I didn’t choose to be gay

This phrase has baffled me for some time.

As you may have gathered from previous posts, I interpret the Bible to say that heterosexuality or abstinence is the way that has God designed people to interact.

However, I also believe the Bible says that God is a just and loving God, so He would not expect people to behave in ways that are against the way they were designed to behave.

For instance, people who are left-handed used to be vilified in the worst sorts of ways, being thought of as spawn of the devil, himself. But a quick read of the scriptures (ok, so maybe it isn’t the most talked about story in the Bible, but it is in there) finds a story about a left-handed judge of Israel. Judges were selected by God to rule, so clearly, it is not against God’s design to be left-handed:

¹⁵ Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.

So I kept asking God,”How is it that you seem to say that we should not be homosexual, yet so many people who claim to be homosexual say that they did not choose to be so? I know you do not ask people to be something that they are not able to be.”

After a few years of pondering that question, He brought to mind an incident that I had totally forgotten about:

Many years ago I had just gotten home from spending some great time with friends. As I was thinking about how wonderful it was to have such a fabulous support system to laugh with, cry with, study with, just live life with, a thought I had never had before ran through my head. I don’t remember the exact wording of the thought, because I dismissed it so quickly. But it had something to do with the idea that I could become homosexual, if I wanted.

As I said, I quickly dismissed that thought as something from I don’t even know where and went on with life as a heterosexual. I did not choose to think that thought. None of my friends had ever done anything to induce that thought. It just was a random thought.

But now I understand how people can truly believe that they did not choose to be homosexual.

And I also understand how God can ask something of us that we initially may think isn’t very fair.

Just because a thought runs through our head, doesn’t mean that we have to accept it or act on it. We must always hold it up to the Bible to see if it is what God would have for us. If it is not, we can dismiss it. If it is something God wants for us, we, with His help can make it a part of us.

Oh, and we don’t need to be embarrassed by an errant thought – everyone has them:

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

It’s what we do with those random thoughts that matter. Here’s to a great day corralling the unhelpful random thoughts, and acting on the good ones in all areas of our lives! Blessings, everyone.