There are literally dozens of groups of individuals who engage in bizarre sexual behaviours and who have mental conditions known as paraphilias or behaviours known as fetishes. These include Coprophagia individuals who get sexual satisfaction from eating faeces; Klismaphilia individuals who are sexually aroused by enemas; Pederasty-male homosexuals who enjoy having sex with children; Sadomasochism-individuals who derive sexual pleasure from receiving or inflicting pain upon others; Diaper fetishes adults who get sexual pleasure from wearing diapers and wetting themselves; Necrophilia individuals who are sexually aroused by viewing or having sex with corpses.[1]
All of these behaviours could be considered to be “sexual orientations” and many of the individuals who engage in these behaviours are working to have their peculiar sexual behaviours declared to be normal in psychiatry and in the culture at large. At a symposium sponsored by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in San Francisco on May 19, 2003, two psychiatrists presented a paper arguing for such deviant sexual behaviours as Paedophilia, Sadomasochism, as well as other Gender Identity Disorders to be removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The presenters were Drs. Charles Moser from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco and Peggy Kleinplatz of the University of Ottawa. Both groups lobbies national governments to remove Sadomasochism as a mental disorder from psychiatric guidelines.
Sociologists refer to groups of individuals who engage in bizarre sex practices as “deviant subcultures.” With the success of homosexuals and transgender in organising as pressure groups to normalise what has been considered abnormal behaviours, other groups will feel empowered to do the same. Paedophiles, for example, have found allies in academia who support adult/child sex. In 1999, the University of Minnesota press published Judith Levine’s book, Harmful to Minors, which argues that adult/child sex is not necessarily a bad thing. The foreword to her book was penned by former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders.[2]
In addition, the deviant homosexual subculture has fuelled efforts to normalise adult/child sex and to lower the age of sexual consent. Mary Eberstadt’s article, “‘Paedophilia Chic’ Reconsidered,” details the close linkage between homosexuals and the paedophile movement. Eberstadt observes that the reason why sex with boys is being openly debated today is that it is driven by “certain parts of the gay rights movement. The more that movement has entered the mainstream, the more this ‘question’ [of adult/child sex] has bubbled forth from that previously distant realm into the public square.”[3]
Online Underworld of Individuals
Paedophilia and Sadomasochism are just two of many sexual orientations that may eventually be normalised in our society. The sad truth is that because of the pervasiveness of the Internet, many sexually confused and mentally disturbed individuals are finding mutual support in forums and chat rooms. They are reinforcing their mental illnesses instead of finding the help they need to overcome these sexual perversions. Author Carl Elliott details this dangerous social trend in “A New Way To Be Mad,” published in the December, 2000 issue of The Atlantic Monthly. Elliott describes a bizarre online underworld of individuals who suffer from what is called “Apotemnophilia.”
These individuals “feel” like they should not have arms or legs. In essence, they wish to have their arms or legs amputated in order to “feel” normal. One amputee said: “My left foot was not part of me.” Is Apotemnophilia a “sexual orientation,” a paraphilia, or a fetish? Whatever the psychiatric diagnosis, the fact is that this is a serious condition that must be treated, not given societal approval. Yet, we may not find much solace in so-called mainstream psychiatry. Fortunately, the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) is providing a voice of sanity in a world that seems to have gone insane.[4]
[1] Carolyn S. Schroeder.Assessment and Treatment of Childhood Problems: A Clinician’s Guide, (New York: Guilford Press, 2002)
[2] Judith Levine. Harmful to Minors: the Perils of Protecting Children from Sex, (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1999)
[3] Mary Eberstadt. Paedophilia Chic’ Reconsidered, (The Weekly Standard, January 8, 2001)
[4] Paul Van de Ven. Facts & Figures: 2000, (Wales: National Centre in HIV Social Research Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, 2001), 20
The current media portrayal of gay and lesbian relationships is that they are as healthy, stable and loving as heterosexual marriages or even more so.[1] Medical associations are also promoting somewhat similar messages. [2]
Promiscuity
Gay author Gabriel Rotello notes that the Gay liberation was founded on a “sexual brotherhood of promiscuity,” and any abandonment of that promiscuity would amount to a “communal betrayal of gargantuan proportions.”[3] Rotello’s perception of gay promiscuity, which he criticises, is consistent with survey results. A far-ranging study of homosexual men published in 1978 revealed that 75 percent of self-identified, white, gay men admitted to having sex with more than 100 different males in their lifetime: 15 percent claimed 100-249 sex partners; 17 percent claimed 250- 499; 15 percent claimed 500-999; and 28 percent claimed more than 1,000 lifetime male sex partners.[4] By 1984, after the AIDS epidemic had taken hold, homosexual men were reportedly curtailing promiscuity, but not by much. Instead of more than six partners per month in 1982, the average non-monogamous respondent reported having about four partners per month in 1984.[5]
From 1994 to 1997, the percentage of homosexual men reporting multiple partners and unprotected anal sex rose from 23.6 percent to 33.3 percent, with the largest increase among men under 25.[6] Despite its continuing incurability, AIDS no longer seems to deter individuals from engaging in promiscuous gay sex.[7] The data relating to gay promiscuity were obtained from self-identified gay men. Some advocates argue that the average would be lower if closeted homosexuals were included in the statistics. According to the data obtained in a 2000 survey in Australia that tracked whether men who had sex with men were associated with the gay community. Men who were associated with the gay community were nearly four times as likely to have had more than 50 sex partners in the six months preceding the survey as men who were not associated with the gay community.[8]
This may imply that it is riskier to be “out” than “closeted.” Adopting a gay identity may create more pressure to be promiscuous and to be so with a cohort of other more promiscuous partners. Excessive sexual promiscuity results in serious medical consequences This is a recipe for transmitting disease and generating an epidemic.[9] The HIV/AIDS epidemic has remained a predominantly gay issue primarily because of the greater degree of promiscuity among gays.[10] A study based upon statistics from 1986 through 1990 estimated that 20-year-old gay men had a 50 percent chance of becoming HIV positive by age 55.[11] As of June 2001, nearly 64 percent of men with AIDS were men who have had sex with men.[12]
A study done in Baltimore and reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that gay men contracted syphilis at three to four times the rate of heterosexuals.[13] Promiscuity is the factor most responsible for the extreme rates of these and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases [STD's] cited below, many of which result in a shortened life span for men who have sex with men. Promiscuity among lesbians is less extreme, but it is still higher than among heterosexual women. Overall, women tend to have fewer sex partners than men.
However, there is a surprising finding about lesbian promiscuity in the literature. Australian investigators reported that lesbian women were 4.5 times more likely to have had more than 50 lifetime male partners than heterosexual women (9 percent of lesbians versus 2 percent of heterosexual women); and 93 percent of women who identified themselves as lesbian reported a history of sex with men.[14] Other studies similarly show that 75-90 percent of women who have sex with women have also had sex with men.[15]
Physical Health
Unhealthy sexual behaviours occur among both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Yet, the medical and social science evidence indicate that homosexual behaviour is uniformly unhealthy. Although both male and female homosexual practices lead to increases in Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
Male Homosexual Behaviour
Men having sex with other men leads to greater health risks than men having sex with women[16] not only because of promiscuity but also because of the nature of sex among men. The list of diseases found among male homosexual practitioners as a result of anal intercourse is alarming, some of the diseases are: Anal Cancer, Chlamydia trachomatis, Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, Herpes simplex virus, Human immunodeficiency virus, Human papilloma virus
Isospora belli, Microsporidia Gonorrhea, Viral hepatitis types B & C and Syphilis.[17] Sexual transmission of some of these diseases is so rare in the exclusively heterosexual population as to be virtually unknown.
Others, while found among heterosexual and homosexual practitioners, are clearly predominated by those involved in homosexual activity. Syphilis, for example is found among heterosexual and homosexual practitioners. Other physical problems associated with anal intercourse are: hemorrhoids, anal fissures, anorectal trauma, and retained foreign bodies.[18] The impact of the health consequences of gay sex is not confined to homosexual practitioners. Even though nearly 11 million people are directly affected by cancer, compared to slightly more than three-quarters of a million with AIDS.[19]
Female Homosexual Behaviour
Lesbians are also at higher risk for STD’s and other health problems than heterosexuals.[20] However, the health consequences of lesbianism are less well documented than for male homosexuals. This is partly because the devastation of AIDS has caused male homosexual activity “to draw the lion’s share” of medical attention. However, it is also because there are fewer lesbians than gay men,[21] and there is no evidence that lesbians practice the same extremes of same-sex promiscuity as gay men. The lesser amount of medical data does not mean, however, that female homosexual behaviour is without recognised pathology. Much of the pathology is associated with heterosexual activity by lesbians.
Among the difficulties in establishing the pathologies associated with lesbianism is the problem of defining who is a lesbian.[22] Study after study documents that the overwhelming majority of self-described lesbians have had sex with men. [23] Australian researchers at an STD clinic found that only 7 percent of their lesbian sample had never had sexual contact with a male.[24] Not only did lesbians commonly have sex with men, but with lots of men. They were 4.5 times as likely as exclusively heterosexual controls to have had more than 50 lifetime male sex partners.[25] Consequently, the lesbians’ median number of male partners was twice that of exclusively heterosexual women.[26] The study “demonstrates that WSW [women who have sex with women] are more likely than non- WSW to engage in recognized HIV risk behaviours such as IDU [intravenous drug use], sex work, sex with a bisexual man, and sex with a man who injects drugs, confirming previous reports.”[27]
Bacterial vaginosis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, heavy cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, intravenous drug use, and prostitution were present in much higher proportions among female homosexual practitioners.[28] In one study of women who had sex only with women in the prior 12 months, 30 percent had bacterial vaginosis.[29] Bacterial vaginosis is associated with higher risk for pelvic inflammatory disease and other sexually transmitted infections.[30]
In view of the record of lesbians having sex with many men, including gay men, and the increased incidence of intravenous drug use among lesbians, lesbians are not low risk for disease. Although researchers have only recently begun studying the transmission of STDs among lesbians, diseases such as “crabs,” genital warts, chlamydia and herpes have been reported.[31] Even women who have never had sex with men have been found to have HPV, trichomoniasis and anogenital warts.[32]
Mental Health
Psychiatric Illness
Multiple studies have identified high rates of psychiatric illness, including depression, drug abuse and suicide attempts, among self professed gays and lesbians.[33] Females with any homosexual contact within the previous 12 months were more often diagnosed with major depression, social phobia or alcohol dependence. In fact, those with a history of homosexual contact had higher rates of nearly all psychiatric pathologies measured in the study.[34]
Reckless Sexual Behaviour
Depression and drug abuse can lead to reckless sexual behaviour, even among those who are most likely to understand the deadly risks.
Shortened Life Span
The greater incidence of physical and mental health problems among gays and lesbians has serious consequences for length of life. While many are aware of the death toll from AIDS, there has been little public attention given to the magnitude of the lost years of life. An epidemiological study from Vancouver, Canada of data tabulated between 1987 and 1992 for AIDS-related deaths reveals that male homosexual or bisexual practitioners lost up to 20 years of life expectancy. The study concluded that if 3 percent of the population studied were gay or bisexual, the probability of a 20-year-old gay or bisexual man living to 65 years was only 32 percent, compared to 78 percent for men in general.[35]
Monogamy
Monogamy for heterosexual couples means at a minimum sexual fidelity. The most extensive survey of sex in America found that “a vast majority [of heterosexual married couples] are faithful while the marriage is intact.”[36] The survey further found that 94 percent of married people and 75 percent of cohabiting people had only one partner in the prior year.[37] Moreover, the average gay or lesbian relationship is short lived. In one study, only 15 percent of gay men and 17.3 percent of lesbians had relationships that lasted more than three years.[38] Thus, the studies reflect very little long-term monogamy in gay and lesbian relationships.
Cultural Implications
There is an African proverb that states, “Don’t tear down a fence until you know why it was put up.” The societal implications of the unrestrained sexual activity described above are devastating. The ideal of sexual activity being limited to marriage, always defined as male-female, has been a fence erected in all civilisations around the globe.[39] Throughout history, many people have climbed over the fence, engaging in premarital, extramarital, and homosexual sex. Still, the fence stands; the limits are visible to all. Climbing over the fence, metaphorically, has always been recognized as a breach of those limits, even by the breachers themselves. No civilisation can retain its vitality for multiple generations after removing the fence.[40]
Now social activists are saying that there should be no fence, and that to destroy the fence is an act of liberation.[41]
If the fence is torn down, there is no visible boundary to sexual expression. If gay sex is socially acceptable, what logical reason can there be to deny social acceptance of adultery, polygamy, or pedophilia? The polygamist movement already has support from some of the advocates for gay and lesbian rights.[42] In addition, some in the psychological profession are floating the idea that maybe pedophilia is not so damaging to children after all.[43] Lesbian social critic Camille Paglia observes, “history shows that male homosexuality, which like prostitution flourishes with urbanization and soon becomes predictably ritualised, always tends toward decadence.”[44]
Social approval of gay sex leads to an increase in such behaviour. In 1993, Newsweek reported that the growing media presence and social acceptance of homosexual behaviour was leading to teenager experimentation to the extent that it was “becoming chic.”[45] It is clear that there are serious medical consequences to same-sex behaviour. Identification with a gay and lesbian community appears to lead to an increase in promiscuity, which in turn leads to a myriad of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and even early death. To point out the health risks of gay sex and promiscuity. Approving same-sex relationships is detrimental to society in general.
[1] Becky Birtha. Gay Parents and the Adoption Option, The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 04, 2002, See Internet source: www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/ 2787531.htm; Grant Pick, Make Room for Daddy – and Poppa, The Chicago Tribune Internet Edition, March 24, 2002, www.chicagotribune.com/features/magazine/chi- 0203240463mar24.story
[2] Ellen C. Perrin. Technical Report: Coparent or Second-Parent Adoption by Same-Sex Parents, (Pediatrics, 109(2), 2002), 341-344
[3] Gabriel Rotello. Sexual Ecology: AIDS and the Destiny of Gay Men, (New York: Penguin Group, 1998), 112
[4] Alan P. Bell and Martin S. Weinberg. Homosexuality’s: A study of Diversity Among Men and Women, (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1978), 308, Table 7
[5] Leon McKusick. Reported Changes in the Sexual Behaviour of Men at Risk for AIDS, (San Francisco, 1982-84) – the AIDS Behavioural Research Project,” Public Health Reports, 100), 625, Table 1 (November- December 1985). In 1982 respondents reported an average of 4.7 new partners in the prior month; in 1984, respondents reported an average of 2.5 new partners in the prior month.
[6] Increases in Unsafe Sex and Rectal Gonorrhea among Men Who Have Sex with Men – San Francisco, California, 1994-1997, Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report, (CDC, 48(03): January 29, 1999), 45-48
[7] This was evident by the late 80’s and early 90’s. Jeffrey A. Kelly. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/ Human Immunodeficiency Virus Risk Behaviour Among Gay Men in Small Cities, (Archives of Internal Medicine, 152: November 1992), 2293-2297; See also, Donald R. Hoover, et al. Estimating the 1978-1990 and Future Spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Subgroups of Homosexual Men, American Journal of Epidemiology, (134(10): 1991), 1190-1205
[8] Paul Van de Ven. Facts & Figures: 2000 Male Out Survey, (National Centre in HIV Social Research Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences: The University of New South Wales, 2001), 20, Table 20
[9] Gabriel Rotello, Sexual Ecology: AIDS and the Destiny of Gay Men, (New York: Penguin Group, 1998), 43-46
[11] Donald R. Hoover. Estimating the 1978-1990 and Future Spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Subgroups of Homosexual Men, (American Journal of Epidemiology- 134(10), 1991), 1203- Figure 3
[12] Basic Statistics, CDC – Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, www.cdc.gov/hiv/stats.htm. June 2001). (Nearly 8% (50,066) of men with AIDS had sex with men and used intravenous drugs. These men are included in the 64% figure (411,933) of 649,186 men who have been diagnosed with AIDS.)
[13] Catherine Hutchinson. Characteristics of Patients with Syphilis Attending Baltimore STD Clinics, (Archives of Internal Medicine, 1991), 511-516
[14] Katherine Fethers, Caron Marks. Sexually transmitted infections and risk behaviours in women who have sex with women, (Sexually Transmitted Infections, 76(5):2000), 347
[15] James Price. Perceptions of cervical cancer and pap smear screening behaviour by Women’s Sexual Orientation, (Journal of Community Health, 21: 1996), 89-105; See also, Daron Ferris. A Neglected Lesbian Health Concern: Cervical Neoplasia, (The Journal of Family Practice, 43(6), 1996), 581; C. Skinner, J. Stokes. A Case-Controlled Study of the Sexual Health Needs of Lesbians, (Sexually Transmitted Infections, 72(4), 1996), 277-280
[16] The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) published a press release entitled, Ten Things Gay Men Should Discuss with their Health Care Providers; See Internet source: (www.glma.org/news/ releases/n02071710gaythings.html. July 17, 2002), the list includes: HIV/AIDS (Safe Sex), Substance Use, Depression/ Anxiety, Hepatitis Immunization, STDs, Prostate/ Testicular/Colon Cancer, Alcohol, Tobacco, Fitness and Anal Papilloma.
[17] Anne Rompalo. Sexually Transmitted Causes of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Homosexual Men, (Medical Clinics of North America, 1990), 1633-1645; See also, Anal Health for Men and Women, (LGBTHealthChannel, www.gayhealthchannel.com/analhealth/) ; Safer Sex (MSM) for Men who Have Sex with Men; See Internet source: LGBTHealthChannel, www.gayhealthchannel.com/stdmsm/.
[18] Anal Health for Men and Women; See Internet source: (LGBTHealthChannel: www.gayhealthchannel.com/analhealth); J. E. Barone. Management of Foreign Bodies and Trauma of the Rectum, (Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics: 156(4): April 1983), 453-457
[19]Cancer Control & Population Sciences, (National Cancer Institute; See Internet source: www.cancercontrol.cancer.gov/ocs/prevalence, April 2002). In 1999, the Cancer Society estimated 1,221,800 new cancer cases and an estimated 563,100 cancer related deaths, Cancer Facts and Figures; See Internet source: www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/F&F99.pdf, 1999), 4; in 2000, the ACS estimated 1,220,100 new cancer cases and 552,200 deaths from cancer, Cancer Facts and Figures, (www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/ F&F00.pdf; 2000), 4; in 2001, estimated a total number of 1,268,000 new cases of cancer and 553,400 deaths, Cancer Facts and Figures; See Internet source: (www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/ F&F2001.pdf, 2001), 5; This results in an estimated growth of 2,041,200 new cancer cases over the past three years and an estimated 10,941,200 people with cancer as of January 1, 2002. In 2001, there were 793,025 reported AIDS cases. Basic Statistics, CDC – Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention; See Internet source: (www.cdc.gov/hiv/stats.htm, June 2001)
[20] Gay and Lesbian Medical Association Press Release, Ten Things Lesbians Should Discuss with Their Health Care Providers; See Internet source: www.glma.org/news/ releases/n02071710lesbianthings.html, July 17, 2002), The list includes Breast Cancer, Depression/Anxiety, Gynecological Cancer, Fitness, Substance Use, Tobacco, Alcohol, Domestic Violence, Osteoporosis and Heart Health.
[21] Robert T. Michael. Sex in America: a Definitive Survey, (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1994), 140-141, Table 11
[22] C. Skinner, J. Stokes. A Case-Controlled Study of the Sexual Health Needs of Lesbians, (Sexually Transmitted Infections, 72(4): Abstract 1996), 581
[23] Katherine Fethers. Sexually transmitted infections and risk behaviours in women who have sex with women, (Sexually Transmitted Infections, 76 (5): 2000), 345-349
[24] Katherine Fethers, et al. Sexually transmitted infections and risk behaviours in women who have sex with women (Sexually Transmitted Infections ,2000), 345-349
[29] Barbara Berger, Shelley Kolton. Bacterial vaginosis in lesbians: a sexually transmitted disease, (Clinical Infectious Diseases, 1995), 1402-1405
[30] E. H. Koumans. Preventing adverse sequelae of Bacterial Vaginosis: a Public Health Program and Research Agenda, (Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 28(5): May 2001), 292-297; See also, R. L. Sweet. Gynecologic Conditions and Bacterial Vaginosis: Implications for the Non-Pregnant Patient, Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Genecology, 8(3): 2000), 184-190
[31] Kathleen M. Morrow. Sexual Risk in Lesbians and Bisexual Women, (Journal of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, 4(4): 2000), 159-165
[33] Judith Bradford, Caitlin Ryan, and Esther D. Rothblum. National Lesbian Health Care Survey: Implications for Mental Health Care, (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62(2): 1994), 228-242; See also, Richard C. Pillard, Sexual orientation and mental disorder, (Psychiatric Annals: 18(1), 1988), 52-56; See also Mubarak S. Dahir, The Gay Community’s New Epidemic, (Daily News, June 5, 2000), See Internet source: www.gaywired.com/story detail.cfm?Section=12&ID=148&ShowDate=1.
[34] Theo Sandfort, Ron de Graaf. Same-sex Sexual Behaviour and Psychiatric Disorders, (Archives of General Psychiatry: 58(1): January 2001), 89 and Table 2
[35] R. S. Hogg, S. A. Strathdee. Modeling the Impact of HIV Disease on Mortality in Gay and Bisexual Men, (International Journal of Epidemiology, 26(3): 1997), 657-661. Death as the result of HIV infection has dropped significantly since 1996. Life Expectancy Hits New High in 2000; Mortality Declines for Several Leading Causes of Death, (CDC News Release, October 10, 2001); See Internet source: www.cdc.gov/nchs/releases/01news/mort2k.htm. Nevertheless, it remains a significant factor in shortened life expectancy for homosexual practitioners.
[36] Robert T. Michael. Sex in America: a Definitive Survey, (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1994), 89
[38] Marcel T. Saghir, and Eli Robins. Male and Female Homosexuality: A Comprehensive Investigation, (Baltimore: The Williams & Wilkins Company, 1973), 57
[39] The existence of limited homosexual relationships in primitive cultures, or even extensive homosexuality in declining civilizations, such as those cited by advocates of same-sex marriage, does not challenge the existence of a prevailing norm. See, for example, William N. Eskridge, Jr. The Case for Same-Sex Marriage, (New York: The Free Press, 1996), 2
[40] Joseph D. Unwin. Sexual Regulations and Cultural Behaviour, (Oxford University Press: Medical Section of the British Psychological Society, 1935 reprint), 18-19
[41] For example, see the website of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, Inc; See Internet source: (www.ncsfreedom.org)
[42] The ACLU believes that criminal and civil laws prohibiting or penalizing the practice of plural marriage violate constitutional protections. 1992 (Policy Guide of the ACLU, Policy #91), 175.
[43] Judith Levine. Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children from Sex, (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2002)
[44] Camille Paglia. I’ll take religion over gay culture; See Internet source: (Salon.com online magazine, www.frontpagemag.com/archives/guest_column/ paglia/gayculture.htm, June 23, 1998)
[45] David Gelman. Tune In, Come Out, (Newsweek: November 8, 1993), 70
When you became a Christian, you died to your old life and were raised, as it were, with Christ to a new kind of life. This is your new life of discipleship in which you follow Christ. But this new life is not automatic. Your life does not automatically start showing the “fruits of the Spirit.” When God places the desire in your heart, you still must carry through, take the next step, and do what God has asked you to do. The bad news is that we do not always take this next step; we stumble and fall by doing what God has asked us not to do. The good news is that God is ready to help. We believe that God is our Creator and that he is all-wise and all-good. This means that he determines what is right and what is wrong, and that his judgments are always for our good.
To use a metaphor, God has shown us the middle of the bull’s-eye. When we shoot the arrows of our lives and miss the mark, when our attitudes and actions fall short of what God has asked of us, this we call “sin.” Sin starts with temptation, with the enticement to miss the mark. But there is good news. Temptation is not sin. Some of the thoughts that flit through your mind are luring you to sin, but they are not sin. You do not have to give in to temptation. God is faithful and has promised to always give us a way to move through the time of temptation without sin. God is on our side. He wants us to gain mastery over temptation and helps us do so. But what should you do if you give in to temptation? Confess; agree with God whole-heartedly that you were wrong and he is right. Practically speaking, we should confess early, confess often, and confess fully. And it is helpful to confess to our Christian brothers and sisters. The power of sin is usually snapped when it is brought into the light. When you do confess, you can be assured that God will fully forgive your sin, no matter how horrible it is and no matter how often you have done it. And when you are forgiven, you are cleansed and can enjoy the freedom that comes only through confession, forgiveness and cleansing.
When you became a Christian, you were aware that certain things were happening. Formerly you had been separated from God, not in relationship with him, but then you repented. Formerly you were dead but now you are alive. But much more happened, even if you were not aware of it. Before conversion, did you know that it was God drawing you to himself, helping you understand your guilt and emptiness? In conversion God rescued you from the kingdom of darkness and brought you into his kingdom of light, forgave your sins, acquitted you from all guilt, freed you from all condemnation, redeemed you from the tyranny of sin, made you holy, made you into a new creation, adopted you into his family, made you a citizen of heaven and gave you the gift of his Holy Spirit to live within you forever as a helper and a guarantee that you would receive the inheritance that God has promised. With all this, it should come as no surprise that changed people will live in a changed way. Of course your life is going to be different; it cannot possibly be the same because you are not the same.
The Bible uses many different ways of discussing this new life. Jesus says that we become his disciples, which means that we are his followers and learn from him. Conversion is an important first step in this new life. The Bible also talks about the “fruits of the Spirit.” “Fruits” stands for the changes that God’s Spirit is going to accomplish in your life, changes like love, joy, peace, patience, etc. Do not be frightened about these changes. God is not standing there with a frown, demanding that you be perfect. But he will give you the desire to change and then the ability to do so. This change is not automatic; you can fight him, but why would you want to do that?
Another metaphor that the Bible uses to describe followers of Jesus is that we are the “salt of the earth.” Life is going to be different; you are going to be different. Things are about to change in your life.
The most famous passage in the Bible is in the book of John, Chapter 3, Verse 16. This is how God loved the world: he gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life and not really die. Let us look at the different parts of this verse. “This is how God loved the world.” God is the starting point. He created the world and loved the world, but the people he created decided to rebel against him (which the Bible calls “sin”), and the consequence of that decision was separation from God, and eventually death. “He gave his one and only Son.” The good news is that God gave his Son to die on the cross so that his death would pay the penalty for your sins and forgiveness could be made available. This is possible only because Jesus is not only the Son of God, but is God himself. (This can be confusing, and we will talk about it eventually).
It is also possible because Jesus was fully human, and only the sacrifice of a human being can pay the penalty of human sin. “So that everyone who believes in him.” God’s offer of salvation is for “everyone;” it is not limited to any group. But salvation is only for those who believe in Jesus; Christianity not a philosophy or a religious organisation. It is a personal relationship with God, made possible by what Jesus did on the cross. But it is not enough simply to believe certain truths about God. The faith that God requires is a faith that trusts not in itself but trusts in Jesus, that he is who he says he is and that he did what he said he would do.
This means that we can do nothing to earn God’s favour, but simply receive his free offer of forgiveness and salvation. “Will have eternal life and not really die.” Followers of Jesus may physically die, but not really die, for they live with him forever in heaven. But Jesus also wants us to count the cost before we decide to follow him. While salvation is free, it means that Jesus is our new master, and part of following Jesus is becoming like him.
Posted by Brendon Naicker 
Posted by Brendon Naicker 
Posted by Brendon Naicker 