No. 276 - TAKING A STAND AGAINST HOMOSEXUALITY

No. 276
Jim Davidson...NEWSPAPER COLUMN
TAKING A STAND AGAINST HOMOSEXUALITY

Several weeks ago I received a four page letter from a reader in Ukiah, California strongly urging me to take a stand against the sinful practice of homosexuality. Ironically John began his letter by saying, “When I first ran across your column in our paper I rejected, ignored and dismissed (passed over) your comments as being too preachy, too dogmatic and moralistic, strait laced, and you being a dedicated prude. Now I’ve gotten to where I read your every article and appreciate and agree with the messages you put forth.”
After a few comments about a previous column titled “Do you have a purpose in life” he continues, “Jim, I’d like to hit on a sinister subject that undoubtedly requires attention and some kind of remedial action. I’m talking about the “icky-sticky” subject of homosexuality. Everyone’s seen in a relatively few years, from rare, mostly unnoticed beginnings, to a growing insidious movement, then more lately in decisive surges until it now pervades our society in a way never thought possible before.” He continues with some more explicit comments, including quoting a number of passages from the Bible, but I think you get the picture.
Well, John, I heard you loud and clear and here are my feelings on the subject of homosexuality. In the past I have been very careful to stay away from this controversial topic because I respect the rights of every human being to conduct their own personal affairs in the manner they choose. After all, as individuals we must ultimately live with the consequences of the decisions we make in life. I do my best not to meddle beyond telling a person traveling down the road of life that there is a bridge out up ahead but I can’t keep them from continuing on down the road, if that’s what they choose to do..
The reason I am willing to make an exception here is because of something I saw just recently on television. In one of those “Hollywood Minute” features a television producer was bragging about the shows they had produced in the past that had a gay lifestyle theme. He then said, “We have come out of the closet and now we are going to promote our lifestyle with a number of other programs.” For me, this is where he crossed the line. It’s one thing for a person or group of persons to have a different sexual orientation in their private lives but it’s something else when they begin to promote it as a natural and normal lifestyle.
Here is where I am coming from. Regardless of what textbooks and other people say about homosexuality being an alternate lifestyle, God calls it sin. In Leviticus 18:22 we find these words, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” At this point I want to be very clear. I am not attacking the worth and value of any person who is a homosexual. It is not the person but the behavior that God does not approve of. I love all people and this includes those who have a different sexual orientation than I have.
While addressing this subject I just thought of something humorous. In the Bible there is an account of where God destroyed the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. After instructing righteous Lot to flee with his family, as they were doing so his wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. One day, when they told this story in Sunday School one little boy said, “That’s nothing, my mama looked back and turned into a telephone pole.”
Suffice it to say, I don’t know the answer to the long standing question about whether the gay and lesbian lifestyle is a genetic disposition or a personal choice. You must decide this important issue for yourself. I just know that God calls it sin and I had rather be on His side than some movie producer who is advocating it to make a lot of money. (Jim Davidson is a motivational speaker and syndicated columnist. You may contact him at 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034.)