10 Things Jesus Had to Say about the Sexual Sin Debate

Shane Idleman | Contributor to ChristianHeadlines.com.

My hope is that readers will read the entire article before drawing conclusions. I have nothing but compassion for those trapped in sexual sin. Those who strongly believe in the Bible and God’s will regarding sexual behavior also strongly believe in unconditional love and forgiveness. To say that authentic Christians hate or fear those trapped in the homosexual lifestyle demonstrates a gross misunderstanding of the Christian faith. To “confront in love” simply comes from a desire to honor God and to truly love and care for others. The ability to relate to people on their level, show genuine concern, and love them regardless of their lifestyle is the mark of true Christianity.

In case you don’t continue reading, let me offer some encouragement: if you’re hopeless, depressed, and confused, look to the One who created you. He has the answers. No matter what you have done, you have the ability to turn to Christ and start anew: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

1. WE NEED A REVIVAL OF THE TRUTH.

It’s no surprise that the church, and our nation, desperately need to hear “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” to awaken, convict, and restore. It was not so long ago that we were concerned about “the fall of America.” America cannot fall because she has already fallen. We are now picking up the pieces of a broken nation reflected in our laws, lives, families, and children. America’s moral heartbeat has ceased because we cut off the source of life. We need resuscitation, renewal, and revival of the truth.

2. WE MUST SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE.

When people, groups, denominations, or movements depart from absolute truth, and thus, quench and grieve the Spirit of God, they become mechanical in their approach to Christianity and lose the ability to guide. The Word of God is not in their hearts “like a burning fire” (Jeremiah 20:9), but relative, powerless, and debatable. This is what we see today.

Unfortunately, those who are sounding the alarm are often categorized as irrational, judgmental, bigoted, and intolerant. But how can we warn if we won’t confront, correct if we won’t challenge, and and contend if we won’t question? We must speak the truth in love…the Bible is crystal clear on sexual sin, including homosexuality. 

3. PRAYER IS ESSENTIAL.

Why is there a lack of conviction today? The reason may not be in the pew, but in the pulpit. Much depends on the prayer life of the preacher. Pastors, preachers, and teachers must spend extended time in prayer to be truly effective—God prepares the messenger before we prepare the message. Luther’s motto, “He that has prayed well has studied well,” rings true.

4. WE NEED REPENTENCE.

I’m convinced that the majority of the churches in America are seeking to please the masses rather than convict. Judgment is never mentioned; repentance is rarely sought; and sin is often excused. We want to build a church rather than break a heart; be politically correct rather than biblically correct; coddle and comfort rather than stir and convict. This leaves people confused and deceived because we teach and live a form of Christianity void of repentance…void of truth. 

5. BIBLICAL STANDARDS OF MORALITY ARE STILL VALID TODAY.

The “moral” laws in the Old Testament such as killing, stealing, lying, adultery, sexual immorality, and so on are all valid today. Jesus referred often to the Old Testament, and said that He didn’t come to abolish it, but to fulfill it. Although many of the ceremonial and dietary laws of the Old Testament do not apply today, the moral laws do. They are as significant today as they have been throughout history. For example, Leviticus 20:13 states, “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination….” To suggest that this verse is invalid today is to advocate the dangerous practice of redefining or deleting what God has said. Jesus referred to the Old Testament often in regard to moral behavior.

The consequences of wrong actions may have changed, but the moral implications remain the same. For instance, even though we no longer stone to death those who commit adultery, this does not mean that adultery is acceptable or any less dangerous. Adultery is wrong even though there aren’t legal consequences.

6. WE ARE ALL BORN SINFUL.

Jesus condemned “all” sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and woman when He said, “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications…these defile a man” (Matthew 15:19). Jesus was implying that all sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and a woman is harmful and immoral. The word “fornication” in the Greek is porneia; where the word “pornography” comes from. We cannot say, “But I was born this way,” because we were all born to lie, cheat, lust, and deceive, but this doesn’t make it right…it makes us sinful and in need of a Savior.

7. SILENCE DOES NOT EQUAL APPROVAL.

An argument cannot be based solely on silence. To suggest that Jesus approved of homosexuality simply because He did not use the term “homosexual,” is to imply that He approved of necrophilia, pedophilia, incest, and bestiality. But, of course, we know better.

8. PEOPLE HAVE TURNED AWAY FROM GOD AND FROM DOING GOOD.

Other passage in the New Testament are clear on this issue as well. Romans 1:18-32 and 1 Corinthians 6:1-20 are good places to start. In short, mankind did not see fit to acknowledge God and they suppressed the truth; therefore, God gave them over to a depraved mind—to do those things which are not proper. Homosexual behavior, and sexual sin in general, is comparable with dishonoring the body and turning from God. “The sexual disordering of the human race is a judgment of God for exchanging Him for the creature” (John Piper).

 9. MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN.

Jesus said that since the beginning of creation, God created them male and female in order that they would be joined together and become one flesh. He adds, “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Mark 10:9). Marriage between a man and a woman is God’s plan since creation. No matter how many laws are passed in favor of gay-marriage, it will not change God’s mind. Man often rebels against God; this is nothing new.

10. JESUS OFFERS ABUNDANT LOVE AND FORGIVENESS.

In closing, Jesus would often speak out against sin, but His love and mercy also reached out to those who regretted and hated their condition. Forgiveness is a mark of genuine faith. We should have compassion for those who struggle with same-sex attraction because we all struggle with sin, but at the same time, we should not condone or excuse this type of sin any more than we condone or excuse any other sin.

The Normalization of Pedophilia Made Great Again; New Report Recommends Workshops Instead of Prosecution

Lori Arnold | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Thursday, June 27, 2019

Jackie Hill Perry, who shares her journey from lesbian to Christian poet, writer, and hip-hop artist in her book “Gay Girl Good God,” recently retweeted a TED Talk speaker who normalizes pedophilia.

Perry’s thread started Tuesday when she posted a tweet by Ian Miles Cheong, who wrote, “This is apparently mainstream now. Hosted by TED Talks.” He then pulled out a quote from a presenter. “Pedophilia is an unchangeable sexual orientation.”

The tweet included a link to a May 2018 presentation by Mirjam Heine, a medical student at University of Würzburg in Germany.

Perry’s retweet simply said:

“‘We should accept that pedophilia is a sexual preference that people do not choose.’  I knew this was coming…”

Perry’s tweet comes the same month as the release of a startling new report from the United Kingdom recommending pedophiles should be diverted to “workshops” instead of facing prosecution for viewing child pornography, according to LifeSiteNews. 

According to that report, the “deferred prosecution” program would be “just as effective as a post-conviction sentence, if not more, without the need to use court and prosecution resources.”

Meanwhile, in her TED Talk, Heine likened pedophilia to heterosexuality.

“According to current research pedophilia is an unchangeable sexual orientation just like for example heterosexuality,” she said. “No one chooses to be a pedophile. No one can cease being one. The difference between pedophilia and other sexual orientations is that living out this sexual orientation will end in a disaster.”

She then focused on the issue of feelings, encouraging her audience to change how they feel about pedophiles.

“Right now most of us feel discomfort when we think about the scenario and most of us feel discomfort when we think about pedophiles,” she continued. “But just like pedophiles, we are not responsible for our feelings. We do not choose them. But we are responsible for our actions and we must make a decision. It is in our responsibility to reflect and to overcome our negative feelings about pedophiles and to treat them with the same respect we treat other people with.

“We should accept that pedophiles are people who have not chosen their sexuality and who unlike most of us will never be able to live it out freely if they want to lead an upright life.”

The concept of normalizing pedophilia seemed to strike a nerve among Perry’s followers.

 “Normalizing sin & desensitizing our young people to it is characteristic of our world today. Only those with twisted thinking & twisted theology would agree w/her position,” Annie McGuire (@dailyhisdisc) tweeted.

“As far as theology goes, it’s the position of Orthodox Christianity that humans are born with a sin nature. From this perspective, sin is already *beyond* normalization–it is the universal state of humanity.  So, you can stop worrying about the cultural “normalization of sin”.

Erica later added, “Because, the perspective being shared by this speaker is that we would do well to recognize the reality that some people—through no act of choice—struggle with this particular thing. And, by seeing it this way, we can more effectively help them to not act upon it.”

Collen Pollin (@BriceCollin) responded to Perry, suggesting the need for a softened approach.

“I hurt for those who are reading these replies to your tweet that struggle with pedophilia. The speaker in this video is right—they need a safe place to process, confront, and deal with the cards they were given. not repress their sexual desire in secret and darkness.”

Danielle Carlson (@DanielleCarls0n) took the conversation back to Scripture.

“Jesus said if you lust after a woman in your heart you have committed adultery. I think the same concept applies to pedophiles and pedophilia. Just because it’s a thought, a feeling and a preference doesn’t make it right. You still need help.”