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6 BOCNEWS.comOCTOBER 2015 So God created man in His own image in the image of God He created him male and female He created them. Genesis 127 Those in the LBGT community and in our soci- ety are of the opinion that those who are gay were created that way and there is no hope for change. Either they live frustrated lives experience insincere relationships with those of the opposite gender or they bear the risk of coming out of the closet expressing their true feelings to family and friends who for the most part either already know or are suspect and being condemned. This belief creates a major problem with other sins because if there is no hope for change for those who are gay then there is no hope for the long list of oth- ers the bible declares shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 519-21 declares Now the works of the flesh are evident which are adultery fornication uncleanness lewdness idolatry sorcery hatred contentions jealousies outbursts of wrath selfish ambitions dissensions heresies envy murders drunkenness revelries and the like of which I tell you beforehand just as I also told you in time past that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. This list in one way or another includes all of us. If those that are gay are stuck in sin if they have no choice if they have no way out then none of us does either. For the bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. In our text we find that in Gods creation He created humanity male and female. We are not creations of our own imaginations or abilities. Human beings are without a doubt the most intel- ligent creatures on this earth. However we are also the only ones to question the creation of God. There are those who believe God made a mistake in their creation. That when He created male and female He got the bodies right the physical parts right but He somehow mixed up the minds and emotions. Therefore some say they are a man in a womans body and some say they are a woman in a mans body. They say God made a mistake and there now needs to be a recall to get the right minds the right emotions the right desires and right feelings in the right bodies. Interestingly it seems that all Gods other cre- ations are working well except for this intelligent creature. This creature man and woman who have been created in the image and likeness of God have the audacity to declare that there has been a manufacturing mistake. Somehow the formula was tainted the process was flawed the product testing was inadequate the persons gen- der was not properly vetted and there needs to be a recall and adjustment. Although you may think I am overstating the case many see their lives exactly that way. In their minds there was a mix-up in their creation and they have no choice but to live contrary to their minds and emotions in conflict denial and betrayal to their physical body. Understanding this we ask the question Did God does God make mistakes in giving life Did God does God make mistakes in creation First let us understand Gods intent. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD vs. 26 27 a b. Humankind is unique among all Gods creations having both a mate- rial body and an immaterial soul spirit. Having the image or like- ness of God means in the simplest terms that we were made to resemble God. Adam did not resemble God in the sense of God having flesh and blood. Scripture says God is spirit John 424 and therefore exists with- out a body. However Adams body did mirror the life of God insofar as it was created in perfect health and was not subject to death. The image of God refers to the immaterial part of man. We are souled beings. Our soul sets us apart from the animal world and fits us for the dominion God intended us to have over the earth Genesis 128 and enables us to commune with our Maker. CAN A PERSON BE BORN WITH THE WRONG GENDER We live in a confused and fallen world and that confusion extends everywhere so that even the most basic questions like what gender am I become difficult for some people to answer. Some people claim they were born as the wrong gender or at least in the wrong body. A man may believe he is actually a female but his soul is stuck in a male body. Such claims receive sup- port from others who advocate a gender-neutral society. However those who believe so are actively rejecting Gods design in creation. God clearly cre- ated two and only two genders. Male and female He created them Genesis 127. Some people today state that they have felt like the opposite gender since they were children. If actually a child felt that way to what would he or she compare it From birth children have inclinations towards many things. How they feel is all they know what they are inclined towards is their normal. The job of parenting is to change fashion and in some cases correct their normal. Certain behaviors are reinforced or condemned by parental and societal influences and definitions. Children growing up in this confused world are bombarded with messages of confusion. Little boys are told they dont have to be boys little girls are told they might not really be girls. They are told whatever they feel they are is what they areboy girl or a mixture of the two. The world tells them it doesnt matter. The confusion and uncertainty are reinforced in many ways television internet in schools. A parent can instill that desire in a child or a child can observe benefits enjoyed by the other gender and desire them. It is becoming the major- ity opinion. Its little wonder that some grow up struggling with their sexual identity. Given enough conditioning children can be convinced that they identify more as the opposite gender. Too often children are labeled as cross-gendered because of natural differences in manner- isms and responses. Adults often back-paint or reflect in hindsight on their childhood and find justi- fication for why they feel the way they do. Although God created the earth perfectly it brought destruc- tion upon itself with the onset of human sin Romans 512. The Bible says of His creation that it was good. He God created male and female and He pronounced His creation very good Genesis 127 31. Gods plan was perfect but as with everything in human- itys sphere perfection was corrupted by sin. Sin brought anomalies its contamination knows no end in creation. We live in a fallen world. We are imperfect beings living in an imperfect world living imperfect lives working on imperfect jobs eating imperfect food forming imperfect relationships all our existence is imperfect. Although it may be easier psychologically to believe that being gay is inborn the accumulated scientific evidence and biblical evidence suggests otherwise. Some people may have a genetic predis- position towards being gay but human choice is still a factor. A predisposition is not a final disposi- tion. Whatever your predisposition your continu- ing disposition does not have to be the same. You have a choice. People are not born gay ultimately sexual orientation sexual preference unless one is physically born a hermaphrodite-with both sex organs sexual orientation is determined outside of the womb. This truth offers hope for change. SATANS DECEPTION. We are involved in a spiri- tual battle for our souls. If a person feels he or she has been born as the wrong gender the answer is not gender-reassignment surgery hormone ther- apy cross-dressing etc. Those are simply worldly ways of accepting the devils lies. The one who feels he or she was born in the wrong body needs first and foremost to experience the transformative power of Christ 1 Corinthians 136. The truth is God does not make mistakes. Science has sought to find a genetic source for issues related to gender but also for alcoholism drugs and a plethora of other disorders. The thought is that there must be something different in the genetic make-up something different in a certain part of the brain that predisposes people to certain kinds of conduct. Others investigate the aspect of ones lineage believing these disorders to be learned behaviors that placed in a certain envi- ronment people grow up with certain behaviors as their normal in life. Admittedly there are some factors that contrib- ute to gender confusion There are many research- ers who cite environmental factors as major con- tributors to homosexual feelings. They strongly believe that negative early childhood experiences in an unloving or non-supportive home environment are a critical part of this process. Common ele- ments seem to include an emotionally withdrawn or physically absent father and an overbearing flattering or over-protective mother. In many cases there are reports of physical sexual or emotional abuse. However it may be that none of those conditions exists. The reality is that homo- sexual behavior particularly in children begins as an emotional craving not a sexual craving. It William T. Golson God Got It Right By Pastor William T. Golson SERMON The job of parenting is to change fashion and in some cases correct their normal. Certain behaviors are reinforced or condemned by parental and societal influences and definitions. Children growing up in this confused world are bombarded with messages of confusion. Continued on Page 9