A Friend Of The Savior: "Homosexuals find the weak and insecure and lure them "into the fold."


9/9/6


I read your web page entitled, "Scouting for All's National Campaign End Discrimination Within The Boy Scouts of America, What You Can Do To Help?" I personally have no "axe to grind" or feelings of malice or hatred toward gays, lesbians or trans-sexuals. I have never been one to joke or seek in any way to offend those who practice that lifestyle. I suppose that each of us needs to be busy with a greater amount of introspection than finding fault with the other fellow.

Having said that, I would like to offer this point for your consideration though. Could it not be possible that the BSA is within their moral rights to deny a group of people who practice a lifestyle which is Biblically immoral into their organization? Their founding principles are guided by the nature of God and country. For them to dismiss these principles would, in fact, dismantle all that they have stood for all these years. Now, I realize it will be hard for you to come to terms with, but there are certain segments of society into which you cannot fit. I can love you because you are God-created, but I could not in all good conscience embrace you in fellowship because of the lifestyle you willingly seek to pursue. I say, willingly, because it is a matter of will and choice and not genetics as so many would have us believe. I quote that from former homosexuals and lesbianswho have abandoned that lifestyle and are now living according to the will of God.

To be sure, His will is plain. Look at what Paul wrote to the Roman church. "That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved." (Rom 1:26-27)
This was also true in the Old Testament. God's law provided, "The penalty for homosexual acts is death to both parties. They have brought it upon themselves." (Lev 20:13) Then Paul tells the Corinthians, "Don't you know that those doing such things have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who live immoral lives, who are idol worshipers, adulterers or homosexuals-will have no share in his Kingdom. Neither will thieves or greedy people, drunkards, slanderers, or robbers." (1 Cor 6:9) Finally, in the little book of Jude, he writes, "And don't forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, all full of lust of every kind, including lust of men for other men. Those cities were destroyed by fire and continue to be a warning to us that there is a hell in which sinners are punished." (Jude 7) You wouldhave to agree that these passages are pretty direct from the Christian perspective. Yet I know that there are churches whichfully embrace homosexuals into their assemblies without any problem. I don't get it. If you are willing to repent of that which is obvious sin and come out of it, then fellowship should beextended. However, if you are persistent in seeking that lifestyleas okay and I'm going to do it regardless, then I think we would have a problem. It would be like a child molester who would not repent but continued toactively molest children and still want the church to embrace him in full fellowship. It seems if we would be willing to embrace onesin, we should be willing to embrace all sin the same.

Now, I am not the judge, but God is; and in the end, you would fair a great deal better standing before me than God. I'm in the same boat you are, because save the cross of Christ and His mercy none of us have a chance at salvation. So, I'm not trying to sound all "holier than thou." I, too, am a sinner on level ground at the foot of the cross. The only difference between us is, as I see it is, I have confessed my sins before God and truly repented of them and confessed Jesus as Lord and been buried with Him in baptism as He instructed. Like the church of the New Testament in Acts 2:47, God added me to His church. This is the only difference between us. I am not better than you, nor do I seek to sound that way. However, you have chosen a lifestyle that is totally opposed to the will of God and you must make another choice. You can make another choice. I has been done countless times. God does not make homosexuals, it is not genetic code, it is choice.

As for the Boy Scouts of America, it is in their best interest not to have homosexuals mingling with other boys and you know that to be true. Homosexuals recruit for that lifestyle and influence those who are not homosexuals to experiment with it. They find the weak and insecure and lure them "into the fold," as it were. I certainly would not want my son to be within their association. Years ago when I was a teenager a man came through town needing a place to stay. My father, being a minister, offered him refuge for a few days. The last night he was there for some strange reason he asked if he could sleep with my brother and me. Come to find out, he was a homosexual. I did not know at that time what a homosexual was, or even what that meant. However, my brother and I never saw him again and he did not sleep in our room that night. No, the Boy Scouts of America are right in their position, my friend, and if you will just consider what I am saying here for even a moment you will see that I am right. It's not discrimination, it's decency. It's upholding moral values that must be maintained within that organization. I'm not trying to be unkind, I am, however, trying to be just to all the boys who are not gay and have the right to be in an organization free from immoral influences to a lifestyle that is displeasing to God.

A friend of the Savior,
Larry Harp

Scouting for All's Response

Larry, someday we mightmeet and if we doI'll give you a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. I'll then hope thatyou won't lose your membership in the Boy Scouts of America if they find out. I won't tell if you don't.

PS I read your letter above. You are blinded by your own light, by your own self righteousness. When are youall going to stop the hate? I'm 53 and frankly I'm tired of it. Your words teach hate, divisiveness and fuels the flames of violence towards lovinghuman beings who are gay, lesbian, bisexual andtransgender. Please stop it. Don't tell me you love those you hate, those you condemn.That really makes no sense. What are you afraid of. Gays are not going to bite you. You won't suddenly turn into a homosexual while walking close to them. Maybe you are afraid of your own homosexual feelings and or thoughts. Don't worry they are normal feelings and thoughts human beings have. You are ok whatever your sexual orientation, race, religion / atheist, gender... You are ok. Just please stop the hate. There is roomon this old earth for all of us.

Scott Cozza, President
Scouting for All