Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 10/30/2011

Question
What is the cause of homosexuality?
Many people don't choose to be homosexual. I know the root cause is sin, but on a higher level what causes one to become homosexual?

Thanks for your response,
Lexor

Answer
Hi Lexor,
  Thank you for your good question.  I will try to briefly answer what causes homosexuality?

  The Bible says that homosexuality is a serious sin that stems for uncontrolled lust.  Homosexuality,(called sodomy), adultery, fornication are all collectively condemned by God in both the Old and New Testaments.  With God,  homosexuality is a product of lust and sin in the same is in adultery and fornication.   The homosexual explains he has not choice that he was born that way.   If we apply the same reasoning to adultery and fornication it sheds some light on the cause of sexual sin.  God says that man is born with a sinful nature that he inherited from Adam and Eve.   That nature, called the carnal nature, has a bent towards sin.   If one yields to their carnal nature and lets it control their lives then they will sin because it is their nature.    Logically, you can say the adulterer and the fornicator were born that way also.  Homosexuality seen in this light is no different from the other sexual sins.

  All sin, whether sexual or not is the result of a choice.    A man or woman chooses to participate in sinful behavior.   Based on God’s condemnation of these sexual sins, society has seen this behavior as destructive and has attached a stigma to it.   In other words, being taught that these things are wrong people consciences acted to restrain them from these activities to some degree.   However, today sexual sins of all kinds are clearly condoned and promoted in our society.   With the restriction the Bible places on sexual sins ignored and ridiculed, the conscience of many people today is seared and they do not see anything wrong with it.    Basically, with society now promoting and condoning this behavior there is little prohibition against it.    

  In theological terms, God’s law has been ignored and not accepted and with a law against it these sins flourish.   Think what would happen if the law was changed and murder would not longer be against the law?     So what causes homosexuality?   God’s answer is yielding to the temptation that is caused by lust.

  The homosexual society counters and says they have no choice they were born this way.   A better explanation is that the grew up in an environment that did not teach proper moral values.    Growing up in a dysfunctional home that did not teach moral values, set a true example of love and family relationships,  or set a proper example for a stable successful relationships would not prepare a child to deal with the sinful desires they surely will have.   Further, growing up in a society that belittles morals, and ridicules belief in God and His standards for living could lead a child or adult towards accepting a promiscuous attitude that would lead towards homosexuality and all other sexual sins.    Other factors could contribute would be a child growing up without proper discipline which would result in a rebellious spirit and rejection of morals and any restrains on their behavior.   Child abuse is certainly conducive toward all kinds of problems including deviate sexual behavior.

  In our public schools today, the agenda of the homosexual society is being perpetrated on children in the earliest ages.   Homosexual behavior is seen as simply and “alternate” life style that is supposedly normal and acceptable.   Children in the early grades of school are being urged to choose with life style the wish to live with not prohibition against homosexuality.    Further, homosexuality in youth today has become in the “vogue” and many think it is “cool” to choose this life style.   Also a factor in influencing this behavior among children is peer pressure.     

  Science also contributes to the deception that homosexual behavior is inherited in their genes.  For example may site a study done by Dr. Michael Bailey of Northwestern University who examined 110 identical twins and found that there was a 52% probably that if one twin was homosexual the other would be also.   He concluded then that it was a matter of genetics and many people are presupposed towards homosexuality.   However, he failed to address the fact that in only 52% of the twins with one being homosexual the other was not.    If it was genetic then why was 48% not homosexual?    Further, are not most twins normally raised together in the same environment?   Environmental influence on one would also be on the other also.  So why did only 52% of twins with one homosexual sibling become homosexual.   This shows that choice was probably the reason and not genetics.

  Another element that is adding to the acceptance and growth of homosexuality in our society is that many Protestant denominations now openly condone this behavior and even ordain them to their ministries to their churches.  This includes Lutherans, United Methodists, Moravians, Presbyterians, and other smaller groups.   Baptists stand out has no allowing practicing homosexuals to be members of their churches or ministers.  Others who take the biblical position include the Assemblies of God, Nazarenes, Adventists, CRCNA, United Pentecostal, Evangelical Presbyterians, and Presbyterians Church in America.   The other “Christian” groups vary in their positions, but mostly accept homosexuality as acceptable.   Plainly having these churches deny God plainly stated word and condone homosexuality adds to the problem.

  It should also be considered that sins of all kinds start small and grow into greater sins.   A bank robber, for example, does not start out robbing banks, but most likely stealing small things.   There comes a time when the thief is not satisfied with stealing small things and goes on to steal more and more expensive items until it becomes a life style and an obsession.    For some sexual promiscuity may start with normal sexual activity that in time does not fully satisfy and thus they go on toward different and more exciting sexuality activity.   Certainly, pornography is the result of seeking greater sexual gratification.   In other words, a choice to commit a small sin can lead one down a path to greater and greater sins.   For many doing something that is “forbidden” is stimulating and provocative and excites the senses.

  For the true Bible believing Christian the matter is simple.   God condemns sodomy as a gross sin and it is clear what He thinks of the practice:

  It is an abomination (Lev. 18:22)
  It bore the death penalty in the O.T. dispensation (Lev. 20:13; Rom. 1:32).
  It defiles the land (Lev. 18:25).
  It is the product of a morally reprobate mind (Rom. 1:26-28).
  It is worthy of the judgment of eternal fire (Jude 7).
  It can be forgiven and cleansed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God (1 Co. 6:9-11).

  In conclusion it must be emphatically stated that God forgives sin, all and any sin if the person will repent which means turn from their sins.   Paul confirmed this in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

  “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”  (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

  Please note that Paul said “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”    Any person who believes and submits themselves to God,  and turns from their sinful behavior God can save them and cleanse them from their sins.    

  There are many reasons that people choose the homosexual life style,  and some may not be included in this brief response,  but what every the reason for their bad choice, God’s always,  when He condemns and warns of the consequences of sinful and destructive behavior, offers grace and mercy to those who will accept it.

  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”  (John 3:16-17)