By: Michael Francisco

11 March 2004 Homosexuals Can Change: Christians should seize upon homosexuals who change their sexual orientation.

Conservative Christians are losing the debate about gay "marriage." Several unfounded assertions of the pro-homosexual activists go unquestioned and tilt the playing field. The most vital piece of conventional wisdom, the myth that homosexuals cannot change but are born that way, radically alters the public policy debate. If they can't change, homosexuals would be facing discrimination in the same way that racial minorities once did. The argument for extending rights is the lynchpin of the gay "marriage." But all of this is premised on the assumption that homosexuals are that way in their very essence, and they can niether chose to be gay, nor chose to be straight. This myth could not be further from the truth.

As Christians, all to often, the legal debate about civil rights for homosexuals operates from fundamental assumptions that go against Biblical teachings. In the current debate over gay marriage, this means that Christians, in order to win the debate, need to call attention to the assumption that homosexuals cannot change their 'sexual orientation.' If it is granted that homosexuals cannot change their behavior, then making political arguments based on the idea that this behavior is morally wrong becomes all but impossible. Christians must guard against adopting secular assumptions and beliefs about this issue. While some may be predisposed to engage in homosexual activity the facts prove that people in this lifestyle can - and do - change. It may not be easy, but they can leave this lifestyle which the scriptures declare sinful.

Very seldom do you see people write about homosexual behavior instead it is treated as if being gay is just as legitimate as being short or tall, man or woman, black or white. Everyone assumes homosexuals are people with a queer "orientation" that cannot be changed, it is part of who they are, people are born gay. This fundamental belief about homosexuality goes against the Biblical teaching about homosexuality. It is precisely because homosexuals are granted the unquestionably legitimacy of their behavior that the Supreme Court in Lawrence could concoct a constitutional protection for this "liberty." Blogger Tom Sylvester of www.marriagemovemnt.com provides a good example giving tacit support for homosexual behavior. He wrote, "committed gay and lesbian couples ought to have those legal protections and benefits as a simple matter of fairness." This would be true, if homosexual behavior were innate and not fundamentally malleable.

To see how unwilling people are to question homosexual behavior, let's review some of the more popular arguments used to counter gay marriage. Many conservative groups argue against gay marriage while assuming that homosexuals cannot change. For example, the argument from tradition correctly notes that marriage has traditionally been defined as a union between one man and one woman. This argument only carries weight for those who have high respect for capital "T" Tradition, and increasingly, people are abandoning any reliance on things merely because they are old, or traditional.

Others point out utilitarian problems with same sex marriage. There are studies about the effect on adopted children in same sex marriage, and the higher percentage of infidelity among same sex couples. These arguments may indeed be true, but they don't go far enough. What will supporters of marriage be left with when new studies are produced showing how beneficial to society homosexuals are? Using a utilitarian calculus to maintain traditional marriage will only work until new studies are released to support gay marriage. Even in principle, utilitarian considerations are no reason to preserve marriage forever - these types of arguments are only valid as long as their supporting evidence remains strong.

Both of these types of arguments, common at places like The National Review (LINK), The Marriage Debate, and Family Values Blog, avoid making any moral claim about homosexual behavior. As Christians, we may agree that same sex marriage violates tradition, and that it would be harmful to society, but Christians should also challenge the validity of homosexual behavior. The Bible clearly demonstrates God's condemnation of homosexual behavior. Most notably in Romans 1:26-27 Paul says:

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. (NAS)

Many other passages in the scriptures, both Old and New Testament, show that homosexual behavior falls outside of God's design for our lives.

As Christians might expect, many who live in the homosexual lifestyle eventually come to change and leave that lifestyle. This is perhaps the greatest kept secret about homosexuality - that homosexuals often change, and return to healthy heterosexual lives. Gays of religious and non-religious persuasion often come to change, casting off their gay lifestyle for a heterosexual lifestyle.

For Christians there are organizations such as Exodus International making the strong case that Christians should encourage homosexuals to change their behavior. "EXODUS upholds heterosexuality as God's creative intent for humanity, and subsequently views homosexual expression as outside of God's will. EXODUS cites homosexual tendencies as one of many disorders that beset fallen humanity." This organization recognizes that many people struggle, finding it almost insurmountable to leave the homosexual lifestyle, and hence many find help and fellow kinship with others undergoing the difficult transition out of homosexuality.

There are also secular organizations dedicated to demonstrating that homosexuals can change their lifestyle, in essence changing their sexual orientation. The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (See the www.narth.com ) provides extensive documentation from scientific journals that study homosexuals who change. The psychologist who published key reports in the 1970s documenting homosexuality as a diagnosable condition has changed, and now believes that homosexuals can change.

In the broad culture war, the homosexual activists are pushing for acceptance, even to the point of now advocating legally enforced acceptance and equality. This acceptance does not fit with the widely available data from individuals in the homosexual lifestyle who evidently were not unchangeably stuck with their sexual orientation. The 'gay gene' arguments have long ago fallen by the wayside for want of evidence. Even so, those pushing for homosexual equality recognize how vital it is that people view homosexuals as unchangeably queer. They portray homosexuality as something akin to race. Unlike race, homosexuality is not an unchangeable aspect of someone's essence. Christians should remember that homosexuality is a sinful lifestyle, one that Christians should encourage people to leave behind.

There are two implications of this truth. First, Christians should be confident in their stance against gay marriage. Homosexual orientation is not a fundamental part of human nature, it is a sinful lifestyle that should not be encouraged and legally protected. Second, as Evangel Society Jeremy Rein points out, Christians should be careful not to condemn and ignore homosexuals. Rather, we are called to love all, including those who are embracing a sinful lifestyle.