Do those who transgender live a better life?

A better life? 

I must bring up the question as to whether those who transition live a better life after the hormones and surgery? Now that their sexual apparatus matches how they feel about themselves, are these people now happy and well adjusted? What I have found after more research is that such is not the case. In fact, in many instances, life becomes more difficult. 

And one more thing–I have discovered that those who seek to transition receive much attention, encouragement, and support. Recently I read the account of a fifth grader saying to a teacher that he thought he ought to be a girl. That started a process, one that the boy’s parents were not permitted to be involved in, and at that young age, this person was rushed to judgment. Yes, there was a required counseling process, but how unbiased would that likely have been? It is almost forbidden, even for parents, to attempt to help a person with gender dysphoria to work through issues.

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

The Gospel of John

John 18:1–18

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus,

Jesus Before the High Priest &

Peter Denies Jesus

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         After the conversations Jesus has with the disciples (chapters 14, 15, and 16) followed by Jesus’ prayer (chapter 17), they had to have left Jerusalem, crossed the “torrent” of the Kidron, on their way to the Mt. of Olives and a “garden” likely owned by a friend of Jesus, a place where they routinely visited and perhaps camped out.

2.         Judas, knowing where Jesus and the others were headed intercepted them all with a rather large band of armed men. Jesus quickly identified Himself.

3.         Of great unexplained interest, the band of soldiers “drew back and fell to the ground” when Jesus spoke. Jesus then requested His disciples be released.

4.         Peter, drew a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. (Only Luke, 22:51, tells us Jesus healed the man.)

5.         Jesus knows what will follow, the trials, and does not want any further disruptions.

6.         First the armed band take Jesus to Annas, the father-in-law of the current high priest, Caiaphas, likely since Annas had been high priest, from 7 to 14 CE and was much respected by the Jews.

7.         It was Caiaphas who earlier, and unwittingly, stated that it was better for one man to die than the whole nation. (John 11:45–53)

8.         Peter, with another disciple, and most probably John, followed the soldiers. This unnamed disciple was known by the high priest and is allowed into the court yard of Annas, who then succeeded in getting Peter inside also.

9.         The servant girl who had been watching the front gate and had admitted John, thought she recognized Peter as a disciple of Jesus. Peter responded, “I am not.” Thus fulfilled what Jesus said in Luke 22:31–34. 10.       Peter remained in the court yard and warmed himself at a fire along with other servants and even some of the arresting band.

Born Homosexual or Not?

(Here is an excerpt from my book, The Third Sex? Revisited: Homosexual and Transgender Issues from a Biblical Perspective)

Born Homosexual or Not?

The question I asked in The Third Sex? forty-four years ago was whether homosexuals were born that way or not. Most, but not all, homosexuals want to believe they were.1 Despite the fact that each person I interviewed for the books published on homosexuality said they were born gay, and a number said they had never had a heterosexual thought, on examination of the conversations from which the interviews were drawn, it appeared to me that each person had merely adopted the prem­ise they were born gay. There was no hard science behind their gay identities. I came to the conclusion that being born gay was little more than a cultural myth in the homosexual communi­ty. “I was born gay, so homosexuality is natural for me” was an identity marker that went with the territory.

Born gay? How could that happen? Did the natural selection mechanism run amok? Or, what purpose or advantage was oper­ative in the evolutionary/biological process, if homosexuality is

normal? It is plain that the body parts weren’t naturally designed to fit as they are with heterosexuals. The homosexual act among human beings goes against what is natural, because sex is not for pleasure alone; the sexual uniting of a man and a woman was designed to perpetuate the species.

1 Some gays grew up fearful of, hateful of, neglected by, rejected by, or molested by a parent of the opposite sex. Some encountered other scenarios, whereby sex with a member of the opposite sex was impossible but the call of the hormones was present, nevertheless. Others learned to get their sex where they could get it and found, for any number of reasons, that it was easier and quicker to find a homosexual partner than a heterosexual partner. The point is that not all homosexuals will claim they were born that way. Some even will engage in homosexuality because it seems sexier or more exciting than the normal version.

The Prayer of Jesus

The Gospel of John

John 17

The High Priestly Prayer

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         This prayer of Jesus concluded His final words to the Eleven, and perhaps at the Garden.

2.         We can imagine Jesus lifting His eyes heavenward, arms raised, the common form of prayer among the Jews, and speaking so all could hear.

3.         Jesus appears to be repeating certain phrases and concepts making it easier for His hearers to retain the message.

4.         In the first part, verses 1 to 5, Jesus emphasizes the nature of eternal life. To know the Father is to have eternal life, since this knowing depends on the inner working of the Holy Spirit. Glory, referring to being in the presence of God or in fellowship with God, is key throughout the prayer.

5.         Verses 6 to 19 have a number of key elements, and one is that the Father has given Jesus’ followers to Him, and here we see the emphasis on God’s choosing or election. 

6.         Jesus is speaking as though all His work has been accomplished already, though it is still in front of Him, it will be done.

7.         Another emphasis here is that the Father keeps us from the “evil one” and indeed the follower of Jesus is “sanctified” meaning set aside or apart, and this through the Spirit.

8.         In the last segment, verses 20 to 26, Jesus speaks of those who will believe in Him through their “word.” This word is, in the Greek, Logos and is the core theme of the entire Gospel. (see John 1:1)

9.         The “oneness” of the Triune God and the oneness of the believer with the Father and the Son is emphasized. And there is so much more.

I Have Overcome the World

The Gospel of John

John 16:25–33

I Have Overcome the World

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         Commentators point out that to some degree Jesus is re-stating Himself in this passage. And well He should as we have a tendency to forget even key messages.

2.         Jesus’ time with His disciples is down to a few hours or less. He is emphasizing things that He wants the eleven to hold on to.

3.         He even states that He had been using “figures of speech,” which have not been clear to them. This  will now change.

4.         Verses 26 and 27 are confusing to us, we will have to admit, and even the best over the centuries have confessed as much. He seems to say that His followers will pray, make requests based on all that Jesus is and has accomplished, but He Himself will not stand between the Father and His disciples. And the reason is that the Father Himself loves His followers.

5.         Now, in verse 28, Jesus simply and clearly states that He is leaving the world and going to the Father.

6.         The disciples vigorously say they understand His plain speech, whereas before they did not.

7.         Then verse 30 is the disciples’ statement of faith.

8.         Jesus’ response, “Do you now believe?” is even yet more mysterious. Is this a rebuke, as some say, or is it an acceptance of truth from His followers, as others say?

9.         Now Jesus says something that His hearers would surely doubt. They would be scattered. We see as much in Luke 24:50-51. Indeed events are about to occur that would send them home and hiding.

10.       Nevertheless the Father does not abandon Him.

11.       Jesus now comforts His disciples, after what may have been a mild rebuke, and lets them know they have peace that grows out their relationship with Him. Indeed, in the world, they will have much trouble, but He has overcome the world.

Prelude to Transgender Issues in Kent Philpott’s new book, The Third Sex? Revisited: Homosexual and Transgender Issues from a Biblical Perspective.

Prelude to Transgender Issues

First, the reader should know something of who I am, and second, why I am presenting this “Transgender Issues” section within The Third Sex? Revisited. 

I am an Evangelical Christian and longtime pastor of a small Baptist church in Mill Valley, California. Theologically I could be described as Reformed, meaning I hold to the doctrines of grace or election. I am Trinitarian and believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. 

It is necessary at this point in history to be careful with the designation evangelical. A biblically oriented evangelical is someone who promotes the message of Jesus Christ. The word evangelical means good message or news. “Gospel” is an old English word that means good news. What I mean is that evangelical does not have to be politicized. I am conservative in my outlook, but neither I nor the church I pastor take a stance for one political party or another. People at Miller Avenue do not know how I vote, and no party or candidate is endorsed. Jesus is our Leader and Lord, no one else. 

My calling as a Christian is to present the person and work of Jesus Christ. By “person” I mean, who Jesus is, that He is God become flesh, the Word become flesh, and is the Messiah spoken of in the Hebrew Bible. By “work” I mean His sacrifice for sin on the cross, His resurrection from the dead, His ascent into heaven where He is “seated” at the right hand of the Father, and that He will return for His Chosen People at some point in the future. 108 

This is much of who I am. Additionally, I am called, like all Christians are called, to bear witness to the saving work of Jesus Christ to all people. My sense of it is that those within the LGBTQ+ spectrum are wary of people like me, since we usually are not pro-gay. I want to be clear: I consider homosexual behavior to be sinful. Let me also tell you that I, too, am a sinner, a bigger one than you might imagine, especially when I contemplate the utter holiness of God. 

More Important than Sexual Identity 

There is something far more important than our sexuality and personal identity, important as these are. As a messenger of the love and grace of Jesus, I have spent a fair amount of time and effort examining the issues I raise in this book and in its predecessors. However, as I try to come to an understanding of homosexuality and transgenderism in particular, I am struck by what is commonly known as narcissism. Narcissism is usually seen as a sign of mental imbalance, but it also points to the condition of sin gripping closely, and I see this danger present in much of the LGBTQ+ community. The search for peace and contentment is not to be found in fulfilling our hormonal urges or being who we think we are supposed to be, and the attempts to control how others see us and refer to us in speech and actions mask what is actually self-contempt. This extreme self-focus is like a poison to the system, killing any joy or peace that might have existed there. 

I am reaching out to those who are struggling to find peace with God, however clumsy my effort might appear.

Your Sorrow will Turn into Joy

The Gospel of John

John 16:16-24

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         Jesus has only a few more hours to be with the Eleven disciples before He is arrested by a Roman guard in the garden.

2.         He states that a “little while” they will not see Him, and then for a “little while” they will see Him. The phrase in quotation marks is a biblical literary device often meaning “our experience on the planet, the tragic nature of our living.” Here Jesus is referring to His crucifixion and resurrection.

3.         The Eleven wondered among themselves as to the meaning of Jesus’ words. He observed this and asked, “Is this what you are asking yourselves” thus opening up an opportunity for explanation.

4.         Right off He speaks of the grieving they are about to go through. Yes, they will “lament” but the world, that element opposed to the things of God, will rejoice. He reiterates that they will be sorrowful, but their sorrow will turn into joy.

5.         Yes, sorrow at the arrest, the beatings, the rigged court, which all leads to a horrible, degrading, death on a cross.

6.         Jesus likens what is coming upon Him to a woman giving birth, the pain she will experience, but once the child is born, there is rejoicing.

7.         Yet again, Jesus acknowledges their coming sorrow. But they will see Him again, the resurrection, or maybe beyond that, they will see Him at His coming for them or upon their own death.

8.         The result is joy, which cannot be taken away no matter what. This mysterious joy, the highest of all human blessing, is a gift of grace and quite beyond any worldly experience.

9.         Then Jesus tells His disciples, those Eleven there and to all His followers, that they will not ask anything of Him, but will ask the Father, in Jesus’ name, that is, because of the cleansing from sin He brings and our relationship with Him, and He, the Father, will then give. He urges us to ask, and then receive, that our joy would be full. Here again, another incredible mystery & miracle.

Transgender Issues

 Katie and I have published our new book, The Third Sex? Revisited: Homosexual and Transgender Issues From a Biblical Perspective. Now inviting comments about transgendering. We are on course to publish a second volume with a focus on this complex and confusing topic.

We came to this after last week’s time in Nashville for the National Religious Broadcasters convention. We were stunned at the attention our book received, and most of it regarding transgender concerns. We are inviting people who have something to say on this issue, from whatever point of view, to send this to us, 1000 words or less, with no name, city, or state mentioned. If we publish your piece in the new volume, we will send you a release form to sign and get back to us.

Our primary concern is to reach out to those going through such a process and their family and friends. It is far from a simple solution to try to be at peace with one’s gender identity. We come at this from a Christian and Biblical perspective, which is grounded in grace and agape love. You may well say we are “Welcoming and not confirming” since to confirm is to promote.

Our email is: kentphilpott@comcast.net.

Kent and Katie

Born Gay

Two

Born homosexual or not

The question I asked in The Third Sex? forty-four years ago was whether homosexuals were born that way or not. Most, but not all, homosexuals want to believe they were.[1] Despite the fact that each person I interviewed for the books published by Logos on homosexuality said they were born gay, a number said they never had had a heterosexual thought. However, am examination of the conversations from which the interviews were drawn it appeared to me that each person had merely adopted the premise they were born gay. There was no hard science behind their gay identities at all. I came to the conclusion that being born gay was little more than a cultural myth in the homosexual community. “I was born gay, homosexuality is natural for me” was an identity marker that went with the territory.

            Born gay? How did that happen? And, what purpose or advantage was operative in the evolutionary/biological process then if homosexuality is normal? Was the natural selection mechanism running amok? Look, the parts don’t fit, that is plain enough; the homosexual act, among humans beings for sure, goes against everything natural. Sex is not for pleasure alone; the genes are designed to perpetuate the organism.

The role of guilt

From time to time I catch a glimpse at something in the inner being, something nearly invisible, way under the radar, yet powerful at the same time, that may be the motivator behind the desire to think one is born homosexual. In a word–guilt. The Creator God has written the truth of who and what we are in our core being, in the inner person. When that base data is violated, a warning bell is sounded, that is, our conscience accuses us. And that psychic/spiritual finger pointing is very unpleasant.  

            It is entirely necessary to quote a few Bible verses to illustrate my contention. And in case it is not clear, what matters most to me is the Scripture. The science on the subject is unclear and may always be—at least it will be under contention. Whatever people may think, even experts, is going to be suspect to some degree and subject to critical analysis since hidden and not so hidden agendas will be in play as is the case for my own work. So what counts for me is what God has revealed. Of course, if one does not have a high view of the Scripture, then what I am presenting will be next to meaningless. The culture, perhaps including science, since so much science is compromised by political considerations, will not be of much value since culture is most often derived from low common denominators and not from revealed truth. Without revelation from God only the loudest and most powerful voices will prevail. Now then we look at Romans 1:18-20.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

            In chapter five we will take a closer look at Romans 1, but in the segment of Romans above, Paul clearly, and carefully, states that homosexuality is unrighteous. My point here is that the truth of creation is plainly revealed to us. The word “conscience” is not in the text but it is implied. The words, “known,” “plain,” “perceived” are used—these are likely the functions of what we ordinarily identify as conscience.

            There is then something in us, an alarm of sorts that lets us know when certain forms of behavior are outside the limits of that which is righteous. Guilt is at least a part of that alarm, and humans will go to great lengths to avoid the sensation of guilt. And claiming to be born gay would be an obvious method of assuaging guilt.

Fellowship of the guilty

One way of dealing with guilt is to have whatever it is that produces guilt, or finger pointing, turned into something that is approved.

There is an interesting passage in the New Testament that speaks to this very thing, Romans 1:32. “Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” In the preceding verses Paul lists a number of expressions of unrighteous behavior and included in the list is male and female homosexuality. More of Romans 1 will be under discussion in the next chapter but here I want to focus on the phrase, “give approval to those who practice them.”

            Our present popular American culture is busy, and has for some time, justifying sexuality of all kinds. The Hugh Heffner types among us found it commercially advantageous to do so, and those who deviate from cultural norms have a vested interest as well—to satisfy their desires. (Desires indeed—if I were to describe some of these, just the ones practiced by segments of the gay community, it might seem as though I was making things up to make homosexuals look bad.) Cultural approval is the goal and the front lines are the schools, media–print and television, besides the courts and legislative bodies. What could be better: make it safe and acceptable to practice whatever kind of sex we feel inclined toward. The line is presently being held in regard to sex with children, so far, but will this change in favor of the pedophiles, both heterosexual and homosexual? And it is here, for instance, that the fellowship of sin is somewhat evident to the broad population, a we versus they thing that reminds one of sectarianism. Sectarian? Maybe cultic would be a better description. A whole language with subtle code words and gestures developed long ago, which is sometimes called “camp.” Members of the gay community, for example, have called me, “a breeder” and it does not have a warm fuzzy meaning. Many other examples could be given. A separate world of insiders exists, all based on sexual preference. These revolutionaries see themselves as a minority fighting for freedom of sexual expression.

            The gay activists have made tremendous strides, as they said they would, in seeking the approval of homosexuality. Homosexuality is often applauded and those who “come out” can be treated as heroes, and some even receive forms of homage. A strange thing indeed when unrighteous behavior is approved. 

A valid defense?

The homosexual who claims to be born that way is without excuse and that means without any defense for the trial and judgment that comes at the end of the age. Though a contemporary culture may approve, or seem to approve, of homosexual behavior, the Judge will not be impressed. Culture does not determine truth.

            Western countries are rapidly moving toward the acceptance of homosexual unions and marriage. [2] The laws of many nations will no doubt reflect the prevailing winds of opinion, opinions voiced by aggressive activists.[3] But, and I have no hard data on this, I suspect that the majority of people will in their own hearts and minds still say no to homosexuality. Only a minority, and generally only a silent minority at that, will stand up and be counted. Homosexuality has won acceptance before, but a kind of pendulum swings back, for a variety of reasons, sometimes the collapse of a culture or a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a revival or awakening.  Without a biblical foundation there is little to prevent “normalizing” of homosexuality. There is no help in the U.S. Constitution and the national religion or sentimentality is not strong enough to withstand the preachers of acceptance of homosexual behavior.

            Here the voice of the Apostle Paul must be heard. He knew, as a trained Rabbi, that the Scripture condemned homosexuality, and living in the Graeco-Roman world he saw the impact of gay sex on that culture. He would have seen the young boys forced into gay prostitution serving pagan temples, he would have known of the horrendous abuse of little boys by the Roman elite including emperors like Tiberius. While Paul did not advocate the stoning of homosexuals as was actually prescribed in the Old Testament,[4] he nevertheless understood homosexual behavior to be sinful. He even acknowledged that members of the congregation at Corinth, whose citizens had become accustomed to homosexuality, had been engaged in the practice. He wrote:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, not adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. 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.  (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

            Paul does not excuse those in the church at Corinth who had been homosexual, and the same was true of those who had engaged in other forms of sinful behavior. They all must cease from engaging in whatever sin they had given in to or had been captured by. There is no talk of acceptance of homosexuality, no indication that anyone was born a homosexual.

            Perhaps it is a mistake to reject what Paul says, and for that matter what the Bible says as a whole, about homosexuality. Christians, and others who consider homosexual behavior to be wrong did not necessarily come to accept that viewpoint because they simply had to in order to be Christians. Before I believed in things biblical, I did not accept homosexuality as a normal expression of human sexuality. I neither feared not scorned homosexuals, which of course, does often take place. The first time I heard that a couple of male medics in our barracks at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA had been caught doing a sexual act together I wondered what they could possibly have been doing and then felt sorry for them because of the discipline that followed. At that period of time, 1962, homosexuality was little more than a blip on the screen for most of Middle America. From what I have gathered about the Christianity that followed WWII through the Sexual Revolution that came a couple of decades later, gay was not a termed most would have understood; homosexual behavior would have been considered unseemly and bizarre. My point is that if there were no Bible and no Christians, many people still would regard homosexual behavior to be questionable if not wrong all together.

Natural

Homosexuality is not natural, according to the Scripture, which by the way must not be easily discounted. Despite the fact that the Bible is not highly regarded in much of the world today it may be again. In Romans chapter one, which will receive more attention in an upcoming chapter, Paul uses the term “natural” in relationship to human sexuality. Building off, no doubt, the Genesis account of creation, men and women are made for each other so that they might be fruitful and multiply. (see Genesis 1:26-28) This is what is meant by natural—built into the fabric of creation.

            Of lesbianism Paul says, “women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature,” and concerning male homosexuality, “men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another.” (see Romans 1:26-27)

            Whatever might be said about homosexuality, those who are faithful to the biblical accounts and have no reason to alter the obvious intent of said Scripture, homosexual behavior must be seen as being unnatural.

 Complications

What about those who are convinced they are born gay? This is a subject that goes way beyond the scope of this book. However, I acknowledge that due to a number of factors it may be that a person is, for all intents and purposes, born gay. I am referring to anomalies of physiology that would confuse the actual gender of a person, and there are a number of such conditions. Then there are unusual circumstances involving parents, which will only grow as gay couples are permitted to adopt and practice surrogate parenting. “Faulty parenting” and “faulty parent-child relationships” are terms that are not without serious consideration, and effect.

            Over the decades I have listened to firsthand accounts wherein I had to admit that a person did not have much of a chance growing up anything but homosexual. Let me go further: I think it possible for someone identified as a male or a female who does not have the hormonal structure of that sex, or even the genetic code pertaining to the sex they were tagged with, would understandably be preconditioned if not absolutely committed to a homosexual identity. However infrequent, the possibility must be acknowledged. Therefore, we have complications.

            By way of illustration I offer something I have understood for some time. As a long time volunteer at San Quentin Prison I have known many a convict who had little chance not ending up in prison. Still, the system usually must go ahead anyway and remove the criminal from the population. We understand this. Neither can we excuse the thief who steals to feed a hungry family—it is still theft. Why is not a consideration when it comes to sin. Every, or most sin, may be described as an ineffectual coping mechanism—to get psychological about it, which the Bible never does. All sin, at some level, is a rebellion against God, despite the stress and pressure that may be motivating factors. Wrong behavior has a history, and to some degree understandable, but wrong is wrong. Homosexual behavior is wrong. This will not change.

            In many ways, it would be easier for Christians to give in and simply accept homosexual behavior, or some forms in which it is practiced, in light of the complications. I have been so tempted. To do so would take away the hope of those homosexuals who know in the recesses of their hearts and minds that homosexuality is wrong. As mentioned before, those who showed up to the ministry I was engaged in were wanting out.

Collateral damage inflicted by ads employing sexual stimulation

Men are more at risk when it comes to constantly being presented by ads that hope to lure them to a product by using sexual stimuli. Half naked ladies appear on many pages of The San Francisco Chronicle I read every day.  The scantily clad beauty standing by the new car, or holding a brew, inviting the public to a bar and grill—the ad agency folks know how to lure the customer. Our minds play tricks on us, the hormones are stimulated and we drink in the ad.

            What about women who are also subject to the same ads? My understanding is that they will also be stimulated by such ads, ads with the scantily clad ladies in them even though the viewer is heterosexual. It is not surprising then that I have spoken with women who thought they were gay merely because of the stimulation they experienced when seeing the ads. Not at all strange that there would be stimulation, but it is only chemical and hormonal—not actually stealth lesbianism. And what would be true of women will also be true for men. That same newspaper also has lots of photos of half naked men—what goes for the women goes for the men as well. There may be sexual stimulation, which does not even approach the idea that one is homosexual thereby. The hormone thing is powerful and deceptive.

Must the complications force a change in theology?

Ever since the commandment breaking by the first creatures created in the image of God, that is Adam and Eve, normal went out the window. Reading through the consequences of the Fallfound in Genesis chapter three, it is plain all of life was changed. Moments after the first sin, Adam and Eve noticed they were naked, tried to cover up with fig leaves, were fearful of God, and tried to hide from Him. Whether one takes the Genesis account of the garden literally or not, the intent of the author is clear: human sexuality was severely damaged. Nothing has changed over the course of the centuries. Human sexuality is confused, distorted, and twisted.

            Few but the idealists among us, which usually are forced to take off their rose tinted glasses that make all of life beautiful and fair at some point of the path to maturity, are shocked at the incredible plagues that are common to human kind. People are born with terrible troubles from the physical to the mental and emotional sorts. More seems to be wrong than right. Born with a bent toward homosexuality—it would or should be expected. Since all else in our world is distorted in some ways, and some more than others, sexuality would logically suffer as well.

            The point is simple enough: Even if a person were born homosexual, whatever pre-disposing factors were present or not, this does not mean homosexuality is normal or even good. It just would be the way it was.

            At one point, the kingdom of God will come. “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven” is one prayer that will be answered. The Bible draws the picture so interestingly. Trouble in paradise, Genesis’ early chapters with the tragic Fall, then paradise restored in the kingdom that is coming, the last chapters of Revelation. God’s ultimate intention will be realized. Those whom He has chosen and called to Himself will be in His presence forever.

Marriage is only temporary

A group known as Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, approached Jesus and tried to stump him with a hypothetical question. In the Law of Moses, Deuteronomy 25 to be exact, is a set of laws, Levirate Marriage laws, that were designed to keep property in the hands of the family at the death of the head of the family. The Sadducees thought they would gain some ground with Jesus by painting the story of a woman who married seven brothers, each of which died, one before the other. Then she died. Which of the seven husbands, they wanted to know, would she be married to in heaven. Part of Jesus’ response was, “In the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage” (Matthew 22:30).

            No marriage in heaven. Why? Because the ultimate intention of the creator God is realized. There would be a marriage all right, but the groom is Christ and the bride is His Chosen People. (Interesting that the word church in the Greek New Testament is feminine.) 

            So much of the Bible is prophetic historical drama. The great stories and circumstances found in its pages often point beyond the actual events themselves to a future reality, from the sending away of the first couple from the garden, to the ark of Noah, the building of a temporary temple, and on and on.

Human marriage, for instance, is more than a mechanism of populating the planet and providing a reasonable framework to build a culture on. It looks to the uniting of God with His Church, His ekklesia[5] or called out ones. Genesis opens with a marriage between Adam and Eve, which becomes corrupted of course, and Revelation ends with a grand wedding feast. (see Revelation 19:6-10) John the Apostle, who received the content of the Book of Revelation, heard these words: “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:9).

The Lamb—this is Jesus, the Lamb without blemish, sacrificed for the sin of His people who are known at the end of history as the Bride and the wife. Jesus described His return at the last day as a groom coming for his bride. (see Matthew 25:1-13)

Too much of a focus on sex

The homosexual community is all about sex. Well, I know they claim it is about individual freedoms and liberty and regular people doing nothing more than trying to live their lives. And it is that to some degree, but it is very unlike the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Now it is not a question of rights since especially in America, all the rights necessary are secured, on paper at least, for every citizen. No, the issue has to do with those who even think that homosexuality is wrong. Homosexuality must be believed to be normal and good, both. If not, such an injustice must be corrected in some manner or the other. Anything less is to be considered homophobic, hate speech, politically incorrect, and certainly illegal.

I understand that the preceding paragraph seems almost like a rant. It is not; it is a careful analysis of the homosexual agenda that is aggressively being advanced on nearly every front. And all for the sake of sex—bottom line. And the point here is that the whole meaning of life is being missed. Sex is a part of life neither the end nor the whole of it. Life is short and full of trouble; being able to express one’s sexuality and have it approved by others is not the goal of our living. Somewhere along the way, many gay people, even those who are not influenced by the Christian Scriptures, realize this spiritual fact. This book is written for them. Yes, there is something more, something far better, and the way to it is a narrow path which is Jesus Christ and His cross.


[1] Some gays grew up fearful of, hateful of, neglected by, rejected by, molested by a parent of the opposite sex, or some other scenario, whereby sex with a member of the opposite sex was impossible but the call of the hormones was present nevertheless. Others learned to get their sex where they could get it and found, for any number of reasons, that it was easier, and quicker, to find a homosexual partner than a heterosexual partner. The point is that not all homosexuals will claim they were born that way. Some even will engage in homosexuality because it seems sexier, more exciting, than the normal version.

[2] When the first draft was written, this was accurate. Now, 2019, it is not.

[3] The fight for homosexual rights, especially for homosexual marriage, has taken on something akin to what motivated the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s—a defense of what was perceived to be a persecuted minority. This is evident in a number of the liberal leaning Christian denominations.

[4] Leviticus 20:13 states that men who engage in a homosexual act are to be stoned. Nothing is mentioned about female homosexuality and not for reasons that homosexual acts among women would be acceptable. Stoning of homosexuals is not carried over into the New Testament. There all sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is sinful. In the Old Testament many offenses resulted in a death sentence and that is likely a means of showing the seriousness of sin and points also the fact that the wages of sin is death, and physical death only but eternal death. (see Romans 6:23)

[5] The term is generally translated church or congregation or assembly.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Gospel of John John 16:4b-15

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         Much of what we find in chapters 14, 15, and 16 of John’s Gospel Jesus saved until the time for His departure was at hand.

2.         Jesus clearly states, again, that He will be leaving them. Now the emphasis is on what Jesus’ leaving means to His disciples. He acknowledges the sorrow they are experiencing.

3.         However, Jesus makes in clear that it is to their advantage that He leaves, since then the Holy Spirit, the Paraklete, here the Helper, will come to them. Thus we have Him with us for the ages and throughout the world and not localized.

4.         The work of the Holy Spirit involves three arenas: conviction of sin, the truth of righteousness, which is the essential Gospel message, and the fact that Satan has been judged, meaning that Satan has been defeated ultimately.

5.         Jesus states He has yet many things to say to them, but His disciples are not yet ready for it. We find, from John 20:21, that they are not yet indwelt by the Holy Spirit. And as yet the Holy Spirit has not come in power upon them, which story we find in the Book of Acts.

6.         The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the ministry of the Triune God, and thus there will be a crisis of transition for the apostles. Jesus so carefully prepares His disciples for what is quickly to come.

7.         The way to know the work of the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit will lift up or glorify Jesus and nothing else.

8.         The Holy Spirit brings nothing new but only that which belongs to Jesus, and this we find in His words and deeds in the Gospel accounts.

9.         And again Jesus makes it clear that what He has taught His disciples comes directly and only from the Father.

10.       Again and again in John we find the Trinity, a truth that will always be difficult for us to grasp. How could it be otherwise? Here the God of creation who spoke the entire universe into existence in a nano-second, is unthinkably above and beyond our ability to fully grasp. But He gave us His Word.