Prayer Letter - August 2009

A Biblical view of Homosexuality

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth...... Genesis 1:27-28 (KJV)

A Biblical view of man, woman and homosexuality:

The Biblical worldview of humanity states that man and woman were created in God’s image (Gen 1:27). Woman was created with a distinct difference. The Bible further describes the relationship between man and woman in Gen 2:24 and 25. They were to be “man” and “wife”; in other words, a heterosexual, monogamous, covenant relationship that was blessed by God the Creator in Gen 1:28 and commanded to “be fruitful”. God created the differences in the anatomy and physiology in man and woman to facilitate that fruitfulness. The family and community would be allowed to grow and flourish on account of that particular sexual differentiation and complimentarity. Together, in that covenant relationship blessed by God and with their varied characteristics unique to their sexuality, man and woman are able to build family and community. This in short is the Biblical view of man, woman, family and community which of course is quite different from the secular view that permits homosexual behavior and sanctions same-sex relationships

Paucity of space prevents me from discussing the Fall described in Genesis 3, because in that lies the seeds of our present problem. But a brief survey of Genesis 3 and 4 demonstrates the spread of sin from just personal disobedience to God, to jealousy, murder and revenge. The first discussion we have of homosexuality in the Bible is in Genesis 18 where we sense the depravity of a whole community of people – the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. The scandalous intentions of the male population of Sodom (old and young) towards Lot’s guests sealed their doom, purely because it was a sin that defied all imagination. The fact that a whole male population of a city was affected by this problem should not escape the reader. It seemed to have become a lifestyle!! And it invited divine judgment. The Apostle Paul relates this and other forms of sexual sin to a deliberate disobedience of God, an avoidance of the truth and worship of everything other than the true God (Rom 1:18-31). It is a sweeping indictment. To the average reader this argument may appear to be an over simplification, but take a look at the world around us – the growth of the pornographic industry, the increasing incidences of child prostitution, pedophilia, openness with which people flaunt perversion and their sexuality and the increasing skepticism towards marriage as an institution and the resulting freedom to use sex at will.

Sexual sin of any sort is a sin against God. Joseph recognized this about 300 years before the Ten Commandments were given. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, notice Joseph’s response: My master withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God (Gen 39:9)?  Sexual sin is especially displeasing to God since it strikes at the heart of relationships and community. Representatives of God - first the nation of Israel and then the Church are a people set apart who would reflect His holiness among the people around them.  Sexual purity within relationships is a mark of that holiness – a key characteristic of God’s people.

The secular viewpoint of Homosexuality:

Secular humanism and the gay/lesbian lobby would have us believe that homosexuality is not a moral issue, but the choice of an “alternate lifestyle” to be enjoyed by two consenting adults, so it should be left to the individuals concerned. Another argument is that gays and lesbians are born that way. Therefore any attempt to bring laws to prevent this lifestyle would be to trample on the fundamental rights of two consenting adults. Part of this argument is true, in that all of us are born with a tendency to sin (Gen 8:21, Ps 51:5).  But while we all have a tendency to sin, the choice to do what is right or wrong rests with us! In other words, SIN is the result of the personal choices we make. It is a moral issue, not a scientific issue. What has medical research shown? Nothing! Even attempts to identify the “gay gene” have been futile. Science has yet to produce a conclusive study that links homosexuality to biology. Make no mistake, homosexual relationships, like any heterosexual relationships outside the boundaries of marriage, is the result of a personal choice and is therefore a sin!!

Is there any hope for Homosexuals or are they consigned to living in deception and perishing in their sin?

There is hope for gays and lesbians. But that hope lies in the acceptance of their condition as sin. If they continue to hold the view that homosexual behavior is a lifestyle choice, then as the Apostle John says we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. They will continue to live in deception. Our Lord Jesus Christ understands our sin. He said that It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick…..For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Mat 9:12-13). He came for those who are struggling with sin of various types – alcoholism, pornography, sexual sin, drug addiction etc., and yes - homosexuality too! To know Jesus as the One who died on the cross of Calvary for every one of those sins is to know Jesus as personal Savior and to know Jesus as the truth – the truth that sets men and women free from every kind of bondage. Homosexuality like all sin is a bondage that keeps men and women bound in a vice-like grip. The Gospel frees, because the Gospel is the Truth!!

We have an example from the city of Corinth, a key city of Greece in the Apostle Paul's time which was known for its sexual licentiousness. Homosexual behavior was rife in the city. Hear what Paul says: Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders…. will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1Cor 6:9-11). If the gays and lesbians in Paul’s day could repent of their sin and be transformed, what has changed today?  After all, the Gospel and the God it talks about is the same yesterday, today and forever and is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes – gays and lesbians included!! Jesus’ answer to the woman caught in the sexual sin of adultery was: Go now and leave your life of sin (Jn 8:11).

What should the Christian’s role be?

Jesus’ declaration that He was not sent to condemn the world, but save the world through Him (Jn 3:17) and the fact that His mission was to seek and to save the lost (Lk 19:10) is motivation for us to treat gays and lesbians with love and compassion and introduce them to the One who saves completely and frees them from this terrible bondage and restore them to being God’s image bearers thereby sticking with the original design.

And what a design! Dr Francis Collins, former director of the Human Genome Project saw God’s hand in the magnificent coding of the DNA double helix. He could be echoing King David’s prayer:

• Alumni Get-together held at Trichy dated 4th & 5th Jul’09 with Mr. R. Rajkumar & Prof. Jeyakar Chellaraj as guest speakers.
• The Haggai Institute North Eastern Regional Council (HINERC) meeting at Dimapur held dated 5th July and thereafter visit to Dimapur AA, Kohima AA, Mokokchung AA and Jorhat AA for meeting the Alumni by the HINERC members.
• The Alumni Get-together held at Raipur dated 5th Aug’09.
• Mr. Kumardas’s visit to Rayalaseema dated 22nd to 25th Jul’09, which has resulted in a breakthrough. Hindupur & Gooty Alumni Associations revived.
• The seminars conducted in the month of July: Western Region: Belapur-Navi Mumbai; Southern Region: Bangalore; Central Region: Chhindwara; NE Region: Ukhrul, Dakopgre, Diphu.

Please Pray For:

• The Board of Directors meeting of the Society of Haggai Institute, India dated 22nd Aug’09 at Bangalore.
• Regional Alumni Get-together for Central Region scheduled 28th and 29th Sep’09 at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
• Faculty Development Seminar scheduled at Nagpur dated 21st to 25th Oct’09 and Faculty Initiation Seminar scheduled at Pondicherry dated 4th to 6th Sep’09.
• The quick recovery of Mr. Balbir Prasad, President, Sonebhadra AA, who underwent an open heart surgery.
• Mr. Koshy Varghese, Member of the Board of Directors of Haggai Institute, who is unwell, also for quick recovery of  3 year old Rachel, daughter of Dr. Sanju Thomas, Alumnus, who is unwell.
• Suitable candidates for the posts of Regional Director for Western Region & Area Manager for Northeast Region.
• The upcoming State Level Seminars in 2009: Chikhali 4 – 8 Aug, Pondicherry 12 – 16 Aug, Narsapur-Pune 12 – 16, Coonoor 14 – 18 Aug, Dindigul 22 – 26 Aug, Vellore 19 – 23 Sep, Vijayawada (Telugu) 21 – 26 Sep, Coonoor 26 – 30 Sep, Coonoor (Tamil) 26 – 30 Sep, Yelagiri  29 Sep – 3 Oct, Yelagiri (Tamil) 29 Sep – 3 Oct, Pune 12 – 17 Oct, Miraj 20 – 24 Oct.

NS – National Seminar, SLS – Special Leadership Seminar, SLSD– SLS for Doctors,
In-house - seminar fee is not disclosed as it is a sponsored seminar.

Please Note: We seek your prayer support for all these National Level seminars coming up. We also solicit your assistance in the recruitment of suitable candidates for these seminars. For more information regarding these seminars please feel free to call us at 040 27131209, 27141221 & 32928823 or email at hiindia@haggai-india.com also browse our website: www.haggai-india.com

Seminars in August 2009

Note: Please be informed that you can now deposit your donation Cheques/DD’s favouring ‘Haggai Institute’ directly with our account # 01262560000416 in any branch of HDFC Bank. Please do intimate our office the deposit details indicating your name, the amount and the date of deposit.

Yours in Him,
Paul Balasundaram