From: alan@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov (Alan S. Mazer)
Subject: Re: TANGENT: Re: Prayer Request from SFC Latrobe Uni
Organization: Image Analysis Systems Group, JPL
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 19:46:36 GMT

In article <1992Oct15.141354.19027@cbnews.cb.att.com> ajw@cbnews.cb.att.com (andrew.j.whitman) writes:
>But the Bible clearly portrays homosexual behavior as sin.  Now,
>here's the tricky part.  It's not a sin to be a homosexual; it's
>a sin to engage in homosexual intercourse.  People don't choose
>to be homosexuals.  They're born that way.  _Christianity_Today_,
>that noted bastion of liberal humanism and cultural hedonism, ran 
>a series of articles several years ago quoting extensive research that, 
>in fact, confirms that homosexuality is genetic trait, not a moral 
>choice.

I would _really_ be interested in _any_ research (references please) that
addresses this issue.  I respect your belief that homosexuals are born that 
way and maybe they are.  I don't know.  But all I see is people with a vested
interest one way or the other making claims.  I personally find it _very_
difficult to believe that the Lord would make someone homosexual and then
tell them they couldn't fulfill physical desires that he gave them.  This
seems wildly inconsistent to me.  (I just read something by an evangelical
who claims exactly the opposite, that studies show no genetic link.  These
waters are very muddied.)

>And here's where it gets really tough.  Realize that when you ask
>homosexuals to repent of their sin, you are really asking them to
>be celibate.  Yes, there apparently *are* some instances where 
>people have been changed from a homosexual to a heterosexual
>orientation.  But those instances are few and far between, and 
>there's increasing evidence from research to indicate that the 
>"conversions" don't last.

Again, I hear just the opposite from the evangelical community.

>That's who they are.  That's
>the way God made them, and they can't be unmade into someone
>they're not.  The Bible says that who they are is sinners.
>That's the harsh truth.  And God cared enough about them to 
>send his only son to die for their sins.  Just like you and me.

So God made them such that when they do what other people do (act out
physical desires), God made them to sin while we don't?  Again, this sounds
funny, and what's more, I don't see any Biblical basis for any of this.

>I know a lot of gays and lesbians.  I meet with them every week in 
>a small group Bible Study, and I value their friendship.  The church 
>I attend was the only evangelical church in my area to reach out to 
>the gay community and say, "Come on in.  You're welcome here."  That 
>really saddens me.  These folks know the Lord and want to follow the 
>Lord.  And for them, that means that they strive to go through life 
>without sexual intercourse.  I admire them because they've counted the 
>cost and they understand that the cost is high.  I don't know that I 
>could do it myself, and a lot of them struggle with the choice that 
>they've made.  But I count it a privilege to be in there struggling
>with them, fellow sinners seeking God's grace to overcome who we
>are and to become who we are meant to be.  My friends are apparently
>meant to be homosexuals.  But redeemed homosexuals. 

This is incredibly intriguing.  I'm impressed!

Andy, I would love to believe that what you say is true (I normally agree
with your postings) but you would help all of us out if you could provide 
some of the Biblical basis (and scholarly basis) you use as a foundation.
I know this is a lot to ask, but I for one would be interested and I think
others would be, too.
-- 
 
-- Alan                        # Mountain Dew and doughnuts...
   ..!ames!elroy!alan          # because breakfast is the most important meal
   alan@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov     # of the day.