Whenever a person of high visibility dares express disagreement with homosexuality, several things will happen, and of this you may be sure: 1) Other celebrities will be quick to react with horror, disavowing the person and their remarks; 2) Whatever professional entities with which the person is associated (corporate / political / entertainment / sports) will go public with a carefully worded promise to appropriately “deal” with the individual and the situation; and 3) Cries of “homophobic” will be heaped on the person who spoke blasphemy against this key doctrine of our State religion, “Hyper-tolerant, Enforced-When-Necessary, Relativism.”
It matters not on what grounds one’s disagreement with homosexuality is based: A person may disagree with the homosexual agenda for moral, religious, philosophical, sociological, academic, or medical reasons; It doesn’t matter. According to most currently holding seats of cultural leadership, any and all disagreement is rooted in homophobia. Bill O’Reilly’s recent castigation of Phil Robertson is a case in point, though nothing in Robertson’s remarks indicated that his convictions and opinions about this moral and spiritual issue are borne out of fear. The campaign to “mainstream homosexuality at any cost” is an equal opportunity accuser: No matter who you are, no matter how logical your reasoning, dissent on this issue is homophobia.
If, like Phil Robertson, you reference the Bible in your opposition to homosexuality, news shows will bring on a religion “expert” to explain that your take on Scripture is wrong (The Bible doesn’t really say that homosexual sex is a sin; Those ancient pages speaking of God and His Word as unchanging and fixed, somehow just must have meant “eternal” when speaking of His love, yet “temporary” and “changing” when speaking of revealed moral boundaries). Big media,long ago sold out to the gay agenda, does not let appeals to Scripture go unchallenged. But scholarly spin can’t eradicate the fact that Scripture speaks with unmistakable clarity regarding human sexuality and marriage. And without question, the Bible presents same-sex activity as being sinful.
Sound Reasoning That Supports Biblical Truth
While I believe that compelling lines of evidence point to the inspiration and authority of Scripture, I know that many people today don’t view the Bible as authoritative (just quote the Bible on most college campuses, and you will quickly learn this firsthand). But even apart from Scriptural prohibitions against homosexuality, there are compelling extra-biblical arguments against homosexuality. Let’s examine the typical arguments for homosexuality, and we’ll weave in arguments from the opposing camp as we go.
“Homosexuality Doesn’t Harm Anyone”
Those who support the view that homosexuality does not cause any harm are really basically saying, “Mind your own business!” According to this position, homosexuality harms no one and, therefore, is perfectly acceptable. But if it can be demonstrated that homosexuality does have negative results, then the claim that it doesn’t harm anyone is false. Those who oppose homosexuality add that homosexuality does cause harm, especially when it comes to the spiritual condition of the person in question.
“Consenting Adults Can Do What They Want”
Proponents of homosexuality often claim that homosexuality is a matter of personal choice between consenting parties. But this claim is sort of just another way of stating the homosexuality-doesn’t-harm-anyone argument. As has been explained, though, it’s possible that it does cause harm, to individuals and to culture. It should be added that given moral law, consensual behavior does not automatically mean that the behavior is morally valid.
“Morality Can’t Be Legislated”
Supporters of homosexuality typically argue that morality cannot be legislated—there is no point in trying to legislate morality, so don’t bother. But anyone with any sense of what’s going on in the world— anyone who even only occasionally listens to the news—knows that in some way someone is always trying to legislate morality. People only consider any given piece of legislation worthwhile, however, if it encourages a version of morality that they support! And if morality can’t be legislated, then homosexual activists shouldn’t bother trying to legalize same-sex marriage.
“Homosexuals Can’t Escape Genetics”
Some supporters of homosexuality argue that some people are simply born with homosexual tendencies and no matter what they do, they can’t change that fact, so leave them alone and stop trying to “cure” them and branding them as deviant. But there are serious problems with the theory that homosexuality is genetic rather than learned. For example, if homosexuality is genetic, how have the responsible genes been passed from generation to generation? After all, homosexuals can’t pass anything on because they don’t reproduce. Furthermore, if sexual orientation is fixed from birth, why do some homosexuals switch to heterosexuality or bisexuality?
“Opponents to Homosexuality are Just Intolerant and Narrow-Minded”
Some supporters of homosexuality accuse those who oppose homo- sexuality of simply being out of touch, bigoted and prejudiced. This, though, really isn’t an argument in favor of homosexuality. Rather, it’s a sentiment that suggests that opponents to homosexuality are unwilling to share their freedom. Unfortunately, this neglects the question of truth. The question isn’t about whether a particular emotional reaction to a particular behavior is correct but whether or not the particular behavior is right, given the available evidence.
Historically speaking, for example, every single culture that has compromised the traditional view of the family, embracing practices such as homosexuality, has not survived. Based on this evidence alone, a case can be made for the traditional view—opposition to homosexuality—simply on the basis of historical evidence.
The Importance of Standing for Truth
How important is it that our nation rediscover the Biblical position on moral issues (such as homosexuality)? Extremely so, because the souls of people hang in the balance. Further, aberrant views about sexuality and the nature of family that rising generations hear in state-run classrooms are reinforced by influential celebrities. The rigorous (but necessary) work of meaningful discourse is obstructed when talking heads like Bill O’Reilly paint all opposition with the single-brush accusation of “homophobia.”
As our nation wrestles with this issue–and as well-funded, well-organized, tireless propagandizers condition the culture to embrace homosexuality–we’d do best to approach one another with love, gentleness and respect as we share what makes the most sense in light of God’s Word (and good sense).
Adapted from Alex McFarland’s 15th and newest book, “10 Issues that Divide Christians,” published by Regal Books, Ventura, California, available January 2014. Dr. Alex McFarland is an author, evangelist, educator and broadcaster. He has spoken in more than 1400 churches, and on more than 150 universities and school campuses. He is founder of the Alliance for the Preservation of Christianity in America. www.alexmcfarland.com
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