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Before I dig into God’s Word on the subject of homosexuality, I want to consider what homosexuals say are the causes of their behavior. It is important to know how homosexuals justify their lifestyle which God’s Word condemns as sin. The only way to gain victory over any sin is not to make excuses for the sin nor to rationalize it’s legitimacy. These posts are intended to help each reader whether he/she is homosexual or heterosexual.

Some homosexuals say they are born homosexuals. They claim their sexual orientation is genetic or they are constitutionally homosexual. There have been two studies that homosexuals use to substantiate this view. The first study by Swaab and Hofman studied a cell group in the hypothalamus, which is a gland that is important both hormonally and sexually. They studied both homosexuals and heterosexuals. They compared the volume of a particular cell in the glands of both homosexuals and heterosexuals and found different volumes in each. They studied 34 subjects and only 10 were homosexuals.

Simon LeVay studied a different cell group in the hypothalamus of 41 subjects of whom only 19 were homosexuals and also found a difference between homosexuals and heterosexuals. “LeVay cautioned that his results should be considered speculative. Moreover, the results of his study do not allow one to decide if the changes in the hypothalamus are the cause or consequences of an individual’s sexual orientation”[1] These studies were inconclusive for a number of reasons. The two studies only examined 29 homosexuals. “This is hardly the kind of sample from which to make global announcements.”[2] In both studies an important group of subjects were presumed to be heterosexuals. All the homosexual subjects had AIDS which may have affected the differences between the heterosexuals and homosexuals. “Thus we suggest that it goes far beyond the scientific evidence we presently possess to conclude that homosexuality is constitutional.”[3]

Other homosexuals claim that their homosexuality is a learned behavior. “There is some evidence that family pathology at least contributes to homosexuality. About 67% percent of male homosexuals come from a home where the mother is a domineering man-hater and the father is weak, detached and often uninvolved in the family. However, it seems clear that this family structure is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for homosexuality.”[4] The conclusion is that no one necessarily has to become homosexual because of genetic influences or family environment.

Scripture and Homosexuality

In response to the many negative commits from the blog, McLaren’s blog mentioned in the beginning of this paper, McLaren posted a second blog on January 30, 2006 defending his view.

Please be assured that as a pastor and as someone who loves and seeks to follow   the Bible, I am aware of Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, Romans 1, 1 Corinthians         6:9, and related texts. Believe me, I have read them and prayerfully pondered them, and     have read extensively on all the many sides of the issue. I understand that for many        people, these verses end all dialogue and people like me must seem horribly stupid not to             see what’s there so clearly to them. I wish they could understand that some of us encounter additional levels of complexity when we try honestly and faithfully to face   these texts.[5]

In my next post, I examine how homosexuals interpret these pertinent Scriptures. There are pro-homosexual Bible teachers who claim that the Word of God does not condemn homosexuality such as Walter Barnett and John J. McNeill. McNeill writes: “Nowhere in the Scripture is there a clear condemnation of a loving sexual relationship between two gay persons.”[6]