Homosexuality

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Extracted from boundless.org:

MURMURS OF THE HEART

Dear Professor Theophilus:

My question is about “Tough Talking.”In your reply to Question 3, about homosexuality, you used the example of a heart murmur to explain that the mere fact that something is inborn doesn't make it good. I understand that, but God wouldn't call a heart murmur sinful, would he? I'd also like you to explain further, because people that I talk to seem to take it as a "given" that homosexuality is inborn, and you don't. Finally, do you think that there is a differentiation between having homosexual tendencies and committing homosexual acts?

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Reply:

These are good questions. Let's take them one at a time.

Concerning whether homosexuality is inborn: It's true that many people take this as a "given," but that's mostly because of misleading propaganda; the scientific research doesn't support that conclusion. To see why not, take a look at the article “The Gay Gene.”

Concerning the distinction between homosexuality and homosexual acts: Homosexuality is an emotional disorder involving same-sex desires. One can suffer from homosexual desires without committing homosexual acts; it's a question of whether one will resist the temptation or give in to it.

Concerning the analogy of the heart murmur: No, a heart murmur isn't sinful; then again, the condition of suffering same-sex desires isn't sinful either. The sin lies in encouraging the desires or giving in to them. Perhaps a more helpful analogy would be alcoholism. There do seem to be certain genetic predisposing factors for alcoholism, but that doesn't make it right for a person who suffers from them to get drunk; self-control remains possible. In the same way, even if it did turn out that there were genetic predisposing factors for homosexuality (something for which there is no good evidence so far), that wouldn't make it right for a person who suffered from them to commit homosexual acts.

People aren't doing themselves any good by engaging in homosexual behavior anyway. Because it's contrary to our physical design, it leads to injury, disease, and early death. Because it's contrary to our emotional design, it destroys happiness. Because it's contrary to our spiritual design, it alienates us from God.

Grace and peace,
PROFESSOR THEOPHILUS