Orientation to Sin

Ever since Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, man has had an orientation to sin.  In particular, an orientation to pride that prompts him to want his will over God's.  The original sin was that of pride, which led Eve to take of the fruit from the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil, believing it would "make her like God" (Gen 3:5-6).

An orientation to pride, however, is not sin.  Giving in to pride and acting on it is.  It is not the temptation or desire that is sinful, it is carrying out the act.  Jesus "tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin" (Heb 4:15).

So, to have an orientation toward something God says is sin, is not sin unless one follows that orientation rather than following the expressed will of God.  For instance, I can pridefully desire to be seen as right in every situation but choose to humble myself and admit when I am wrong.  I can desire to overeat, but I can choose to push myself away from the table instead.  A bank teller once handed me an extra $100 bill.  I desired to keep it but I corrected her and handed it back.  My desire to accept what was not rightfully mine was not sin, it was part of my sin orientation that I rejected.

The orientation towards homosexuality is not sin, it is, however, part of the fallen orientation of mankind that becomes sin when one chooses to practices it.  Let me be clear here: Being oriented to homosexuality is not sin, practicing homosexuality is.  Why do I say that?  Because the Bible says it very plainly.  Read it, without comment, for yourself:

"We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers---and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine" (1 Tim 1:9-10).

For those who say that Paul speaking against same-sex relationship does not really count because Jesus did not - I have two things to share:

1) "If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command" (Apostle Paul in 1 Cor 14:37).

2) Jesus did speak against same-sex marriage: "… at the beginning the Creator made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh" (Matt 19:4-5).

Paul spoke with the authority of Christ and Jesus revealed the Father's divine plan from the beginning, which was for "male and female" to become one.

The New Testament is clear on this subject and the Old Testament words of God through Moses are even more direct.  The practice of homosexuality is sin.  Same-sex marriage is sin.  To be oriented toward homosexuality or to desire same-sex marriage is not sin but rather an orientation toward the fallen nature.  You may be born with that orientation, but you choose what you practice.

But God loves everyone!  True!  God loves sinners as well as saint but he calls sinners to leave their sinful lives, which lead to destruction.  Loving a child does not mean loving everything they do.  And even a child you love with all your heart can choose to reject you and your will.  A child you would die for can choose to turn his/her back on you.

God loves you enough to die for you.  Do you love him enough to live for him?  Or will you choose to follow your fallen orientation instead.  Will you follow the way of pride, greed, perversion, hatred, deceit, etc. or will you follow God's Word?  Jus' Ask'n.