The Gay Post

With all of the frenzy surrounding North Carolina’s Amendment 1 and the president coming out (pardon the pun) in support of gay marriage, I thought it was the right time for my “gay post.”

I never questioned the sinfulness of homosexual behavior. That is what I was taught, that’s what I read and that’s what I “knew.” Having never struggled with those feelings myself, it was easy for me to judge those who did. After all, the Bible says it’s an abomination, right? And therefore Christians should support governmental legislation to discourage this sin, right?

Then a little over a year ago I was challenged by my best friend. Most Christians are familiar with Jennifer Knapp, a contemporary Christian musician who came out as a lesbian a few years ago. Lisa posted about her story on Facebook. She later called me in tears about the response she’d gotten. I have to admit, I judged Jennifer, too.  As usual, Christians shoot their wounded. But Lisa’s tears and stories about the horrid treatment of gay people by her church moved me. I questioned what I “knew” for the first time.

I have dear friends and family members who are homosexual. Them being gay never changed me loving them. But me loving them did not stop me from sitting in judgment of their activity, and I felt justified. It’s in Leviticus, after all. But so are lots of other things that we don’t blink at, such as sexual activity during a woman’s menstrual cycle, eating shellfish, pork and wearing clothes made of multiple materials. Even a woman not being a virgin when she marries is grounds for capital punishment per Leviticus.

Is homosexuality a sin? Leviticus was NOT going to be enough to convince me anymore. But then there’s the book of Romans. Yes, Romans definitely appears to condemn gays. But I started to ask myself why. I know why many things are sins. It’s obvious. Cheating, lying, stealing, murdering obviously hurt fellow human beings and the perpetrator as well. But WHY would a loving AND sexual relationship between two members of the same sex be sin when no one is hurt?

Do I just need to shut up and quit asking questions? Or are we misreading the Bible? Was it properly translated? Was the understanding of “homosexual” the same in the days those books were written as it is today? Does Romans even matter, since it technically is not “scripture” (aka Old Testament)as the early Christians understood scripture and even if it was, we are no longer subject to the law thanks to Jesus Christ.

I struggled. I struggle still. WHY is it a sin?

In my search for answers, I came upon the following video given by a gay Christian at a church coincidentally in Wichita, where I used to live. So far this is the best Biblical defense for homosexuality I have heard. I do find holes in his arguments, but his passion and his struggle convicts me. This young man wants to live for God…and still be true to himself. Do they have to be mutually exclusive?

It is long, but I strongly, strongly encourage you to watch his speech no matter which side of the fence you are on. Jesus loves this kid, and it’s easy to see why.

So, is homosexuality a sin or not?

I was born painfully shy. It served as a debilitating character trait for many years of my life. I have struggled to overcome it in order to live a normal and successful life. I was born this way. Could I act not shy? Yes! I can and I have. And doing so has helped me in various circumstances. However, I cannot live that way. It IS an act. I am most happy spending time with those that I know well, that I am comfortable around. Having to put on a charade of “extrovertedness” 24/7 would kill me.

Is being shy a sin? I’d say it could be. If I was too fearful to tell someone there’s a huge hole right in front of them and they fall in and get hurt, yes, I’d say that was a sin. I utterly failed to love that person enough to warn them. Is it a sin for me to want to stay home all weekend with my husband and not speak to another living soul? Probably not.

So perhaps…just perhaps…homosexuality is the same thing. I have no doubt people are born that way. It is not normal any more than my shyness is normal. But if you take this trait and use it to harm yourself or others, is it most definitely sin. If you use it in love (a committed relationship, or my quiet devotion to my spouse all weekend) what will God hold against you?

This is where I’m at. Only God can say for sure one way or the other. Jesus never addressed homosexuality that we know of. It seems that if it were that important he would have said something. But the gospels are silent. I would rather err on the side of love. I will embrace and accept gay people as they are. If God wants to change them he will. But that is not my job. My job is to love them. And they are so worth loving.

This is where I’m at on my journey. We are all on our own journeys. Maybe you are at a different place. I would love to hear where you are on this. My position may evolve, but my love for these wonderful people who happen to be gay or lesbian never well.