Sin Awareness Month

There are so many “awareness” months these days that I can’t keep up with them. I don’t observe any, including the ones based on race or ethnicity, although I can understand their proponents’ argument. There’s some merit to making people aware of the prevalence and treatment of such diseases as breast and prostate cancer. (Yes, there’s finally an official Prostate Cancer Month.) But an awareness month based on sexual behavior?

October has been designated LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) History Month, in which we’re to recognize the achievements of people with same-sex attraction. Sexual activity, deviant or otherwise, is no longer private. It’s on display for public consumption. And accepting homosexual behavior isn’t enough—we’re to celebrate it.

At least two public school districts—Broward County, Fla., and Los Angeles—recognize LGBT History Month, with the latter mandating LGBT history into the curriculum. A question for Christian taxpayers in these states: Did your children learn about Gwen Araujo, a man who tricked men into believing he was a woman for sex? Four of these men murdered him after learning the truth. Neither his deception nor his murder was justified, but why is Araujo listed on the LGBT History site as a hero?

A hero is defined as someone of distinguished courage or ability, admired for brave deeds and noble qualities. To me, hero has a narrower definition: someone who puts himself in harm’s way, willing to sacrifice himself (reputation, life) to save another. Deceiving to save lives is one thing. For example, the pro-life group Live Action deceives Planned Parenthood to expose what goes on inside its facilities.

If we’re expected to celebrate one sin, why not designate a National Liars Month or a National Adulterers Month to commemorate the supposed courage of individuals who believe they have a right to lie and to cheat on their spouses? But liars and adulterers don’t have powerful lobbying groups and apparently aren’t motivated to gain widespread cultural acceptance. That could change. Twenty short years ago, no reasonable person would have believed that marriage would be redefined, by law, to include two people of the same sex.

Will lying and adultery advocates declare that the Bible doesn’t condemn these acts, as homosexual advocates have done? Will they argue that the apostle Paul was just a product of his culture when he said adulterers wouldn’t inherit the kingdom of God? Will Christians endorse the behavior of those who lie and cheat, as some have done with homosexuality?

It’s easy to lose hope in all this darkness, yet hope remains. The gate to destruction is wide, and its road is broad. The gate to the Kingdom is narrow. Before repentance, we were among the sinners the apostle Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6 still under God’s wrath. “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.”