Homosexuality is called an
"abomination" (in the Bible), but I know in my heart and from evidence I have
personally seen that people are BORN that way - so doesn't that mean
homosexuality comes from God too? (That is of course with the
exception of people who engage in homosexuality just for "kicks"
and who are not really born that way - and there are plenty of
those too I'm sure.)
If the Bible is to be always believed,
without question, as God speaking thru the Prophets and the
hearts of men, how can we agree and believe EVERYTHING that
is said when we see things like that?
You submitted quite a series of questions. First, regarding
which parts of the Bible to live by... To say that some parts of
Scripture are valid, but others are not puts human beings in the
scary position of critiquing God. Suddenly, our finite, human,
very-fallible judgement becomes the determining factor about what
God means. This is VERY shaky ground.
The Bible says:
It would be highly unfair of God to offer us a Guidebook - upon which our salvation depends - and then twist (or allow it to be twisted) the words or meaning in it to leave us confused or unsure about His requirements. The idea that God plays these kinds of games with people is NOT consistent with the Biblical picture. The Bible teaches that God is just (Psalm 89:14)... Therefore, we must error on the side of caution and believe that God means what He says. "All Scripture" is God's inspired Word and is to be taken as such.
You addressed many issues after this main question. Most of your questions were lifestyle related. Rather than deal with each lifestyle issue (eating, drinking, wearing, acting, living...) I will instead address what I believe to be the root issue. To go through the Bible, point-by-point seems to convey a negative thought process.
Let me explain this concept through the venue of parenting. Its kind of like a toddler running through the house touching everything just to see what Mom and Dad will say "No" to. God DOES have this kind of immature relationship with people when necessary. But it is NOT His plan or ultimate goal for His relationship with us.
When the children of Israel were brought out of Egypt, they had been so used to slavery that God had to treat them like children. He gave them His 10 commandments listed as ten "Thou shalt not's..." Far better to just learn the overal rule... When raising children, parents have an overal rule: You must not harm yourself, others, or property. This rule takes in all little micro issues like: Don't hit your sister, don't do drugs, don't steal anything, etc... It would take FOREVER to stay ahead of all the little ways a child can error, if a parent had to list them one-by-one.
Children need to be taught the underlying rule. This rule when truly learned, encompasses all the others. God has an overal rule:
The focus is different in your attitude though. Instead of looking at what you HAVE to do versus what you CAN GET AWAY WITH - now you're looking at developing a true love relationship with God. And lets face it, when you really love someone, you don't want to hurt them.
So, when you love God, you're not going to use God's name in vain, or have idols instead of loving Him 100%, etc... Do you see where I'm going with this?
The little things that God said "Don't" to should not be your focus. Rather, focus on loving Him and doing that which pleases Him BECAUSE you love Him. Your life cannot help but be in keeping with His desire when you live this way.
Now, because people couldn't always have this mature kind of relationship with God, it has been necessary in history for God to start listing things by name. In a sinless world, God did NOT create homosexuality. That is a result of sin. God CREATED Adam and Eve. So, is the Bible wrong when it calls homosexuality an "abomination"? No! SIN - and the results of sin - is an ABOMINATION to God in every form.
You mentioned that people are born into homosexuality... Well, let's look at it from a parallel perspective. What about meat-eating animals? Did God create animals (or people) to kill and eat other creatures? We know He did not. (in Genesis, even those animals that are now BORN carnivorous, were then vegetarian). The inherited, genetic, need to kill, and eat each other is the result of sin.
Some day (according to the Bible) there will be NO MORE DEATH. God's creatures, which are now born with the inherited tendency to eat meat, will eat "straw like the ox" (Isaiah 11:6-7)
In other words, our earthly tendencies are not STRONGER than God! To imply that ANYTHING we hereditarily inherit is beyond His help is a lack of faith in His power. So, perhaps at this point, you will agree that someday there will no longer be meat-eating or homosexuality.
NOW - this is the hard part. As Christians, we are to BEGIN living here on earth as children FREE from the slavery of our inherited, sinful tendencies. That is the whole process of sanctification. Think of the example of Peter. Can a man walk on water? NO! But Peter did! Because God's power sustained Him. In the same way, God calls His children out from - away from above this sinless existence. He extends to us mercy - that is stronger than our heredity.
We are all born to sin. But He gives the gift of freedom from sin.