IS SAME-SEX ATTRACTION (SSA) SINFUL? WHY ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION LEADS TO THE WRONG ANSWER

For legions of Christians (Ligons of Christians in some places and yes, this is inside humor if you aren’t aware of Ligon Duncan’s recent games on the matter) the big question often being proposed for them to answer is whether or not same-sex attraction, abbreviated SSA, is sinful. The problem, of course, is with the question, itself. You wouldn’t know that, however, because it is likely that you have been conditioned to react with a defensive posture on these issues instead of slowing down the process and investigating the questions, themselves.

Now, as to the answer to the question it is rather clear, yes, same-sex attraction is sinful. It is a perverted sexual lust pattern.

If the answer to the question is an obvious YES, why, then, is this question being asked? Why, repeatedly, is it even being debated?

I’ll tell you why. The reason is because if we can debate an issue as if its fundamental but unspoken premise is valid, then the questioner has basically won half the battle. And in this case, the battle is for the homosexuality’s lust pattern to be validated as a thing left to stay undisturbed by the new birth in Christ.

But why would a Christian want to do that?

A Christian would want to do that for any number of reasons but generally to appease himself or herself or some other person or group.

A non-Christian, however, who is under the misconception that he is a Christian, would want to do this simply because of his or her spiritually unenlightened mind which is left to its own devices. In this case, it is simply being conformed by the world’s ideologies. Thus, this person would integrate homosexuality or its slow acceptance in various forms, into his/her theology, believing, of course, that this is a form of Godly enlightenment when, in fact, it is just the opposite.

I might elaborate further in a bit on this but it is essential I get to the issue at hand which is asking the wrong question. So let me give an example:
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Question: Is stealing a Toyota, sinful?

Problem: Embedded within the question is a subtle shift in value assumption. That is to say, the question suggests, often unbeknownst to the mind of its audience, that there is a possibility that certain cars could be stolen without committing a sin.

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Fundamentally, however, the ultimate goal is a ploy which is to phrase the questions so as to introduce the consideration of a special case.

Sinful Desires and Lust Patterns
 
Every human being has sinful desires including those who have been born again in Christ, thus, spiritually alive and reconciled to God. Each person has what are called lust patterns. 

A lust pattern is developed in a human being as he or she lives life, repeatedly enticed by certain sinful wants and even as a Christian, fulfilling those sinful desires. Let’s be clear, the desires are sinful, themselves. 

Colossians 3:5 states: 

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

In this passage there are some key words relating to this issues of homosexual attraction which is given the cloaking label, SSA. The most prominent, here is πάθος/pathos. This is referring to a way of thinking and desiring from those thoughts, which are not guided by God. Essentially, carnal or fleshly lust.
 
This is precisely what Same-Sex Attraction is, fleshly lust. It is of little difference than a man lusting after another man’s wife. Possibly we should accommodate this, too, with the abbreviation OMWA (Other Man’s Wife Attraction). I say that because this kind of lusting actually happens to Christian men and quite regularly. But most of them know that such sexual attraction is not something led by God rather, it is πάθος/pathos.
 
And the appropriate response is to confess this adulterous lust to God and resume walking in the Spirit which ensures one does not abide in this pattern rather, they now walk by the desires of the Spirit.
 
Will it happen again? Sure. But we, as Christians, do not deal with our sinful desires by legitimizing them, we confess them to God the Father so that we may maintain fellowship and the fullness of the Spirit.
 
1 John 1:9 says: If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 
Also Ephesians 4:30 instructs us, Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
 
Permitting sinful lusts to live in perpetuity is not only sinning, because you are being led by πάθος/pathos instead of God’s Spirit, but it results in broken fellowship with God the Father and the grieving of the Holy Spirit in you which results in you not being filled/led by the desires of the Spirit.
 
But What about My Lust Pattern. How Am I Supposed to Live with It?
 
As I said earlier, every Christian has a lust pattern. That is to say, he or she has their favorite ways of sinning based on the unique make up of their flesh and personality along with influences throughout their lives.
 
Let’s take Hannah as an example. She grew up in a home where the father was not respected by the mother. She picked up that nasty way of approaching male/female romance and has developed a lust pattern of henpecking dominance over her boyfriend and potential mate. In fact, this is her trend in life with most men. And this is only one aspect of Hannah’s sin pattern developed in a semi-dysfunctional home. As a Christian it is likely that she will be combating this pattern most of her life.
 
Now let’s look at Jason. Jason had access to the internet early on in life with little supervision. He quickly found pornography and through adolescence and into adulthood used pornography for entertainment and fulfilling various sexual lusts. In doing so, he not only established a pornographic lust pattern but as well, certain deviants sexual tastes. But now he is born again and seeking to live for Christ but those sin patterns visit him quite regularly.
 
Finally, Rebecca grew up in a home with a gossipy mother and a father who did not bring to her attention the inappropriateness of this but further, passively went along. Becky, as her friends call her, was trained to pry into the business of others and of course develop various adjudication skills. Eventually, Becky became a heavy hitter in the gossip ring herself and regularly calls her mother. for long gossip sessions. 

But recently Rebecca got saved and her potential husband has brought this to her attention and she agrees, it is sinful but also confesses it is hard not to snoop into people’s business because this is the way she has lived for so long as well as being highly judgmental. She has a sin pattern that will seek to creep into every aspect of her desires and life unless she decides to yield to the desires of the Spirit of God.



The Fullness of the Spirit is the Answer
 
The answer to sinful desires is not throwing our hands up and saying, “Well, that’s just the way I am”, and then walking in the flesh. Look, if you have a homosexual lust pattern, that is your lust pattern but the answer is not identifying with it as who you are nor legitimizing it in a covert fashion by asking if it is a sinful desire. Yes, it is a sinful desire.
 
Lusting after another man’s wife is a sinful desire and believe you me, there are plenty of other men’s wives who, merely by existing, stimulate the lust pattern of other men. She hasn’t done anything wrong but the man with the lust pattern who fails to confess lust like that when it occurs, continues in his sin, out of fellowship with God and not led by the Holy Spirit.
 
Greed is another lust pattern. Some Christians have a problem with greed and will all of their lives. The answer is not to say, “Well, I guess I am just resigned to having Greed Attraction.

The answer to all of our sin patterns is our identity with and in Christ who has deposited his Spirit in us so that we may be led by the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. We put to death our sinful wants and *homosexuality is one of those sinful wants. We identify πάθος/pathos as a no-go path, a no-go identity and take the path of being filled by thus, led by, God the Holy Spirit with his wants and desires. 

*(As a note. Homosexual desires are not a spiritual problem, they are a psychological dysfunction and can be successfully resolved through psychological therapy in many cases. Thus, this sin or lust pattern, may be something you can actually significantly minimized if not completely resolve, by way of psychological therapy. But, resolving the psychological issue causing homosexual lust does not make one filled with the Spirit. It simply resolves a psychological dysfunction.)

Every Christian Has the Same Problem with the Same Solution
 
If you are experiencing a homosexual lust pattern, be clear, that is sinful. But you must remember, every Christians faces his or her own lust pattern(s). Imagine a Christian reared in a debauched environment with all kinds of psychological issues in which the flesh repeatedly beckons him or her to endless lusts due to patterns of it developed while growing up. They are in far worse circumstances in that respect but the answer to homosexual lust or any lust is always the same. It is sinful, it is to be confessed and then one is to walk in the fullness of God the Holy Spirit thus, being led by his Godly desires.
 
Will the flesh fight back? Ha! Are you kidding? Of course the flesh will certainly fight back for its wants. That is what sin does which resides in our flesh. The sin nature originates in the flesh and while we live in this flesh, we will always experience that problem.
 
Asking the wrong question is where one starts on the path toward a wrong answer. I hope this is of value to my readers.

THE MAN WHO COULD DEFEAT DONALD TRUMP AND THE LIKELY DEMOCRAT NOMINEE IN 2020

For those of you unfamiliar with the man sitting next to President Donald Trump in the picture above, it is Terry McAuliffe, the recent former Governor of Virginia (2014-2018) who is, of course, a Democrat. McAuliffe isn't, though, just another Democrat, he is an exceptionally shrewd and resourceful power-player in the Democrat party and much of this stems from his business and political acumen which is superior to most.

Born in 1957, McAuliffe began a business as a teenager, tarring driveways, before entering Catholic University and then graduating from Georgetown Law School. Immediately afterward, in 1980, McAuliffe took a job with the Carter campaign as national finance director with significant success.

These events, along with McAuliffe's substantial achievements in his business enterprises, led him to become a co-chair campaign manager for Bill Clinton's re-election in '96 and then a chairman for Hillary in her 2008 bid. Sandwiched in-between this, in 2000 Gov. McAuliffe began his tenure as the chair for the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic National Convention from which the party benefited richly in regards to McAuliffe's financial and voting re-alignment strategies. And as mentioned, from 2014-2018, he served as Virginia's governor.

But never-minding Terry McAuliffe's resume, there are some conspicuous reasons which make McAuliffe, probably the best match-up against President Trump of all the candidates heard from so far. Point by point, with regard to personality, style and temperament, he is almost Donald Trump's charismatic equal, possible what one might call the anti-Trump (this is not a slur by any means, just a metaphor).

And debating? Gov. McAuliffe not only holds his own, he excels. Unlike many, probably most, of the early Democrat hopefuls, McAuliffe's views as expressed in speeches and interviews but as in view here, in debates, will and do come from centrist Democrat positions. While likely holding to more leftist positions at times, he rejects certain extremes which his contemporaries foolishly support with vocal zeal these days.

In the front, at this moment with the Democrat presidential hopefuls are the noise makers. Beto will disappear, he's an impostor as it is and a poor candidate to boot. As to Kamala Harris, this is a stunt, she doesn't really want to be president, are you kidding? And Cory "Spartacus" Booker? Hardy, har har. There is a long list of wannabes and Pocahontases hoping their early sprints will somehow enable them to survive the kind of scrutiny and vetting process few survive but for most, this is simply for another end, not an actually race for the gold key.

McAuliffe not only survives, he thrives in this arena. He is a real Democrat with real experience along with the maturity, pedigree, success and appealing charm which may be the necessary formula for winning against President Trump in 2020.

Who will his running mate be? Possibly, this woman:

 

This is Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, of Hawaii. She is not only a minority on more than one level, which satiates many Democrat appetites, but she is also an Iraqi war vet and, of course, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives with a so-far, flourishing history within her party.

Though she has announced her 2020 presidential campaign bid, this is likely simply an effort to raise her national profile and open the door to the the V.P. slot. There is a great deal to like about Gabbard if you are a Democrat or even a left-of-center libertarian (she endorsed Sanders in 2016, possibly with the future in mind and not wanting to scar herself with a Hillary nod). As well, she speaks as a modern middle-of-the-road Democrat which isn't saying much other than she sounds reasonable in her presentations though, for example, she supports Medicare for all which many libertarians may find unacceptable. This, however, is likely not a deal-breaker. And obviously Gabbard is an attractive candidate, as shallow as that may sound this is the world in which we live. Added to that, her age gives her an advantage with a younger voting block, one in which 50% prefer socialistic ideas.

If This Is The Case

If the set-up ends up as I have postulated, it would make Donald Trump vulnerable, particularly with the Vice Presidential candidate. V.P. Mike Pence, while a man to be appreciated for many virtues, too often comes across as stiff and almost as boring as watching paint dry. There have been questions raised, already, some months ago, which speculated that Pence may not be on the ticket for 2020. 

It is no secret that President Trump gave to former S.C. Governor Nikki Haley, the U.N. Ambassadorship job with the future in mind. And upon her announcement of leaving the post, she made it clear she would be all-in for Trump's re-election bid. 

While this would be unusual, would it or could it be possible that this is to be the new second?




It might be unorthodox but let's be frank, President Trump is a pragmatist, he likes winning, not following everyone else's arbitrary rules and if believes the better running mate is Haley, it would not be surprising if he negotiated some kind of agreement with Mike Pence on this issue. But let me be clear, this portion of my prognostication is simply a possibility and not as likely as the McAuliffe/Gabbard ticket but, it would be interesting and dynamic.

To gain Haley is to keep much of the Evangelical vote but as well, it is to also gain an appreciably successful female governor and stateswoman with international politics as part of her profile.

On the other hand, to lose Pence in such a manner, no matter how even Mike Pence might present his not choosing to be on the ticket in 2020 with the kindest of words and unimpeachable continued campaigning for and support of Trump, this could create distrust among some Evangelicals and beyond.

Never-Trumpers are a self-righteous group. That is what they share in common and a move like this would only be an excuse to hate President Trump even further, a childish but all too real scenario.

Final Thoughts

President Donald Trump's campaign was the perfect storm. He had a bevy of dumb Republicans who believed their own prevarications only to be shell-shocked by a man who was used to writing his own rules because he could see through everyone else's dishonesty and was not about to play by their duplicitous regulations.

And in the national election, Hillary Clinton was as unappealing a candidate as the Democrat party could find but the devil be damned, it was her turn and so, as history now informs us, before Bernie Sanders had raised his first dollar, Clinton had already won the nomination. Given that sense of entitlement and her own grotesque personality and contempt for the rest of the world, Donald Trump was the man for the hour and the only man.

In 2020 it will be different. President Trump has faced the realities of certain limits which are placed upon him as President thus, like all politicians, he will be liable for unfulfilled campaign promises and a mainstream media colluding with tech giants, to do everything in their power to defeat him. They were caught off guard, they won't be again. 

If there is anyone who has a realistic chance, it is Terry McAuliffe. He is equally as savvy, energetic and intelligent as Donald Trump. But, if there is anyone who can match Terry McAuliffe and more, it is the man with the magic touch, President Trump himself, who has made a life of winning but beyond that, his love for this country and her values compels him with convictions to which no politician can correspond.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE READING PULPIT & PEN EVERY SINGLE DAY

Reverend Jordan Hall, known online (and possibly with friends) as JD Hall, is the head of a website called Pulpit & Pen. Additionally, he is the Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Sydney, Montana which associates with, as they state, “other like-minded churches in North Dakota, Montana, Saskatchewan, and across the country.” Hall is Baptist Reformed in his theology which is a general category with varieties among this sect.

If I could ascribe to Hall a single characteristic, I would attribute to him a Lutheresque spirit, as in Martin Luther, the theologian of course. Some readers might be annoyed with this elevated attribution which is an intended compliment, on the whole but a recognition, also, of a temperament which has its weaknesses, as well, which are more possibly more obvious than shortcomings in passive personalities whose imperfections are surreptitious in their existence hence, lending themselves to less immediate scrutiny but often, can be far more damaging.

Why?

Why do I say that you should be reading and watching Pulpit & Pen every day? Well, it certainly isn’t because I have suddenly become a Calvinist, because obviously I am not one (nor am I an Arminian, to those of you who have not succeeded in growing past binary theological labeling). And it definitely isn’t because JD Hall is a thing of beauty to behold. In fact, one might call his dog-face a manly dog-face, still yet, this feature might be a blessing in disguise since you won’t forget his face and it grows on you. Nor do I insist on a diet of Pulpit & Pen because Hall is always delicate and comfy since, in the midst of Hall taking out the trash, now and then every man or woman with the courage to do so knows, it’s tough, dirty and something the weak-minded avoid altogether. So if you faint easily, you’ve been warned.

I tell my readers this because JD Hall, and his contributors such as Seth Dunn, are almost single-handedly leading the way in a rescue attempt of conservative Evangelicalism and especially the Southern Baptist Convention but certainly beyond, to all concerned CE’s and even Fundamentalists (CE/F, if you will), from the ravages of social justice gospelism being touted by groups such as The Gospel Coalition which is, in truth, Marxist ideology that has infiltrated CE/F theology and mutated into an alluring framework into which many leaders such as Tim Keller (TGC) Al Mohler (SBC), Russell Moore (SBC) and of course, John Piper (Reformed Baptist) have deposited their theology and that is now being conformed to the structure imposed by their newly adopted hull.

 

Daily, the work at Pulpit & Pen is filling the void of places where 100 men once stood and that is not an exaggeration. Day in and day out, they tirelessly vet offerings and influence of ministries around the world that they may guard the little sheep from the least to the most damning of errors. This is hard, unappreciative and alienating (it shouldn’t be, but it is) toil.

His most recent willingness to confront close ministerial friends and models

Most people in this world are fragile, maybe that is why we are called sheep. It takes a unique person with the rare temperament to slay the dragons because inevitably, one must come upon the babies of dragons, which must be killed, too. Unfortunately, however, the infirmed populace who loves to see the dragon have his head cut off, also wants the knights own head the moment he touches the baby dragons because baby dragons are so precious though, they will only grow to kill and destroy later. UGH.

So who wants to sign up for this task? JD Hall did and does so, with his crew, not only on your behalf but on behalf of our Lord, Christ Jesus. This bring me to one of more recent campaigns.

John MacArthur is one of Hall’s ministerial and theological examplars. He has set a pattern which JD has sought to incorporate into his own theology and practice. Phil Johnson, MacArthur’s editor, apparently became a ministerial companion, if not personal friend, of Hall’s. More recently and with regard to both the Dallas Statement on Social Justice and the hosting of social justice theology enablers at a conference by MacArthur, there has been a turn in the compatibility of Hall and the GTY crew.

I bring this up for a reason. Most men simply will not touch men and ministries which were primary sources of their admiration and imitation during their theological/ecclesiastical formative years. They simply cannot bear to be grieved by such confrontations which there is a warranted rebuttal to be given, especially publicly. JD Hall, however, isn’t that man. He is driven by his convictions, no prisoners allowed so far. Thus, Hall has been open and frank in his disagreement and disappointment with regard to the apparent absence of discernment and consistency by John MacArthur and Johnson on these matters and has not held back, going over his objections, point by point.

It’s not getting better, my friends

The state of CE/F isn’t getting better, it’s degrading, rapidly. Yes, there are still faithful segments but the overall condition of conservative Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism, is in frankly, scary. The major influencers among the Southern Baptists which have control of the helm, are now left of center, having embraced Marxist critical-race ideology and have incorporated Race-based Special Interest theology into their body of doctrine resulting in the horrendous practices of non-stop virtue signaling and a damning of the church with a myriad of nonsensical, toxic and malignant theology and practice.

As I close I want to simply go through the blog headlines from Pulpit & Pen and list a number of issues they are tackling where giants once braved to fight but now, only the mice mostly gather, biting and gnawing on the few, such as P&P, who now fill the ranks which are depleted by way of cowardice or other self-aggrandizing mental flatulence excuse making:

Anthony Bradley: The Evolution of a Race-Baiter

Phil Johnson Digs In…But is Still Wrong

Radical Change of Substance in Evangelicalism Making it Unrecognizable

ERLC Race-Baiter, Kyle Howard, Claims White People Have a False God While Black People Have the True God

The Radicalization of Students through the “Marxist Lens of Race, Sex, and Class”

LGBT+ Rebellion Spreads in the Presbyterian Church of America

The Gospel Coalition Uses Homo-Priest to Push for Adoption by Non-Traditional Families

David Platt Adds Social Justice to the Great Commission

Ed Stetzer Sticks Up for Pro-Choice Students, Calls Pro-Life Speaker Too “Provocative”

Thabiti Anyabwile Wants Foreign Nations to Hack United States Elections and Commit Voter Fraud

The Racist Speech a Christian College Doesn’t Want the Public to Hear

Where are they?

“Where oh where has my Underdog gone, where or where can he be?” You might be surprised that I am advocating for Pulpit  & Pen seeing that I took to task in a most excoriating way some years ago, the Pyromaniacs blog which did tackle many of the same issues but don’t be fooled. Pyro was far inferior and quickly devolved into a spa for the narcissistic bathing of a handful of people. P&P, while driven by a strong personality which may, from time to time get in its own way, has both matured and steered clear of investing in egotistical comment wars and rather, has endowed itself with constant attention to the issues, themselves.

But aside from mentioning the long dormant Pyro’s blog which has come to life again more recently, the question is, where are they? Where are the men in ministry willing to protect the vulnerable and mostly, stupid sheep, from the hordes of liars, fable-tellers, theological thugs and thieves? There was a day when such garbage wouldn’t dare be delivered as any kind of substance on the door of any decent Evangelical but lo’ and behold, now it’s at the top of the daily lunch menu glad-handedly peddled and pushed by the Men in Black and White

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Finally

JD Hall, I am convinced, is mostly objected to, if not despised, not because of his mistakes along the way or his inevitable shortcomings of any man and ministry but because of his precision in revealing the hypocrisy and corruption in the church today. His anecdotal missteps and foibles are simply an excuse to attempt to erase the man and his message by those who have a great deal to hide.

I am not a Calvinist. JD Hall probably wouldn’t even say complimentary things about many of my theological leanings in that regard and likely, I would be on his Arminian list (again, I am not one). I really do not care, he’s still telling the truth on so many things which matter that you should be reading and watching Pulpit & Pen every day.