The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Richard P. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Research on Homosexuality
"Rick, what should I do?" It was after 11:30 p.m., but it felt even later. It had been a long day: up early, lots of school work, rushing out of the house to get to my musical practice, then on to church, and finally home. I was tired. But now I was texting and suddenly being asked for advice regarding a friend who turned lesbian. "I don't know," I replied. What could I say? I knew the girl. I thought she was sweet and kind, full of goodness, with lots of potential to grow and become a great person. That didn't mesh at all with what I was hearing now.
I counseled my friend to wait this out. I figured this girl would eventually get over this "new fad" and bounce back to her normal self after realizing this behavior wasn't going to help. She had enough trouble already: divorced parents, an alcoholic mother, and character degrading friends. I couldn't see this continuing for long.
Every once in a while I'd hear how she was acting, momentarily shudder, and say a quick prayer. But the overwhelming response to her actions was to ask "why?" I didn't, and couldn't, understand her choice.
I finally discussed it with my father. It's nice to know that I can always talk to my parents about what I'm thinking about. If being home schooled has given me nothing else, it's a good relationship with each and every member of my considerable family. My dad, who also knows the girl, explained that she was probably trying to find herself. I could see that; perhaps growing up in a difficult family situation had given her reason to explore some "off limit" activities. He added that it served little purpose to be mad at her or to condemn her because she was confused. In effect, she was claiming the title of lesbian to be associated with another crowd. Rather like a performer who plays to the fans, this girl was playing to a bigger audience now. And, just like a show; it would have an end.
While this may have helped me understand her particular predicament it left me in a whirlwind of thoughts. I reflected on how I do the same kind of thing, pretending to be something I'm not. Do I participate in behavior just as abhorrent? Well, as the ancient adage says, the three deplorable sins are "sloth, sex, and silver." I may not be messing with that middle one but am I lazy sometimes? Yes.
In the end, I gave up these trivial comparisons. They weren't what counted anyway. What counted is that somewhere, beneath these lies, hid a friend of mine.
Regrettably, I think this is an all too familiar trend – not necessarily that people claim to be homosexual, indeed statistics show that very few people are actually lesbian. Discounting the 1950s Kinsey proclamation, more like 3% of the populace is homosexual. The most visible and disturbing trend is that of the broken family.
Inside that trend you have people who are far too willing to find their identity in whatever they can try.
Drugs, alcohol, rape, incest, murder, abortion, premarital sex; the list goes on and on. Discontent with what they believe themselves to be, they try something new. No wonder the Scripture says, "Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another." (Romans1:24) But the passage, not even the paragraph, doesn't end there; it goes on to say, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen." The first passage is incomplete without the second.
And this passage doesn't present the full consequences of their exchange. Scripture outlines that:
"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind; to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless." (Romans 1:28-31) This is the evil they've replaced God with as they "search for themselves."
And finally, "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:32)
People who experiment with this are lost. They've got the proverbial hole and need to fill it. They know they're doing wrong, but they'd rather do something than just let that hole sit.
That's where Christians enter the picture. We don't need to come in with guns blazing about how evil these folks are or how repugnant God finds them. Instead, we should demonstrate God's love by showing our love for one another and for them.
I don't know how my friend is going to turn out. I suspect she'll figure out what to do and get back on the right track. It's not my job to make life more miserable for her. All I have to do is listen with open ears and a loving heart. She may make wise choices, if we allow Christ to show her better.
