Most of us have heard of Gay Awareness Month (October), but how about Ex-Gay Awareness Month? This past September marked the first annual Ex-Gay Awareness Month. The emphasis of this movement is simply to show that some, who use to be gay, have changed. It’s not surprising we didn’t hear about this since our society, especially the media, places such a huge emphasis on the acceptance of homosexuality.
As you might imagine, this movement has already received a lot of criticism and backlash. However, I’m very glad Ex-Gay Awareness Month has started because it points to an extremely important and fundamental truth about homosexuality; it is a choice.
Some might object, “But homosexuals can’t control the feelings they have. They didn’t ask for them.” People have inappropriate feelings towards the same gender, but some have inappropriate feelings towards the opposite gender. Some have sinful desires to get drunk, do drugs, smoke, steal, or gossip. Some people have desires to murder and abuse their wives or children. Everyone struggles with something. No one asks to have these desires. We all have desires we don’t want and never asked for. However, the fact that we have sinful desires does not make it right to act on them.
Supporters of homosexuality often argue that those who are gay were “born that way” and “cannot change the way they are.” Logically, would God create homosexuals and then condemn them for something they cannot change? Considers what God says:
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Whether it is homosexuality or some other sin, it can be controlled and changed. Since this is the case, people are not born gay and most definitely can change their ways. In this same book just a few chapters away, God also says, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
While we all deal with sinful desires, but God is never going to allow us to face something we cannot walk away from. Let’s make no mistake, homosexuality is a choice, as is all sin. The fact that there is an Ex-Gay Awareness Month, and examples of people who have walked away from homosexuality, further points to this biblical truth. — Neal Pollard