exodus youth

When you think of the issues that are most urgent or dangerous in the world today, homosexuality probably isn’t at the very top. War, poverty, disease, sexual slavery; these are certainly more pressing and require a lot of attention.

But the existence of more important or urgent issues doesn’t make homosexuality a non-issue. The way we live out our gender and conduct ourselves sexually matters a whole lot to God. In the Bible, you’ll find strongly-worded writings not only about the negative consequences of deviating from God’s plan for sexuality, but more importantly, you’ll discover the beautiful creation He had in mind when He made man and woman for each other.
The fact that God made us male and female is a big deal. In fact, it’s the second thing the Bible says about humanity, right after the fact that we’re made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).

Sex is also very important to God; it uniquely reflects God’s character and plan. He devoted a whole book of the Bible (the Song of Solomon) to the passion between a husband and his wife. Solomon lays bare the glory of sexuality, but does so in a very tender way that is never crass or degrading. The song reminds us again and again of the sanctity of sex and the importance of waiting: “Promise me, O women of Jerusalem… not to awaken love until the time is right.” (Solomon 2:7)

Our culture, though, has spent the last several decades tearing down the glory of sex, marriage and gender. Through every medium imaginable we are told in a thousand different ways that sex is nothing but a recreational activity, that people’s bodies are property to exploit.

In the process, many young people lose sight of the beautiful things God created them for, and are settling for something that’s so much less. Homosexuality isn’t the only way people sin sexually, but it is still one of many ways we fall short of God’s standard.

But if there really is Good News for those who struggle and fall in these areas, shouldn’t we be sharing it?