{"id":474,"date":"2020-08-15T12:39:01","date_gmt":"2020-08-15T12:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/?p=474"},"modified":"2024-01-17T14:59:13","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T14:59:13","slug":"the-pro-lgbtq-faction-of-the-umc-is-wrong-to-euphemistically-characterize-the-physically-of-homosexual-sex-and-those-who-participate-in-homosexual-sex-part-9-of-a-17-part-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/?p=474","title":{"rendered":"The Pro-LGBTQ Faction of the UMC is Wrong to Euphemistically Characterize the Physically of Homosexual Sex and Those who Participate in Homosexual Sex – Part 9 of a 17 Part Series"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this article, I explain why the pro-LGBTQ faction of the UMC is wrong to euphemistically characterize the physicality of homosexual sex, as well as those who engage in homosexual sexual activities.  Basically, this means that they use agreeable or inoffensive expressions as a substitute for terms or characterizations that may offend or suggest something unpleasant when it comes to the physical aspects of homosexual sex and those who engage in homosexual sexual activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pro-LGBTQ faction of the UMC characterizes homosexual sexual activities in an euphemistic fashion when they characterize homosexual sexual activities per se as \u201csame-sex sexual activity,\u201d \u201csame-sex intimacy,\u201d \u201csame-gender relationships,\u201d  \u201csame-gender marriage,\u201d  \u201csame-gender sexual acts,\u201d \u201csame-sex acts,\u201d or \u201csame gender sexual relations.\u201d   These descriptions are very general and antiseptic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A comparison of the above characterizations of the sexual behavior itself with a description found in an August 19, 2013 article at the Gospel Coalition website by Thabiti Anyabwile entitled \u201cThe Importance of Your Gag Reflex When Discussing Homosexuality and \u2018Gay Marriage\u2019\u201d (link: https:\/\/www.thegospelcoalition.org\/blogs\/thabiti-anyabwile\/the-importance-of-your-gag-reflex-when-discussing-homosexuality-and-gay-marriage\/<\/a>  ) shows that homosexual sexual activities are not what loving people physically do to one another.  The description in the article may be graphic to some so I will refer you to the article rather than repeat what it says.     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A comparison between the physicality of what actually goes on in the bedrooms during homosexual sex and the descriptions by the pro-LGBTQ faction reveals a significant disconnect.  There is a \u201cgag reflex\u201d inherent with homosexual sex.  Such a \u201cgag reflex\u201d ought to factor into any consideration of the biblical response to the pro-LGBTQ faction.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the pro-LGBTQ faction, the people in homosexual relationships are described as: (1) couples who love one another selflessly; (2) couples who for whom love and commitment are the common expressions of same-gender acts, (3) couples with a committed relationship, (4) a relationship in which a person is happy and whole, (5) a loving, faithful relationship, and (6) a faithful, stable, and loving relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These descriptions of same-sex marriages infer that those kinds of marriages are somehow superior to heterosexual marriages.  Divorce statistics for same-sex \u201cmarriages\u201d between homosexual persons are subject to question depending on who is presenting the statistics.  Right now, as best I can best ascertain the divorce rates for homosexual \u201cmarriages\u201d and heterosexual marriages are about the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pro-LGBTQ faction describes those in homosexual relationships as \u201cloving.\u201d  In the secular sense, such a description is wrong in light of the physical and mental risks inherent in a homosexual relationship.  In the biblical context, a homosexual relationship is not \u201cloving\u201d per 1 Corinthians 13:4-6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Referring to the physical and emotional context, it is wrong, and in no way loving, to engage in self-destructive behavior.   Yet, the pro-LGBTQ faction does not mention \u201cThe Hidden Epidemic\u201d which is the reality that \u201chomosexual behavior carries enormous risks of damage to individuals and their partners.\u201d  In an article by William Lane Craig entitled \u201cA Christian Perspective on Homosexuality\u201d at the Reasonable Faith website, Dr. Craig lists a number of damaging results (updated in 2019) of a homosexual lifestyle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are physical risks.  As compared to heterosexual men, homosexual men are more likely to start a sexual relationship at an earlier age and are more likely to make new partnerships at a later age.  They have an increased incidence of forming relationships with significantly older men who have a greater risk of carrying a sexually transmitted disease (STD).  They are 2-3 times more likely to report concurrent partnerships than heterosexuals.  Looking at the number of new partnerships in the previous year, 86% of homosexual men aged 18-24 years old had a new partnership in the previous year as compared to 56% of heterosexual men.   72% of homosexual men aged 35-39 years old had a new partnership in the previous year as compared to 21% of heterosexual men.   Dr. Craig writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The number of MSMs who experience lifelong monogamous fidelity to a partner appears to be so small as to be almost zero.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The term \u201cMSM\u201d means \u201cmen who have sex with men.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are mental and emotional risks inherent in a homosexual relationship.  A consequence of multiple partnerships is loneliness.  For older homosexuals, this is aggravated by the absence of children and close family bonds.  In light of the promiscuity and loneliness, mental disorders occur more often among homosexual.  These disorders include anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, alcoholism, and drug dependence.  Dr. Craig\u2019s article reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One detailed study[8]<\/sup><\/a> showed homosexuals to be, in general, twice as likely<\/em> to be depressed, to suffer phobic disorders, to be dependent on drugs, to be dependent on alcohol, to have experienced self-harm and to have needed psychiatric help than the general population, while their happiness ratings were halved.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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This study also looked at discrimination to see if these mental health problems could be attributed in part to social stigma. However, they found \u201cthe absolute level of discrimination was comparatively low.\u201d An interesting and unexpected finding was that the heterosexual group also reported discrimination against them on the basis of their sexual orientation, albeit at a reduced prevalence. These findings are significant, as the mental health problems in the gay community are often attributed to social stigma and \u201cminority stress.\u201d Such stresses no doubt exist, but other lifestyle factors appear to be far more damaging to their well-being.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Footnote [8] is Chakrabarty A., et al., Mental Health of the non-hetrosexual population of England, BJP (2011), 198:143-148.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The written transcript of a sermon of September 6, 1992 by Dr. John MacArthur entitled \u201cGod\u2019s View of Homosexuality \u2013 Part 2,\u201d Dr. MacArthur described the book entitled Where Death Delights written by Dr. Milton Helpern and in which Dr. Helpern points out the very violent nature of homosexual upon homosexual murder.  The sermon transcript reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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According to the New York Times<\/em>, \u201cThe man who knows more about violent death than anyone else in the country is Dr. Milton Helpern, formerly chief medical examiner of New York City.\u201d  In his biography titled Where Death Delights<\/em>, Helpern – not a Christian – wrote this, \u201cIt\u2019s not my role to condemn homosexuality as such, and I leave it to the psychiatrists and psychologists to try to figure out why people practice homosexuality.\u201d  He said, \u201cI\u2019m not to judge it.  But having performed 60,000 autopsies, it is high time that those who deviate from the norms should understand the risks.  I don\u2019t know why it is so, but it seems that the violent explosions of jealousy among homosexuals far exceed those of the jealousy of a man for a woman, or a woman for a man.  The pent-up charges and energy of the homosexual relationship simply cannot be contained.  When the explosive point is reached, the result is brutally violent.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Helpern goes on.  \u201cBut this is the normal pattern of these homosexual attacks:  Multiple stabbings, the senseless beatings that obviously must continue long after the victim dies.  When we see these brutal multiple wound cases in a single victim, we automatically assume that we are dealing with a homosexual victim and a homosexual attacker.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In view of the significant health (physical and mental) risks inherent in a homosexual relationship, it is very deceptive to characterize a same-sex \u201cmarriage\u201d as \u201cloving.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pro-LGBTQ faction mistakenly calls those engaged in homosexual sex as \u201cloving.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biblical teaching about \u201clove\u201d found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (ESV) reads [emphasis added]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4<\/sup> Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5<\/sup> or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6<\/sup> it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,<\/u><\/strong> but rejoices with the truth.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Verses 4-6 are contained in a larger block of text comprising verses 1-13.  Verses 1-3 make three fundamental contrasts between a religious activity that is done with love and one that is done without love.  The third contrast says that even if one gives away all they have and offers to die, if it is done not in love, Paul wrote \u201cI have nothing.\u201d   Verses 4-5 describe what love is (e.g., patient and kind) and what love is not (envy, boast, arrogant, rude, insist on its own way, and resentful).  Verse 6 then identifies another stark contrast between what love is not, i.e., rejoicing at \u201cwrongdoing,\u201d and what is it, i.e., rejoicing \u201cwith the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In verse 6, the ESV translates the Greek noun adikai<\/em> as \u201cwrongdoing,\u201d and according to one lexicon, it means, \u201c88.21 \u1f00\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03af\u03b1, \u03b1\u03c2 f<\/em>: an activity which is unjust\u2014\u2018unjust deed, unrighteousness, doing what is unjust.\u201d  See Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains<\/em> (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 744). New York: United Bible Societies.   One theological dictionary discusses adikai<\/em> as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As the opposite of dikaios\u00fdn\u0113, it denotes \u201cviolation of the divine law,\u201d heading the list of vices in Rom. 1:29. \u2026 Love obeys the truth and hence finds no joy in adik\u00eda (1 Cor. 13:6). In it the truth is suppressed (Rom. 1:18). \u2026 b. It is defined as sin against God (cf. Acts 8:23; 1 Jn. 1:9; 5:17).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 23). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

It is accurate to say that biblical love does not rejoice in an activity that violates God\u2019s law or is a sin against God.  In other words, biblical love does not rejoice in any activity that contradicts the teachings of God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One commentator links verse 6 with the immorality Paul describes in 1 Corinthians Chapter 5-6 when he writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3:6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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The contextual background to Paul\u2019s inclusion of evil and truth is the problem of immorality addressed in chapters 5\u20136. The Greek word (along with its cognates) used here for evil (\u1f00\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03af\u03b1, adikia) is found in 6:1, 7\u20139 where the apostle teaches that the unrighteous (\u1f04\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03c2, adikos) will not inherit God\u2019s kingdom. There is no place in God\u2019s kingdom, according to Paul, for those who are in love with evil and its manifestations as enumerated in 6:9\u201310.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Oster, R. (1995). 1 Corinthians (1 Co 13:6). Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The adikai<\/em> of 1 Corinthians 13:6 clearly encompasses the adikos<\/em> of 1 Corinthians 6:9 (ESV), which reads in its context of verses 9-10 [emphasis added]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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9<\/sup> Or do you not know that the unrighteous [adikos<\/em>] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality<\/u><\/strong>, 10<\/sup> nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Notice that the \u201cunrighteous\u201d includes \u201cmen who practice homosexuality.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is clear that the pro-LGBTQ faction rejoices at wrongdoing so that the argument that same-sex marriage is \u201cloving\u201d (in a biblical context) falls flat on its face.  Instead, to advocate acceptance of same-sex marriage is hate in view of the teaching of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, which says that those who practice homosexuality will not inherit the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When looking at the biblical mandate against homosexual practice, it is a mistake to ignore the physiological unnaturalness of homosexual activities.  The consistent euphemistic characterization of homosexual activity and those who engage in a homosexual relationship is a strategy to desensitize people to the radically unnatural nature of homosexual practice.  In the context of church, it is a frontline strategy to \u201coverhaul the straight church.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please send me any comments to steve@stevebelsheim.com<\/a> or use the comments feature of the blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS – I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and publishers possess in their works.  I thus try my best not to violate any copyright rights other authors and publishers possess in their works.  I have tried to give credit where credit us due.  The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or \u201cfair use\u201d is available and to secure direct permission for specific works.  Scripture quotations are from the ESV\u00ae Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  The brief quotations from other resources are fair use.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this article, I explain why the pro-LGBTQ faction of the UMC is wrong to euphemistically characterize the physicality of homosexual sex, as well as those who engage in homosexual sexual activities.  Basically, this means that they use agreeable or inoffensive expressions as a substitute for terms or characterizations that may offend or suggest something unpleasant when […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[319],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lgbtq"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=474"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2176,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474\/revisions\/2176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}