Born This Way

The debate between Bible-believing Christians and homosexuals hinges on the claim that "We're born this way." The notion is "God made us this way, so it's good. Who are you to question it?" And the typical response of the Bible-believing Christian, "No, you're not born that way; it's a choice." So, who's right?

This gets a little difficult because, as it turns out, both are right and both are wrong.

Modern psychology tells us that they're not actually born that way, but they're certainly born with the propensity. Science has failed in its attempts to prove that it's genetic. Just look at identical twins. Having the same DNA, if one is genetically homosexual, the other must be. But it doesn't work that way. So science has to disagree (whether or not they admit it) and psychology has to do a little dance (a "propensity" even though it's not a birth condition) and it can't be said they are born that way. So the Christian hoots his victory ... too soon.

Because, as it turns out, the Bible indicates that we are not sinners because we sin, but that we sin because we are sinners. Paul wrote that "in Adam all die" (1 Cor 15:22). He wrote, "Through one man sin entered into the world" (Rom 5:12) so that "death reigned" (Rom 5:14) so that "through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men" (Rom 5:18). It's called the doctrine of Original Sin and it says that humans are born sinners. We do it by nature--sin nature. David wrote, "The wicked are estranged from the womb; these who speak lies go astray from birth." (Psa 58:3). Well, now, look at that! We are all "born that way".

It is a mistake to assign to the sinning homosexual (or fornicator or idolater or adulterer or thief or the covetous or the drunkards or revilers or swindlers, etc.) the simple claim, "It's a choice", without recognizing the birth condition. What is the birth condition? Dead in sin (Eph 2:1), hostile toward God (Rom 8:7), blinded by Satan (2 Cor 4:4). God pronounced, "The intent of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Gen 8:21). So all humans are born that way. And all humans choose sin (Rom 3:23) because it is in the nature of the human being.

Is it a birth condition? All humans are sinners from birth. In that sense it is a birth condition. Is it a choice? All sinners choose to sin. In that sense what they do with their birth condition is their choice.

Bible-believing Christian, if you don't see this, you'll be working to change the outward appearance when God looks on the heart. You'll be working toward a reformed exterior when what is needed is death. What is needed is to be crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20), to be buried with Him in baptism to be freed from sin (Rom 6:1-7). What is needed is a new heart predicated on faith in Christ alone. Moralizing won't make that happen. So "God made us this way, so it's good" is a mistake. But don't forget that you too were born with a sin nature and you too go astray from birth and the only really effective choice that needs to be stressed is the one where they choose to put their faith in Christ. Which, as it turns out, is also true for us.