Doing What Comes Naturally

I recently saw a Facebook disagreement over LGBTQ issues.  One of the parties put forth the argument that science proves that homosexual behavior is “normal,” because it is found in animals.

This is a false notion for multiple reasons.  Just because something is found in nature doesn’t mean it is appropriate.   Although some animals mate for life with one of the opposite sex, many animals are polygamous, but in the United States polygamy is illegal in humans.  Some animals are cannibalistic, but most human societies don’t condone that behavior.  So, although there are examples of homosexual behavior in animals, this is hardly reason for human beings to follow suit.

Even if homosexual attraction is “innate” in a human being, it does not mean those inclinations should be put into practice.  There are people who have a mental illness that causes them to habitually lie, but we don’t give them the green light to do it as they please.  We contradict their lies.  A schizophrenic is out of touch with reality, but we don’t play along with his delusions.  We try to reorient him to reality.  There are individuals who because of genetic makeup are prone to violent behavior.  We don’t tell them, “Go right ahead and maim or kill others.  You are just doing what comes naturally to you.”  Such individuals often end up in the prison system.  We are doing people with such tendencies a tremendous disservice if we try to normalize their behavior.

Whether in animals or humans, these deviations from the norm, or from what society accepts, are due to sin.  We live in a fallen world.  Much of what we see around us was not God’s intent.  His plan is that someday “the lion will lay down with the lamb.”  Violence and evil are not His choice.  Neither is homosexual conduct.  He makes it clear in both the Old and New Testaments that the plan is for one man and one woman to enter into a life-long relationship.  In both testaments, homosexual behavior is labeled as sinful and unacceptable.

HOWEVER, it is not the only sin! 

Someone once criticized me for inviting a homosexual couple to a party at my home.  The couple were neighbors, and I was inviting all neighbors.  The person who criticized me was at that point in his/her life behaving in a very promiscuous manner.  The Bible is very clear that is also SIN.  Sometimes those of us who believe in the truth of the Bible get distracted from the verse that says, “ALL have sinned.”  We come to believe that some sins are worse than others and are too quick to point the finger.  Gossip and gluttony are also condemned, and I have observed both of those among churchgoers.

I have made every attempt to treat people who are LGBTQ the same as I treat everyone.  Are they sinners?  Yes…but so are we all.  If they ask me, will I tell them such behavior is sinful.  Yes…but I will also love and support them in any way available to me without condoning the sin.  I will not buy booze for an alcoholic or a 2-pound box of chocolates for a glutton.  I will not offer a juicy tidbit to a gossip or give my leftover oxycodone to an addict.  If a schizophrenic asks me if I can see the white birds flying around his head, I will say ‘no.’  I will also speak the truth of God’s word to gay friends and family.

But, Jesus ate with sinners and called Pharisees (who were the religious leaders) “blind leaders of the blind.”  He came for the express purpose of both calling out sin and saving us from it.  What we are naturally inclined to do is often not in our best interest.  The apostle Paul talks quite a bit about the need to forsake the natural man and enter into a relationship with God through Christ becoming spiritual men.

Nature gives us interesting examples.  God gives us His Spirit to transform us.