Since our teens are having to contend with lesbian girls making out in the school hallways and the constant onslaught of TV shows & movies, such as Brokeback Mountain, promoting the gay lifestyle we need to say a few words about this issue.
1. We need to say that the gay lifestyle is a sin according to Romans 1:24-27 ; Leviticus 18:22 ; Leviticus 20:13.
2. You need to know that the gay lifestyle is a choice not something you were born with. Even though some boys are more feminine than masculine, and some girls more masculine than other girls, that doesn't mean you are homosexual.
3. You need to know that almost all teens question their sexuality sometimes ;especially now that homosexuality is being promoted in the media, and popular stars such as Oprah are saying it is acceptable.
Just because you have questioning thoughts doesn't mean you are homosexual. In fact satan's battleground is your mind and he will do his best to make you question your feelings and sexuality.
4. Even if you are tempted or attracted by someone of the same sex it doesn't mean you are homosexual. Almost everyone has been attracted to someone they know who is the same sex as themselves.
Satan will use such feelings to try to convince you that you are gay, but don't fall for his lies.
We must resist yielding to sexual temptation until we are married anyway. Whether the temptation is toward the opposite sex or the same sex, we must call upon God to help us, and resist lustful thoughts.
5. Remember that having a thought come to your mind is not sin, that's only temptation.
It's when we yield to that thought or fantasy and make it our own that the temptation becomes sin.
When we yield to temptation and accept it then we are lusting.
There is nothing wrong in being attracted to someone. We are the master of our feelings.
Don't allow your feelings to be your master.
6. You need to know that some teens begin thinking they might be homosexual after being teased, taunted, accused or abused about it.
Some teens react to being teased about homosexuality by rejecting and rebelling against the accusations. Others respond to the taunting by wondering and questioning their own sexuality. "If they think I'm gay maybe I am."
Satan uses such twisted questioning to try and convince the teen it must be true. Often he points them to someone they felt attracted to.
7. Remember, almost all homosexuals think they were born gay, because ever since they began to notice sexual desires they had feelings for someone of their own sex.
This usually stems from an unfulfilled relationship with their father or mother or significant adult in their childhood; or from over-identifying with the parent of the same sex.
Often it's from an overbearing parent-child relationship; but it could also be from a neglected relationship with the adult.
8. In today's world of one parent families, more children are confused ; questioning their sexuality.
That's why God made it clear in scripture and in the tooling of the physical body which sex you are.
That's why God made it impossible for two people of the same sex to have a child.
That's why God allows homosexuals to contract more sexually transmitted diseases such as AID's or HIV.
God loves you too much to let you keep sinning and not set boundaries that try to reach you & teach you.
If you still reject His love, He has no choice but to let you alone like a prodigal son, to ruin yourself. That's what freedom is.
Scripture tells us that sin ends in death.
9. Remember, resisting homosexual temptation is no harder than resisting heterosexual temptation. Both require God's help; prayer; mental/spiritual battle.
Which kind of temptation you face depends on what you have allowed your mind to dwell on; and how you responded to childhood relationships, or neglect, or abuse.
Some have no desire for the opposite sex because there is a blockage from the past which will not permit feelings to come forward.
For others it is just the opposite, they have feelings for the opposite sex but block all feelings for those of their own gender.
10. Remember God has promised to forgive us for any sin if we confess it to Him and repent(turn from it) 1John1:9. Not only does He promise to forgive, but also to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
God has promised to help you if you call out to Him, resist the devil, flee from temptation, and submit to His will.
He loves you so much He came to earth as a man and died for you so you could be restored to a close personal relationship father/son with Him.
The Question of Predestination
Romans 13:29 For whom he did foreknow he did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of His son.
Two words in this verse are a stumbling block to many people. The words Foreknow and predestinate.
Theory 1
God has since eternity foreknown &; predestinated all things that were , are, and will be. That all destiny is predetermined by God for His glory; even whether a person is to be saved or lost.
Such a theory is revolting to the justice, love, ; holiness taught in the rest of scripture.
Theory 2
God foreknows all things past, present &; future ; His foreknowledge insures their certainty, but does not determine the destiny of individuals involved in predestined events.
This theory is more reasonable but still cannot be reconciled with human freedom (freewill) and contingent factors (events may or may not happen depending on other events).
Problem
1. If there is no free will or contingency then the only originating cause is God ; which would mean God is the cause of sin.
2. If we establish that the cause of sin is beyond the decision of the one who commits it , we are removing the responsibility from the individual and placing the responsibility on God.
3. If there is no contingency or freewill then sin & evil are eternal and have no beginning.
Fact
Sin is not eternal. Scripture teaches that God is holy &; without sin & that sin originated after the creation of angelic beings.
Angelic beings also have freewill. Scripture teaches that Lucifer was the originator of sin & that a third of the angelic beings joined in the sin of rebellion &; mutinied against God in heaven.
Fact
1. Man has freewill, he can sever relationships. God made man in His own image which means he was created with freewill.
2. If man was not aware and able to sense things and rationalize, then he would be a nonentity. God cannot relate with a nonentity.
3. If God has willed freewill and choice for man then choice and freewill must be in the control of the chooser.
4. If we are free then we are free to do contrary, rebellious things. The original cause of rebellion is contrary to God's will.
5. God has always wanted and willed good for His creatures. It would be contradictory and unwise of God to will good for a person whom He knew all along would become more evil. Why would God desire for them what He knows will never be?
6. Since our will is free, God's power is not limited just because He will not determine what our choices will be.
7. If individuals were predestined to go to hell then God would be insincere in urging the sinner to repent.
The verse that says "It is not His will that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" would be a lie.
8. If men were predestined to be lost then God would be increasing the guilt of sinners who reject His offer impeaching His own moral character.
9. To foreknow the eternal destiny of an individual and predestinate ones fate is contrary to God's nature of love and justice.God does have a will, and does make choices, but not contrary to His own moral nature.
It is against His will and purpose that any soul should be lost eternally.
Predestined means "to appoint ahead of time with an unchangeable purpose"
From eternity God has appointed (predestined)that men should be like His Son Jesus. Not that some would be saved and others lost.
Scripture does not show examples of people whose spiritual destiny is already determined.
Scripture does show examples of people with a destiny to fulfill within a devine plan. Such people are under the law of constraint until the prediction is fulfilled.
Judas Iccariot : was not forced to remain lost. He was under the law of constraint because of a predicted event. Once the silver was returned to the preist's so they could purchase the potter's field Judas was free to change his fate.
Christlikeness comes only through His Spirit. If it came through predestined or foreknowledge then liberty & freedom is destroyed.
Only His Spirit creating a new man (new birth) by spiritual transformation implanting a righteous nature , can Christlikeness come.
It comes as a result of our choice after being convicted by His Spirit and reasoning with ourselves and God.
Freedom must be created by God or else we are stuck with necessity.
I am sovereign over my destiny and create my own fate.
By His nature within we stop sinning ; practicing sin no longer, because His nature remains within us.
He also promises to transform our bodies to become like His glorious body at the resurrection.
At the cross Jesus took our nature (sinful) upon himself so He could give us His nature.
Even though we remain with the same personality &; temperament we have a new spiritual nature.
Two words in this verse are a stumbling block to many people. The words Foreknow and predestinate.
Theory 1
God has since eternity foreknown &; predestinated all things that were , are, and will be. That all destiny is predetermined by God for His glory; even whether a person is to be saved or lost.
Such a theory is revolting to the justice, love, ; holiness taught in the rest of scripture.
Theory 2
God foreknows all things past, present &; future ; His foreknowledge insures their certainty, but does not determine the destiny of individuals involved in predestined events.
This theory is more reasonable but still cannot be reconciled with human freedom (freewill) and contingent factors (events may or may not happen depending on other events).
Problem
1. If there is no free will or contingency then the only originating cause is God ; which would mean God is the cause of sin.
2. If we establish that the cause of sin is beyond the decision of the one who commits it , we are removing the responsibility from the individual and placing the responsibility on God.
3. If there is no contingency or freewill then sin & evil are eternal and have no beginning.
Fact
Sin is not eternal. Scripture teaches that God is holy &; without sin & that sin originated after the creation of angelic beings.
Angelic beings also have freewill. Scripture teaches that Lucifer was the originator of sin & that a third of the angelic beings joined in the sin of rebellion &; mutinied against God in heaven.
Fact
1. Man has freewill, he can sever relationships. God made man in His own image which means he was created with freewill.
2. If man was not aware and able to sense things and rationalize, then he would be a nonentity. God cannot relate with a nonentity.
3. If God has willed freewill and choice for man then choice and freewill must be in the control of the chooser.
4. If we are free then we are free to do contrary, rebellious things. The original cause of rebellion is contrary to God's will.
5. God has always wanted and willed good for His creatures. It would be contradictory and unwise of God to will good for a person whom He knew all along would become more evil. Why would God desire for them what He knows will never be?
6. Since our will is free, God's power is not limited just because He will not determine what our choices will be.
7. If individuals were predestined to go to hell then God would be insincere in urging the sinner to repent.
The verse that says "It is not His will that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" would be a lie.
8. If men were predestined to be lost then God would be increasing the guilt of sinners who reject His offer impeaching His own moral character.
9. To foreknow the eternal destiny of an individual and predestinate ones fate is contrary to God's nature of love and justice.God does have a will, and does make choices, but not contrary to His own moral nature.
It is against His will and purpose that any soul should be lost eternally.
Predestined means "to appoint ahead of time with an unchangeable purpose"
From eternity God has appointed (predestined)that men should be like His Son Jesus. Not that some would be saved and others lost.
Scripture does not show examples of people whose spiritual destiny is already determined.
Scripture does show examples of people with a destiny to fulfill within a devine plan. Such people are under the law of constraint until the prediction is fulfilled.
Judas Iccariot : was not forced to remain lost. He was under the law of constraint because of a predicted event. Once the silver was returned to the preist's so they could purchase the potter's field Judas was free to change his fate.
Christlikeness comes only through His Spirit. If it came through predestined or foreknowledge then liberty & freedom is destroyed.
Only His Spirit creating a new man (new birth) by spiritual transformation implanting a righteous nature , can Christlikeness come.
It comes as a result of our choice after being convicted by His Spirit and reasoning with ourselves and God.
Freedom must be created by God or else we are stuck with necessity.
I am sovereign over my destiny and create my own fate.
By His nature within we stop sinning ; practicing sin no longer, because His nature remains within us.
He also promises to transform our bodies to become like His glorious body at the resurrection.
At the cross Jesus took our nature (sinful) upon himself so He could give us His nature.
Even though we remain with the same personality &; temperament we have a new spiritual nature.
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