Hello Doc Bon!
I am one of your classmates in Graduate Studies. I have been watching your preaching every Thursday evening. I was amazed by your topic on the three components of man and how all of us are born sinners. They are really enlightening.
On this premise, I would like to ask: Is being gay a sin? As you have notice, I am gay and I think, I am this ever since I was just a child. I think, I was born like this. I have been into same sex relationships before, although I fight these urges especially now that I want to hear more about the Word of God, but I was always leaning on this side of me. What is your advice to people like me? I would like to hear from you.
Thank you and please hide my name.
Hi Classmate!
Good to hear that you have been watching the preachings. I hope you have been blessed by them.
These topics on being gay, homosexuality, gay relationships and topics related to these are always been the “Elephant in the Room” among Christian churches. This is because it is a topic that obviously needs to be tackled in churches but is being evaded by ministers because of its sensitivity. I am glad that you’ve asked this. Perhaps this is the opportune time to discuss this.
Is being gay a sin?
First of all, I want you to be established in this Biblical foundation: Homosexuality is a sin, the Bible is clear on this (i.e. Genesis 19:1–13; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Jude 1:7). But so is fornication, idolatry, greed, drunkards, verbal abusers, cheating and stealing (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Other lists include the cowards and liars (Rev 21:8). With this in mind, what I want to point out to you here is that, homosexuality is not a greater nor lesser sin than these other sins mentioned. Your sin of homosexuality is not greater than my sin of greed nor greater than the sin of drunkenness and verbal abuse of other people. They are all the same sins. They are all abominations to our Lord. Homosexuality is not greater than lying and cowardice.
I hope you are seeing what I am showing you here. Just like you, I am also a sinner struggling with sin. The same with other people living on this planet. I’m not “holier” than you. Those who claim that they don’t sin anymore are just deceiving their selves (1 John 1:8). And you are right, we are born sinners. We are born gay, we are born greedy, we are born adulterers, I am born coward and liar. That is because we are born in this corrupt body where all these sins are dwelling (Rom. 1:18). And that is why we need to be born-again. We need to be indwelt by the spirit of God in order for us to be transformed. This is the ONLY solution to our struggle – to your struggle.
You have mentioned that you are fighting these urges, I’m really glad to know this. Fighting the urge not to sin is actually the first evidence that you have been born again (Rom. 7:15-20). There is something in you now that tells you that you need to fight those urges. You have this struggle because there are two opposing natures in you that are fighting. People who are not born-again don’t have struggles like yours. Although your sinful nature may still win from time to time, this is a good sign that the Spirit of God is dwelling in you now.
My advice to you is also the advice of the Apostle Paul to all of us:
Gal. 5:16 “This I say then: Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
If you don’t want your sinful nature to keep on winning, then you need to walk in the Spirit. That is, feed your spirit. Strengthen it. Listen to preachings of the Word. Have fellowship with people who are born-again like you. Expose yourself to activities that contribute to your spiritual growth. Always eat the Word of God. This is the sure way to win against the flesh.
I have given you 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 above. But if you will read the verse after that, it says this:
“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
That is what we were before. That is what you were before. The fact that the washing, sanctification and justification are all in the past tense, is a pointer that our identity to our Lord Jesus is no longer a homosexual, an adulterer, greedy or drunkard. We are now righteous before Him. Now, being righteous before Him does not mean that will not have any issues with our particular weakness and sin anymore. We will. But this time, we have His Spirit that is transforming us gradually. It is telling us to fight the urge to sin.
Finally, take heart. Although we are still struggling with these sins right now, someday we will be stronger. You will be stronger. This I’m really sure. And always remember that our Lord loves you so much that He gave His life for you. And He is still in the business of saving and changing people’s lives around.
May the Lord bless you and give you wisdom and grace in growing in His Spirit.
