Abounding Grace

Pastor Ed Taylor: Temptation is not a sin. Even having emotions and feelings aren't always sinful emotions and feelings as you resist them and submit yourself to Jesus. You see in Him, there is a way of escape. And I acknowledge to you, having served many people in this arena, that those feelings that you're having are real. They're not inspired by God, but they're real.

And they don't, those feelings don't make you a bad person. They don't make you a defective person. They simply are being revealed to you right now to show you that God loves you, and He cares for you, and He's revealing these things in your life. Temptation is not sin, and that applies across the board. No temptation has overtaken you. For believers, that's a promise. And in the power of God, we can say no.

Guest (Male): Well, maybe you're one of the many who are attracted to those of the same sex, and you wonder if you were born this way. Is it a sin to get involved in a homosexual relationship? The world will tell you it's fine and perfectly acceptable. Today on Abounding Grace, we'll take you to the word for answers. After all, the Bible should guide our lives and behavior, not the culture.

We realize this is a very sensitive issue for many, and our intention is not to beat you over the head with the Bible, but rather lovingly explain what God has to say and help you in whatever way we can. Here's our teacher, Pastor Ed Taylor, in 1 Samuel 18.

Pastor Ed Taylor: At this point, there will be some going, "Wait a minute, Pastor Ed, I've seen all the research. I've done the Googling. And I just believe, isn't a person born that way?" You'll be surprised by my answer. My answer to you to that question is, "Yes." Yes, a person is born that way, but not in the way that you think.

He's not born that way, or she's not born that way, with no hope or no desire to change. The Bible says that every single one of us was born in sin. Every single one of us began living our lives with a proclivity toward sin. It wasn't until God interrupted that, at whatever age, that you and I began to live our lives as born-again believers.

So in one sense, yes, the answer is those that are in the homosexual lifestyle have chosen that as the path of their life, were born in that. However, it's not a genetic predisposition that is unchangeable like your identity, like your being born a male or a female. I understand how this is tied together with transvestitism and transgenderism, but listen, you are born a male, and you are born a female.

And even if you change your outward appearance and have surgical changes done to your body, you still take blood from your veins and test it with DNA, you will come out as a male. Why? Not because I'm a scientist or I have a degree in those things. The Bible says in the early stages of Genesis that God created them male and female. The Bible says that. And so no matter what you do to wrestle with the reality of your feelings, the Bible always trumps that. It's not in our genetics. It is not something that can't be reversed or changed.

As it's been said and I quote, "A person's psychosexual identity is not written unlearned in the genetic code or the hormonal system or the nervous system at birth," says Dr. John W. Money, a professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Masters and Johnson, two of the most widely known authorities in the field of human sexual behavior, had said it more simply and I quote, "The genetic theory of homosexuality has been generally discarded today, although in our culture, you would think just the opposite is taking place because of the type of publicity and popularity these types of statements get in our mainstream media today."

The Bible says that you and I were born in sin, all of us. That you and I were conditioned in that sin. And while homosexuality would not be an area that you may have dealt with in your life, all of us can look back and see the proclivity to sinful behavior in our life at one point or another, some kind of sin, some kind of issue.

The sin of homosexuality is serious immorality, according to the Bible, and brings those that practice it under the direct judgment of God, as those in Sodom and Gomorrah experienced. According to Ezekiel chapter 16, there were many sins going on in Sodom and Gomorrah. Abominations, corruption, iniquity, pride, fullness of food, abundance of idleness, committing abomination, pride, haughtiness. They all contributed to its spiritual erosion. What happens when a culture, what happens when a country has it comfort and ease? They don't look to God. They look to themselves when everything's going well. And when you and I look to ourselves, we're only going to find sinful behaviors.

Now, 1 Samuel chapter 18 is one of those passages that some within the homosexual community, some of the more radical ones, will come and try to use 1 Samuel 18, this relationship, this friendship between Jonathan and David as some kind of biblical proof that God approves of homosexuality. And here it is in chapter 18. I'll draw your attention to verse 1 if you would.

"It was so, when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day and would not let him go home to his father's house anymore. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his armor, even to his sword, bow, and his belt."

Turn over to chapter 20 with me, verse 41. Chapter 20, verse 41. This is the development of the argument in favor of homosexuality from the scriptures. It says, "As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground and bowed down three times, and they kissed one another and they wept together, but David more so."

Turn over to 2 Samuel chapter 1. 2 Samuel chapter 1, and we'll look at one more passage of scripture that's used within this weak and false argument. Chapter 1 of 2 Samuel, verse 26. It says, "I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women."

And it's with these various scriptures that a false argument is developed to establish that the relationship and the friendship between David and Jonathan was of a homosexual nature. This relationship has been misunderstood and misused for years, and this is how the argument lines up.

According to chapter 18 verse 3, Jonathan loved David. Then in chapter 18 verse 4, Jonathan stripped in David's presence. Then in chapter 20 verse 41, they kiss one another with great emotion. Then 2 Samuel, chapter 1, when their relationship is described, it's described as better than that of the love of a woman.

Now, let's walk through this together. First of all, there's no indication whatsoever anywhere in the scripture that David and Jonathan were homosexual. Never any indication, never any statement, never any hint. Quite the opposite. There was strong evidence that they are not, and I'll list them for you.

Number one: In 2 Samuel chapter 11, we learn that David was very attracted to Bathsheba, having sexual relations with her, marrying her, and having a child by her. In fact, by the number of wives that David had, he was clearly heterosexual in the practice of his life.

Number two: David's love for Jonathan was not a sexual love. You need to read that into the text. Instead, it was a love of friendship. What we would say in the Greek, a phileo relationship. A friendship. It's extremely common in the Eastern cultures for heterosexual men to express love and affection toward one another.

I experienced this for the very first time when we began taking trips to Cairo, and the men were very affectionate there. They were very happy that we had come to serve them. They were very happy that we came to encourage them. And never once was their love for the team, men to men, because there was a separation. The men served the men, the women served the women. Never once at any time was there any indication that their love was nothing but brotherly, phileo friendship love.

Thirdly, Jonathan in chapter 18 here doesn't strip himself of all of his clothes. That's not what the text says. But rather, according to verse 4, he took off his robe and gave it to David with his armor. Now, if we use the same logic that those would come to this text reading homosexuality into the text, then King Saul earlier gave David his armor as well, and there's no mention of any type of ill behavior between King Saul and David at that time.

Number four: The kiss that was exchanged in chapter 20 is a common cultural greeting for men and happened a full two and a half chapters after the robe and the armor were removed. There would be some that try to put those two together like it happened at the same time, but according to the scriptures, time had obviously passed.

Number five: The emotion expressed was weeping, not sexual satisfaction. They wept together, knowing that their friendship would not continue because of the insanity of Jonathan's father. They would no longer be able to enjoy the type of friendship.

Sixthly, when homosexuality is mentioned in the Bible, it's clearly identified and called sin, even bringing judgment from God. Let me add a seventh that just came to me as I was thinking here in our study of the scriptures. We already have seen established with Jonathan that he is a solid man of integrity that inspires loyalty and fidelity in the people that are close to him. We learn that, didn't we, when Jonathan's armor-bearer was willing to lay his life down for what he believed Jonathan heard from the Lord in fighting a battle for the nation of Israel.

Even as we look at the interpretive facts of the text, how careful we need to be in God's love not to condemn, to read homosexual love into David and Jonathan is simply not warranted from the text. They are enjoying a deep male-to-male relationship and friendship. We need to be very, very careful as we speak of such things, again being very careful to emphasize the love of God toward those in sin and not condemnation.

And personally, I'm saddened by the so-called Christian groups that show up at various places with signs of words of hatred, simply saying some of the most vile things that I won't repeat here in our Bible study. You see, dealing with sin, any sin, it's important that we ourselves don't become self-righteous as if we're better than anyone else. That is often the accusation, and may we not be found guilty of such an accusation.

Being clear again that I and you are no better than anyone else. If it wasn't for the grace of God, we would still be in the mess that we were in. No matter what we label that, what it's titled, what the Bible calls sin, those are just the facts. And I plead with you for you and I to live with the mind of Christ and be very, very careful with anyone that God has led into our lives with any type of sin, let alone homosexuality.

Now, a few more things before we leave because I know that this Bible study will be shared. I know the link will be sent out. I know the MP3s will be downloaded. It will air on the radio. It's on the radio even now as I speak. CDs will be given out. And I believe it will be a Bible study as it opens eyes just simply to refer to the Bible when defining your life and the behavior in your life.

I'd like to deal with a few practical things. I'd like to share with you a few practical truths that I think not only will apply to some but will equip many. So let's ask a few questions. Number one: What about homosexual temptations, or what we are now hearing described as same-sex attraction? Maybe you are tempted that way or even in that lifestyle or might even identify yourself because of the attractions that you have.

You may even begin to identify yourself with some kind of homosexual tendencies. I'd like you, if that's you and you're ready for help, I invite you to call the church office and allow the pastoral team here and some of the lay leaders, some of the women lay leaders, to serve you.

The office number is 303-628-7200. You can call from anywhere in the country. We will accept that call, and we will serve you. The Bible says that no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you might be able to bear it.

Temptation doesn't mean that you are what you're tempted to do. Temptation is not a sin. Even having emotions and feelings aren't always sinful emotions and feelings as you resist them and submit yourself to Jesus. You see in Him, there is a way of escape. And I acknowledge to you, having served many people in this arena, that those feelings that you're having are real. They're not inspired by God, but they're real.

And they don't, those feelings don't make you a bad person. They don't make you a defective person. They simply are being revealed to you right now to show you that God loves you, and He cares for you, and He's revealing these things in your life. Temptation is not sin, and that applies across the board. No temptation has overtaken you. For believers, that's a promise. And in the power of God, we can say no.

Number two: What if you were molested or propositioned by a homosexual or a person of the same sex at any stage in your life, young or old? Does that mean that you're a homosexual now? No, it doesn't. You see, homosexuality is based on lies and twisted truths. The lie is that if you can get a man or a woman to love you, then you'll be loved. But it's the wrong kind of love. Sexual gratification of any kind does not equal genuine love.

But sadly, it's often used as a cheap substitute and a quick solution to the feelings that you're having. And just because someone hurt you or took advantage of you in a weak and vulnerable time in your life does not mean that they have damaged you forever. That does not mean that you have to live under that condemnation or that guilt the rest of your life. And if it was of someone of the same sex, that doesn't automatically make you a homosexual or a lesbian. Quite the opposite.

I mean, maybe you were looking for love as a kid. Maybe you were put in a vulnerable place and you missed that valuable piece of growth in your life and your upbringing. There could be some disconnect between your parents and the dysfunction in your home that caused you to experiment or caused you to go and try this, or someone saw the vulnerability in your life in high school and tried to take advantage of you.

You see, God wants to restore what was lost as a child. God wants to restore what was lost in your upbringing by a relationship with Him, not another person. Satan, the devil, may come and whisper, "Maybe you're gay." And God yells loudly, "No, you're not." The devil is a liar, and he's not to be listened to, ever, never, ever.

God did not make anyone gay, and neither did your circumstances. Like any other sexual sin, it is made by a free-will choice of the person participating. God didn't make anyone gay. God made you male and female, and you can walk in your God-given identity. Your identity is a gift from God.

Now, a third one that seems to be common in this realm as well is what if you were picked on and called names as a kid? In some cases growing up, there were females, weren't there, that were a little more athletic or a little bit more they liked to hang out with the boys in terms of what the boys did more than the girls. And they were called a name. Maybe you were called a name. They were called a tomboy.

And what was trying to be identified was the difference in distinction that they may have had some characteristics that they were more comfortable with guys. And in that, not more comfortable with guys because they liked the guys, but more comfortable with guys because they could relate to the guys. And then they were picked on. Maybe that was you, and you were picked on and you were called names. And because you were called names so much, you began to think, "Well, maybe I am."

Or for the guys that might experience a more effeminate type of behavior. They might not be the deepest voice, or they might not have been involved in sports. They may have been more into dance or some of the creative arts. And what happened to them? They also were picked on and bullied and called names. And some of the names were vicious.

Some of the names are very painful and hurtful, and you grew up with that. And what it started to do for you is to draw into yourself. What it started for you to do is to begin to believe the lie, which is the original sin in the Garden of Eden, is to believe the lie. And the lie is very simple, and that is that God's word is not true. Don't listen to God. He doesn't know what He's talking about.

And maybe you were picked on as a kid, and you had some characteristics in your upbringing or characteristics in your mannerisms or even characteristics in your looks over which you have no control. It was your God-given body and identity. Listen, if you were called names and picked on as a kid, those are lies. They were and they are.

Nobody but you can choose to refuse to believe them. And you can make that choice. Satan has been pulling you down and doing a number on you for many, many years. And part of the satisfaction or you just give up is no longer trying to live by the identity of God, but rather to give in to these types of pressures and lies and move into the homosexual lifestyle.

You've been lied to. In Jesus Christ, your life can be washed and changed and sanctified in Him. You can be free, free from guilt and condemnation. And let me just say this. The discussion that we're having here is not just for unbelievers. There are many believers that are caught up in sexual sin as well. Believers, those that would say they follow Jesus Christ.

Where the Bible couldn't be clearer. When you mention bestiality, there's an immediate, "No way, that's not right." When you mention incest and taking advantage of your children, "No way, that's not right." When you mention rape and sexual sin, say, "Oh, no, that's not right." When you mention sex outside of, even using the language of the homosexual community today, outside of a committed relationship, that you can't just go and have sex with everyone, "No, that's not right."

Certainly within the context of God's definition of marriage, it is not for us to have sex outside of marriage in any form, whether it is with another person, whether it's a sin of the heart, whether it's pornography. Those are all sinful things by God's definition, for believer and unbeliever alike.

Guest (Male): You're listening to the final portion of a message from Pastor Ed Taylor called "David and Jonathan Were Not Homosexuals." This is Abounding Grace. If you missed the first half that aired last time, go online to aboundinggraceradio.com.

Pastor Ed, as we close out this talk about homosexuality and the hope that is found in Christ, maybe there's someone listening that has a loved one that is involved in this sin and they're wondering how they can help. Perhaps that person isn't open to hearing God's truth on the subject. What would your counsel be to them?

Pastor Ed Taylor: That's another great question on a very difficult topic. So let's step back just for a second, just for a few moments, and say that the first thing we want to do is be sure that we're not relating to people always because of their sin. There are other aspects of the person, other parts of their personality, other parts of their humanity that we can talk about and we can connect with that isn't always related to sin, first of all.

And so I'd be praying for that. You know, maybe I don't have to always talk about this sin. I could talk about sports. I could talk about another aspect of the Bible. Why? I'm not ignoring the sin, but I am valuing the person that's in front of me and looking for different ways to build a bridge that they might trust me.

Because the more that they trust me, the more that they'll listen to me. And when the topic comes up again, we could talk about this particular sin. But I also, as I mentioned in our last broadcast, I have a lot of resources that I've collected through the years that if you email me, I can send you the links. Or you can just go to my website, edtaylor.org, and put in the word "homosexuality." There's a lot of information up on my website as well.

But my counsel is to be careful. I always, with these difficult things, I always want to be prayerful and careful, being led by the Holy Spirit. Because like Jesus told the disciples when they went out with the gospel, they didn't need to worry what they were going to say because the Holy Spirit was going to give to them.

And so I just want to value the person in front of me. I recognize that we don't agree on this issue, and we don't agree because we don't agree with what the Bible says. And I agree with what the Bible says about sin and sexual sin, not just this sexual sin, but others don't. But I don't want to camp on the disagreements if I can continue to build trust with someone.

But prayerful and careful. I really don't know the exact words to share, and I don't know how to approach it, but I do know this: As you hold to a biblical standard with grace and love, the Spirit of God will be with you. He will. He will help you, lead you, guide you, and even give you the words what to say and what not to say as you trust Him.

Guest (Male): That is very helpful. Thanks again. And today, we'd like to tell you about a book from Ron Rhodes titled "The End Times in Chronological Order." Think of it as a complete overview to understanding Bible prophecy. You've probably heard about the rapture, the great tribulation, second coming, mark of the beast, but how do they all fit together?

This chronological tour through the Bible's most important predictions will help you connect the dots. We'll gladly send you a copy for a gift of $25 or more to Abounding Grace. Call toll-free at 877-30-GRACE. That's 877-30-GRACE, or order it online at calvaryco.store.

Please remember this ministry is made possible through the support of our listeners, and we are grateful for whatever the Lord leads you to do. It would be great to hear from you. Call toll-free at 877-30-GRACE. Donations can also be made online at aboundinggraceradio.com. Abounding Grace is brought to you by Calvary Church Colorado here in Aurora.