The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
Can Christianity and homosexuality go together? Many in the gay community, including some liberal pastors, think so, but here is the account of one who thought differently.
Ever since high school Allan Edwards had an attraction to other men. He shared his concerns openly while attending a Christian college. Then he went on to become the pastor of a conservative Presbyterian church in Pennsylvania. Since the pastor considered the Bible to be the center of the Christian faith, he asked the question of whether scripture taught against living a gay life. He concluded that it did and, therefore, did not seek to justify it. He wanted his identity to be in Jesus Christ, not homosexuality, and could in no way follow the Bible’s teaching and that to. This goes totally against the thinking of the so-called “Christian homosexuals” who have tried to make scripture fit what they want it to mean.
Some homosexuals have said it is a matter of interpretation. There is a key passage, however, that is very plain in black and white. Romans 1:27 says “…men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts…” This verse is in the context of a downward progression of immorality earlier in the chapter. This pastor chose to take the clarity of scripture and live by it. Others with gay tendencies, however, have rewritten biblical teaching into the New Queen James Version, the “Bible” of the gay community. He opted to counter his tendency toward male attraction by “crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Gal 5:24)
This pastor’s decision based upon biblical teaching puts the gay community in a rather awkward position. After all, anyone professing to be a Christian should follow the Bible, but instead they are twisting its teaching into conformity with their desires, while at the same time calling the real Christians intolerant.
This story has much broader application. We, as Christians, are not to live according to lustful desires and feelings but in obedience to spiritual truth. There is a natural tendency to do many things because of our sin nature, but that does not make them right. What do you struggle with? Are you involved in any activities or lifestyles that may need to be brought into check by obedience to God’s word?
How has all of this played out in pastor Allan Edward’s life? He is happily married to a woman.
Thanks for this interesting piece. A specific prayer request of mine is that God would raise up the platforms of those who’ve been engaged in the homosexual lifestyle and shed light on what it really is: a dead end road. It seems this pastor is an example of the transformational gospel that we have that empowers us to be free of what the world says is “normal.”
Thanks for your comment, Emily. You would probably be interested in learning about Michael Glatze. He is a former managing editor of “Young Gay America” who became a Christian and is now a pastor. I did a story on him last year. Just google his name and all kinds of stuff will come up. If one wants to know what homosexuality is really like he is the one to tell you.
Praise God for this man’s desire to honor God.
Clearly, this pastor has surrendered his life to Christ. – Which is what we are called to do. We (Christians) witness to the unsaved and tell them that all they have to do is accept and confess Jesus as their Savior and they will be saved. This is absolutely true.
If, however, we (sinners) hear that Jesus will accept us right where we are (and He does), but we don’t hear that we are to ‘Go and sin no more,’ then it should come as no surprise that the gospel will be manipulated to fit the way we choose to live.
This not only applies to homosexuals, but to every one of us that chooses to twist, omit, or ignore ANY of God’s commands.
Thanks for your comment, Melinda. Yes, the grace of God does NOT mean we can live any way we want to.