Issues and Answer

by Jason

I have very often been asked about moral issues and what the response is accordingly. I decided to try and answer the morality questions with Christian responses compiled here, in ‘Issues and Answer’. I am not an ordained minister or a professor of Religion; I am simply a teenager just like you. I chose to reach in and study these issues to assist you in your search for a response. These are ‘truths’ as I can find them and convey. If you have any further questions, you may want to contact the pastor of your church. These exerts are not intended for Christians only. They may also be helpful to non-Christians. I simply felt no need to imply ‘truths’ of religions I knew nothing about. If you have any issues you would like to suggest for ‘Issues and Answer’ email them to jason@tscnow.com

Homosexuality

What is Homosexuality?

Homosexuality is sexual attraction or love for a man by a man, or love for a woman by a woman.

What are Arguments against Homosexuality?

For the most part homosexuality is frowned upon by our culture. It is often considered immoral and is even illegal in some states and nations. Psychologists do not agree on whether it is "abnormal" or "normal," but the American Psychological Association did take homosexuality off its list of mental illnesses. The basic argument against homosexuality is that it goes against the laws of God and the moral laws of nature and its offensive to our heterosexual societies, so we have no obligation to accept or tolerate it.

It is also argued that it sets a bad example for children and that it temps to gain followers or convert others to join others, which undermines our traditional cultural values.

Finally it is said that homosexuals are totally responsible for the AIDS epidemic, mainly because the first victims of AIDS in the United States were homosexuals. Many religious people believe that AIDS is a punishment from God, because of his displeasure with homosexuality.

What are Arguments for Homosexuality?

Simply because a majority of the population is heterosexual, we cannot imply that homosexuality is immoral or unnatural.

Second, it is a person’s right to engage in private sexual experiences in any way they see fit as long as others are not harmed. If it dissatisfies some people’s taste, it is not the issue of the homosexual; it is an issue and problem of the other. This, of course is no reason for considering something immoral or wrong. As far as the AIDS epidemic, when the types of sexual activity was clear of what actually caused AIDS, a majority of homosexuals became more careful about their behavior and lowered the rates of infection tremendously. Drug users that share needles are the largest group of infected AIDS victims. Many heterosexuals contract the AIDS virus and are not discriminated against, so why homosexuals?

Third, the argument about homosexuality’s affects on children is extremely arguable. Child molestation and abuse probably occur more with a heterosexual nature, usually men and young girls. Point blank-- abuse on children cannot be directly connected with homosexuality as a life style.

What Does Scripture Say?

Scripture of the Holy Bible clearly provides several responses against homosexual acts in both Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. Though they seem clear and definite on the surface, when examined in the light of the historical-critical method it may seem less clear. Take into consideration this—In Hebrew Scriptures or the ‘Old Testament’, homosexual acts are strongly condemned (Lev 18:22 and 20:13). Yet, we must take into consideration that this "Holiness Code" in Leviticus also forbids the eating of shellfish and the wearing of clothes or more then one fabric, but twenty-first-century Christians feel no more bound by these provisions of the Law then second-century Christians did.

In the New Testament, the four Gospels are silent about homosexual acts. Jesus never actually mentions the subject, even though he does speak quite clearly of the sins of adultery and divorce, two areas that seem to be quite "flexible" with the Christian churches.

Paul makes some reference in his letters (1 Cor 6:9 and Rom 1:26-27) to this behavior. But you must also understand the context. Paul is writing as a former Jewish Pharisee who is utterly repulsed by "effeminacy."

The Bible is not rigidly prescriptive in the matters of sexual morality. If you survey the Bible from Genesis to the letters of Paul, there is little doubt that monogamous, heterosexual marriage is the "norm" for human societies. The same general values however may be applied to gay men and lesbians and their holy unions as well.

Works Cited

Jersild, Paul T., and Dale A. Johnson, eds. Moral Issues and Christian Response.
Harcourt Brace College Publishers: New York, 1993.

Thiroux, Jacques P. Ethics Theory and Practice. Macmillan Publishing
Company: New York, 1990.

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