Being Gay: Choice or Genetics?

A few months ago, a young man walked up to me with my cross and asked, "Would it be a bad thing if I'm gay?" This had been the first time I had been asked about this subject on the street and I needed to handle it with extreme care.

I told this young man that I could only tell him what the Bible said about homosexuality. He asked if it said it was bad and he would burn in hell. I told him that it was true that if he looked in 1 Corinthians 6:9 that it does say no homosexual will inherit the kingdom of heaven (The ESV says kingdom of God, but they are interchangeable).

At this point, I was quick to point out the Bible also says that no fornicators, murders, or even liars would enter, either. The young man rightly pointed out that is everyone in the world. Paul points that out in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The command to repent is just as universal: "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).

The fact is we are all born with a sin nature- the types of sin just differs based on the person. While some may have the sin of homosexuality to repent of, others may have the sin of sexual immorality (sex before marriage, adultery) or looking with lust (Matthews 5:27-28). The homosexual and the sexually immoral will find their selves in the same hell (as will liars, thieves and other unrepentant sinners).

All this said, I do not believe being homosexuality is in your genes. While one may have feelings toward the same sex, that does not make them natural. Recently, in Cleveland, there was the story about Anthony Sowell, who alleged murdered several women and buried their bodies on his property. No one would say this is natural. Neither are homosexual thoughts.

You may say to me these are two completely different things- murder and homosexuality, but the Apostle Paul talks about them in the same sentence in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. If this is the way Paul, who Jesus Himself commission to carry His name among the gentiles (Acts 9:15), it is the same way I will deal with it.

Just like any other sin, you must acknowledge your guilt before, apologize for it, and repent (turn from your sin and toward God) before God will take away your sinful nature. It is at this point that God will give you a new heart with new desires (Ezekiel 36:26). This is what God requires of you for salvation (John 3:3).

You may be saying that your feelings are too strong and they have to be natural. That isn't so. Salvation is a supernatural act of God and He will give you a new heart with new desires. I have experienced this myself- things I used to love I now have come to despise.

It will be the same for you- but God wants you to take the first step. I know it will be difficult at first and those desires will still be there, but each time you turn away from them, those desires decrease.

Someone asked me what I would do if I had a son that was gay. I tell him exactly what I said in this article and to the young man I met on the street- that he must repent of his homosexuality. I would also make it clear that God views us all as sinners, not just the homosexual, and we are all in danger of his wrath unless we repent. Anyone who tells you otherwise isn't telling you the truth.

In closing, I believe remaining homosexual is a choice one makes. It is a choice one makes not to repent of that sin (or any other sin). You may say you aren't strong enough to overcome the feelings- you aren't. You need the supernatural power of God- that way He gets all the credit. Just take the first step.