Homosexuality%20and%20the%20Righteousness%20of%20God

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Why talk about homosexuality?

• Defining social issue of this generation
• Most of us know someone affected
• Christians have often responded without grace

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What does homosexuality mean?

• Attraction
• Identity
• Behavior

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Where does homosexual attraction come from?

• Nature, nurture, or choices?

Dr. Marc Breedlove (Mich State Univ) These
findings give us proof for what we theoretically
know to be the case that sexual experience can
alter the structure of the brain, just as genes
can alter it. It is possible that differences in
sexual behavior cause, rather than are caused by,
differences in brain structure.
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Where does homosexual attraction come from?

• Nature, nurture, or choices?

Simon LeVay I did not prove that homosexuality
is genetic, or find a genetic cause for being
gay. I didnt show that gay men are born that
way, the most common mistake people make in
interpreting my work. Nor did I locate a gay
center in the brain.
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Where does homosexual attraction come from?

• Nature, nurture, or choices?

• Bailey and Pillard twins study
• If one twin is gay...
• identical twins both gay 52
• fraternal twins both gay 22

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Where does homosexual attraction come from?

• Nature, nurture, or choices?
• Potentially all 3

Nearly 70 of gender confused boys do not have a
father at home
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Where does homosexual attraction come from?

• Nature, nurture, or choices?
• Potentially all 3

46 of homosexual men report being molested 90
of lesbian women had experienced some form of
abuse as a child
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Where does homosexual attraction come from?

• Nature, nurture, or choices?
• Potentially all 3
• This is not what really matters

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Is homosexuality sin?
Leviticus 1822 You shall not lie with a male as
one lies with a female it is an abomination.
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Is homosexuality sin?
Leviticus 2013 If there is a man who lies with a
male as those who lie with a woman, both of them
have committed a detestable act they shall
surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is
upon them.
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Is homosexuality sin?
1 Corinthians 69-10 ...Do not be deceived
neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor
thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom
of God.
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Is homosexuality sin?
Romans 126-27 For this reason God gave them over
to degrading passions for their women exchanged
the natural function for that which is unnatural,
and in the same way also the men abandoned the
natural function of the woman and burned in their
desire toward one another, men with men
committing indecent acts and receiving in their
own persons the due penalty of their error.
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Is homosexuality sin?

• Behavior, not attraction, is the issue
• Homosexual behavior is clearly sin

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Is homosexual behavior worse than other sins?

• Absolutely not!
• 1 Cor 6 with stealing, getting drunk, coveting
• Rom 1 middle of the pack
• Jesus saved wrath for self-righteous
• You are not a 2nd class Christian
• This struggle does not define you

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Why must we tell people that homosexual behavior
is sin?

• To lead them to the gospel
• To help them escape the consequences

1 Corinthians 618 Flee immorality. Every other
sin that a man commits is outside the body, but
the immoral man sins against his own body.
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Why must we tell people that homosexual behavior
is sin?

• To lead them to the gospel
• To help them escape the consequences
• 78 of homosexuals have had an STD
• 1.5x higher risk of depression
• 3x higher risk of suicide
• avg life expectancy 20-30 years shorter!

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Can homosexual behavior change?
1 Corinthians 611 ...nor effeminate, nor
homosexuals... Such were some of you but you
were washed, but you were sanctified, but you
were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
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Can homosexual behavior change?
1 Corinthians 1013 No temptation has overtaken
you but such as is common to man and God is
faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted
beyond what you are able, but with the temptation
will provide the way of escape also, so that you
will be able to endure it.
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Can homosexual orientation change?

• Yes, with caveats

Philippians 21213 So then, my beloved, just as
you have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out
your salvation with fear and trembling for it is
God who is at work in you, both to will and to
work for His good pleasure.
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Can homosexual orientation change?

• Yes, with caveats
• may not include heterosexual desires

the opposite of homosexuality is not
heterosexuality, its holiness
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Can homosexual orientation change?

• Yes, with caveats
• may not include heterosexual desires
• vigilance will be required in this life

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What if you struggle with homosexuality?

• Remember
• behavior, not temptation, is sin
• this struggle does not define you
• there is hope change is possible
• Do
• flee tempting people situations
• be accountable to someone safe
• get expert help

exodusinternational.org
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What if someone you love struggles with or
embraces homosexuality?

• Relax
• Educate yourself
• exodusinternational.org
• 101 Frequently Asked Questions about
  Homosexuality by Mike Haley
• Speak the truth in grace
• Pray

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