Alternative Life-Styles—Does God Approve?

“WHEN will I know my sexual preference?” So wrote a 13-year-old girl to a teenage advice column. Her question echoes the attitude of many who feel that people are free to pursue any sexual life-style they choose.

Some people may genuinely struggle with confusion regarding their sexual feelings. Others openly embrace alternative life-styles such as homosexuality. Still others boldly act and dress as one of the opposite sex. Some undergo sex-change operations. There are even individuals who argue that adults should be allowed to have carnal relations with children.

Are sexual practices and gender really a matter of personal choice? What does God’s Word have to say on these issues?

“Male and Female He Created Them”

According to the Bible book of Genesis, God himself created the differences between males and females. The record states: “God proceeded to create the man in his image . . . Male and female he created them. Further, God blessed them and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it.’—Genesis 1:27, 28.

God created humans with free will and provided opportunities for them to enjoy their freedom. (Psalm 115:16) Entrusted with the responsibility of caring for all other living things on earth, man was even allowed to choose appropriate names for them. (Genesis 2:19) However, when it came to issues of sexuality, God gave specific guidelines.—Genesis 2:24.

Because of Adam’s disobedience, we have all inherited imperfection. We must therefore battle fleshly weaknesses and strong desires that are out of harmony with God’s original purpose. Thus, in the laws given through Moses, God specified sexual practices that were abhorrent to him—namely, adultery, incest, homosexuality, and bestiality. (Leviticus 18:6-23) God also specifically forbade portraying oneself as a member of the opposite sex for immoral purposes. (Deuteronomy 22:5) The Bible consistently teaches that the only sexual relations approved by God are with a member of the opposite sex within the marriage arrangement. (Genesis 20:1-5, 14; 39:7-9; Proverbs 5:15-19; Hebrews 13:4)
Are such standards reasonable?
Who Chooses?

The Bible likens man’s position before his Creator to clay in the hands of a potter. It says: “O man, who, then, really are you to be answering back to God? Shall the thing molded say to him that molded it, ‘Why did you make me this way?’” (Romans 9:20) It is obvious from the way God made men and women that it is natural for them to be sexually attracted to one another. Sexual attraction to a member of the same sex, to an animal, or to a child is therefore unnatural.—Romans 1:26, 27, 32.

For this reason, people who pursue such unnatural sexual inclinations find themselves contending with God. The Bible contains this warning: “Woe to the one that has contended with his Former, as an earthenware fragment with the other earthenware fragments of the ground! Should the clay say to its former: ‘What do you make?’” (Isaiah 45:9) Surely it is reasonable for the Maker of humans to give direction on sexual matters. Is it not also reasonable that humans should follow such direction?

Getting Possession of One’s Own Vessel

The Bible writer Paul used a similar illustration when giving guidance to Christians on sexual behavior. He said: “Each one of you should know how to get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in covetous sexual appetite.” (1 Thessalonians 4:4, 5) Paul compares a person’s body to a vessel. Getting possession of that vessel means bringing one’s thoughts and desires into harmony with God’s moral laws.

Admittedly, this may not be easy. One who has experienced childhood sexual abuse, one who had parents or other caretakers who provided a distorted example of masculinity or femininity, or one who had exposure to pornography at an early age may understandably have difficulties. Genetic, hormonal, and psychological factors may also play a role in distorting sexual feelings. It is comforting to know, however, that our Creator can provide help and support to those who need it.—Psalm 33:20; Hebrews 4:16.

Allow the Great Potter to Mold You

A piece of clay has to be centered on the potter’s wheel before the potter can begin to mold and shape it. Then, as the wheel rotates, the potter skillfully applies gentle pressure with his fingers to work the clay into a desirable shape. Before we can be molded into a desirable person in God’s eyes, we need to be centered on the timeless principles and laws of God. Once we start making the effort, God lovingly applies gentle pressure through the Bible, his holy spirit, and the Christian brotherhood. A person then begins to feel and experience God’s personal care in his life.

Of course, we must develop confidence in the Creator’s wisdom, trusting that he knows what is best for us. This trust is developed through prayer and an earnest study of the Bible. A person who approaches the issue of improper sexual feelings with that frame of mind becomes moldable in the hands of the Creator. First Peter 5:6, 7 says: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; while you throw all your anxiety upon him, because he cares for you.”

Regularly reading the Bible acquaints us with a long line of faithful servants of God who contended with fleshly desires but never gave up. How encouraging these examples are! We can sense the frustration the apostle Paul felt with himself at times when he exclaimed: “Miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death?” Yet, he also directed us to the main source of help when he answered his own question: “Thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”—Romans 7:24, 25.

A Force for Change

We can also avail ourselves of God’s holy spirit. This is a powerful force for change. Holy spirit helps us to “put away the old personality” and “put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) Our loving heavenly Father never fails to respond when sincere requests are made for holy spirit to assist with making this change. Jesus assures us that the Father will “give holy spirit to those asking him.” (Luke 11:13) Persistence in prayer is necessary, though, as indicated by his words: “Keep on asking, and it will be given you.” (Matthew 7:7) This would be especially true when bringing powerful sexual desires under control.

God also helps us by means of the true Christian brotherhood, which is made up of people from all backgrounds. Some Christians in the first-century congregation at Corinth were previously in the category of “men kept for unnatural purposes” and “men who lie with men.” Yet, they changed. The blood of Christ cleansed them, and they became acceptable in God’s sight. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) Some today need to make similar changes. And such ones can receive support in their fight against wrong desires from the Christian congregation.

Does this mean that becoming a Christian will automatically cure a person of all deviant desires or confusion over gender? Not necessarily. Persistent application of Bible principles has enabled some to live normal lives. Even so, these Christians often have had to wage a day-to-day struggle against wrong desires. Such ones thus serve God despite having a figurative “thorn in the flesh.” (2 Corinthians 12:7) As long as they continue to battle wrong inclinations and maintain righteous conduct, God views them as faithful servants and as clean in his eyes. They can look forward to the time in the future when all mankind “will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.”—Romans 8:21.

In the meantime, all those who wish to please God must adhere to his righteous standards. True Christians choose to serve God—not follow their own selfish inclinations. Those who humbly submit to God’s will in all areas of life will be rewarded with eternal joy and happiness.—Psalm 128:1; John 17:3.

Another instance of calling on *other* people to make sacrifices in action.

I dont think ANYONE has ever chosen to be gay

Why would they?

No one chooses to be crippled, insane or rearded yet people are born with those afflictions as well

it’s all part of a plan

its our job to figure out how to make verything work according to it

I would say to destroy and cut up or cut off something God has created or given you would be a sin.

But if you are a man, and you are wanting a doctor to take a scalpel and cut off your balls, you are just plain crazy. IMO.

Sex reassignment surgery has only become possible in recent years –before that time it has not been an issue of the church because the possibility never existed.

Medical science has advanced and along the way we have also learned a great deal more about human sexuality, and that the male/female divide is not as clear as we would like to think. In fact the incidence of gender ambiguity is actually much higher than previously realized.

As well, we now know that gender is more than genitalia–a person is male or female physically, hormonally, mentally, emotionally –and probably in other ways as well. So it is quite possible for a person to be a mix of genders rather male or female completely "all the way through."

So, the issue of what one "is" is sometimes not an easy thing to discern.

From the stories of many now coming out, we know that at birth doctors routinely made the decision based on external observation as to which way to surgically intervene in an infants gender "correction." As time when on, it became clear to the young person growing up that they were trapped inside the body of the opposite sex.

In other cases, no early childhood gender assignment surgery needed to be performed, but the young person grew up aware that they were not internally aligned with the outward appearance.

Is this homosexuality? I don’t think this is the case. What has been reported in a pervasive sense that one is not living in the gender appropriate body in a way that affects all areas of life and not just sexual attraction.

Those who have undergone gender reassignment surgery have reported that they now feel relieved, at peace, and "right."

In the regard, the surgery appears to me nothing more than correct surgery for any congenital problem.

A person who has to undergo this journey, as well as family and loved ones, need much support and compassion. By the way, the passages in Leviticus refer to those who priests offering sacrifice and not to the general population.

As Christians, we look forward to a time and realm in which there are no divisions according to male or female, Jew or Greek, free or slave, and so on. For this reason, I feel that we need to focus less on this issue as a possible catchment area for sin and more about how we can be loving people who care for each other with compassion and faithfulness.