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About Jesus - Steve Sweetman From
Preference To Orientation In these days of rapidly
expanding forms of sexual expression, have you noticed the evolution in
terminology? "Sexual
preference" has morphed into "sexual orientation".
Sexual preference implies you have a choice in determining your
sexual identity. Sexual
orientation implies you have no choice.
It's just a matter of being genetically predetermined for you at
birth.
I suggest this change in
terminology is a strategic and intentional public relations ploy by
those espousing a departure from a traditionally accepted cultural
morality. It's easy to
figure out. If I address
your preferred choice of sexual expression, I'm just addressing your
choice. If, however, I
address your sexual orientation determined at birth, I'm addressing who
you are. There's a huge
difference between preference and orientation.
People can tolerate criticism of their choices, but criticism of
who they are is hard to handle. This
is why the debate over sexual identity has evolved into a human rights
issue, which again, I believe, was the intended purpose for the change
in terminology. The sexual
revolution of the 1960's has turned into a human rights movement today,
no different from the civil rights movement in the past. For those who use the
word "orientation" to support their cause, allow me to use it
to support my cause. What
works for one should work for another.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17 the Apostle Paul said that anyone who is in
Christ is a new creation, or, a new creature.
The Greek word "kainos" is translated as
"new" in this verse. "Kainos"
means new in form, that is to say, new in who one is or new in what
something is. I therefore
suggest that if I am in Christ, I have become a new human form, a new
human creation. This is due
to the Holy Spirit coming into my life via a second birth.
As I differ from a woman from birth, so I being in Christ differ
from one who is not in Christ because I've been born again.
In modern terminology, when I receive the Holy Spirit, my human
orientation changes. I no
longer view myself as the person I once was prior to being born a second
time. Paul goes on to say in
2 Corinthians 5:17 that for those in Christ "all things are
new". If you have been
reborn by the Spirit of God, you'll know that to be true. I understand this sounds
completely nonsensical to the uneducated and even to many Christians.
Think this through with me. If
I have been born again and the Holy Spirit now lives within me, I've got
to be a new creation. There's
no way around it. We're
talking about God Almighty here. We're
talking about the Creator of all things living within me.
Paul wasn't speaking symbolically, allegorically, or
metaphorically. Neither was
Jesus when He told Nicodemus that he had to be born again (John 3:3).
The spiritual element the Holy Spirit brings to the core of who I
am does not exist in those outside of Christ.
If you haven't experienced this spiritual metamorphosis in your
life, I can only conclude the Holy Spirit does not live in you and you
are not in Christ. Those espousing a new
cultural sexuality insist that one's sexual identity is determined
within your mother's womb. You
have no choice in the matter. Those
embracing this view tell us that even though some people may appear to
be either male or female, who they really are may be the opposite.
It's called orientation, not preference.
Following the same logic, I therefore insist that by virtue of my
second birth I am a new human creation.
Outwardly, I may look like a traditional human being, but there's
something within me that makes me distinctly different from what my
exterior suggests. I conclude that if I'm
encouraged not to question ones sexual orientation, by the same token,
others should be encouraged not to question my new spiritually
orientated humanness. I
should therefore benefit from all human and civil rights legislation
guaranteed to those of other sexual and cultural identities, which I
believe is not always the case these days.
Those in Christ, or born again Christians as they're often
called, are a distinct cultural identity unto themselves.
As a distinct culture within a multicultural community,
Christians should have the legal protection to both express themselves
and live in such a way that doesn't inhibit who they have become via
their second birth.
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