| Homosexuality.... Is it a matter of choice? Are some | | | | Him too, but He considers love more than a |
| born that way? And if so, then how could God | | | | four-letter word: love is an attitude exemplified by |
| condemn it? Or does He? Does it make a difference? | | | | actions, words that are backed up with deeds (Jas. |
| Who offered it as an "alternative lifestyle?" Are | | | | 2:26). That's why Jesus said that if we really loved |
| same-sex drives due to conditioning? Are gays and | | | | Him, we'd show it and not just say it (John |
| lesbians a quirk of nature? Something queer to jeer? | | | | 14:15).Safe-SexSince God is love, and Father knows |
| Would it have been better to have never been born? | | | | best, He wants us to practice safe-sex. A safe-sex |
| All of these questions and more are only a few of | | | | that's good and wholesome, clean and pure, and only |
| the many that race through people's minds; causing | | | | available within a marriage where both partners keep |
| controversy, heated arguments and emotional | | | | their vows and honor their commitments (Heb. 13:4). |
| wounds, as words fly back and forth carelessly.It | | | | Sexual intimacy, cuddling and coitus, belongs in the |
| could be safe to say that homosexuality is the result | | | | bedroom (of the Biblically-bonded), and it's to involve |
| of many factors. But who's to blame? Must we even | | | | the union of both minds and bodies (Gen. 2:24). |
| lay a guilt-trap at anyone's door? Maybe mother, then | | | | Married couples are challenged to become compatible |
| again there's the father who didn't figure for too | | | | in every sense of the word. A marriage certificate |
| much. Society? Genes? The stars? Most people know | | | | doesn't have to be "just a piece of paper" or |
| their sexual orientation by their teens. They don't just | | | | become another broken record! God does recognize |
| suddenly discover they're "straight" and "come out" | | | | the fact that marriage isn't for everyone (Mat. 19:11), |
| about it. Let's get real.Who's to accept the | | | | but expresses His will that singles remain celibate (1 |
| responsibility for our actions? Some have felt "gay" | | | | Thes. 4:3).God only promises to bless those foods (or |
| ever since they were very young and therefore | | | | relationships) that are sanctioned by His Word (1 Tim. |
| imagine that they were born gay. Others seem to | | | | 4:4-5). He's not unsure of Himself or His ways, He's |
| pick up, adopt or assimilate homosexual tendencies | | | | not fickle or foolish, and His Word is reliable, |
| through association. They must have already had an | | | | dependable, and not subject to change. This hasn't |
| inclination towards it. It rubbed off on them. Then | | | | caused the scriptures to be too popular at times, but |
| there are those who were bored and needed a | | | | they refuse to succumb to peer pressure and remain |
| change. They wanted to try it and see if they liked it. | | | | true to themselves. They're not what needs to |
| Sometimes, due to "force" of circumstances, men in | | | | change anyway. We do. God hasn't lowered His moral |
| prison, boy's homes and/or monasteries, might resort | | | | standards or compromised with His food laws, but |
| to homosexual activities. Later, as soon as possible, | | | | offers to help raise us to His God-Plane. Christ can |
| some of them revert to heterosexual ways, while | | | | cleanse us of our unclean lives (Acts 10:15, 28), |
| others continue to enjoy the "best of both world" as | | | | because God hasn't called us to remain in Egypt but |
| a bisexual. Are "bestiality is best" fans born that | | | | to head for the Promised Land. Don't just stand |
| way? Or are incestuous relationships something | | | | there, get a move on it! And leave your excess |
| innate? Do we have a predisposition chemically for | | | | baggage (sin) behind.Kosher FoodAlthough God |
| incest? Are we set up for such a fall from birth? | | | | created us with a hunger drive, an appetite, He |
| Would that justify or excuse us? Is promiscuity | | | | doesn't want us to become gluttonous pigs. Neither |
| merely a part of man's "animal instincts?" Is the | | | | does He want us to act like horny dogs (1 Cor. 6:13). |
| challenge of the chase a primeval hang-over from the | | | | God's also shown us that just because various food |
| "days of the hunt?" Actually, ALL of the above are | | | | items have been mislabeled "delicacies," we don't |
| simply DISTRACTIONS! It's not a question of who or | | | | have to shove them into our mouths (Lev. 11). We're |
| what we're most comfortable with, prefer, like or are | | | | expected to be mature, not act childish. God warns |
| attracted to; those are only attempts to sidestep | | | | us to guard the doors of our mind, don't set |
| the real issue!God isn't only the Creator, but the | | | | ourselves up for a fall, and discern what we digest |
| Sustainer of the entire universe. As such, his | | | | (Ephes. 4:27; Heb. 5:14). We're instructed to scrutinize |
| Majesty's Government - headquartered in the highest | | | | our food for thought and remember "we are what |
| heaven - has issued (at Mt. Sinai) various health rules | | | | we eat" and "we become what we think" (Prov. |
| and regulations (Malachi 4:4). The Creator-King has | | | | 23:7). God doesn't only want us to watch what we |
| predetermined, in His infinite wisdom, which "food and | | | | put into our mouths, but what we allow into our |
| drugs" are safe and sound for our consumption.If we | | | | minds (Philip. 4:8). For a free list of "government |
| keep uppermost in mind the reason for our mortal | | | | approved" food for thought; what's clean and |
| existence, the SUPREME PURPOSE for our | | | | unclean, pure and impure, kosher and non-kosher - |
| human-being; to establish contact with our | | | | check out Ga. 5:19-23; Ephes. 5:11 and Philip. 1:11.We're |
| Superior-Being and develop a relationship with Him - | | | | not supposed to remain raw material. God's given us |
| then we'll know and understand that everything God | | | | a brain to become refined and keep our baser |
| does is for our benefit. God wants to help us, not | | | | "instincts" in line (2 Pet. 2:12). The Holy Spirit offers us |
| hinder us. He enjoys encouraging us to attain our | | | | the help we need to accomplish this job (John 1:12). |
| goals and fulfill our potential (Luke 12:31-32). Father | | | | We should refuse to be reduced to an animal level, |
| does know what's best: what He has in store for us | | | | simply sensual creatures, choosing a higher standard |
| is beyond our wildest dreams (Ephes. 3:20; 1 Cor. | | | | of living instead. The "if it feels good do it" and "if it |
| 2:9)!The High Cost of LivingWhoever chooses to be a | | | | looks good eat it" lack of mentality ought to be |
| card-carrying member of the homosexual community | | | | regarded as an insult to those striving for God's |
| is entitled to all of it's privileges and persecutions; but | | | | higher intelligence.Regardless of why you're gay, |
| you should first COUNT THE COST to see if it's too | | | | bisexual or "trysexual" (you'll try anything once), |
| high of a price for you to pay, like Christians are told | | | | whether or not you've had any choice in the matter - |
| to do (Luke 14:28).If anyone decides to engage in | | | | you do have a choice to exercise proper self-control. |
| illicit sex or become entangled in "foreign affairs," | | | | YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SLAVE TO YOUR |
| they're living a lie if they think that God could possibly | | | | SENSES (John 8:34), or allow sexual temptations to |
| approve of their improper conduct, and they're | | | | dictate mindless reactions (Gen. 19:4-11).You're not |
| compounding their problems if they lead others | | | | forced to act upon every thought that enters your |
| astray by attempts to endorse such flagrant sin | | | | mind. You can resist suggestions and reject impulses |
| (Rom. 1:32). Do what you want, but don't | | | | (2 Cor. 10:5). Every fleeting thought, random idea or |
| misrepresent God and His clear-cut Biblical teachings. | | | | stray notion doesn't have to take root and grow if |
| Don't try and put words in His mouth or censor what | | | | you don't give it fertile ground (Jas. 1:13-15). You can |
| He's actually said (Rev. 22:18-19).Yes, GOD IS LOVE! | | | | consider its source and nip it in the bud. A "NO |
| That's why He hates certain practices with a passion. | | | | TRESPASSING!" frame of mind can be developed to |
| He frowns upon a dishonest life of stealing, an | | | | defend you against intruders. Protection is possible. |
| unfaithful habit of "cheating" on our spouse, a | | | | You can say NO! You can curb your appetite! YOU |
| disrespectful attitude towards our parents or persons | | | | CAN CHANGE!David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist |
| in authority, religious holidays that are hollow and | | | | writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise |
| don't hallow His name, senseless killings and character | | | | and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and |
| assassination, idolatrous distractions that come | | | | Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others improve |
| between God and us, an endless trivial pursuit and | | | | their understanding of that troubled region. Check out |
| preoccupation with ourselves and others, instead of | | | | the Beyond Babylon blog. |
| putting God first. God loves us and wants us to love | | | | |