A modern Apologetic of homosexuality and human sexuality

Logo essay on Apologetics of homosexuality and human sexuality

To my brothers and sisters in Christ and to all that stand in opposition to the position of the church on its position on faith and human sexuality. Over the past 30 years, it has been a much-debated theological and doctrinal issue for all of Christendom. To the point that it has divided churches and polarized secular and religious communities. For the first time in generations, we now see that the secular community has become extremely hostile toward anything associated with Christianity. Other religions and faith also take a doctrinal position concerning human sexuality, and yet Christianity is the target of much hostility. The main question we must ask is why has homosexuality and the LGBTQ lifestyle been the proverbial hot button that has been weaponized against anything associated with the church? I hope that a careful examination of God’s view on human relationships and human sexuality will help both sides to understand how we got here and where do we go from here.

While it is true that the LGBTQ lifestyle has been weaponized in modern days, it is by no means the first time that human sexuality has found itself at the crossroads of the faithful. In varying degrees of acceptance, the church has been willing to bend, accommodate, or turn a blind eye to many of God’s commands and guidance against the decadence of human sexuality. Over 100 times in the bible God warns us of the power the human sexual drive has. We can always find that power, greed, and sex are at the root of all sins committed. And throughout history sex has been intertwined with power and greed to control, dominate, and destroy people, nations, and kingdoms. You are right to challenge the line in the sand on homosexuality and yet often turn a blind eye to other sexual grievances that have also caused irreversible damage to the body of Christ.

Human sexuality has been going through varying periods of waxing and waning in the eyes of society. While not directly endorsed and supported by the church, it has often remained quite on its’ rebuke. One that comes to mind is society’s acceptance of concubines and prostitution at any given time in all societies across the world. Many of these men that have engaged in these practices have often been high-profile members of the church and at times been leaders in the church. God is clear on the impact and power of engaging in sexual relations with anyone outside the context of marriage. Paul tells the Corinthians that because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. He later begins to list not one, but several subcategories that can be seen as sexual immorality. 

In Leviticus 18 God dedicated an entire chapter of unlawful sexual behaviors and actions. He does not say one is worse than the other but says; You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. Yes, it is true that homosexuality is one mentioned, there are many times that general nakedness is highlighted as something to be avoided. God created and warns of the power the naked body has on men and the visual stimulation that the naked body has on him. And yet the church has often allowed varying degrees of sexually stimulating dress even within the congregation. Many times in history the church has tried to counter this and create rules and doctrinal laws forbidding such dress. Using God’s word to validate their legalistic laws imposed on their people. The outward enforcement of God’s law will only fuel the rebellious nature of the human soul. It is only through the inward workings of the Holy Spirit that will bring anyone to living a life of humility and chastity.  

In the 20th century, it has been seen as a single issue argument concerning the church and sexuality. This is due to the single line issue that has become front and center by civil rights activists attempting to subdue the church in today’s modern society. Which has forced the church to defend its position along those lines. The church has done a great disservice to itself in allowing society to drive the narrative. In the 80s and 90s, it was the debate over contraceptives and teen sexuality. The church’s campaign centered around abstinence and purity pledges. In the 60s and 70s, it was battling over the increasing number of divorces. Due in part to the no-fault divorces laws passed in 1970 and the sexual revolution of the 60s. The church found itself with increasing numbers of divorced laity and clergy. So they followed suit once again to the culture of the day, the church began to mirror society in the number of broken marriages. Families no longer saw the church as a central anchor for their families and began to seek the advice of therapists and lawyers rather than the church.    

I think a far great offense to God is how we have viewed the meaning and structure of the family. Of which all civil and eternal structures stems from. The family, being a foreshadowing of God’s eternal family and the relationship between God and His people. The destruction of the marriage vows has slowly eroded over the years. Even before the US became an independent nation, it began to get involved in the practice of marriage licenses. In part to control interracial marriage. Which continued through the 1960s. Now the state has taken control over marriage due to laws, regulations, and taxation, it could now define the definition of marriage. No longer tied to any moral framework. No moral restraints resulted in sexual relations outside marriage, to the unchecked abuse within the family. The church has become little more than a social venue and social tradition people do when they get married. 

While it did not happen overnight, as a linear timeline in human history. This is not the first time human society has had to confront the practice of homosexuality, pedophilia, and ramped sexual abuse. But it is the first time we have seen the convergence of the state and the church. In the past, we have seen the state church imposing what they perceived as church law. Now we see the church imposing state law. In all matters related to human sexuality and what is the legal definition of marriage and the relationship of the family. Since the recognition of gay marriage, we have also seen a push for lowering the age limitations on marriage without the consent of a parent or guardian. We have seen a push for plural marriages or other forms of polygamy. It is not so much as the recognition of gay marriage that is the single issue that has violated God’s laws. It is just another brick removed from the foundation by which a civil and moral society relies on. 

The church must be clear in its position on human sexuality and the institution of marriage. The church must be clear in its position. Marriage is between a man and a woman and sexual relations are to remain within that framework. Anything outside of that will slowly erode the very fabric of human civility and cohesive society. God’s commands are clear and do not operate within a vacuum. We see now in today’s society that the violation of these laws leads to broken families, abortions, and various physical and emotional diseases, and disorders. The burden on society is immeasurable. God’s plan for humanity is that of simple and harmonious relationships between and His God. Human sexuality has created gods and goddesses since the dawning of time. The first action after the fall was Adam and Eve saw that they were naked. The human body was now something that would require to be covered in order to hide the shame and the sins that have been committed.     

The tale of two prophecies

 

Over the years I have noticed that some denominations will preach on prophecy and the subject of eschatology. I think if we look at the beliefs and history of the denomination and their identity within the body of Christ, we may be able to uncover some insight as to why this may be. 

Historical churches, that is those that can trace back an unbroken line to the early church. Church such as Catholic, Protestant ( those coming out of the Catholic faith ) Orthodox, and Coptic to name a few see prophecy as an ongoing, never-ending part of who they are. They see prophetic signs in many parts of their lives and through world events. The gift of prophecy is not one given only to the major prophets of the old testament. They are not limited to the prophecies of the End Times. They can be as simple as a prophetic word of the upcoming needs of those around us. 

Those more modern churches, those offshoots from the reformation such as Baptist, Methodist,  Evangelical, and non-denomination can identify with a point in time when their founder had a revolution and started a theological understanding and began a new spiritual movement. They did not see themselves as reformers in that they are working within the framework of the established church. They disregard the past traditions and jump back to the bible. Many times disregarding any and all writings and traditions that may have occurred in the early part of the church. The time in which the New Testament was being written down and codified in what we now know as the NT. These denominations are more likely to be those that teach and focus on prophecy and the End Times. Due in part that they are less able to point back to the past, and more able to focus on future events. 

Please don't mistake my conclusions here. I am not pointing out that one way is right and the other wrong. I hope to only point out that these may well be only an understanding from verifying worldviews as understood by their understanding of their place in the body of Christ. I fear that this ongoing debate within the church ( even more so with recent events ) has become a point of contention that the devil has capitalized on. The world now sees the church-dividing from the world and the church again dividing within itself. The world sees the church debating and flaming one another on social media of understanding the times. 

In the end, we can all agree that there will be troubling times, each generation will have its moments of struggle and celebration. But know that Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings. And he promised that one day He will come again. Until then hold fast to the promises He has given that they who believe in Him will have everlasting life.