This line is found in a song entitled "Dippity Doin." Ha. But John Reuben (author and artist of the song) in the midst of a silly song makes a solid point. The world is loaded with people who think a great deal of their own opinion, as if it were the only one with validity, all the while being ignorant, sometimes willfully, of the counter argument.
Opinions are a funny thing. We all have them and we all think ours is right (Proverbs 16:25; 14:12; 12:15). Of course we have to be honest and admit that we are often persuaded by the strong opinion of another. Once this happens we become a supporter and propagator of that now shared belief.
I have yet to talk to someone who says that it is genetic who actually has done any research. I have read the opinion of some scientists who have researched the issue but I have never talked to a common person who has actually checked in to these things with depth. Instead people just say, "it's genetic." or "it has been proven." But once I have pushed the issue by saying, "I am sorry I was unaware of that study, would you be willing to show it to me?" we arrive at a awkward moment of silence. (Now there have been studies where the data supports the idea but in every one I have discovered their has been researcher bias - ex. the researcher was gay himself or has been actively involved in supporting the belief before ever conducting the study. Obviously such a researcher is not being inductive in their pursuit but rather arriving at a convenient truth.)
Obviously I have my opinion on the subject which is that it is a choice that one makes for how they want to live. I hardly think that it is a "I think I am going to be gay today" type of decision but rather akin to the choice a drug addicted, homeless man makes. By this I mean that our man, the drug addicted bum (we'll call him Bob), did not wake up one day and say, "You know I think I would like to be a drug addicted bum today." No. It is hard to imagine anyone making such a choice. But nonetheless our streets are loaded with poor souls such as Bob.
Bob did not mean to make this choice and in fact if he could change things he would. But did Bob make the series of choices that has landed him in the horrible condition we find him in today? Certainly. I am sad for Bob. I should have compassion for him and I should wish to share Jesus Christ - who cleanses us from the eternal defilement of sin - with him. But Bob must realize, he is reaping what he has sown. He has made the choices that are bringing the present painful circumstances into his life.
It is my contention that this concept transfers over to the one who chooses homosexuality as a lifestyle. A person doesn't just decide to be gay any more than Bob decided to be an addict and throw his life away. One makes a series of choices that at first only leads them into a dangerous moral position. Once there the person begins to make dangerous choices (choices that do not seem to be big decisions at the time). Decisions reinforced by the people present and in a conducive environment (Romans 1:32). Once a person strays into the open moral field they become prey for the wicked (Proverbs 4:14-15, 7:6-23, 9:13-18).
Proverbs reveals this painful process of reaping and sowing vividly throughout its pages and most pointedly in the first nine chapters. It discusses the fact that the wayward ("fools" is the preferred term) will not receive a lightening bolt from heaven when they practice evil but will rather be given over to their desires and in turn what they want will ensnare and enslave them - and they will call themselves "addicted" to a pursuit that they once called pleasurable (Proverbs 5:22, 1:10-19). It is the boomerang effect of sin - the effect that Solomon spent a great deal of ink delineating.
Why is there this nexus between the moral choices we make and the paths that we take? Why does this happen? Because as Proverbs reveals, it is a divine ordinance from the throne of the Creator. Reap > Sow (Galatians 6:7). You will reap what you have sown. (Herein lies some added strength to trusting the Word of God: The text of Scripture reflect reality as we see it.)
Shifting back to the defense of my opinion, I would say that speaking from a naturalist-scientific, evolutionary standpoint (a point of view that I do not personally hold), if homosexuality is a genetic manifestation it is indeed a dangerous one. If our uber ancient ancestors had this strand of genetic information that told them to desire the same gender then our species would have logically been wiped out. We would have ceased to breed and thus become extinct. (Now today with modern scientific advancement we can find away around this through artificial insemination - but doesn't that description already tell you that something is not functioning in its proper manner, "artificial.")
My point is, if it is genetic then it is a dangerous genetic mutation for the survival of the species. Not only that but if natural selection is the key mechanism of evolution in the survival of the fittest then you would have to agree that the 'homosexual gene' is swimming in the entirely opposite direction of the overall goal to prolong the species. Natural selection, by nature, would need to "breed this out" of the gene pool.
That said, I do not hold to evolution or its logical conclusion in regard to homosexuality as a genetic variant. It is a choice than a man or woman makes albeit not necessarily an active "I am going to be gay today" choice but a personal, moral decision nonetheless.
A natural question raised by this might be: Am I mad at homosexuals or am I homo-phobic? No more so than that of a man like our guy Bob - remember him? On one hand I am worried for them, knowing that God has given them over to their deviation and knowing that He will judge them (Ecclesiastes 12:14, 3:17, 11:9; Psalm 1:5; Hebrews 4:13, 9:27, Matthew 12:36; 2Peter 3:7; Revelation 20:11-13). And on the other hand I am encouraged to see the truth of Scripture validated by the repercussion that sinners endure.
Anger does come into the equation as I see people thumbing their noses at the divine order of God - as it should (Isaiah 5:20-21). But my anger is to be laid at the feet of my Father because He said #1 that our anger does not bring about the righteousness that He desires (James 1:20) and #2 vengeance is His (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30). So any anger I have is a moot point in my inter-personal dealings. I would never personally commit violence or condone violence done to homosexuals, nor should any other who calls himself "Christian." And as far as being afraid of the gay community (homo-phobic), this is a rather ridiculous accusation to make to the Christian who is commanded to fear God alone.
On the issue of homosexuality opinions are heated. Most people have chosen to just line up behind some loud mouth and remain contentedly in the shadow of that seemingly knowledgeable individual. Most do not want to rock the boat nor do they want to dig under the surface of an issue. And honestly most people line up behind whoever is winning at the time - good ol bandwagon thinking happens in more than just sports. This heated subject simply illustrates the point that we often have strong opinions (arrogance) on many things even when we have not really sought out the truth (ignorance). "Arrogance mixed with ignorance will and can bring forth a man that don't really understand but claims he does - and you know what that's not good." Reuben is right - that's not good. It is very dangerous.
Over the ages the observer of history can watch the best opinions of the mightiest of our kin simply fall apart. Be that Socrates, Plato, Kant, Freud, Darwin, or even Newton - many of the ideas propagated by these men have diminished or disintegrated over time.
> The philosophers have systemattically and savagely dismantled the beliefs of those who came before them only to have the same done to them in due course of time.
> Freudian Psychology has fallen on hard times is now merely among the plethora of schools of psychological thought and practice.
> Darwin has had nearly all of his ideas modified beyond recognition and even his warnings of the possible weaknesses and failures of his system flatly ignored - one example being his belief in the simplicity of the cell.
> Newtonian physics being outdated by Einstein is mind boggling to me considering that it is in the seemingly concrete world of mathematics.
Things like this ought to reinforce that the opinions of mankind can only be taken so far. Opinions have always been changed and always will be subject to whimsy and cultural manipulation. This is why when I give my opinion regarding homosexuality I must root it in the Bible or else it stays among the field of fickle, worldly opinions. You can take or leave my quasi-scientific evaluation of the subject. The use of science is of little weight compared to what God says. My "scientific opinion" you might call it, may be easily proven wrong, but what the Bible says has never been changed and will never be moved. Watching the opinions of colossal figures in history fall by the wayside ought reinforce how meager our ideas and concepts really are. It ought to make us humble in our opinions and in the sharing of our views.
But does it?
Is this the best we can arrive at? Is this all the more we can conclude: That our opinions are set to wash away like so many sand castles when the next generation (or world power) rises up to call the shots?
If it is left only to humanity then yes.
But I think you know better than that. I think you know there is a God and that when you close your eyes in death you will yet live. You know that this is not the end - eternity has been set in your heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11). I think you know there is more to this life than what is seen. And since there is a God and He is not Silent* we would do well to pay attention to Him.
It is only logical that if God has spoken then all other opinions are meaningless. If the Creator has an opinion then all other opinions are reduced to idle chatter and nonsense by comparative standard. Find God's opinion, divorce yourself from your own and ignore the chatter of others. Hone in on what He says, learn it, cling to it and live by it (Proverbs 3:5-7). Therein you may stand with confidence against the colliding opinions from our present day, from ages past, and from the age to come (Proverbs 14:26).
