why are some people so bent out of shape about homosexuality?

© copyright James N. Watkins. All rights reserved.
From www.jameswatkins.com; hosted by GospelCom.net

Here's my theory for your consideration

(Adapted from The Why Files. Order at amazon.com.)

Have you seen GodHatesFags.com? Yikes! What hatred! What condemnation!

And, here's the worst part--it's sponsored by a church! Yep, those picketers with the signs "God hates fags" and "Burn in hell Matthew Shepherd" call themselves Christians. (Check out my sites entitled God hates godhatesfags.com and Gay bashing is not "Christian")

But, why does God (and many of those who profess to follow Him) seem so bent out of shape about homosexual behavior? Here's my theory for your consideration.

God's very image is expressed in the marriage relationship between a man and woman.

In the creation story, "God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them." I believe that God's character and personality are so wonderfully complex that he had to make two different genders to express his "image." Male and femaleness together reflect various aspects of an incredibly complex Being.

If we visualize God as a triangle, Figure 1 illustrates how both genders are necessary to fully express God's character. Divorce is one way to disfigure the image of God (Figure 2).

God's very image is distorted in a union between the same sexes.

Jesus seems to say that there are several possible reasons that people may not have a normal relations with the opposite sex: "Some are born without the ability to marry and some are disabled by men and some refuse to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 19:12 The Living Bible). There may be biochemical reasons for a homosexual orientation or environmental causes such as neglect or sexual abuse. For this reason, the Bible doesn't condemn one for his or her sexual orientation.

Perhaps God gets so bent out of shape over homosexual behavior because his very image is bent out of shape. (See Figure 3.)

The Bible is also clear, though, that divorce or homosexual acts are not unforgivable sins. And they are not the only sins the Bible condemns. (Hate and gossiping are also addressed in strong terms.) God loves each and everyone and wants each relationship to express his character of love.

There are many other complex issues that surround divorce and homosexual behavior. I've only address two issues, but two that I believe are crucial: God's very image is expressed in the marriage relationship between a man and woman and God's very image is distorted in a union between the same sexes. That's why, not only is God's image bent out of shape, but millions of human lives as well.

At least it's something to think about. And contrary to hateful Web sites, God loves you whether you're straight, gay, bisexual, transgendered, etc. etc. etc.

Copyright © 1999 James N. Watkins. All rights reserved.

Related sites

A Biblical Perspective on Human Sexuality

Gay bashing is not "Christian"

Top Ten reasons I'm not divorcing my wife
Comments

Iv been deep studing the bible text and read your own site, but was concerned to find you still feel gay acts are all sinful as the bibl;e dosn't say they are, it says sex outside of love is wrong....so gay love is not sinful in the least doctorwho@bushinternet.com (December 2003).

It's, admittedly, a controversial subject and open to various interpretations. In my Bible study, I find Scripture forbidding homosexual behavior both explicitly and by implication:

Specific prohibitions:
Leviticus 18:22
Leviticus 20:13
Romans 1:24, 26, 27
1 Corinthians 6:9

Implied prohibitions:
Genesis 19:5-7
Judges 19:22-23

I find nothing in Scripture to support the premise that the "bible doesn't say they are [wrong]; it says sex outside of love is wrong....so gay love is not sinful in the least."

Can you direct me to Scriptures that support that premise?

I hope my site does make clear that God loves the homosexual person, but is not pleased with his/her homosexual behavior (just as He loves the heterosexual person, but is not pleased with adultery . . . or any other sins that damage relationships with God and others).

Again, thanks for writing. I'll look forward to hearing back from you.

I was a religious person and begin to question religion nowdays and its beliefs. I'm beginning to question the bible which is something based on since christ. The world has modernised by far because people have modernised. Who knows god more than likely modernised the world in which we live. How do religious leaders know that god hates gays because of a bible based on up to 2 thousand years ago?

Thanks for writing. You raise some good questions.

The Bible itself claims that God does not change (Psalm 102:27, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8) and Jesus claims that His laws do not change either (Matthew 5:17-19). With that in mind, it appears to me that God has not modernized His laws or standards over the centuries.

My son is gay not that I approved of it initially but have educated myself about it. Couldn't it well be that god has changed his thoughts of gay people like the world has. My son is a very intelligent, decent, respectful and civilised person who does no harm to anyone but only on the conscience of very narrow-minded religious leaders. It's more than likely religious leaders are putting words into gods mouth. You detest homosexuality but you don't even detest paedophile priests which is an absolutely hidious abuse of innocent children traumatised for life. What's worse is the church attempts to conceal their paedophile priets behaviour from becoming exposed to the media. You're all a bunch of hypocrites.

Actually, you can find one of my columns speaking out against pedophile priests at Jim Shorts on Issues.

God loves everyone equally!

Absolutely! That's why you'll find another article called God hates godhatesfags.com. And I argue that gay bashing is not "Christian" in another column

People nowdays have distanced themselves from religion but still maintain their strong belief in god as religion as we know is stuck on the beliefs of the dark ages and not representing gods current thoughts. adrian74@ipimus.com.au (November 12, 2003)

Again, Jesus points out that God's laws do not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Homosexual behavior is still not a part of God's design for His creation (Romans 1:18-32).

But God's design is for all people to love each other with respect and dignity: to love their neighbor as themselves (Matthew 22:34-40). It is sin to treat anyone otherwise.

I am so sorry if your son has been treated in any other way than lovingly by those who claim the name of "Christian."

And, again, thanks for writing.

I read your article describing what you feel about why God is against homosexual relationships - because they distort the image of God. Thank you very much for speaking so lovingly yet truthfully about a controversial subject. I think it is easily misunderstood that Christians speak about the person rather than their behavior, but you have made it clear that the behavior of homosexuality is wrong without labelling the person an unloved and unloveable person. Thank you Mr. Watkins. I look forward to reading more of what God has laid on your heart. Your sister in Christ, Tmorgan93@aol.com (July 10, 2000)



I wanted to write to say thank you for the articles on homosexuality and same sex unions and gay orientation. There is so much confusion because of lack of communication between the culture and the church that the definition of "homosexual" is so twisted. I wanted to thank you for your response to this issue as a whole. Thank you. adonailover@yahoo.com (July 2002).