This is a question sent in by Ronni on the “Ask Aaron Anything” link:
Can people be born homosexual? Meaning they are born with a predisposition towards it because of a family curse or stronghold?
My Answer:
In order to answer this question we need to forget the Idea of being born homosexual. Homosexuallity is sin. If we establish that Scripture says that homosexuality is sin, then we can establish that we are born sinners. I know that there is doctrine that teaches people are born good and that we become sinners at the first act of rebellion. I am boldly reformed in my doctrine, and I believe that Scripture teaches that through Adam, sin entered the world (Romans 5:12–”Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.”) R.C. Sproul very clearly explains one of the very important truths that original sin teaches us: “We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners.” People do not come into this world good and then get a sinful nature upon their first willful sin that they commit. Rather, we come into the world with a sin nature, and all of our sins are a result of having that sin nature. We act according to our natures. So because of our sin nature, we do sinful actions. A cow does not become a cow by mooing, but moos because he is a cow. Likewise we do not become sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners.
Because of that core belief, I believe that in a sense, it could be considered that people are born homosexual. But not only that–they are born sinners. Ephesians 2:3 says that we are “by nature children of wrath.” Homosexuality is not the only sin people are born with, but yeah, they are born homosexual because they are born sinners. The good news is that as through one man sin entered the world, the same is true on the positive side! The man Jesus Christ died, and through one man grace and salvation entered the world and righteousness is imputed upon those who are “born again.” The issue is not “Are we born homosexual?” It is “Are you born again?” If we are born again, we are not going to live according to what our flesh was born to do. We are going to return to what we were created to do. We were not created homosexual, just as we were not created sinners. Homosexuality is not something people were created for in God’s original plan.
A lot of time when people are saying, ”I was born this way,” they are speaking truth, but they are meaning that they were ‘created’ this way, which is a lie. Just because you were born a homosexual does not mean that God created you that way origanally. Now through Christ, He is returning us to not our born state, but our created state.
Have fun commenting and try and be nice to each other.
This response reminds me of that old school “this is your brain on drugs” public service commercial when it says at the end, “Any Questions?” Because this response just about sums it all up folks. Comprehensive, biblical truth in your grill. Any questions?
Great response Aaron.
Wow. I have never thought of it that way. That’s a whole lot of wisdom right there. I love the cow analogy, by the way.
Powerful yet informative/get my point. Wasn’t that another mid 90′s infomercial catch phrase? “Get my point?” I will have to research that one.
Nice, that is one amazing piece of truth right there.
Thanks! This helps me combat the argument from a whole other place. It is not about are you born this way but it is about what you were created to be and through Christ you can be restored to that. This information is exciting and hope giving. To know that through Christ someone can be free from the way they “thought” they were to who they “truly” are intended to be. I like this way of saying much better and it helps defuse the “we were born this way” argument and makes it more of a life giving discussion!
Oh’ dang Aaron, this keeps getting scarier and scarier, how do two guys, who didn’t hang out at CFNI that much, not only grab ahold of two very similar ideas of church, but both come out of a place like CFNI and become reformed in our doctrine – what’s this world coming too–HA!
wow. a mouthful and well said I might add. I have family members and friends I will be sharing this with. Solely out of love. Which stretches me to the greatest of these. LOVE. Not banishing one or the other because of sinful nature but lovingly spoken out of a loving heart. Thanks Pastor
Hey all thanks for the positive remarks. Kyle… LOL. Matthew… Real scary. Thanks everyone for the comments I hope this stuff helps. Hey all I love the feed back!! LOL.
I LOVE IT!!!! I seriously love that the Lord has so many amazing details planned out in how He created us… It’s so true! We’re born and raised in so much crap that boggs and ties us down like weeds choaking out a precious plant… but our Father comes in, the greatest gardener and says gently, “this is not what I have planned for you” and gets rid of the nasty weeds. Heck yes.
Aaron you blow my mind with how you answer this stuff.
Couldn’t agree more to what you said Pastor. Couldn’t agree more =)
People are not born homosexual, they are born sinners, and that sin nature can produce homosexuality. Men are not born murderers, they are born sinners, and through that sin nature they act on it and become a murderer. The same with homosexuality, they are not born homosexual, they are born straight, then there sin nature that they are also born with can produce homosexuality or homosexual cravings.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. There’s something that bothers me however. Since a lot of gay people are not “born again” they can’t grasp the notion that the “natural” sex drive they are born with is wrong while the “natural” sex drive straight people are born with is ok. They are hearing a word of condemnation which immediately turns them off. We as Christians are always spouting off phrases like “God hates the sin but loves the sinner”. Most of the time, the word “hate” resounds more loudly from us well-meaning Christians than the word “love”.
We need to win them to Christ by letting them know it is deliverance from the overall sin nature that He so lovingly shed His blood. Then and only then by the power of the Holy Spirit, can God whittle away at the individual sins.
I was so glad to read what you wrote here , Aaron..I’m from India and being gay is becoming too popular here for my likes…People are being pulled into the idea that being gay is okay with God while it is clearly a condemnable act at the final judgement day. It is truly a hard job to come out of it…but no harder than coming out of any sinful habit..but ultimately, I believe His Spirit in us will prevail and we will be conformed fully…May Jesus bless you!! Thanks again!!
Binu,
Thanks for the note. I am glad to see you checking out our site all the way in India. Homosexuality is a very deceptive and tricky sin. So many people find there Identity in it that to speak against it in any way is like speaking against who a person is. The spirit will prevail and thank Jesus he is our Identity!
I have to say that humans are not born homosexuals/lesbians. As a child we do not understand “right from wrong”….we live in a fallen world and the sin around us can impact a human to decide his/her life. I simply can’t understand and accept the fact that “modern day Christians” are trying to accept their gay life styles and try to fit their homosexual tendencies on the bible. Again, I am trying to be as calm as possible. Jesus teaches us to Love the Sinner…….but we as Christians are not to conform and accept the sin. God did not create sinners….it’s a decision we choose to take in life. Remember that living in sin….is not a way to eternal life. Young generation Christians….read and Educate yourselves before accepting “theories” or “adapting” your sinful ways to your life styles.
i may not b a christian, but i totally agree in your view.
Rafael,
I am not sure if you are implying that this post is accepting sin. I think you need to go reread the answer. Sin is not accepted it is rejected what was said in the post was that people are born into sin by nature and choice we sin that is why we have Jesus to redeem us from sin and give us a new nature. I am sure if you are trying to make a stand unless you are making a stand against the truth that people are born into sin.
What do you say to people professing to be Christians that say they go along with a Supreme Court Ruling in favor of homosexual marriage because homosexuals are going to be homosexuals any way so why fight it?
Whoever says this views the supreme court as the highest authority. We need to submit to our authority as long as that authority is not rebelling against the highest authority which is scripture. In the Christians life the Word of God is the highest authority.
They are right on one thing and that is that Homosexuals are going to be homosexuals any way and I am not sure the fight of a christian is against homosexuality. We stand and fight for truth. The word of God is truth and we need to stand, believe, and war with the truth. This could enter into a long debate on tactics of how we should fight but stay rooted in truth.
thank you for thinking
we are all born broken in some sense and continue to break more if we live any length of time
all of creation around us reveals this brokenness daily
for those of us who have "same sex attraction", much of the behavior that we choose reflects our futile attempts to fix or heal the brokenness that we've experienced growing up in a broken world.
Thank God in Jesus Christ for the hope offered to me and all other broken sinners in His Redemptive Grace
I agree with your comments on Homosexuality being a sin and therefore that sinful nature inbred from birth. Until the Church accepts this fact, it will continue to struggle in helping the homosexual to both understand why they have felt this way from birth and to receive deliverance. Thank yhou for your words of truth.