be near yours, but rather have an old man between you. When a young man converses with you, or sings psalms facing you, answer him with eyes cast down, lest perhaps by gazing at his face you receive a seed of desire sown by the enemy and reap sheaves of corruption and ruin. Whether in the house or in a place where there is no one to see your actions, be not found in his company under the pretense either of studying the divine oracles or of any other business whatsoever, however necessary” The Renunciation of the World [A.D. 373]

John Chrysostom

“[The pagans] were addicted to the love of boys, and one of their wise men made a law that pederasty . . . should not be allowed to slaves, as if it was an honorable thing; and they had houses for this purpose, in which it was openly practiced. And if all that was done among them was related, it would be seen that they openly outraged nature, and there was none to restrain them. . . . As for their passion for boys, whom they called their paedica, it is not fit to be named” Homilies on Titus 5 [A.D. 390]

“[Certain men in church] come in gazing about at the beauty of women; others curious about the blooming youth of boys. After this, do you not marvel that [lightning] bolts are not launched [from heaven], and all these things are not plucked up from their foundations? For worthy both of thunderbolts and hell are the things that are done; but God, who is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forbears awhile his wrath, calling you to repentance and amendment” Homilies on Matthew3:3 [A.D. 391]

“All of these affections [in Rom. 1:26–27] . . . were vile, but chiefly the mad lust after males; for the soul is more the sufferer in sins, and more dishonored than the body in diseases” Homilies on Romans  4

“[The men] have done an insult to nature itself. And a yet more disgraceful thing than these is it, when even the women seek after these intercourses, who ought to have more shame than men” Homilies on Romans  4

“For these are treated in the same way as women that play the whore. Or rather their plight is more miserable. For in the case of the one the intercourse, even if lawless, is yet according to nature; but this is contrary both to law and nature. For even if there were no hell, and no punishment had been threatened, this would be worse than any punishment” Homilies on Romans  4

“No one can say that it was by being prevented from legitimate intercourse that they came to this pass or that it was from having no means to fulfill their desire that they were driven to this monstrous insanity... What is contrary to nature has something irritating and displeasing in it, so that they could not even claim to be getting pleasure out of it. For genuine pleasure comes from following what is according to nature. But when God abandons a person to his own devices, then everything is turned upside down.” Homilies on Romans  4

Augustine

“[T]hose shameful acts against nature, such as were committed in Sodom, ought everywhere and always to be detested and punished. If all nations were to do such things, they would be held guilty of the same crime by the law of God, which has not made men so that they should use one another in this way” Confessions 3:8:15 [A.D. 400]

Chapter 9    What is important?

A reading of these Bible passages, when put together, make it clear that the God of the Bible regards homosexual acts as being repugnant and these hare been condemned unconditionally throughout history until present times.  However there are a vast number of other actions that God also sees as repugnant.  We should not just pick on those that others fall for and overlook our own sins.  We are all guilty of so many wrongs.  The only way that societies can accept homosexual acts as being acceptable is to reject the Bible as authoritative, and that means to reject both the historic Jesus, his prophets and his apostles.  Yet these are the very foundation stones of God’s church, of British society and of British law.  The battle lines are being drawn.

However we must never forget that the gospel is good news for all.  A good doctor and wise patient recognise that optimal treatment first requires the right diagnosis.  We all need to recognise where we have failed.  How important it is for all of us to know how much God loves us and longs to welcome us back into communion with him.  Those who recognise that they have fallen short of God’s standards can feel especially loved.  Those who think they are alright are the people who are in trouble with God.   Jesus welcomed those who admitted their sin and his church must therefore welcome all people, recognising that we have all fallen in all sorts of areas.

Jesus said to some religious people who were critical of his mixing with ‘tax-collectors and sinners’,

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Mark 2:17

Christians must learn again to mix with those who hold different opinions and act in unChristian ways.  That is what Jesus did.  We must not remain aloof, giving the impression that we are alright!  We must think clearly.

It is very common for young teenagers to strongly admire older youths and young adults who can become their heroes.  This has been described as a homosexual phase that many youngsters pass through.  This only occasionally progresses to sexual activity and is usually outgrown, so long as people do not become cornered by their actions.  To have feelings of admiration of others of the same sex itself cannot be wrong.  To act sexually on these feelings can lead to people becoming trapped in that lifestyle.

The problem we all experience is that sin is addictive.  Sexual promiscuity, whether heterosexual or homosexual, once embarked on is very hard to stop.  It is no different to other addictions such as pornography, alcohol, giving in to anger, and drugs.  These addictions are very difficult to stop once started, and are very often associated with a deep sense of guilt.  For this reason most people want to keep their addictions private.

When a person comes to Christ they not only receive forgiveness for all that they have done that is against God’s clear commands, but they are given the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit to live a new life.  The Holy Spirit is not a theoretical concept, he is actively involved in helping all God’s people to turn to Christ and then live as he wants, overcoming the difficulties this may involve.  God wants his people to be holy and loving.  Only when we see how far we have all fallen in God’s eyes will we be able to love those who have failed God in other ways.  I have just listened to a podcast given by a Christian pilot who admits to having same sex attractions.  It was so encouraging to hear a Christian being honest about his inclinations and then hearing how his church is supporting him to remain godly.  There is no sin in being tempted by same sex attractions just as there is no sin in heterosexual attractions. All people are tempted in many different ways.  The sin only comes when we dwell on or act on our temptations improperly.

There have been many senior Christian men who, in recent years, have acknowledged that they have homosexual inclinations but refuse to act on them and have remained celibate.  Such single people have focused their energies on gospel work and become exemplary Christian leaders and teachers.  In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul emphasises the urgent need for evangelism that can be hampered by having a spouse and family and having to make their needs a priority.

It is clear from the Bible and from our consciences that any addiction is contrary to the will of God for his people. ‘Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic’ is a valid dictum but similar dictums can be applied to other addictions.  Sexual addicts will always find this a temptation but if they remain close to Christ, His Spirit will help them overcome it. Such victory over temptation is the road to great peace and joy.

One difficulty many now face is the widespread advertising in the media saying that promiscuous sexual behaviour, including homosexual acts, are not only normal but fun. Once people go down the road of acting on their temptations, they do become increasingly trapped and will then try to justify their actions. The Bible is abundantly clear - promiscuous sexual activity of all types is not acceptable to our creator - he made sex for marriage, where there is commitment, a deep loving friendship, security and the optimal environment for the nurturing of children. The majority of people do still recognise this.

When a public figure has misbehaved morally there is usually a public outcry, even though similar actions are admired in the films we watch.  Most parents want their children to have normal heterosexual outlooks so they can enjoy grandchildren.  The vast majority want their children’s gender to reflect their anatomical sex classification.  It is as if there is a natural law at work in us saying that moral integrity is very important.  It has been pointed out that the opposite of integrity is ‘dis-integrity’ or ‘disintegration’.  When individuals and societies stop living as God teaches, or as our natural instincts or natural law directs, then our lives will begin to disintegrate as will our family life, our societies’ life and eventually our nations life.

We are what we allow ourselves to be.  With God’s help we can be made into Christ-like people.  Isn’t that preferable to being worldly?  Which path does God want us to go down?  We have to make a choice.

Chapter 10 The Church’s Weapons

The Bible is clear that God’s way to change how people think and draw them back to himself is by the open statement of the truth. It is always tempting to use the devious techniques that the world uses, exaggeration, misdirection, lying and pressure in order to gain a following.  The end never justifies the means.  Paul wrote to the troubled church in Corinth,

“We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.  On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:2

Later in the same letter he emphasised the difficulties he had been through in order to communicate God’s message to people with integrity:

“ . . .in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left . . .” 2 Corinthians 6:6-7

He again emphasises how God’s people should influence the way people think later in the same letter,

“For though we live in this world we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary they have have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

These important references are easy to remember as they are near the beginning of chapters 4, 6 and 10!  In Christian revivals this is precisely what happens, and no underhand means are used.

These apostles were very determined both to promote the Lord Jesus in the public arena but to keep a clear conscience whilst doing this.

“Since we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.  What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.” 2 Corinthians 5:11

The Bible is clear that we should not be driven or controlled by our feelings or emotions.  Young men are warned,

“Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.” Ecclesiastes 11:9

We are all to be directed by what God has said is right and wrong.  Today we still may not eat of ‘the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’.

Ultimately the questions at stake are ‘Is there a God and does he matter?’ ‘Who is Jesus?’ and ‘Is the Bible the reliable word of God”

When Paul recognised that he would shortly be executed, he wrote his final letter to Timothy and included these words that are as relevant for us today as they were in Timothy’s time.

“1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:1-5

The Bible has much to say about how God wants us to live.  If we reject our creator, the Bible is clear that he will reject us from his presence, just as Adam and Eve were ejected.

However there is a problem.  If the church is seen to stress ethical issues such as homosexuality, divorce, euthanasia and abortions there is a danger that our main message about who Jesus is and why he came will be drowned out.  People never behave as God wants until they have come to the decision that what God wants matters.  To come to that decision about the need for repentance requires the Holy Spirit of God to work in people’s hearts.  They will seldom listen unless God himself wakes them up to their need of him and the forgiveness he offers.  Only then we will want to live in a way that pleases our Lord and Saviour, whatever the cost to us personally.

B V Palmer