Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Sexual Ethics”
Our Bible verse for today: “I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh.” Galatians 5:16-17 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “We do not have to act on our desires.”
The truth is that we all have strong desires we are repeatedly tempted to act on. Some of those desires run deep and last a lifetime. Homosexual desire can certainly fall into that category.
As we learned yesterday from the writing of Pastor Sam Allberry, if you struggle with same-sex attraction that is something about you, but it is not you. If you are a Christian then same-sex attraction is not your core identity and it does not have to define, dominate, or drive your life. Just as with any other unbiblical desire we have, the Bible instructs us to control it by living under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
That’s often not the answer we want. It’s seldom easy, but it is always right. Sam Allbery is just one of many sincere Christians who struggle with same-sex attraction but who have made the decision to bring that desire, right along with all other desires, under the control and dominion of the Holy Spirit.
In his book, “Love into Light” pastor Peter Hubbard tells the story of the great Christian writer C.S. Lewis who lived most of his life as a celibate single man. (He was married for a very brief time later in life, but after a short marriage his wife suddenly and tragically died.) There’s no indication that C.S. Lewis had any homosexual tendencies himself, but within his university community of professors and writers in England during the time of World War Two, there were many homosexuals whom Lewis knew and was friends with.
Lewis gave much thought to how a Christian with same-sex attractions could live a life that was Biblically obedient and which brought honor and glory to Christ. He concluded that homosexual desire needed to be handled exactly the same as any other desire of the flesh that was contrary to the expressed will of God. He wrote, “The physical satisfaction of homosexual desire is sin.” But then he drew a parallel between the ongoing struggle to gain control over same-sex desires, with the man born blind in John 9. Lewis concluded that any unnatural desire, any physical disability, any sickness, or any struggle with sin, can become a vehicle through which that person shines for Jesus in the way in which they deal with it. He said that our struggle with any of those issues “must be offered up to God.”
Yes same-sex attraction is real and deep and difficult. But so are many other things we struggle with in this life and in all of it, we can honor and glorify and magnify God in how we deal with it.
How does a person with a strong same-sex attraction accomplish this? Tomorrow we will discuss the issue of singleness. Many people (not just those with a same-sex attractions), live single and celibate lives. What does the Bible have to say about this?
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 