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Dirk Helmling - The Refugeand 29:11
3/8/2005, 11:20:04 p.m.
I wish the forum last night would have lasted much longer so we could have addressed many of the questions we never had time to get to.
How convenient would it be if I could sum up my thoughts about homosexuality in one sentence? Better yet, how cool would it be if I could sum up God’s thoughts in one verse? That’d be great, but it’s not very realistic.
This topic of homosexuality is no new thing. It’s been around as long as history has been recorded. However, it’s suddenly become a pretty hot topic on the campus of MHC. I guess some of the bigger questions that are being raised are ‘how should Christians respond to this issue?’, ‘can you be a Christian and a practicing homosexual at the same time?’, ‘if God doesn’t like it, then why did He make me this way?’. There are other questions that pertain to this very sensitive topic that quite frankly are very difficult to answer.
And I don’t claim to have all the answers. I’m not even sure I have most of the answers. There are a few things I’m certain of though. And those are the things I’d like to share. Whether you’re a practicing homosexual, a closet homosexual, someone struggling with your sexual orientation, a heterosexual or someone in between, God has a word for you.
First, you should know that above all else, God loves you…just like you are. That’s why He sent Jesus to die for you. Not because you’re good or because you’re worthy. But because He loves you and He longs to have a relationship with you. So, before we go any farther, make sure you understand that. If that foundation is not laid, the rest of our discussion will be fruitless and frustrating.
The second thing you need to keep in mind is that because God loves us and because He is a great Daddy, He’s set up some boundaries for us. Some parameters if you will. That’s what His Word (the Bible) is. Contrary to popular opinion, they’re not rules to keep us from having fun, they’re guidelines to follow so that we don’t hurt ourselves. Plain and simple, God loves us to much to leave us on our own, so He set up some guidelines for us to follow so that we could live the greatest lives possible.
Third, you’ve got to remember that by nature we’re all sinful people. Without exception. We were all born with a sinful nature and with a heart bent on doing what grieves God’s heart. Whether it’s lying or lusting, cheating or stealing, being greedy or self centered, most of us would have to admit that our parents didn’t teach us how to be like that. We just emerged into this person who, by nature, is self centered. That’s called the sinful nature. By nature, we desire things that are contrary to God’s plan for our lives.
For many of us, our sexual desires aren’t much different. We were born with sexual desires that seem to conflict with what is both 'natural' and 'biblically and morally right'. And just because we have those desires, doesn’t mean God’s approving of those desires. Taking into account God’s Word and the guidelines we’ve already mentioned, it just affirms the fact that we’re born with a sinful nature. My fear is many people are arguing that because someone’s homosexual desires seem to be innate and not simply by choice, God must approve of those desires. That logic couldn’t be more flawed and farther from the truth.
Fourth, you need to know that God totally understands how you feel. Jesus Himself knows what it’s like to be tempted. He knows what it’s like to suffer. He knows what it’s like to have longings unfulfilled. He was there. He IS there. Wherever you are, He’s right there with you, longing to take your hand and walk with you through it. You may or may not find another human being willing and able to walk with you through this often times lonely and frustrating journey, but the Creator of your heart longs to be there for you.
If you don’t get anything else, get this...God Himself is passionately pursuing you and will stop at nothing. He longs for you to want Him, to need Him, to turn to Him through all of this. Because He knows better than anyone what you’re going through and how you’re feeling. And not just that, He knows what is best for you. Ultimately best!
Lastly, I want you to know there is help. There are people who can help you through your struggles and people who’ve lived homosexual lives who have been delivered and set free. There are many others who have made the difficult decision to abstain from sexual impurity even though their flesh longs to be satisfied with sexual relations with a same sex partner.
There are ministries that are completely devoted to helping those who struggle. If you’re even remotely interested in working through these issues and trying to see it from God’s perspective, or if you’d like more info or help relating to homosexuality, go to www.exodusglobalalliance.org or www.pureintimacy.org
I know many of you reading this disagree with me and perhaps even dislike me. I can live with that. Having said that though, I want you to know I want to be your friend. I really do. But if I died tomorrow in a plane crash, I wouldn't want to look back at my life and regret not having shared the Truth with you. Even if that meant you didn't like me for sharing it.
My prayer through all of this has been and will continue to be that people will come to know Jesus...because He really is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one can get to God apart from going through Him.
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