Posted on 12/04/2004 5:17:59 PM PST by Mr. Silverback
Note: The following commentary includes graphic descriptions. This is not suitable for children.
“I’m at my wits’ end,” the young woman wrote. “I’ve asked pastors, friends, parents, God, and message boards this question and still haven’t received an intelligent answer that I can live with. Why are homosexual acts wrong? I’m a Christian and believe in the Bible, but this part always stumps me.”
According to my friend, Dr. J. Budziszewski, author of the excellent new book, Ask Me Anything: Provocative Answers for College Students, disturbing questions like this show that church leaders aren’t providing young people with the whole picture about sexuality. They may be faithfully teaching God’s rules, but when asked why God made these rules, too often they say, “Take two aspirin, and wait for the questions to go away.”
The good news, says Budziszewski, is that we can answer disturbing questions. Where are the answers found? In our creational design.
“People say homosexuality isn’t natural,” the young woman complained in her letter, “but that can’t be true because it’s found among animals.” Budziszewski answers, “But our nature is how God designed us. What’s natural for human beings isn’t whatever you can find some animal doing; it’s whatever fulfills our design. Men and women were plainly designed for each other—not men for men, nor women for women.” Children can be born in no other way.
“But homosexual acts don’t harm anyone,” said the young woman. Budziszewski answers, “The idea that homosexual acts don’t harm anyone isn’t even close to being true; they harm those who perform them at every level. To begin with the most obvious level—the physical—how could it not harm a man to suffer physical trauma because body parts are repeatedly forced into bodily openings that were designed for a radically different function?” And the rates of a long, long list of diseases are also much higher among practicing homosexuals, and contrary to popular belief, this is true for lesbians as well as for “gay” men.
At the emotional level, Budziszewski explains, the damage of homosexual acts is just as grave. God designed the male-female pair to balance each other; by contrast, same-sex mating drives them out of balance. If you want an example, think of the anonymous, no-brakes promiscuity of men who have sex with hundreds, even thousands, of other men.
“And what about spiritual harm?” asks Budziszewski. “In homosexual acts, you’re seeking union with someone who is only your own mirror image, so in a way, you’re still trapped inside yourself. You haven’t experienced the power of marital sexuality to take you beyond the Self; you’re rejecting the challenge of union with someone who is really other. In that way, homosexual acts are less like marital intercourse than like masturbation with another body.”
That’s frank, even startling language, but what’s happened to our culture is startling too. When young people confused by the culture ask questions, they need clear, unvarnished answers to set their thinking straight. That’s why I recommend this great new book Ask Me Anything: Provocative Answers for College Students.
God’s rules for sex are never arbitrary; they are based on how He made us. As Budziszewski rightly says, it’s all in the design.
That was a great story. I, too, have some wonderful homosexual friends. Many are extremely intelligent and talented.
I happen to think this is something hard-wired in the brain, something people are born with. The people I know sort of grew into it during puberty; it wasn't a conscious choice. I don't think we should punish people for pursuing happiness with other willing adults.
I remember once watching a TV episode of Fulton Sheen's "Life is Worth Living". It had to be from the late Fifties or early Sixties.
Anyway, in this episode, Bishop Sheen talks about the role of the mother and the father in helping children understand who God is. He says that the father helps the child to comprehend the omnipotence and justice of God, and the mother helps a child to understand the love and the mercy of God.
I can see this in my four year old. Daddy knows everything. Daddy can fix anything. Daddy is also the one who gets mad if you've been bad. On the other hand, mommy is the one you go to if you're sorry and want to be forgiven. Mommy is also the one you go to if you want to be held.
I think of this Fulton Sheen comment when I hear people say that there's nothing wrong with homosexual couples adopting children.
On the other hand...
When doubts arise, you could earnestly and honestly asked the Lord your questions and trust that he will guide you to answers that will alleviate your doubts and strengthen your faith.
You sounded like the typical leftist apologist.
Sorry if I misjudged your motive.
No sweat.
he was wrong to compare us to terrorist "religions"... we are hardly that..
You faith is admirable but it is faith, not knowledge. If it was knowledge based upon pictures or video or actual verifiable artifacts it wouldn't be faith. It would be knowledge and would have far less value. Humility, which most religions teach, is the basis for accepting something greater than what you can know without proof. It is necessary for faith.
Are you not educated as to the nasty, disgusting habits of homosexual men, including the act of 'fisting' and 'rimming'?
There is something basically abnormal about thinking the orifice you excrete feces is an object of sexual desire and affection.
...don't ya think?
Persuing happiness with another adult is none of my business, but many, certainly not all, are off base when they want to take it into public.
Just because the arugment is made that a certain behaviour is observed in the animal world certainly doesn't mean society should accept folks relieveing themselves on every potted plant at the mall as natural human behaviour also.
If someone chooses behaviour outside the norm of civil society that's their choice, civil and social society certainly has to right to say, "not in my face you don't".
Well, except for the graphic language (I'll keep that handy to use as an appetite suppressant) that is part of the answer he gave her. He made it clear that the physical aspect alone is enough to make it obvious.
Actually, I wrote what I did about the Resurrection because it is as well-established historically as the existence of Julius Caesar. See Josh MCDowell's "More Than a Carpenter" for details.
And that knowledge, that the event certainly happened, is not of any less value than faith.
OK You must be right!!!
Thank you for acknowledging that. So few do. ;-)
Seriously though, I recommend that book. If nothing else, it will give you new insight on how Christians view the Resurrection.
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