Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Does God approve of sin, if all are born as sinners?

Echoing Dr. Throckmorton’s sentiments last week on Dr. Dean’s “biotheology,” I too find Dr. Dean’s rationalization problematic, to the say the least.

If, as Dr. Dean affirms, God intended gay people to be that way because it is genetic (which science has not proved), then one could also apply the same argument to other, much more disturbing behaviors.

So, one could say that Jeffrey Dahmer or any number of serial killers should be embraced as part of God’s plan because some scientists say they were “born that way.” Or, on a more mundane level, we can say that alcoholism is a condition blessed by God because alcoholics are born with it.

You can see the faulty logic of this position. The bottom line is that we are all “born with” various potential and actual foibles, and are further conditioned by our environment to be sinful creatures (if not, will the first perfect person please stand up?). Some of us are worse than others, but we are all burdened by this same affliction.

What God then does is ask us to rely on him for our salvation and for release from the slavery in which our various bad habits bind us.

For some, this may mean resisting a sexual drive that is unhealthy or even violent. For others it could be as simple as resisting the temptation to gossip. Whatever the challenge may be, we can know with certainty that God equips all his children for this task in the person of His Son.

So, Dr. Dean’s assured knowledge of God’s will notwithstanding, let us avoid the trap of giving into a biological determinism that allows us to justify and accept every single urge as “God-given.”

Instead, let us strive to live according to God’s will as clearly stated in the Bible and orthodox Christian tradition so that we may attain eternal happiness in the abode of His infinite love.

Trey Hoffman

Peachtree City, Ga.