J_____,
Please read the following;
Gen 2:20-25
Lev 18: 5-30, specifically 22-23
Rom 1:18-32
1 Cor 6:9
Gal 5:19
2 Tim 3:1-4, word for pleasures in verse 4 is made of two words in Greek. One meaning lovers or affectionate, the other meaning sensual lust, hence more concerned with human and sexual fulfillment than God. If that doesn't describe our times I don't know what does.
Here are a couple of passages about God's design for sex. Anything outside one man and one woman, who are married, and having sex, is sin according to God. There are no exceptions. Sin has one consequence, eternal suffering in hell apart from God. The choice is to turn away from sin, do the opposite, and ask Jesus to forgive you, or pay the fine for sin. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the fine for our sins.
As a Christian, that also means there is no room for 'playing around' as long as we don't 'go all the way'. We must be pure and holy. Purity is not a line in the sand we try to get as close to as possible without falling over. It is a line which we are forever leaving behind trying to stay as far away from as possible so we don't fall over it and into sin again. If you want help in understanding this further, please let me know.
I feel it is also necessary to point out that homosexual sin is included in the same list as unthankful ness (Romans 1), slander, and gossip. As a Christian we can sometimes fall into the trap of tolerating some sin, but saying that homosexuality is too far. We should have no tolerance like that. Both are equally punishable in the same way. This is a healthy reminder, I believe, the churches should have sometimes.
There are a couple of lines of reasoning which the homosexual community uses in defending their beliefs. Here are a couple I've heard and some quick responses.
I was born that way
This is nothing more than a strong belief without a shred of evidence to back it up. Some scientists have tried to suggest the possibility of a 'homosexual' gene, but beyond the suggestion, no one has proven its existence. People have repeated "I was born that way" so many times, that other people have unquestioningly accepted it as fact without evidence. Believing something is true doesn't make it a reality.
Many atheistic evolutionists follow this belief as well. They miss the big problem staring them in the face as they repeat the lie of 'homosexual genes'. Evolution says we exist to continue the survival of our existence. Since two species of the same sex cannot produce offspring, that gene would, or at least should have died out generations ago. A true evolutionist must condemn homosexuality because it is a detriment to the survival of the human race.
As a Christian, in the extremely unlikely event that a gay gene is discovered, that proves nothing more than some people are born with birth defects. Having a birth defect is no excuse for imprudent or immoral conduct. There are many testimonials of people in the world who have overcome the homosexual temptations to live proper if not Christian lives, complete with family and all. This 'overcoming' itself should be enough evidence to suggest the belief/sin nature origin of homosexual life styles.
Homosexuality is a minority group which deserves rights
This is an unreasonable claim. The gay lifestyle is found in many nationalities and cultures. The homosexual community in no way is on the same level as the ethnic minorities in Canada. A homosexual can be found in African, Greek, Croatian, or Cuban ethnicities equally. That they claim minority status is actually an impressive trick which has blinded many.
The bible says all nations are equally created by God and should receive the respect and human dignity which comes from that. Likewise, homosexuals are human beings which deserve to be treated with respect. God doesn't hate homosexuals. He hates homosexual sin.
The Christian response to the minority claim is simple. God created man and the diversity in culture. These are sacred differences which should both be brought into obedience to God and treated with appreciation. Sexuality is also a gift created by God. It should be engaged in as God designed it to be, one man and one woman joined in marital union. Christians respect the sacred and intimate nature of sex and we, in obeying God, wish to use it in the highest and most honorable way we can. The use of intimacy for pleasure apart from the marital covenant between one man and one wife is not the most sacred and honorable way to respect this gift of God.
It's not a moral issue it's a personal choice
(To understand a more complete context for morality, search the CARE site under philosophical articles.)
It is absolutely an issue of morality. The house of morality can only be built on the foundation of God's existence. If God did not exist, then morality is a joke, and it is whatever the right advertising campaign decides it is. Just like the person who buys Old South orange juice over McCain orange juice because the right commercials got to him first, morals become whatever we decide to chose and accept.
Because God exists and He declares what is right and wrong, homosexuality is immoral.
It is also unlivable to say it is a personal preference and then get mad when society deems it unacceptable. Then the personal preferences of those who find it distasteful are called into question. Some one who 'chooses' homosexuality can't have any right to challenge those who don't choose homosexuality. This idea that it is not a moral question robs all the value of saying it is wrong to judge it distasteful.
Besides, if it is only a personal choice, why are they fighting so hard to be accepted by society? Isn't that hypocrisy?
It's natural, the animals do it!
The underlying assumption behind this argument is we have all evolved from the apes, and are therefore just a more complex animal. It is simply ridiculous. Some animals rip the throats out of other animals for no other reason than they are hungry. If I were to rip the throat out of someone because I was hungry and wanted to eat their hamburger or worse yet just eat them, I would be thrown into prison. I somehow doubt the judge would let me use the argument "animals do it. It's just a natural thing". What do you think?
When humans behave this way it's called murder. It is a moral issue. When animals hunt and kill each other it isn't a question of morality because they do not have the capacity to communicate and ask questions like "Why?" When suffering takes place in the world, animals don't ask why they are suffering evil, do they?
Christianity (Christian's) hate us
This is illogical. Because Christians disagree, it is absurd to say we hate the homosexual. Does everybody who disagrees with you, the reader, automatically hate you? In reality it is the fact that Christians are called by God to love the homosexual, that we must explain this simply; God created mankind in his own image, and with a purpose, dignity and destiny. As creator He also has the right to make the rules, which He did. Try the Ten Commandments for example; "Don't lie. Don't steal. Honor you mother and father. Do not commit adultery, which according to Jesus is as good as broken if we even lust after another of the opposite sex (Mat 5). When we break these commandments, God who is perfectly just must punish us, and He has the power to do so. When Jesus died on the cross in our place, God's perfect justice was satisfied. If we trust Jesus with our whole self that he was our substitute, ask to be forgiven, and turn 180 degrees from our lawbreaking lifestyles, God will then and only then extend to us mercy. The choice is hell, or mercy. Because Christians love homosexuals, as well as liars, thieves, and all others, we must tell this truth. Love tells the truth, always.
I hope this answers the question for you well enough to helping your situation. Please let me know how things turn out.
Grace and Peace,
Arron.