Posted on May 10, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call
Whether it is addiction, homosexuality, or gender-identity confusion – culture seems to want to chalk up blame to a person’s natural bend that has been present since birth.
Truth is: We are all born that way! We all have inclinations of the flesh which are evident in our own sin pattern. “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.” Gal 5:19-21 Sin is no respecter of persons. Every single one of us is a born sinner.
For some it may be gluttony, for others it may be lying or alcohol addiction or homosexuality. Has it been there since birth? Were they born that way? I’m sure I don’t know. But what God calls sin is sin. If we have inclinations of the flesh that we are commanded to flee like drunkenness, homosexuality or sexual immorality[i], then God has made a way for us to have victory over those temptations. The only answer for every single one of us is that we need a Savior and the power of His indwelling Spirit.
So whether we have to fight gender confusion or the desire to eat a whole cake or the temptation to give someone a piece of our mind in sinful anger – it is a battle. We must FIGHT the temptation. The temptation in and of itself is not sin, but allowing temptation to have its own way, that is sin.
To say, “I was born this way” is an excuse to surrender to fleshly inclinations; for not fighting.
Our culture has slowly turned the tide of public opinion so the idea of fighting the flesh inclinations of same-sex attraction, gender-confusion, or sex outside of marriage is absolutely ludicrous. In our culture, these things are not wrong; they are right and natural and therefore do not require fighting. In fact we are encouraged to embrace them to fulfill our true self. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20
Our true self is not found by embracing the inclinations of our flesh. Our true self is found in who our Creator designed us to be. If we think He has made a mistake in how or who He made us then we don’t know God as He has revealed Himself through His written word (the Bible)[ii] and the Living Word (Jesus Christ)[iii]. Our truest, highest and purest identity is found in Jesus Christ.
Let us fight to embrace that truth and, then and only then, will we be who we were truly meant to be.
[i] Romans 13:13;
[ii] 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16
[iii] John 1:14
Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.
Think About This: “There’s no Bible verse that discourages us from studying the Bible.” – Michael S. Heiser
The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 50, 53, 60, 75, 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
