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About Jesus Steve Sweetman Personhood It
seems to me that the term "sexual preference" has been replaced
by the term "sexual orientation".
I believe the reason for this is that culturally speaking, we no
longer believe our sexual expression is a preference or a choice.
It's now an orientation based on "who we are", not on
"what we choose". It's
called "personhood". We
are who we are and we can't change that, meaning, we can't change our
sexual orientation. If
"what we do" is determined by "who we are", then
"what we do" shouldn't be criticized because we can't help
"what we do", or so they say.
We just do what comes natural.
If "what we do" was merely a matter of our choice, we
could change our choice. We can't changed who we are, and again, so they
say. Replacing
"preference" with "orientation" changes the whole
debate concerning sexuality. "Personhood"
is used to support the gay rights debate, but ironically, it's not used in
support of the pro abortion debate. In
the gay rights debate, the sooner one becomes a person the better.
In the pro abortion debate, the later one becomes a person the
better. I believe we become
"who we are", or, a person, at conception.
All of who we are is found in the union of one egg cell with one
sperm cell. Our
society permits us, and even encourages us these days, to critique,
question, and comment on one's actions.
Society frowns on us commenting on one's "personhood".
That's why Christians are criticized when they stand up for
Biblical values concerning sexuality.
We're perceived as questioning who a person is, not just what a
person does. As Christians, we
must be educated and understand what the Bible says about
"personhood" as we live in this present social climate.
The
Bible teaches that our "personhood", created in God's likeness
and image, has fallen into a state of depravity.
"Who we are" is sinful, and I believe, sinful from
conception. I understand the
theological debate over when we become sinners, but I believe David said
it right in Psalm 51:5. He
said, "surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time
my mother conceived me". (NIV) I
believe the same applies to all humans.
If that isn't conclusive enough for you, a close study of the first
7 chapters of the book of Romans should clarify this for you.
"Who we are" does determine "what we do".
Therefore, "what we do is sinful" because "who we are"
is sinful. Despite
all I've said, I believe "who we are", our
"personhood", can undergo modification.
For Christians, our "personhood" changed when we gave
ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ. The
Holy Spirit entered into us and as the apostle Paul said, we actually
became brand new creations. (2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15) We're
no longer who we once were. Our
"personhood" has changed. Jesus
confirmed this when He spoke of being "born again" into the
world of the Holy Spirit. (John 3:1 - 5) As
real as our physical birth was, our spiritual birth is just as real.
Being
a Christian is not simply a matter of adopting a Biblical belief system.
It's not a matter of simply
acknowledging the existence of an historical Jesus, or even a risen Jesus.
Being a Christian is becoming a new creation.
It's a new state of being. Our
"personhood" changes. "Who
we are" changes. Understanding
the concept of "personhood" from both a worldly and Biblical
standpoint is fundamental in the present social debates.
Christians are experiencing conflict over this very issue these
days. It is thus important for
us to both understand and be able to articulate "personhood" in
Biblical terms.
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