184942592In the last issue we looked at what the Bible says about Marriage, Sexual Sin, and Homosexuality. This time I want to examine 5 Myths that are presented in support of Homosexuality and Gay Marriage.

MYTH # 1 – PEOPLE ARE BORN GAY Even though the belief that people are born gay has been promoted in contemporary culture, for example, Lady Gaga’s song ‘Born This Way,’ it is not so!

There is no evidence of a ‘gay gene’ even though many people would like to think so. Recently a report came from the Royal College of Psychiatrists in England in which they made a statement that ‘sexual orientation is determined by a combination of biological and post natal environmental factors.’ (i.e not simply born that way) It should be noted that the Royal College of Psychiatrists support homosexuality. To download full report click here.

Agreement is not unanimous as to the causes of homosexuality. Some people feel it is related to the relationship with their father, or it may follow sexual abuse as a child, but one thing is certain, people are not born gay.

MYTH #2 HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONS ARE NORMAL AND NATURAL
Let’s look at some simple facts, bearing in mind approx. 3% of people are gay. Some gay activists claim that there are as many at 10% but again that is not so.

Most gay relationships are temporary. A study of homosexual relationships in Holland, for example, published in the Journal AIDS, found that the duration of steady partnership was 1.5 years. Maria Xiridou, et al. “The Contribution of Steady and Casual Partnerships to the Incidence of HIV Infection Among Homosexual Men in Amsterdam,” AIDS 17, 7 (2003): 1029-1038.

Similar findings here in America. The idea that most homosexuals have long term relationships is false. The study by A.P. Bell and M.S. Weinberg found that 43% of white homosexuals had sex with 500 partners and 28% had 1,000 or more partners. A. P. Bell and M. S. Weinberg, Homosexualities: A Study of Diversity Among Men and Women (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1978), 308-309; See also A. P. Bell, M. S. Weinberg, and S. K. Hammersmith, Sexual Preference (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1981).

Is it natural or normal? Think of sex as nuts and bolts. Two nuts or two bolts were not created for a common function. A nut needs a bolt to be complete.

MYTH #3 PEOPLE CAN’T CHANGE
If you project the belief that people are born that way, then you will probably believe they can’t or shouldn’t change. But that is not so.

There are numerous testimonies of people who have been gay and changed. Rosaria Butterfield, the author of ‘Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert’ is one. She was a leftist, lesbian professor in a university who ‘despised Christians and then somehow became one.’ Now she is married to a pastor and raising her children in North Carolina. She changed and so have many others.

MYTH#4 IT IS A CIVIL RIGHT FOR GAYS TO BE ABLE TO MARRY
The gay movement has persuaded people that gay rights in the 21st century is the same as civil rights for colored people in the 1960’s. By the way this was a brilliant strategy. Remember that in a debate, whoever defines the issues and the terms wins the day.

However think about this questions that a black pastor raised, ‘Have you ever met an ex-colored person?’ No, there were born colored and that is inherent in their identity but you can meet an ex-homosexual. I personally know people who once were homosexual and are no longer living that lifestyle. People can and do change.

MYTH#5 PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE GAY MARRIAGE AND HOMOSEXUALITY ARE INTOLERANT AND HOMOPHOBIC
Across the years my wife and I have had many contacts with gay people. Our original travel agent back in Australia was homosexual. He later asked us to pray for him. His life changed and eventually he entered the ministry. On my first trip around the world, my traveling companion was a young man who had come out of the gay lifestyle. Back in the 1980’s, a couple in our church brought a relative to meet us when we were pastoring and we had lunch together. This man had aids but he was welcome at our table. While the husband and I went on an errand, Dorothy, my wife, led him to the Lord. Sadly, he died 9 months later but he died a Christian. So although we oppose gay marriage, we are not homophobic.

To stand on the word of God doesn’t necessarily mean you are homophobic. Some people have proclaimed the truth of God’s word, but not the love of God. That would be harsh and judgmental. We need both truth and love.

It is strange that back in the 1970’s and 1980’s, the cry of the gay movement was ‘be tolerant.’ In time, they wanted ‘acceptance’ and then they wanted society to ‘endorse’ it and then they want it to be ‘promoted.’ Finally they want to ‘destroy’ anyone who opposes them. Consequently, anyone who stands for traditional marriage has to be destroyed in the eyes of the public. We have seen this with the TV Show Duck Dynasty, one of the founders of FireFox and many others. Bill Maher described these gay activists as the ‘gay mafia.’

Rather than Bible believing Christians being intolerant, it has been the gay activists who who have become what they once despised – intolerant.

CONCLUSION
What then has happened in regard to these 5 Myths? Very simply, people have believed a lie. Romans 1:25, which is in the midst of the passage that deals with homosexuality, declares, ‘who exchanged the truth of God for the lie.’

Our prayer continues to be that ‘they shall know the truth and the truth shall set them free.’

People need to present the truth but it needs to be done with love not hate. In the next Langstaff Letter, we will look at the question of ‘Why is this issue important?’

RESOURCE MATERIAL
Two books that I would recommend –

  • Michael L Brown’s book ‘Can You be Gay and Christian.’ Responding with love and truth to questions about homosexuality.
  • Howard A Snyder’s book ‘Homosexuality and the Church.’ Defining issue or distracting battle.