Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Why Are Christians So Obsessed with Homosexuality?

I've spent a lot of time on university campuses lately. I get to interact with students and hear what's on their minds when it comes to questions of faith in general and Christianity in particular. Nowadays, I expect that someone will raise the issue of homosexuality, particularly the debate over homosexual marriage as we talk. It's pretty much guaranteed to come up and many times it forms the whole of my discussion with the students. Because this is such a hot-button issue, I wanted to offer a couple of thoughts on the subject that could hopefully help others when their conversations shift this way.


Let's start off with one objection that I hear all the time: "Why are you Christians so obsessed with homosexuality?" You can see that even online, the question gets asked a lot. Just look here, here, and here for some examples. It is a common refrain I hear from students when I've been talking with them about the state of marriage.

Why are evangelical Christians so obsessed with homosexual acts? Is it because, as some have claimed, that Christians are secretly suppressing their own homosexual attractions? Well, no. Such an assertion is ridiculous on its face. The Gallup organization estimates that 3.5% of the U.S. population identifies as homosexual. Even if we double that stat, there would only be 7% of evangelicals who would make up the constituency that hold to this supposed secret homosexual desire. Such a group could never hold the political clout to pass the traditional marriage laws that passed with solid majorities in 32 states and the federal Defense of Marriage act. This is simply a fallacy (known as tu quoue) that ignores the biological and moral arguments that Christians offer about the topic. But then why are Christians so obsessed with homosexuality?

Here's the answer: we aren't.

You may be shocked at reading that. You may disagree and think I'm dishonest. You may say that all you hear is Christians opposing the right for same sex couples to marry. But believe me, the last thing I want to do when I walk onto a college campus is to talk about homosexuality. It's not in the forefront of my mind. I'd much rather talk about Jesus, what salvation by grace really means, how God wants all people to renounce their sin whatever that may be and follow Him because He has a better way.

Those are the things I would like to talk about, and that's what Christianity has done historically. We've reached out to the poor and homeless; most churches have ministries that help these people within their community. We have looked to help orphans and sent people on missionary projects. We work to help folks overcome alcohol addiction or drug abuse. All these areas have a long, vibrant history within Christianity which is reflected both in the many efforts and ministries of the local church and para-church organizations like The Salvation Army. How many churches have a homosexuality ministry? They are nearly non-existent.

Actually it is other people who keep bringing up the issue of homosexuality. Activists want to change the definition of marriage, and they want to require Christian photographers and florists to service homosexual weddings. They sue Christian psychotherapists must not only take on homosexual patients, but affirm their actions.  They even want to indoctrinate children by rewriting state educational standards so that homosexuality is taught from the first grade. There's been a concerted effort to consciously and determinedly change our society so that homosexuality will appear as benign even though the science shows that it is nothing of the sort. It should be no surprise, then, that Christians and parents would respond.

When I'm at a university, the floor is wide open for questions. People can come up and ask anything, and they immediately latch onto homosexuality and continue to ask about it over and over. They then ask, "Why are you guys so obsessed with this subject?" I tell them I will give them an answer, but I want to know what their motivation was in asking the question in the first place. I will say, "I think that the changes that we're being asked to make as a society are serious and they require thought and care before  we simply jump into them. But realize that YOU are asking this question and I'm responding to it. You brought up the issue of homosexuality, not me."

Christianity didn't initiate this conflict. We should as thoughtful people should respond to the demands that others are making, but we've been playing defense from the start. Homosexuality wasn't even on most Christians' radar before the 1980's when the media began covering it in response to the AIDS epidemic. Then, after the assembly  175 homosexual activists into a forum they themselves dubbed " the War Conference", activists Kirk and Madsen produced a published manifesto with the goal to "desensitize, jam, and convert" the American public on the issue of homosexuality. That turned into a book which further pushed what Dr. Charles W. Socarides  called a plan "chilling in its diabolism, chilling in its hatred of straight America, chilling in its advocacy of lack of conscience, chilling in its brutal and naked lust not for sex but for power."

So, no, Christians are not obsessed with homosexuality. Homosexual activists and the media are.

10 comments:

  1. I beg to differ. I have known a lot Christians over the years and those who describe themselves as serious about their faith are obsessed with homosexuality - not me asking them about it but them posting about it constantly on social media forums and talking in apocalyptic terms about it. Even if one accepts that those who are gay should be celibate, my experience of being around Christian communities isn't one of support and love but holding at arms length whilst trying to avoid engagement.

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  2. I'm going to push back here, Mike. I don't know who specifically you are talking about so I can't comment on those people directly. There may be one or two who are overly-focused on this one issue. My post is about Christians in the culture in general, as that charge is usually made of the group.

    However, I do want you to think about one thing. Before WWII started, the English were obsessed with the possibility of Germans bombing them. It even began to paralyze the society--so much so that the Government created those "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters to try and encourage people to continue with their live. The English had good reason, though, to be obsessed. They know that they were in danger of attack and it could be devastating. With Christian photographers being sued, Christian bakers having their businesses crippled, Christian Innkeepers having to close their doors, and Christian adoption agencies being forced to not operate in states because if conscience, I think there is a reason you're seeing so much talk about it right now. it's pretty hard not to think about when your livelihood continues to be threatened.

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  3. Hey Lenny!
    Speaking as one who is a believer, yet still dealing with same sex attraction (homosexuality) I can honestly say I have only once felt unwanted in a Christian meeting, most believers are very interested in hearing my testimony, and how to witness to the homosexual community with love.

    I believe there are special promises for those who struggle with homosexual desires YET DO NOT GIVE IN to them, Our Lord Jesus I believe was speaking to that very subject in Matthew 19:11-12 When He said" “”Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”” Matthew 19:11-12 I choose to live like a eunuch, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, knowing that I will never have children or a wife, I claim the promise to eunuch's found in Isaiah 56:4-5 "“For this is what the LORD says: I will bless those eunuchs who keep my Sabbath days holy and who choose to do what pleases me and commit their lives to me. I will give them—within the walls of my house— a memorial and a name far greater than sons and daughters could give. For the name I give them is an everlasting one. It will never disappear!”

    God bless you my dear brother in Christ!

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  4. Thanks so much, Rob. I really appreciate you!

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  5. Beautiful Rob. Christ bless you.

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  6. When ever the issue comes up I ask myself if I'm treating the issue with the same passion as heterosexual sin. I think there are instances when evangelicals will focus on another's sin instead of our own.

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  7. When ever the issue comes up I ask myself if I'm treating the issue with the same passion as heterosexual sin. I think there are instances when evangelicals will focus on another's sin instead of our own.

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  8. Thank you for your perspective on this very thorny subject. I, too, have chosen to reject any inclination toward SSA, which easily could have de-railed my life and sent me off as a teenager on a tragic trajectory of obsession in order to justify myself...which I observe has happened to many, especially inside the church. Since then I have increasingly experienced what I would call the blind-siding of the church by a "gay agenda", both from the inside and the outside. We have been falling all over ourselves to either get on board and be seen as compassionate and accepting of LGBTQ lifestyles--or vociferously stand our ground and be counted as hostile to them. It is a no-win war that escalates the more we fight about it in the public forum. It is this in-house battle that is the most difficult for me, because, of course, we cannot (or should not) expect those *outside* the family of God to understand, let alone embrace, our understanding of what is God-honouring biblical sexual conduct--but we should find rest and support within the church family. If we *in-house* end up agreeing with the world's assessment of what is good and right (on almost any question of morality), heaven help us all. But--we're hell-bent on wanting to be considered both "correct" and "compassionate" in the public eye. So that explains (IMHO) why Christians are so in-your-face-obsessed with airing views on the subject, conflicting though they are.

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    1. Thanks for your comments, Helen. I believe it is equally wrong to pull hard to either side. All people are made in the image of God and must be seen first as human beings, then secondly in their actions and associations. I've written on it in this post: http://apologetics-notes.comereason.org/2017/02/the-problem-of-living-in-crotch-driven.html

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  9. Yes, exactly! In fact, I have been wondering lately why anyone would want his/her sexuality to be the main identifying feature/life-organizing principle/issue they constantly present to the world and obsess on. Thanks for directing me to that other article. (I'm thrilled to have found your blog btw!)

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