While I disagree with a death penalty for gay relationships (in the same way I would disagree with the death penalty for sex out of wedlock), it is disturbing to see some in our church condoning the gay lifestyle as a product of genetics.  The difference between men and animals is choice.  An animal is the product of its genetics and its environment.  A person is different.  A person can see who his parents are and know how he has been raised and, yet, still make the choice to say that is not how I'm going to be.  The power of choice that God gave us is very useful.

I do believe a strong argument can be made that gay people are "born that way."  The Bible is clear that all of us are born sinners.  But just because I'm born with a certain sinful proclivity (whatever that sin is) doesn't mean I have to be that way.  The Bible says that there are those that have a "form of godliness" but they deny the power thereof.  From such people we are to turn away (2 Timothy 3:5).  I believe Jesus has the power to reach into the lives of these dear gay people and change them.  If your preacher is telling you they can't change, turn away.

I say this because it is what the Bible teaches.  In closing I'll give you a text as quoted from the NIV Bible (for clarity).   Paul says, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolators nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And that is what some of your were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) (emphasis mine).

I can't help but notice the words "that is what some of you were."  They may have been born that way but through the power of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God they were changed into new creatures.  While we need to be loving and forebearing of those who've found themselves trapped in a gay lifestyle, we dare not be condoning of it if we desire to be a people of the Bible.

Pastor Stewart Pepper                                                                                                                                    www.lewisburgchurch.org

 It was shocking to read that the Glendale "church is one of a few Seventh-day [Adventist] churches that openly accepts lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as members, said Ferguson."  Such churches have truly lost their way.

The apostle Paul knew some who were enchained by these sins, but loved them too much not tell them the truth:  "Be not deceived" . . . those who do such things "shall not inherit the kingdom of God."  1 Corinthians 6:9-11.  Paul said, "And such WERE some of you."  He did not advocate accepting such into membership.  If a believer persisted in deliberate, open sin, Paul said "With such a one no not to eat."   Paul knew the truth and deliverance in our Savior's words, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."  It is TRUTH that sets one free, not a lie that says, "You shall not surely die."   It is love that dares to tell the truth.

Homosexuality is clearly an abomination in God's eyes.  The last few verses of Leviticus 18 and many others make this very clear.  "Whatever contradicts God's word, we may be sure proceeds from Satan." Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 56.

"Church members need to fast and pray, striving earnestly to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Not one particle of Sodomitish impurity will escape the wrath of God at the execution of the judgment. Those who do not repent of and forsake all uncleanness will fall with the wicked. Those who become members of the royal family and form God's kingdom in the earth made new, will be saints, not sinners. Isaiah 30:1-3, 8-16."

Our very time is described in Testimonies, volume 5, pages 209 and 210.  We as Seventh-day Adventists must not be among those who "try to throw a cloak over the existing evil, and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent."  We must be God's humble, peculiar people, who truly love and care about souls, who have "a soul anguish, which is expressed in lamentation and weeping, reproofs and warnings. . .those who have a zeal for God's honor and a love for souls will not hold their peace to obtain favor of any. Their righteous souls are vexed day by day with the unholy works and conversation of the unrighteous. They are powerless to stop the rushing torrent of iniquity, and hence they are filled with grief and alarm."

Ellen White testified about some children in families professing the truth, "The sins which characterized the Sodomites exist among them. The parents are responsible, for they have not educated their children to love and obey God."  In the next paragraph she counsels, "Our only safety is to stand as God's peculiar people. We must not yield one inch to the customs and fashions of this degenerate age, but stand in moral independence, making no compromise with its corrupt and idolatrous practices."  Child Guidance 449.

John Trainor

" The difference between men and animals is choice.  An animal is the product of its genetics and its environment."

 Humans are very much like animals is those very aspects:  humans are very much a product of genetics and environment; both over which they have no control for the first and most important years of their lives.\

 Did you have any control over your genes?  Your sex?  If you were born male you have all the hormones and functioning anatomical designs incorporated in that gender--all of which you had nothing to choose.  Except--you are normally attracted to the opposite sex, most likely when you approach your teen years.

Now, believe that most homosexuals can clearly identify when their teen years led them to be attracted to those of the same sex.  Why should those attractions become sinful while yours are normal?  What is "normal" should be defined by the individual, shouldn't it?  How can a heterosexual possibly understand those of the homosexual?  It is so much easier to throw biblical passages and equate all such tendencies as sinful.  Yet in the Bible, they are always supported by base promiscuity and never monogamous relationships.

If homosexuals are monogamous, why is that sinful while heterosexuals can marry, divorce, and remarry without the church's rebuke?  Is adultery less sinful that homosexual monogamy?  Do we choose which parts of the Bible to invoke?  Adultery is prominently mentioned in the Ten, while neither the Decalogue or Jesus ever mention homosexuality.  Is it only the physical intimacy that is forbidden?  It can't be love, as David and Jonathan surely demonstrated love and even physical affection, and he is a paragon of faithfulness and God's favorite.  Was he ever remonstrated or punished for loving Jonathan? 

I think it is always important to consider context.  Homosexual behaviors contribute directly to the spread of AIDS, certainly in this country, and I would suspect also in Uganda.  Africa has been racked by AIDS and any legislation that might curb the spread of this horrid disease must be considered.

I must admit that my knowledge of Ugandan political thought is extremely limited.  However, I would be loath to too quickly align my interests with those of the LGBT community in this country.  When Proposition 8 was passed with the same margin of victory as that of President Obama it was not given the status of “mandate” by homosexuals who had access to a microphone or were leading an advocacy group.  No condemnation has been effectively voiced for the hate directed at those who financially supported Prop. 8.  Instead a great deal of effort has been given to how to circumvent or overturn this amendment to California’s constitution; and this by a state that voted in a higher percentage for then Senator Obama than did the rest of the country.  So, I question the wisdom of most in this community and distrust their judgment regarding conditions in another country.  AIDS in other countries is a death sentence and protection of the larger community may be part of the Ugandan effort.  On the other hand, as I read about the politics in Rwanda in 1994, in Immaculee Ilibagiza’s excellent book, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, I was disgusted to read about the official part played by the Rwandan government in power at that time.  Uganda, a neighboring country, may be participating in a different kind of bigotry.  The important point is opposing evil in the world.  I believe that the GLBT community in this country is on the side of promoting evil more often than not.  Is it possible for such a group to be on the side of opposing evil elsewhere?  Stranger things have happened.

I think Scriptures are for communities to protect and individuals to apply, but only to themselves.  The community can be a place where interpretations can be shared, but hopefully only when this is requested.

The Christian community fought and clarified what is accepted Scripture and what was simply historically significant, but not authoritative.  Ignoring this work and beginning from scratch is both arrogant and willful.  Re-examining how these decisions evolved can be very edifying.  The early church seems not to have been in a hurry to make decisions and seems to have been determined to get things right.

Accepting the 66 books in the Bible means wrestling with all actual words and sentiments contained in them.  There's plenty in there that challenges me and areas where I'm convicted that I must improve by God's grace.  I think every believer will need to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.  I hope that homosexuals can find faith communities that assist them in understanding the teachings of Scripture and then living by their implications.

I know how I read and understand pertinent Scriptures regarding homosexuality.  But, since I'm not homosexual I don't spend much time focusing on these personally.  I would hope that the church could offer compassion to homosexuals without necessarily giving an endorsement to homosexual behaviors.  I hope the church can be clear and consistent with the areas of life in which I struggle while at the same time showing caring and empathy.  God help us as we struggle through these issues.