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| Q: | First, I want to say that I was brought up WELS, so I am very clear where we stand on this. Never in my life would I have ever thought that I would be someone that would have to deal with this. However, one day I realized that I had homosexual feelings. Now, I have been struggling with a homosexual life for 7 years of my life. I have been trying desperately to fight it, but continually give in to it again after time. I do have a partner (have only ever had one) and she understands what I am going through with this, even if that means leaving her. I have tried Christian counseling (not WELS, non available close), and found that they encouraged me though I told them that the whole issue was that I do not believe this is the right way for me to live. I pray that God would take this from me. I know there is no evidence that shows someone can be born homosexual, and I know that the Bible tells us it is a sin. However, I can not, no matter how hard I try, find a way out of this life. I hate the thought of having to forever live alone and never have love because of how/what I feel. I do not understand why this has happened to me in my life? If I could just change with the snap of a finger I would. I would never wish this on anyone. I feel like I am going crazy, constantly questioning myself. I have ultimately come to the conclusion that God says "NO", and that is all that there is to it. But, I am in such pain over this that I cannot bear it any longer. I do wish to do the will of God. But I find myself, even without thinking about it, still having these feelings. I even have dreams about this. I do not know what to do. I have read some prior articles that were in here, and I cannot compare what I feel to someone who overeats. It really isn't the same thing in any way shape or form, as I also have been struggling with an eating disorder since my fight against this lifestyle began. I am all messed up and I need something. Am I doing the right thing? Does God wish for people to feel this way and just try and live with it? I don't understand why this has come to me in my life, but slowly I feel I am losing my mind. | ||||||
| A: | Dear Struggling Friend, Thank you for your letter. I certainly feel your pain. You are struggling against Satan's temptations and the struggle is causing you pain. You wonder about God's will for you. How can he will that you have such pain? You ask for help and for encouragement. First of all, go to your WELS pastor. Describe to him the situation and your struggle. Be very open and honest about it. He will want to hear your confession and will want to absolve you of your sin. Then continue to counsel with him. The help you need right now is spiritual. It can only come from God. You are describing terrific temptations that are just about driving you crazy. These temptations are not God's fault. Satan is the one who is tempting you. Your only power to fight Satan's temptations comes from God. God is certainly more powerful than Satan. Jesus conquered Satan's power on the cross. He is victorious! His resurrection on Easter Sunday proves his victory over sin, Satan, and the grave to us. You are right that God does say, "No!" to homosexuality. Genesis 19, passages in Leviticus, Romans 1, and I Corinthians 6 contain admonitions and condemnations of the sin of homosexuality. But, I want you to read what I have quoted below from I Corinthians 6. "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of your were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." Who are the wicked who will not inherit the kingdom of God? They are the people who have sinned against God's moral law, idolaters and people who have sinned against God's Sixth Commandment -- sexually. In this category are the adulterers, male prostitutes, and homosexual offenders. The ones who will not inherit the kingdom of God are the people who have sinned against God's Seventh Commandment, the greedy, the swindlers, and the thieves. They are the people who have sinned against God's Fifth Commandment, the drunkards. They are the people who have sinned against God's Eighth Commandment, the slanderers. In other words, in the midst of all of those who are committing sins against God's Moral Law, we have included by God's revelation, male prostitutes and homosexual offenders. It is also interesting to note: "That is what some of you were." Some of them were guilty of homosexual sins. But they were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. They came to faith in Jesus Christ. Their lives changed from lives of sin to lives of sanctification. God had worked this change within them. In other words, a person who commits a homosexual sin is not sentenced to following that sin all of his or her life. There is forgiveness with the Lord. We also have the admonition later in this chapter -- I Corinthians 6:18: "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." Forgiveness is in the Lord through faith in Jesus Christ, God's Son. That does not mean that Satan will stop tempting you. This is how your problem is similar to the problem of the person who overeats or drinks too much on a regular basis. The temptation is there and it is very strong. But, there is help from God. "That is what some of you were", proves that God did work his miracle of change in their lives. You are not the only one in history who has struggled through this. As God was there to help them, so he is helping you and he will help you. You are a child of God, purchased from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son. The Holy Spirit dwells in you. With God's help, "glorify God with your body". God will strengthen you through his Word and Sacrament. Trust in him. Keep in touch with his Word. Keep talking to your pastor regularly because you need the personal assurance and regular assurance of God's love, forgiveness, presence in your body and life, and God's strength to help you say, "No!" to Satan's temptations. | ||||||
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