While many people assume the “religious right” is the one to bring religion into the conversation about sexuality, it is actually often those speaking about their sexuality that bring it up first.

That was the case for Ashley Broadway, the homosexual woman who made waves about being “denied” entry into a military spouses club she didn’t even want to join (she was ‘just trying to make a point’). At one point, Broadway made a point of saying she was a “devout Christian,” yet failed to explain how she could be exercising such a faith while flouting her unrepentant sin.

Peter King — who now calls himself “Patricia” — made similar revelations last year and again in recent interviews. He managed to find a church that would affirm his continued life in sin.

Newly christened Ensign Marberry — who is a male but says he is a woman — also spoke about growing up in a conservative Christian home. Ultimately, he said

“The conclusion I’ve come to is God does not make mistakes,” she said.

“And I’m not a mistake.”

God doesn’t make mistakes. People do. Man is an imperfect being, stained by sin. And any parent (religious or not) will tell you it is ridiculous to say people should give in to their every desire simply because they have it — and that because they have that desire, it is therefore “right”.

The belief that “I was born this way” or that “God made me this way” — therefore I should be free to behave this way — is nothing more than an excuse for wrongdoing.  It is an excuse equally accessible to adulterers, philanderers, pedophiles, murderers, tax cheats, road ragers, and people who don’t use deodorant.  We were all “born this way,” that is, with a sin nature.  That doesn’t give us permission to give in to that nature.  Yes, too, we were knit by God and in His image — and yet stained by sin.

The world’s prisons are filled with people who gave in to their “natural” desires and did what they wanted to do, because even society recognizes that desire (however “innate”) doesn’t make something right. Likewise, the world’s cemeteries — because the natural world recognizes that, too.

All have sinned, and all have fallen short of the glory of God. In Christ’s own words, to call oneself a Christian — a Christ-follower — implies one has decided to follow Christ.

Can you really claim to be following Christ, yet continue to live — celebrate — your unrepentant sin?

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

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