Resources/Articles
Challenging Nature
Today’s society consists of dysfunctional families, single-parent homes, and same-sex marriages. Divorce percentages are down only because of cohabitations. Our society is also one wherein civil rights are beginning to include the right to choose how one wants to identify their gender regardless of their birth gender. This is not new. The Bible identifies this as going against nature (what is natural). It is to challenge one’s natural status.
According to the National Review, the American Medical Association Board of Trustees just passed a resolution that will have the AMA lobbying to end the designation of sex on all future birth certificates. The resolution distinguishes between the “Certificate of Live Birth” (which is used for simple data collection and vital statistics) and a “Birth Certificate” (which is proof for the born person that he or she was indeed born).
Why do people challenge nature? The scriptures show a direct relationship between “going against nature” and the breakdown in the marriage relationship. Romans 1.24-32 shows that this happens progressively. Verse 18 tell us that this begins when truth is suppressed by unrighteousness (which is sin — 1 John 5.17). Consequently, man ceases to honor or give thanks to God and God’s glory is exchanged for images resembling man and animals (vv. 22-23). Men dishonor their bodies among themselves (v. 24). The creature is worshiped and served rather than the Creator (v. 25). God then gives them up to dishonorable passions and a debased mind to do what ought not to be done (vv. 26-28). Then men are filled with all manner of unrighteousness (vv. 29-32). This progression reaches a point of no return (2 Chronicles 36.15-16).
As this behavior is practiced in a marriage relationship, the children are negatively affected as follows: The second generation grows up with an unhealthy attitude toward marriage. In the third generation, there is abuse, both verbal and physical. Then, by the fourth generation, the problem of gender/orientation is questioned. History has shown that sexual attachments are among the determining factors of human character, life, and the basis of society.
There have been many people from the past who have exhibited the behaviors described in Romans 1:
- Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 13.13; 18.20; Jude 1.7)
- The Canaanites (Leviticus 18.22-27)
- Rahab the harlot (Joshua 2.1,8-13; Hebrews 11.31)
- The people of Nineveh (The Book of Jonah)
- The man sick of the palsy (Matthew 9.1-8)
- The publicans and sinners (Matthew 9.10-13)
- The woman who washed Jesus’ feet (Luke 7.36-50)
- Zacchaeus, the tax collector (Luke 19.1-10)
- The thief on the cross (Luke 23.32-43)
- The woman taken in adultery (John 8.1-11)
- The Corinthians (1 Corinthians 6.9-11)
Yet, many of these changed (i.e., repented). How? Why? Herein we see the power of the good news. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6.9-11). Let us have faith that what it accomplished in the past, it will accomplish in the present. “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13.4).
Our nature can be challenged, not only for the worse, but for the better. Our nature can be changed by the gospel message, because of the hope that it brings through Jesus. Faith in this hope will enable us to overcome the past, and be forgiven, as were the Corinthians. “For in hope we have been saved” (Romans 8.24a). Faith that begins as small as a mustard seed can produce an unimaginable change in one’s life, when that person’s life is a life lived in worship of and in service to God.
From a life of misery, negative feelings about self, turmoil, guilt, hopelessness, and regret to a life filled with peace, joy, happiness, and blessed assurance that cannot be lost: This is what will be yours when you choose to follow Jesus.
Do you have such a faith? Are you willing to begin living a life of obedience to Jesus, and cease serving Satan? Jesus promised this if you change: “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for my sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers and children and ears, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10.29-30).
