Question for Christians: Do you believe that homosexual persons choose to be homosexual?

Question

Do you think that Gays and Lesbians choose to be attracted to members of the same sex as they are?

Tall people do not choose to be tall.
Brown haired people do not choose to have brown hair.

But people do choose to commit crimes.
People choose to use drugs.
People choose to be selfish.
People choose to be greedy and seek riches.

I guess my point is that if we are condiering whether or not homosexuality is truly a sin, then we must consider whether or not it is an actual 'lifestyle choice".

Thank you everyone for the very thought provoking and well considered answers to this question.

I intended to place this question in the Religion & Spirituality section, but I think I accidentally clicked yes for the Gay and Lesbian Issues section.

I have very sincerely asked this question, because I am part of a church that is wrestling with the issue of same sex blessings/marriages. My church is considering the issue of same sex relationships and wondering if it would be okay to perform marriages for same sex couples, and ordain gay and lesbian persons.

While there are several passages in the Bible that would seem to suggest that homosexuality is sinful, there is room for discussion and debate on the matter. Jesus said nothing about the matter. That fact alone must enter into this discussion. If it were so important, wouldn't Jesus have said something about it?

Again, thanks to all who answered. I may re-submit this question in the originally intended section.

Answer 1

no I don't believe they choose to be gay. Why would anyone choose to be looked down upon, beaten up, have nasty comments made about them?

Gays and Lesbains, Transgendered no more choose this , than do people born with disabilities.

Answer 2

Well, I think it's been proven through scientific study that homosexuality is genetic rather than a choice. One does not choose who they are attracted to. However, one DOES choose to engage in sexual activity, whether it be heterosexual or homosexual. Now aside from my personal beliefs, which are irrelevant, the Bible does make a pretty clear statement that homosexual activity is an abomination, but then so too is heterosexual contact outside of marriage. What gets me it that modern evangelical Christianity focuses plenty on homosexuals but tends to be a lot lighter on offenses involving heterosexual "sinfulness" such as fornication and adultry. And what about all the other sins. I think they focus on homosexualism because, let's face it, it's tittalating and taboo - therefore it's interesting. Plus, chances are no one in the church is gay - or at least out - so it's easy to take shots at it - make it the scapegoat. Whereas if you criticize fornication or adultry ... or for that matter cheating on your taxes, then you're likely to have some of your congregation engaged in those very same activities and it wouldn't do to be criticizing your own members now would it? Yes, it is a clear double standard, but organized religion is all about douole standards now, isn't it?

Answer 3

I think that both are true. Some people choose to be, and some people are born that way. Which is which specifically? None of my buisness.

Doing things that are Gay, as in the verb thereof, is a symptom of another problem. We are born with the nature of sin in us. So this man, me, a Bisexual Christian is at war ( as the Bible says) with what's in me. I have both the Spirit of God, and the tendencies to think that something of the same sex as I am is desirable. That's the war between the spirit and the flesh communicated.

So for some it's a lifestyle choice, and for others it's the way they are.

But the deeper truth of the matter is what makes someone a Christian. I am a Christian because I trust God to do what he said he would do. I think that he keeps his promises. It has nothing to do with what sin I might commit today, but it has everything to me trusting him to do what he said. That's called living the life of faith.

So people on here nitpick of specific 'sins' , some of them made up sins of society, and they end up missing the point altogether. Jesus promised eternal life for trust (faith). And I trust him for that and many other things that he promised.

Answer 4

Generally, no.

Sexual orientation is usually innate.
As much as I may want to be attracted to women, I am not. I do not choose who I find attractive. I do choose how I act on this.

This is the crucial difference. Just because one is attracted to someone does not mean one has to act on it, whether gay or straight. The sin is not in the attraction, but in the action. To use your example, a person may be tempted to commit a crime, and then decide whether or not to act on it. Though we pray "deliver us from temptation," we face choices in shades of gray all the time.

Further, what gets lost in this black/white debate is that God knows that we humans are all flawed and cannot, by our very constitutions, be perfect and God-like at all times. While clearly the ideal, as reflected in the Bible and in culture, is to marry a memeber of the opposite sex, procreate and remain forever faithful, that does not work for everyone. God calls each of us to be the best, most God-like, that we can be. For many people, the best, most love-filled, life they can live involves having a same-sex partner. For others, it involves an opposite-sex partner. For others, a celibate lifestyle.

As Jesus himself said, let he who is without sin, cast the first stone. All of us as humans certainly have attractions and urges that are best not acted on, and others that we must act on as part of our development.

Answer 5

I'm gay, I've been that way all my life. I know hundreds of gay and lesbians, I have never had one tell me that they were molested and made to be gay.

More than a few forced themselves to be straight (older friends) they were unhappy and hated it. Finally, they got out of their straight relationships and admitted to themselves if not their whole family that they were gay. Many of these former straight men found a male lover and have been together for over two decades now.

The reason many simple minded Christians refuse to believe that you are born gay is that it would force them to reexamine their belief that the bible is against homosexuality.

TO SEE PARTS OF THE BIBLE THAT SUPPORT LOVING COMMITTED MONOGOMOUS ADULT HOMOSEXUALITY. GO TO:
WWW.WOULDJESUSDISCRIMINATE.COM
CLICK ON THE BANNERS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAGE AND READ.

To see why the quotes against homosexuality are misused go to:
www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-gay-christian
Yes, I know it's long but if you want to really understand what the bible said this is where you need to go.

Answer 6

I'm predominantly heterosexual, but I have had intimate relations with other men. To some extent, we can and do modify the way we feel and we do have (or are presumed to have) control over our actions. Many things are inherited genetically, but if homosexuality were truly inherited and unchangeable, it should, over time decrease, because homosexual sex can't produce children. There may be genetic tendencies for homosexuality, just as there are genetic tendencies for depression and other illnesses.

A person with a genetic tendency for alcoholism doesn't become an alcoholic if he or she never drinks alcohol. I don't feel I can change how I feel, but I can change my lifestyle, to some degree. Over time, my attitudes have definitely changed.

Answer 7

I believe that there are 2 kinds of gay people. I have met both kinds. one kind is biologically born that way, and it would be illogical to say that they chose to be that way, since you cant choose your parents. The second kind is those who have been rejected by straight people and have been accepted and taken into groups of gays and believe that they are also gay as well since they fit in so well. I believe that the situation varies, and I also believe that homosexuality is NOT a sin, because all the bible verses that people bring up to say that gay marriage is a sin only almost skim the subject but gives no real admonishment against gay marriage.

Answer 8

Remeber it's straight people making gay babies so God could not and would not be making gay people unless he wanted it that way. He's been making them since the dawn of time for Christ's sake.
It's the people who oppose alternative lifestyles that God is watching in order to see who is being respectful to others and to themselves. He knows quite well gay people exist and will NOT stop loving them and letting them into his Heaven. Same for all other minorities society creates, God loves them all.
And any straight person who was respectfull and loving at heart would know there is nothing wrong with people of all differences. Seriously, you think people will choose to be Gay and have to deal with all the freakin' drama that is tossed at them? You have got to get serious and think about that.

kol derekh ish yashar b'einav, vetokhein libbot Adonai
(Every man's way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart) ~ proverbs 21:2

Answer 9

What kind of question is that??? You cant ask a question like that without saying "can people choose their gender?"...same situation...Most cases Homosexuals are born feeling the way they do. I think your question is ridiculous. Why dont you ask the gay community what they feel?

Answer 10

if this was a question for christians... then you're kind of in the wrong place, i'd have to point you down the ethernet a bit. but really, do you think that the general population of gays are seriously lying to you every time that they tell you that it's not a choice (and that's about 10% of the population of the world)? and anyway, how can those who aren't gay know what it is to be gay? and lastly, my final point ( for now at least), did you choose to be hetero/homo/bi/tran-sexual? i mean, seriously, did you wake up one day and decide that you were going to be whatever you are? i really kind of doubt it, it's something that you don't really get to choose.