Sermon Tone Analysis

GOD'S CURE FOR HOMOSEXUALITY

a sermon by Greg Williamson (c) 2002, 2006

(unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible)

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God."

(1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-11)

= INTRODUCTION =

HAPPY BEING GAY

As a descriptive term, "homosexual" means "1: of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex 2: of, relating to, or involving sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex" [1].

**

Sometime ago a committed Christian friend of mine named Doug shared his faith with a homosexual man.

With his permission, here is part of the reply he received.

|| Almost immediately in your note, you comment on the "lifestyle choice of homosexuality."

I assure you that it is not a choice.

Who would choose to be gay?

Do you know that in most states, including Arizona and North Carolina, that an employee can be fired merely for being gay, if the employer so wishes?

Why would anyone CHOOSE to be what is probably the most discriminated against group in the US? ... I'm quite certain that God knew what he was doing when he created me entirely as I am.

I've known I was gay since I was very little, though fear of disappointing my parents, brother, and ending up some flamboyant gay person dying of AIDS, as presented to me by society, was enough to let me deny who I was until I was 19.

...

|| You brought up so many points, I don't really know where to begin.

I guess it seemed that your primary focus was Christianity, so I will begin there.

I was brought up Christian, and still hold those beliefs.

God made me who I am, including gay, and I am not going to question why.

God and I enjoy our conversations and relationship very much.

Being a Christian I believe in Jesus.

Jesus taught many important lessons and warned of many things in his years on Earth, and I don't remember any of them pertaining to homosexuality.

Many others wrote books in the bible, inserting their own opinions along the way.

|| Leviticus 18:22 clearly states homosexuality to be an abomination.

|| Lev.

1:9 says when I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord.

Are we to do this as well?

I'm guessing the neighbors would disapprove.

|| Exodus 21:7 suggests selling ones daughter into slavery.

If I have a daughter some day, would this be appropriate?

|| Lev.

15:19-24 forbids contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness.

I imagine my coworkers and friends may take offense if I were to express this to them.

|| Exodus 35:2 clearly states anyone working on the Sabbath should be put to death.

Imagine the massacre potential at the mall on Sunday.

|| Lev.

10:10 says that eating shellfish is an abomination, is it a lesser abomination than homosexuality?

|| If we are to believe and follow every word of the bible, I'm curious what you think of these scriptures.

|| The Dallas Cathedral of Hope is hardly the only predominantly gay church.

There is also the Metropolitan Community Church, etc. Again you mention the members of this church should attempt NOT be homosexual.

I don't understand.

Can you attempt not to be heterosexual?

Are you instead saying these people have to live their lives alone, without companionship, in order to get to heaven?

I doubt that is what God intended.

||

This person's attitude regarding homosexuality is fast becoming the norm: People are "born gay."

God (or "Nature") is responsible.

We are free to (mis)interpret the Bible any way we see fit in an effort to make it conform to our beliefs and behaviors (= our lifestyle).

Since these issues are addressed in detail below, here it need only be mentioned that a basic principle of sound biblical interpretation, especially when dealing with the Old Testament (OT) Law, is to note whether a particular practice is either upheld or done away with as we move into the New Testament (NT) era.

Having been fulfilled in Christ, the sacrificial and dietary laws of the OT are no longer binding.

On the other hand, since homosexual acts are clearly condemned in both the OT and the NT, they remain as sinful today as when they were first legislated against.

HOMOSEXUALITY: AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR OPTION

In classical Greece, where sex was linked with power and social status, homosexual relations between adult men and adolescent boys was an everyday occurrence.

[2] It was not, however, as openly accepted among the ancient Romans.

And to the Jews, homosexuality represented nothing less than a gross perversion of nature associated exclusively with the Gentile world.

As a direct result of our Judeo-Christian heritage, up until very recently the popular consensus within this country was that homosexuality represents an unhealthy corruption of the sexual nature.

The American Psychiatric Association labeled it as a form of mental illness.

It was not discussed in polite company.

Today, however, the topic, like many of its advocates and practitioners, appears to have broken down the closet door and is demanding nothing short of absolute, complete, unqualified acceptance.

It was not until just prior to the start of the twentieth century that the words "homosexual" and "homosexuality" came into being.

[3] This fact reflects the recent developments surrounding the topic.

In the United States, the first major shift toward open acceptance of homosexuality came with the publication of two landmark "studies" by American biologist Alfred Kinsey.

Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1952) depicted homosexuality as much more common than previously thought, showing homosexuals in all types of occupations, in all types of families, practicing many and various religions, etc. [4] Since that time, however, it has come to light that Kinsey's methodology was seriously flawed and, much more seriously, that Kinsey himself was what can only be described as a sexual pervert who encouraged sexual relations with children.

Today it is often asserted that the "scientific discussion" that ensued from Kinsey's research is what led to the American Psychiatric Association's 1973 decision to no longer classify homosexuality as a mental illness.

The truth, however, is that that fateful decision had nothing to do with science but was, rather, the end result of a survey of APA members "initiated and financed by" the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

By a margin of 1.5 to 1, the members (some of whom were gay) felt that homosexuality should no longer be labeled as abnormal (Family News from Dr. James Dobson, June 2002).

What's more, the APA clearly stated that its decision to remove homosexuality from its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) was not intended as a scientific statement but, rather, was done in a sympathetic effort to help professing homosexuals avoid the stigma associated with a mental illness -- a fact that was soon totally forgotten (Just for the Record - "Therapeutically Incorrect").

In 1969 came "the Stonewall Riots" (a.k.a. the "Stonewall rebellion"), in which two police raids on a popular homosexual bar in Greenwich Village (the Stonewall Inn) was followed by a series of violent protests.

These events marked the beginning of the homosexual rights movement in the United States.

[5] [6]

With the onset of AIDS in the 1980's, the homosexual movement suffered a temporary setback.

Today, however, it is stronger than ever.

Not only are increasing numbers of individuals -- including politicians and famous celebrities -- declaring their homosexual preference, but numerous businesses and institutions from both the private and public sectors are coming out in favor of homosexuality, adopting policies and procedures that promote it as an acceptable alternative lifestyle.

One especially effective strategy has been for homosexuals to present themselves as an oppressed minority group that is being denied its constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.

(See: Homosexuality Is Not A Civil Right.)

Within Christian circles, beginning in the mid-1950's some religious thinkers started painting homosexuality in more acceptable colors.

In the 1960's, denominations began establishing committees and organizations intent on promoting open and ongoing communication between themselves and the homosexual community.

In 1969 (the same year as the Stonewall Riots) the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC), a homosexually-oriented denomination, was formed.

[7] Since then, questions and conflicts surrounding homosexuality have resulted in enormous strife and division within both individual churches and entire denominations.

Is homosexuality a sin?

Should homosexuals be allowed to marry?

(See: Questions and Answers: What's Wrong With Letting Same-Sex Couples "Marry?" and Homosexual Parenting: Placing Children At Risk.)

Should homosexuals be accepted as church members?

Should they be ordained as ministers?

With the current plethora of conflicting opinions, attitudes, and testimonies, the debate is sure to continue well into the foreseeable future.

We have reached the point where today to offer one's public endorsement of homosexuals and homosexuality is to be seen by many as being progressive, tolerant, and open-minded.

Conversely, to speak out against homosexual behavior and those who practice it is to risk being labeled as socially backwards, intolerant, closed-minded, bigoted, and a hatemonger.

(Sadly, it seems that the "tolerance" desired by so many does not apply to anyone labeled as "intolerant," that is, anyone with the courage -- not to mention the biblical mandate -- to say that something is wrong.)

One source identifies at least four reasons as to why speaking out against homosexuality is viewed by many as the unpardonable sin (here summarized/paraphrased):

(1/4) In our postmodern world, one personal option is just as valid and good as another.

Hence we are to take pride in our ethnicity, religious affiliation, sexual preference, etc.

What's more, I have no right to judge your lifestyle, and you have no right to judge mine.

(2/4) Sexual satisfaction is vital to our emotional health and wellness.

(3/4) Homosexuality is widely accepted.

(4/4) To openly reject homosexuality is to run the risk of being labeled a "homophobe."

[8]

CAUSES OF HOMOSEXUALITY

While there seems to be no single, definitive cause of homosexuality, several factors have been identified as real or potential causes (here summarized/paraphrased).

While some "sexual curiosity and experience" with one's own body is a normal and healthy part of puberty, homosexuality can develop at this stage if a person: is overly shy, or is too introverted, or has a pathological fear of rejection, or is an only child who lacks the social skills needed to interact well with others, or has some type of physical defect.

A traumatic emotional experience following "normal heterosexual outturning" can lead a person to withdraw from the opposite sex and return to the "safer" practices associated with early puberty.

An inordinate amount of time spent with members of one's own sex, or a very bad experience with an adult of the opposite sex, or a sexual experience with an adult of the same sex -- any or all of these can cause a young person to be attracted to members of the same sex and or withdraw from members of the opposite sex.