It was indicated to me that my original argument regarding this matter was on a basis on personal desire rather than the truth. It is rather ironic that a heterosexual Christian would campaign for homosexuality to be acceptable. But I am just tired of the oppositions' accusations of persecution. I am tired of hearing about homosexuals leaving the church because they are told that they are an abomination.
Imagine: a twelve year old child has realized in the last few days that they have homosexual tendencies. They go to church on Sunday, and some stranger is on the alter preaching that those who feel the tendencies he has felt are an abomination. To compliment this, his parents and everybody in the church applaud these teachings. His parents have just completely unnerved him. But he must tell somebody; he needs to talk about it! So he reveals the secret to his friend.
The next day, the boy goes to school and finds that his friend is giving him the cold shoulder. To expand this problem, people are suddenly calling him names and bullying him. The church calls him an abomination, his parents applaud in agreement. His friends are too young to understand this issue at all, so they decide to neglect it and handle it negatively. This child has no refuge at home, church, school, or with friends. He commits suicide. This happens an average of 400 times every year. (Source)
Certainly, no Christian, nor anybody could be in favor of such a scenario. Yet it continues to happen because we display one-dimensional ignorance toward this issue. It happens because we display such unyielding passion in this issue, to a point where the onlooker might think that the Bible is just a book of sex laws.
I do not deny that Leviticus is clear in regard to homosexual behavior. But I reject the typical Christian approach to this issue. A young homosexual should not become a community issue, a victim, or be regarded as rebellious and sinful. It is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus was tempted for an entire month. To declare that temptation is sinful is tantamount to declaring that Jesus was a sinner. It becomes a sin only when you act on those temptations.
Homosexuality, especially in prepubescent youth needs to be handled with delicacy, not by way of a preacher screaming "Abomination!" nor by way an adamant homosexual rights proponent. Children do not need to merge into the political issues of their personal sexuality. I cannot imagine a scenario in which a 12 year old preaching that they have 'Gay Pride' on Facebook would yield positive results. While I would prefer this (or anything) to the scenario that ends in a child committing suicide, I believe in idealism. I will not yield to the lesser of two evils.
Neither the typical preachers nor the typical homosexual rights proponents are qualified to handle this issue. I know how strongly the homosexual community will oppose the following sentence, but: people have emerged from homosexuality and merged into the heterosexual community with amazing results. This is so strongly discouraged because people are so sensitive to this issue. The logic of the homosexual proponent toward being cured is, "Do not try it, it doesn't work!"
This principle, if universally adopted, would effectively destroy all worldly progress and humanity would cease to exist after the next generation (nobody would try to be fruitful and multiply - they would just assume that it doesn't work!). The 'don't try it, it doesn't work' philosophy is extremely harmful for several reasons.
It is harmful because it, in fact, does work. (Source) To discourage people from the truth on a basis of your personal bias can only cause more bias. Bias is negativity, and negativity is harmful.
Okay, it works. But some of us do not want it to work! We like being the way we are!
That is good and dandy. Stay the way you are. But I must insist that you do not encourage others to be the way you are on the basis that you enjoy it. Children do not need so many external sources telling them what is acceptable. This is a parenting matter, and I assert that nobody aside from parents has any right to tell a parent how to do what they do.
But the premise of this article is not to encourage homosexuals to seek therapy, nor to tell them that they are sinners or that they are immoral. This article is specifically written for the parents who may not know how to handle the issue of homosexuality when it arises.
To conclude, I give the parents a list of DO's and DON'T's:
DO: Talk with your young child about this issue. Let them know that whatever urges they feel, there is nothing wrong with them.
DO: Ensure that you are versed in the issue of homosexuality and know the symptoms. If you discuss their social life with them, pay close attention to ensure that nothing is amiss.
DO: If and when this issue arises, monitor their internet access lest they fall victim to false logic such as 'Don't try it, it doesn't work.'
DO: Show excessive love in situations external to this issue.
DO: Your research.
DON'T: Applaud when your preacher calls homosexuality an abomination. After that service, talk to your child and assure them that no person is an abomination.
DON'T: Be intimidated by the 'Gay Pride' campaign.
DON'T: Tell anybody! This is not a community issue. I bring special attention to this: do not tell your child's friend's parents!
DON'T: Succumb to ignorance or anger. Do not make comments that are reflective of your personal, underlying bias against homosexuality (should you have one).
DON'T: Assume that it is a phase, a rebellious act, or a cry for attention. More often than not, it is a real child with real emotions. Grant them innocence until proven guilty.
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