2 Cents

In America's continued debate on so called "same sex marriage" and whether or not the church should label homosexual practice as a sin, evangelicals have failed to clearly articulate certain biblical teachings.

One of those biblical teachings has to do with the effects of the fall in Genesis chapter 3 and the entrance of sin into the world.

A common argument brought against those arguing for a biblical view of homosexuality and marriage is that some people are born with same-sex attraction.  They weren't made that way by some outside force or something they did, they were simply "born this way" as Lady Gaga might say.

Proponents of so called "same sex marriage" and homosexuality will then argue something to this effect: If God made them that way, how can it be called a sin?

And this is where our failure to articulate the Bible's teaching comes in - when the jump is made from "they were born that way" to "God made them that way."

Is that true?  Did God really make them that way?  What does the Bible have to say about it?

In Genesis ch. 3 we read about the first human sin.  Adam and Eve listened to the lies of Satan and broke the one commandment God had given them.  That's when sin entered into the world.

And when sin entered the world, the Bible says it affected everything.

Pain in childbirth and marital difficulties come from the entrance of sin. (Gen. 3:16)

Weeds, thorns, and even frustration at work come from the entrance of sin. (Gen. 3:17-19)

And these were just the tip of the iceberg.

All of creation exhibits the negative effects of sin's entrance into the world (See Rom. 8:20-22).  From colds to mosquito bites to natural disasters, it's all the result of sin's entrance into the world.

And not only that, but every human being was affected too.  Now we all have to deal with what the Bible calls "the flesh." (See Rom. 7:18; Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:17)

And that means we all have a proclivity toward sin that we are "born with."  We didn't choose it.  We didn't make ourselves this way.  And yet we still have to say 'NO' to these desires.

For instance, while I was not born with a proclivity toward same-sex attraction, it is very plain to me that I was born with a proclivity toward selfishness - to seek out my own good before and above the good of others.

I think anyone who claims to believe in the Bible would agree that selfishness is a sin.  And yet, I was "born this way."

The point is this: just because we have a "natural" or innate desire to do something does not automatically make it morally right.

In fact, one of the marks of becoming a mature adult is learning to say 'NO' to many of our natural desires, like selfishness.  I think even proponents of so called "same sex marriage" would agree with that.

If evangelicals want to win people to their way of thinking, the ability to articulate this biblical doctrine of the effects of sin's entrance into the world is crucial.

The argument "God made them that way so it can't be a sin," has no biblical evidence and should not be accepted by anyone who reads their Bible and believes what it says is true.