The following is a letter that appeared in The Courier. How would you respond? Would you respond? My response was published – it follows beneath the letter…
Letter: God created gay people too
The Courier & Advertiser 24 Apr 2015
Sir, – Churches today face a major problem, in that they have not modernised their attitudes to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) relationships, continuing to hold these to be against their Biblical beliefs. As a senior member of the General Register Office team which developed the Civil Partnership Act in 2003, I well recollect the number of objections we received from religious groups who believed people “chose” to be gay.
However, it has been very well established that people do not choose their sexuality as they grow up.That is the way they were born. Most of those who are forced into marriage against their will, end up with broken relationships and divorce after a difficult period. That was a major factor in the introduction of the act.
One common denominator among Christian believers is that God created all mankind. So, a very simple question. If He created all mankind, by definition, He also created people of the LGBT nature as well.
So why would He punish them for being what He created? I never met any believer who could properly give a truly convincing answer to that question.
Howard Evans,
Letter: We seek best for mankind
The Courier & Advertiser 28 Apr 2015
Sir, – Howard Evans (April 24) asks what he calls a ‘very simple question’: why did God create lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people? The answer is the same as he created any one of us: to live full and fulfilled lives loving and serving him.
However, the accusation behind the question is a little simplistic. Mr Evans seems to assume that sexuality is totally determined by genes and that whatever is genetic must be right. As regards the former, while there are clearly genetic factors, it is by no means clear that all sexuality is just genetic. As regards the latter, we have evidence that factors such as violence, alcoholism and anger have genetic components.
It is also generally recognised that genetically it does not seem that humans are wired to be monogamous. In Mr Evans’ eyes this means that anger, violence, adultery and sexual promiscuity are just part of human nature and should be indulged.
The Christian churches’ perspective is not anti-gay. It is prohuman.
We just believe that the maker knows best and that ultimately it is for the good of us all if we follow his instructions.
We seek what is best for all human beings. What is wrong with that?
Rev David A Robertson. St Peter’s Free Church, 4 St Peter Street, Dundee.