For homosexuals who…

For homosexuals who are committed to thinking biblically, this may begin to challenge their ideas on homosexual orientation. But a very significant question remains: Why does it feel natural? The biblical answer is relatively straightforward. Like many other sins, homosexuality does not have to be learned. The child who never witnessed a temper tantrum can be proficient at throwing them; it is an instinctive ability of the human heart. Homosexuality is natural in the same way that anger or selfishness is natural. They are embdedded in our fallen humanness. Indeed, homosexuality is “natural”, but only in the sense that it is an expression of the sinful nature.

The fact that most homosexuals cannot remember consciously choosing homosexuality is also readily explained by Scripture. Most sin works on a level where we do not self-consciously choose it. To use Old Testament language, our sin can be “unintentional,” but that does not make us less responsible for our violation of God’s will (Leviticus 5: 14 – 19; Numbers 15: 22 – 30). Sin is more than mature, rational, conscious decisions. It is our moral inclination from birth.

 

Welch, E. T. (1998). Blame It on the Brain? Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders, and Disobedience. New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing

The process of…

The process of exposing the heart comes through the Holy Spirit’s application of Scripture. The goal is to understand what God says, to learn to “think God’s thoughts.” One way into Scripture is to understand that there actually is something deeper than homosexuality. As summarized in Romans 1, homosexuality is an expression of an idolatrous heart. This is our deepest problem. We have an instinct that switches our allegiance from God to our idols. What are our idols? Comfort, pleasure, power, personal meaning, self-esteem, and so on. The possibilities are endless, but they all have one thing in common: an allegiance to self. We rebel against God, and we choose to live for our glory rather than God’s. We choose to obey our own desires rather than God’s Word. Homosexual desire or activity is an expression of the idolatrous instincts of our hearts.

 

Welch, E. T. (1998). Blame It on the Brain? Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders, and Disobedience. New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing

Even if practicing…

Even if practicing homosexuals were consistently genetically distinct from heterosexuals, this would not make homosexuality a biologically based behavior for which people bear no moral responsibility. Biology is not the sufficient, determinative cause of biblically prohibited behavior. Our desire to practice it is.

 

Welch, E. T. (1998). Blame It on the Brain? Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders, and Disobedience. New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing

Some suggest that…

Some suggest that the meaning of arsenokoitai is unclear. However, Robin Scroggs, in The New Testament and Homosexuality (Philadephia: Fortress Press), 106-8, has shown that the word is derived directly from Leviticus 18: 22 and 20: 13 and is used in rabbinic texts to refer to homosexual intercourse.

 

Welch, E. T. (1998). Blame It on the Brain? Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders, and Disobedience. New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing

 

Oxford University professor…

Oxford University professor Alister McGrath indicates rightly that we live in a time when “openess and relevance are more important than truth. This, however, is intellectual shallowness and moral irresponsibility.” Michael Foucault has similarly observed that “truth” in a post-modern world is nothing more than a compliment.

 

Welch, E. T. (1998). Blame It on the Brain? Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders, and Disobedience. New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing