Tuesday 4 January 2011

"Elton John becomes a father at 63" - The Guardian

It is well known that Christmas day is a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. On Boxing day it is rare that a piece of news is released that shatters all the merriment and celebration for some people. Sadly this year was one of those rare times. The festivities were interrupted with the news that Elton John and his partner David Furnish have adopted a child who was born of Christmas day.

The majority of the News Papers (and some of comments on their sites) were very sympathetic towards the couple, but it is obvious that there are people against it from many of the comments on the websites. To my surprise there are a several comments that are against the fact that he is adopting a child at the age of 63. One comment says, "Absolutely disgusting - there should be a law against anybody over 45 having a new born".

From a Christian point of view the main issue is not about the age of the parents. After all Abraham was 100 when he has Isaac and the pre-flood ancestors lived for centuries having babies as they went. The dominant issue for Christians here is homosexuality. Christians are against homosexual relationships and naturally are against the couples adopting and raising a child in a homosexual environment. People call the intolerance of homosexuality homophobia. We neither fear nor hate gay people, but we are opposed to the practice. Why? Because in our biblical interpretation of the issue we see that it is wrong.

I am what is known as a conservative Christian, which is a Christian who believes the Bible to be the word of God. It should not be altered or added to in order to suit a person's life style or time period. The creation account (Gen 1-2) tell us that God created man and woman in his own image (Gen 1:26-27). He then blessed them and commanded them to '"be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" (Gen 1:28). This instruction is only applicable to couples containing a man and a woman. We fill the earth by have children which come from a relationship between a man and a woman. A man and a man cannot achieve this naturally and neither can a woman and a woman. God created man and woman in his own image and blessed them.

That is the first point. God made Adam and Eve. Why did God make Eve and not Steve? God saw that Adam was lonely and needed a helper (Gen 2:18-20). There was no helper suitable so God, in his infinite wisdom, made a woman for him. We know that God does what is best for his children. Romans 8:28 says, "God works in all things for the good of those who love him." God does what is best for those who love him and Adam loved God. What solution was the best? The best solution was to make woman for man to have as a companion.

Secondly, to some people, the above argument may be opposed by someone claiming that God doesn't say it should happen. This confirmation by silence is a terrible way to justify oneself. If a clearer reference is needed from the Bible we don't have to look far. Still in the first five books (the Books of the Law) we find specific commandments stating that it is a sin. Leviticus 18 is very clear about unlawful sexual relations. Leviticus 18:22 says, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination." This from the English Standard Version. The 2010 New International Version translates this verse even more clearly and says, "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." The new translation is phrased this way because it clears up any interpretation that 'to lie' means 'to sleep next to'.

The Mosaic Law tells that is it wrong. Creation and God's Law agrees with our natural moral conscience that it is wrong.

This is a rant I know, but it is the Bible's truth. Our main concern should be able the homosexuality promoted in the nation.

A final note is needed I feel. The issue of homosexuality comes up quite often and the Christian voices ring out which cause people the think that we are solely against homosexuality. This is not true. Homosexuality is a sin. Lying is a sin. Drunkenness is a sin. Premarital sex is a sin. Killing is a sin. All sins are equal. A single sin keeps you from heaven, that is why we need God to sort it out for us, which he did in sending Jesus to the Cross. Some people think that some sins are not as bad. We hear about little white lies (opposed to the big black ones) but the truth is all sin is a bad as each other. We are not picking on one particular one. We are just trying to prevent another sin from becoming universally accepted in the nation.

I hope this hasn't offended anyone. Remember we don't hate the sinner but the sin. We do not hate liars, murders, thieves etc. We are commanded to love them. If we did hate the sinner we would hate everyone one as we all commit sins. We are to hate to the sin and we should want to flush it out of our systems and to prevent other people from committing them too. For us all, God is the only person who can free us from our guilt and sin.

Steve

7 comments:

DavidN said...

Well said.
On a point of accuracy, the baby was not adopted but born to a surrogate - that means one of the 'couple' is the father.
This, though, in no way invalidates what you've pointed out the Bible has to say.

poisoneggs said...

>>Premarital sex is a sin.

Could you support this with some scripture?

Steve Neal said...

@poisoneggs

1 Corinthians 7:1-2 says, "Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband." Also see Hebrews 13:4, "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral".

To me sex with someone other than your wife or husband counts as sexual immorality. Sexual immorality can be found through out the Old and New Testaments.

poisoneggs said...

Yet from Leviticus, it seems sexual immorality is basically homosexuality, incest and bestiality! Nothing about marriage..

Varyna said...

I am not sure if I like the statement "sex before marriage is a sin."
Christianity has its roots in Judaism and in Judaism sex IS marriage. That is why in Jewish weddings it is traditional for the bride and groom to go and get it on before the party really begins.
So if we look at it that way and say sex is marriage, which is likely what the biblical authors would have accepted as the norm then surely it is only premarital sex with multiple partners that is a sin? Or having intercourse with people you have no intention of marrying before God in his church at some point. Steve the bible verses you gave would support this idea.
As for the rest of this blog. You make valid points that a Christian who knew their stuff could easily understand but I think more biblical support is needed for those who don't know as much. Further reading and the like. Also though I may agree with your points I believe that a post like this may be seen as judgemental or anti homosexual. I understand that this may not be what you want to convey but I think perhaps saying that this news on Boxing Day ruined Christmas and the like take away from your theological point. The bible does condemn homosexuality and there are no two ways about it but the message of God's love is stronger than that and should have greater emphasis. WE don't get to judge because only God knows a person’s heart.

Steve Neal said...

Thank you all for your feedback. Your comments are really helpful. I am quite new to the blogging thing and I will definitely work on my phrasing and proof reading. I think promiscuity is the term I should have put.

Unknown said...

From a less conservatively Christian position than Steve (but still believing Scripture is the "word of God")I would have concerns if even a heterosexual, married couple were having a surrogate kid at 63. For me this issue is far more pressing than their sexuality!