As a Christian how should we manage LGBTQ rights? This is a very controversial issue that many Christians take vastly different stances. The main issues that this paper will go over is whether the Christians and the government should support gay marriage and people identifying as a different gender and how to witness to LGBTQ people.
If we look to the Bible on the issues of homosexuality, we can clearly see what side the Bible takes. Leviticus 20:13 “If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” There are many other verses similar to this all throughout the Bible. (Leviticus 18:22, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Jude 1:7, etc.) So, from these many verses the Bible makes it clear that it is against gay marriage.
People might ask the question why is God against Homosexual relationships. The short answer is God made the first two people Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve. But the more in-depth answer is this; it is an unnatural desire, and against God’s will. It is very unhealthy for your body. Gay men are more likely to have HIV which leads to AIDS resulting in a lot shorter lifespan then the average heterosexual person. According to verywellhealth.com, in the United States, 67% of HIV cases are among men who have sex with men. In multiple studies done around the world they found that gay people had shorter lifespans than heterosexuals by 8-30 years. Most articles would say that Homosexuals’ average lifespan is less than 50 years while heavy smokers are expected to be around 70 years. Even liberal articles will say that homosexual lifespan is 8-21 years less than the average heterosexual (Gay life expectancy revisited | International Journal of Epidemiology | Oxford Academic).
(This graph was made using information from Family Research Institute » Blog Archive » How Long Do Homosexuals Live? and other sources to find out the average lifespan of a heavy smoker.)
Homosexual behavior must be very unhealthy for your body if they are living on average 28 years less than a heavy smoker. According to Homosexual Lifestyle: What's the Lifespan of a Gay Friend? it states “Not one of the thousands of obituaries acknowledged that promiscuous sex was the primary driver of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. nor is there acknowledgement of the fact that the government has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on research on AIDS and care for AIDS victims, and that every person who dies of AIDS has more money spent on him or her by the government than twenty cancer or heart disease sufferers” It is hard to argue against the fact that homosexual people are more likely to get AIDS which normally leads to a young death.
Now most gay people will claim they were born gay and therefore they should be allowed to have the same rights as everyone one else. This argument seems strong at first but let’s break it down. There is no way to prove or disprove the claim that they make. Many people go from being heterosexual to homosexual so it would be logical to assume that they aren’t.
In the article titled “Is a person born gay or is being gay a learned behavior” by The Tech Interactive writes: “Being gay is not a choice for people. Instead, it appears to be a fundamental part of who someone is. It is not a learned behavior. Which also means that people cannot ‘unlearn’ their sexual orientation.” This article can’t not be true if people go from being straight to being gay, which is the case for many. There are many cases where people marry someone of the opposite sex then get divorced and remarry someone of the same sex. Therefore, proving this article wrong.
Homosexuality is sometimes at the very least a ‘learned’ behavior. There are many documented cases were someone homosexual became heterosexual so “once gay always gay” is not an accurate phrase and that makes it less likely for it to be true that you can be born gay. Also there has been many studies done trying to find a “gay gene” and a “straight gene” but none have found either so there is no evidence for being born gay and it is a choice.
Is it a sin for people who are born gay act on their homosexual behaviors?
Is it morally wrong for people who are born gay to be gay? Is it morally wrong for people born fornicators to be fornicators? Is it morally wrong for people born sinners to be sinners? Of course it is wrong, you would be absolutely wrong if you said no to the second or third, yet people make it justifiable to say no to the first one. Even though it is no different than the other two.
Some people might ask did God make people gay and if he did wouldn’t that justify being gay for at least the people who were born gay? First off God cannot make anything that contradicts himself for that would be meaningless. (God cannot create a rock to heavy for him to carry for that would be meaningless.) So, if God is perfect and loving why and how would he create sin? He created man with a free will so they could freely choose to love and worship Him, but we instead chose death and sin. Then sin came into the world, and we were poisoned with it. So, God did not create anyone with any type of sin. Instead, lust conceived and gave birth to sin which results in death (James 1:15).
Lust is not sin but conceiving it is. (Lust means in this context desire in different translations the word for lust is desire and Jesus says looking with lust is a sin not lust itself; everyone has sexual desires those are not a sin, but conceiving lust is. In other words, temptation is not a sin [ Jesus was tempted yet He lived the perfect life] but giving into temptation/desire/lust is a sin) Everyone struggles with different sins, but they are all sin and we must try to rid ourselves of sin.
We are all born with the passion to do wrong and we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But we are told to be perfect as are heavenly father is in Mattew 5:48 And Jesus tells us in John 14:15 that if we truly love him, we will keep his commands. As followers of Christ, we should strive to abide in Christ and therefore strive toward perfection. We still must love people struggling with homosexuality but not encourage or agree with it.
If someone said according to my worldview I must jay walk or I’m allowed to jay walk would the government allow this? No, the government does not allow someone to break the law just because their worldview allows it. The United States was founded from Biblical principles and because of this the laws follow biblical teaching. Marriage was defined as the union between a man and woman until 2015 for 38 states in the United States. This is because that is the biblical definition and the government should not compromise its laws for something like this.
Should homosexuals be given the right to marriage in the United States?
Many people in favor of same sex marriage will say that not allowing them to get married is discrimination and in violation of the 5th amendment because they are not getting the same benefits of married people this was a major issue until 2015 when same sex marriage was legalized in all states. Same sex marriage should be illegal for many reasons but here are the most convincing. According to thetrevorproject.org LGBTQ+ are four times more likely to commit suicide than fellow peers. Supporters of LGBTQ+ will claim that the suicide rate is because they aren’t accepted into society.
Verywellmind.com list the three most common reason people commit suicide, Mental illness, substances, and feeling hopeless. It did not list in these feeling unaccepted. People might argue that feeling unaccepted can lead to mental illness like depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that LGBTQ are more likely to feel depression and anxiety which would therefore result in more suicide.
An article titled “common comorbidities with depression” by Healthline makes it clear that people with depression are more likely to have more mental illnesses. Therefore, making it more common for LGBTQ people to be more insecure and because of insecurity they will try to be someone who they aren’t to get attention.
People might try to counter this argument by saying that drugs, alcohol, and smoking are unhealthy and cause shorter lifespans. But the thing that they miss with this argument is using drugs when necessary, saves lives and it is illegal to use prescribed drugs when you are not prescribed. Alcohol is healthy when drinking a glass or two or just the same as soda and other beverages. No one new smoking was unhealthy till many people were already addicted to it. Also it does not reduce your lifespan as much as being gay.
This issue is very similar to pornography it was illegal until around the 1960s people weren’t legally allowed to have pornographic material like in the Mapp vs Ohio case in 1961. Mapp was accused of having pornographic material. How is this similar you might think, here’s why; pornography was illegal just like same-sex marriage. Both are morally wrong, according to the Bible and our founding fathers. Most people would claim that they were born gay or born addicted to pornography. Just because you are “born” that way doesn’t mean you have to supply the urge to continue in that sin.
Another reason these are very similar is they both have negative effects on your body. Pornography can negatively affect your body, mind, and soul. It often leads to depression, anxiety, hardens your heart toward God, and has negative physical effects. To make America healthy again we need to get rid of LGBTQ and pornography for they are not bringing any positive influence to our next generations. Instead of teaching teens lies and worldly ideas we need to teach them the truth for the Truth will set them free.
Will gay people go to heaven if they believe in Jesus?
Sinners go to heaven if they have a sincere relationship with God. I’ve heard many stories of gay people repenting and turning from there ways after they believe in God! This is similar to all sins after people truly repent and seek help (God) they should and will turn away from their sins. Jesus tells his disciples that if you love me, you will keep my commands. The biblical definition of repent is to turn away from sin and towards God, essentially to flip your whole life around and not seek worldly pleasure and sin but instead seeking God.
One thing that makes homosexuality different from most sins is how emphasized it is in our culture today. People are proud of being gay, hence the pride flag, yet we don’t see this in any other sin. Are most people proud of being liars, or cheaters, adulterers, murderers, or any other sin?
There is a difference between attractions and actions as the speaker in the YouTube channel “cross examined” said. Having an attraction toward the same sex is not a sin; temptation is not a sin acting on it however is. Jesus was tempted yet he never sinned. So now the question becomes are we saved by grace through faith or grace through faith with some works. The Bible teaches that whoever believes in him will be saved and a sign of sincere belief is good works.
This by no means must we be perfect to inherit the kingdom of God for David a man after God’s own heart fell into sin countless times, yet he will be in heaven. So, in conclusion having same sex attraction is not a sin but acting on the attraction is a sin and if you are a true follower of God you will try to stop committing abominable acts but it will not be easy to stop. If a person is putting their identity in being gay and is proud and yet claiming to be Chirstian, they are not being a true follower. “For even the demons believe and they shudder” (James 2:19). If the demons believe and they aren’t going to heaven then you have to do more then believe and that is; to believe and repent.
Should we allow people to identify as an identity that they aren’t?
Most people glancing at this question would say no of course not, because it would be identity fraud. Yet we make it acceptable for people to identify as a gender they are not. This makes no logical sense for a million reasons. First off how can someone be a gender they aren’t. You can do all the surgeries and try as hard as you can, but you will never be a different gender, it is biologically impossible. Yet we lie to young insecure minds, which leads to a lot of regret in most of these young people’s lives.
Transgender is identity fraud. It is not traditional identity fraud as in stealing someone else’s identity but instead changing their identity. A notable example is sports. Many men were identifying as woman and then playing in women’s sports creating an unfair advantage; there are two divisions for a reason men tend to be stronger than woman. Now we are extending the barriers and where will it stop soon it could just be one division if this continues because woman do not want to compete against men.
No one can be for transgender if they don’t think men can play in woman’s sports because they are not being consistent in their belief. If a man can truly be a woman, then there would be no unfair advantage yet there is so they must be wrong.
If someone does however support transgender athletes, then I would like them to consider this. If a woman trains all their life to be the best swimmer, but right as she is about to win a major swim meet and a man beats her to the finish line and wins. Her dreams are therefore broken because of someone who is not allowed to even compete in this league. How would you feel about someone that is genetically proven to be stronger and faster than you, unfairly beating you? It is unfair by all means.
Also, if you support transgender, you are against woman’s rights. If you fight for woman’s rights yet you can’t give an accurate description of what a woman is, you are not defending woman’s rights. Many people will claim that a woman is just someone who identifies as a woman.
This is circular reasoning it is like saying the Bible is true because it says so. Don’t these people know they can’t use the word they are describing in the definition? A woman is distinct from a male and has body parts that a man cannot have and also has XX chromosomes not XY chromosomes
“If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth” – JK Rowling
If a woman is anyone that feels like a woman, then how do you defend women’s rights? It soon becomes everyone’s rights, not specifically women’s rights. JK Rowling saw that there was a major issue here you cannot support woman’s rights and transgender because they contradict each other. I find it funny when I see a sign that says “no human is illegal” and “woman’s rights are humans’ rights”. These signs get it, if no human is illegal and anyone can be anything then woman’s rights are for everyone.
They are for men that identify as woman and woman that identify as men and all the “other genders” in between. JK Rowling points out that then there is no sex and all hardships that woman in the past have faced have been in vain because they are not appreciated anymore then they used to be.
Woman’s rights are for woman, right? Not for everyone. They aren’t for men or they would be called men’s rights. If they are only for woman, then they should define a woman more properly and not include everyone in their definition.
Now the question becomes what gender is, liberals will claim it is what you feel like and it does not have to be your sex assigned at birth. But up until a couple years ago gender was the same as sex. You were born male or female and could not change. Why this change then you might ask. It is because we have evolved society will claim even though the opposite is true.
Liberals say that you should do whatever makes you feel good and whatever makes you happy. Therefore, making it ok to change your gender if you feel like it will make you happier and more accepted into society. But we see the opposite to be true they are feeling more depressed, more unaccepted, and are committing more suicide.
If we are supposed to do whatever makes us feel happy then the world would not be a very happy place. Wouldn’t most people steal, cheat, lie, murder, rape, and more terrible deeds that makes them happy? If someone brings this up, then say give me all your money right now or I’ll punch you. I think they will change their minds really quick. Also, when they bring this up it is easy to argue back and say I’m 6’5 (I’m only 5’8) and they will say “no you are not” then just say that’s what I identify as and it makes me feel better about my height. Obviously claiming that your 6’5 and acting like your 6’5 is not going to make you in reality 6’5. But for some reason people think you can change your gender as easy as saying “I’m 6’5”. It might make someone feel prettier, more confident; they might have more friends and get more attention if they become trans, but this doesn’t make them the opposite gender.
Psalms 139:13-14 tells us that God formed us in our mother’s womb, and we are fearfully and wonderfully made. If God made us in his image, then he created us for a purpose and on purpose. Deuteronomy 22:5 states “A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this.”
How to share the gospel to the LGBTQ community?
This is a very daunting task and hard not to seem “homophobic”, but sometimes the truth will hurt them, no matter how loving you can be towards some LGBTQ they will say you are “homophobic”, rude, being intolerant, or not understanding. (When people say you are not being tolerant it makes me laugh because to be tolerant you have to disagree with them. Tolerance means to be able to tolerate or manage something that you don’t necessarily agree with. Not agree with everything that everyone does and say.) We are called to speak truth to people not to agree with false claims and support everything.
A great verse to bring up when sharing the gospel to anyone is 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 which states, “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” (I was planning on using this verse but did not realize that it had anything to do with transgenderism but then after rereading it the word effeminate, which is defined as having characteristics or acting like a woman. I did not realize that there was a verse specifically calling out transgenderism in the New Testament.)
This verse is such a great verse to use because no matter what sin you’ve committed you will not inherit the kingdom of heaven unless you repent which to repent is to turn away from sin and towards God. None of us on our own can make it to heaven on our own so God is paying us with death (Romans 6:23), but his free gift is eternal life. How do we receive this gift? Repent!
There are many verses where it is emphasized to repent from your sins and turn towards God. Luke 13:3 says “But I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will perish.” Jesus repeats this exact phrase 2 verses later so we must pay attention to this. (There are so many amazing verses, I encourage you to read all of them listed here, 1 John 1:9, Acts 3:19, Mattew 4:17, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Ezekeil 18:30.)
Unless we repent from sin, we will all surly die, we are slaves to sin (Romans 6) but we must become slaves to righteousness and God! To say that I’m a Christian and yet practice and be proud of some form of sin would be outright lying how can we defile God like that if we truly love him? We are all sinners that’s why Jesus died for us on the cross. So how are we saved? We are all born with a passion to sin and we must turn from our sin and turn toward God to be saved.