Can you answer some questions about my coming out as a homosexual?
Question:
I had contacted you once about this. I don't know if you didn't get it yet or are too busy to respond or just not interested in being a part of this kind of thing, but here is a little bit about my project to give you more of a feel of what's going on.
I came out a few years ago and I feel like God is calling me to help others through my story. I am going to tell my story of coming out as gay and I'm trying to get a grasp of all the religious points of view to get a gist of the Bible and homosexuality to provide accuracy and stuff for the ones who see my story. I am not only going to all religions and asking about this subject. I'm also going to read the Bible myself and do my own research, so below is a list of some questions I am going to ask you and I would gladly appreciate it if you could try and answer some of them for me, please. Thanks. I'm not specifically mentioning anyone or any church, in particular, so don't worry. I'm just maybe stating the religion -- maybe -- that's not even for sure yet. My goal is to help others, nothing more. Please just answer these ten questions to the best of your ability:
- A lot of people argue that homosexuality can be justified even though the verses in the Bible say it's wrong. What do you say to those who say it isn't wrong and have verses and reasons do you use to back it up? Do you have any verses to back that up?
- What verses in the Bible specifically say anything against homosexuals?
- Do you believe gays will go to hell if they don't change or can they still go to heaven if they keep being gay and die a homosexual?
- What does your religion say about Jesus Christ and the Lord? Do you pray to him and do you believe he died on the cross for your sins and he is the one who saved you or do you believe in something different?
- Do you really think God would send someone to hell if He made them gay? Why would He send someone to hell if He made them gay?
- Isn't there other verses in the Bible that speak about other things one shouldn't do but people do them every day, like color their hair, cut their hair, let the hair grow out, or eat too much? Doesn't it say too much harm to the temple of the body isn't good and if one says that's right to do? What's the difference between being gay? Isn't that a one-sided thing or kind of hypocritical?
- There's a lot of people who are under the assumption a homosexual can change with prayer and stuff but if in the end, it drives someone to suicide because they are who they are. Is it really worth trying to change someone whom God made in His own eye and may not want to change?
- Would the Lord want someone who was Gay to be baptized if they were saved before they came out as a homosexual?
- Do you think Jesus is proud of me for making this video or not?
- If Jesus was here right now what would he say about me making this video?
For the record, I'm not trying to be mean or nasty with this email. I do respect your beliefs and your religion, so whatever your answers are, I will gladly respect them one hundred percent because everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Have a great blessed rest of the week.
Answer:
I didn't answer earlier simply because I have about 560 questions waiting for answers and I get 5 to 20 questions each day. I try to handle the personal questions and those from young people first. It isn't that I don't think your questions are not important, it is simply a lack of time and focusing on more urgent matters.
I did mark out your questions as needing to be addressed, though most of them are already answered on this website. That was another reason I didn't make the matter urgent.
#1 See: Don't you dare change my mind, but why is homosexuality bad?
#2 See: Notes on Homosexuality and What kinds of homosexuality does the Bible mention?
#3 "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9-10). Any unforgiven, unrepented sin keeps a person out of heaven.
#4 Jesus' Deity While on Earth, Jesus Is God!, and Why I Believe in Jesus Christ.
#5 You start out with a false premise. God doesn't make people sinners: "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed" (James 1:13-14). Since God says homosexuality is a sin, the logical conclusion is that who a person has sex with is by individual choice. While I've monitored the various studies about whether homosexuality is genetic, I've noted that not one study actually has been able to prove the case. At best there is a suspicion that there might be a genetic tendency toward homosexuality, but even these studies have not been reproducible, which is critical in science. See: Can a person be born gay?
#6 You present a false line of reasoning. If something is sinful, the fact that other sins are taking place doesn't mean sin is acceptable. "And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come"? -- as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just" (Romans 3:8). A lot of people engage in fornication, but that doesn't make fornication or homosexuality right. There is no law saying hair cannot be colored. The Bible does say that men's hair should be shorter than women's and that is being taught. Overeating is gluttony and that is taught against. Smoking is harmful to the body and that is taught against. That people sin in each of these areas, doesn't change the fact that they should not be done, and that includes homosexuality.
#7 That is an urban myth that has no scientific support. That people have left homosexuality is a proven fact, though I've seen those involved in homosexuality deny it. That isn't unusual. People do have a tendency to deny contrary evidence. Biblically, after stating that the Corinthians had been involved in various sins, including homosexuality, Paul said, "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (I Corinthians 6:11). Personally, I've known several people who left homosexuality, just as I know several former alcoholics, former fornicators, former drug addicts, former liars, etc. Scientifically, the group with the higher suicide rate are those involved in homosexuality, not former homosexuals -- that should be considered.
#8 One is required to repent of sin before baptism. "Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" " (Acts 2:38).
#9 I can't speak directly for God. All I can do is tell you what God said (I Peter 4:11). God does clearly state that promoting sin is wrong. "Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them" (Romans 1:32). By "death" Paul is talking about the eternal death of Judgment (Romans 6:23).
#10 Again, I cannot say what Jesus would say because I'm not Jesus. But we see from John 8 that Jesus is more interested in you as a person and he wants you and everyone else out of the clutches of sin -- including homosexuality. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9).
Since God does not contradict Himself (I Corinthians 14:33), I know that God has not called you to promote sin. The only one interested in that is Satan (I Peter 5:8-9). I would recommend reading II Peter 2.
"The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. "Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?"" (Ezekiel 18:21-23).
