God made me homosexual
Those who assert the compatibility of their homosexuality with biblical morality claim that their condition is due to nature, not nurture. They want others to believe that their homosexuality is a matter of genetics.
Biblical Response
This book is designed to deal with arguments for homosexuality that are supposedly derived from the Bible, and we have dealt with the passages that are concerned with this topic. While an in-depth consideration of the scientific data on this topic is far beyond the scope of this book, we do have two responses to make. First, the data is inconclusive to prove that a predisposition to homosexuality is genetic—it simply has not been proven. And secondly, even if homosexuality were due to one’s nature, caused by the way one is made, this says nothing about the moral acceptability of the practice.
Those who assert that homosexuality is simply a matter of genetics must deal with the fact that there is a vast difference between disposition and necessity. That is, even if we were to grant the argument that genetics in some way is relevant to homosexual desire or behavior, it is a long stretch to move from being predisposed to homosexuality and finding homosexual behavior necessary. Even societies that reject Christian standards do not accept this kind of thinking: saying a person is “predisposed” to murder is not a valid excuse for anyone to murder someone. Every human being can claim some kind of “disposition” to one sin or another; the fact remains that God holds men accountable for their actions, even when that involves fighting against the “lusts of the flesh.” The Lord Jesus did not accept as a valid excuse for lusting after a woman: “Men are predisposed to lust. We are made that way.” Jesus taught that we are to battle the lusts of the flesh:
You have heard that it was said, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY”; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:28–30)
Surely the Lord’s words speak of a battle against lust and desire, but there is no room given for excuses based upon “predisposition.” While we all have those sins to which our constitution makes us more vulnerable (pride, arrogance, lust, and greed, to name a few), this never gives us an excuse, nor does it release us from the wrath of God against that sin. So even if we grant some kind of predisposition, whether genetic or contextual, such a predisposition would not excuse the desires or the activity.
All of us were born as descendants of Adam and are sinners. Our natural inclination—predisposition, if the term is preferred—is to sin; we sin because we are sinners. However, this natural bent to sin does not free us from the responsibility of—or the guilt from—the sins we commit. So, even if we were to grant some type of “nature over nurture” proclivity toward homosexuality, it does nothing to establish the acceptability of the practice and does everything to show responsibility.22
But there is truly no reason to grant the genetic argument in the first place.23 Many in the homosexual movement are realizing that such an apologetic is actually detrimental to their cause, though they at first embraced inconclusive studies as if they were the final word on the matter. God surely created us as we are. As the psalmist said, “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13 NRSV). But to assert that God made us in such a way that we must of necessity live in a manner that dishonors Him goes directly against biblical teaching.
White, J. R., & Niell, J. D. (2002). The Same Sex Controversy: Defending and Clarifying the Bible’s Message about Homosexuality (pp. 176–178). Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.
But there is truly no reason to grant the genetic argument in the first place.23 Many in the homosexual movement are realizing that such an apologetic is actually detrimental to their cause, though they at first embraced inconclusive studies as if they were the final word on the matter. God surely created us as we are. As the psalmist said, “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13 NRSV). But to assert that God made us in such a way that we must of necessity live in a manner that dishonors Him goes directly against biblical teaching.
White, J. R., & Niell, J. D. (2002). The Same Sex Controversy: Defending and Clarifying the Bible’s Message about Homosexuality (pp. 176–178). Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.
