LeeRoyHolmesSin,Genetics,andtheWeakestGeneration

Sin,Genetics,andtheWeakestGeneration

LeeRoyHolmes
20140114

Longagohumanbeingslearnedtododgefullresponsibilityfortheirbehaviorby
claimingitwasinherited.Onewillsay,Icomefromalonglineofalcoholics.Or,Obesity
hasbeenaprobleminourfamilyforgenerations.Or,Ourfamilymembershavebeen
knownforatleastahundredyearsforbeingimpatientandquarrelsome.Butwhilesuch
confessionsmayreflectlongtermrealities,othersviewthemascopoutsandnotasgood
excusesforrepeatinghurtfulbehavior.Christiansespeciallyareexpected,throughthepower
ofGod,tobreakthecycle.
Buttodayhomosexualadvocacygroupsboldlyclaimthatsciencesupportsthegenetic
originofthatorientation,andthefutilityofseekingtochangeit.Thatclaimcannotbelightly
brushedasidebyChristianswhobelievewhattheBibleteachesabouthomosexual
behavior(1).Ifhomosexualactsnolongerdeservetheabominationlabel(Leviticus18:22),
thentheyshouldbeerasedfromeveryoneslistofsins.

Epigenetics
Thecurrentdebateswirlsaroundwhetherornotgoodsciencesupportsthe
homosexualityisgeneticclaim.Geneticsisahugelycomplexscience,butletstakeabrief
look.

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LeeRoyHolmesSin,Genetics,andtheWeakestGeneration
Arelativenewcomertothefieldisepigenetics.Epigeneticsliterallymeansaboveor
ontopofgenetics.ItreferstoexternalmodificationstoDNAthatturngenesonoroff.
ThesemodificationsdonotchangetheDNAsequence,butinstead,theyaffecthowcells
readgenes(2).Epigeneticsistheexpressionofgenescontrolledbyshorttermtransitions
knownasepimarks....Epimarksactasanotherlayerofinformationfusedtoourgenesthat
controltheirexpression.Essentially,genesholdthedirections,whileepimarksinstructhow
theyareputintomotionandcompleted....Todate,nogeneforhomosexualityhasbeen
found(3).
Alittleoverayearagothreewellknownresearchersreportedthattheirfindings
suggestthathomosexualityarisesonaccountofepigeneticprocessesratherthangenetic
ones(4).Thatreportspawnedwidespreadexcitementamonghomosexualadvocacygroups
whowerequicktoclaimthatsciencehadatlastfoundageneticexplanationfor
homosexuality.Allthis,evenwhiletheresearchersmadeitclearthattheywerepresenting
onlyatheory.Oneoftheresearchers,WilliamR.Rice,said,Wehavenotfiguredouthow
homosexualityoccurs,butwevefiguredoutafeasiblemechanismthatcanbeeasily
tested(5).
Thereisanotheraspectofthisdiscussionoftenignoredbythoseeagertofinda
heritablebaseforhomosexuality.Lifestyleandenvironmentalfactorscanexposeapersonto
chemicaltagsthatchangetheepigenome.Inotherwords,yourepigenomemaychangebased
onwhatyoueatanddrink,whetheryousmoke,whatmedicinesyoutake,whatpollutants
youencounterandevenhowquicklyyourbodyages.Thereisalsosomeevidencefrom
animalandhumanstudiesindicatingthatwhatafemaleeatsanddrinksduringpregnancy
maychangetheepigenomeofheroffspring(6).
AnarticleinDiscovermagazinegivessupporttothathypothesis.

Accordingtothenewinsightsofbehavioralepigenetics,traumaticexperiencesinour
past,orinourrecentancestorspast,leavemolecularscarsadheringtoourDNA....
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LeeRoyHolmesSin,Genetics,andtheWeakestGeneration
Likesiltdepositedonthecogsofafinelytunedmachineaftertheseawaterofa
tsunamirecedes,ourexperiences,andthoseofourforebears,arenevergone,evenif
theyhavebeenforgotten.Theybecomeapartofus,amolecularresidueholdingfastto
ourgeneticscaffolding.TheDNAremainsthesame,butpsychologicalandbehavioral
tendenciesareinherited....Themechanismsofbehavioralepigeneticsunderlienot
onlydeficitsandweaknessesbutstrengthsandresiliencies,too(7).
So,ifepigeneticstudiespointtoadverseenvironmentalandlifestylefactorsinshaping
whoweare,andifweallowthatthatcouldincludeapredispositiontowardsexual
orientation,whycanwenotassumetheoppositetobetrue?Whycouldntsignificantpositive
changesphysically,mentally,andspirituallyhelpkeepoursexualorientationwhereGod
intendedittobe,orchangeitinthedirectionitoughttogo?Thearticlesabovereferenced
supportthatpossibility.

Beforeweproceedinourdiscussion,considerthefollowingfromJeremyYoder,an

evolutionarybiologist.

Availabledatasuggeststhatsexualorientationhassomeinborn,probablygenetic
basis.Butitshardtoreconcilethatwiththefactthatgaymenandlesbiansarentby
definition,particularlyinterestedindoingwhatittakestopassonanygenesthat
mighthavecontributedtocreatingtheirorientation(8).
Now,thatsthekindoflogicthatevenanonscientistlikemyselfcanappreciate.
Excusemeforrepeatingtheobvious,butifhomosexualitywerewhollygenetic,itwouldlong
agohavedisappeared,sincehomosexualscannotreproduceeachother.

Whowillbenextinline?
TwentyfiveyearsagoIcouldnotseetheconnectionbetweenwomensordinationand
theacceptanceofpracticinghomosexualsintochurchfellowship.Iknewitwashappeningin
otherdenominations,butthelogicofitescapedme.Todayitisclear.Itsallaboutequality.
Sinceallofushaveourshortcomings,whydoweestablishrulesformembersand
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LeeRoyHolmesSin,Genetics,andtheWeakestGeneration
nonmembers.?AllarechildrenofGodandaretobeacceptedjustastheyareandgivenall
therightsandprivilegesofchurchmembership.
Unfortunately,itisthenatureofeviltospread.Whenthedoortogamblingisopened,
drunkennessandprostitutionfollow.Whenhomosexualityisallowedasanacceptable
alternative,thatencouragesotherformsofsexualdeviancytoseekacceptance.Andthose
peoplearealreadyliningupatthedoorlabeledgenetics.Andwhynot?
Forinstance,thinkofsomeonewhofindshomosexualitywhollyrepugnant,butwhen
itcomestoadultery,resistingthedesiretohavesexwithvirtuallyanywillingpartnerisa
hugebattle.SoisGodjustifiedingivingthehomosexualageneticpasswhiledemanding
completevictory,evenovereverythought,oftheadulterersomeonewhomightalsoclaim
thathisorherbehaviorisdrivenbyaninheritedweakness?
AfederaljudgerecentlyruledthatUtahlawscriminalizingpolygamyare
unconstitutional(9).So,atleastinthestateofUtah,onewhointhepastmighthavefelt
condemnedandguiltriddenforpracticingadultery,cannowbegincourtingadditional
wives.Perhapsbestofall,someonewhoheretoforemayhavefeltthattheurgetohavesex
withmorethanonewomanwassomehowdeeplyrootedinhisgenes,nowhascivillawto
supporthisgeneticprofile.
Andwhataboutpedophilia?Thedictionarycallsittheabnormalsexualdesireinan
adultforchildren.Believeitornot,pedophileshavealsoorganizedthemselvesinto
advocacygroupsandarepromotingtheideathatthey,too,havegeneticfactorswhichgive
themtheirsexualorientation.They,too,arguethattheirorientationisnotabnormal,andare
askingforacceptanceandaccommodationsimilartothatgrantedtohomosexuals.Iknowwe
havenowmovedfromtheunbelievabletotheridiculous,butwheredowegetoffthis
merrygoround?

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LeeRoyHolmesSin,Genetics,andtheWeakestGeneration
Whowereallyare
ThehomosexualssupposedlyunanswerableargumentisThatswhoIam.My
answeris,butforthegraceofGod,thatswhoweallare.Letslooknowatthedefensibilityof
usinggeneticstoendorseorexcuseanyhumanbehaviorwhichtheBiblecallssinful.Infact,if
geneticscanbeusedasanexcuse,allexceptAdamandEveareoffthehook.
Inthebiblicalviewofthehumancondition,weallhavewhathaslongbeenlabeleda
carnal(fleshly)nature.Paulsaysofhimselfthat,apartfromChrist,heiscarnal,soldunder
sin(Romans7:14).ThePsalmistsays,Thereisnonethatdoesgood,no,notone(Psalm
14:3).Thisdeeplyembeddedcarnalityismanifestinsinsoftheflesh(Colossians2:11).
Romans1:26,27makeitveryclearthathomosexualpracticesareamongthosesins.
Sowhenitcomestoouridentityassinfulhumanbeings,whocanclaimanadvantage?
Family,education,environment,churchaffiliationallmighthelpusinthebattlewithsin
andself,butwhenthedustsettles,thereissomethingwestillholdincommonwithevery
otherhumanwhohaseverlived:asinfulnature.Theseedsofrebellionhavebeenplanted
andarereadytospringup,andwillspringup,ifSatanisgiventheleastadvantage.Basically,
whenitcomestodevelopingacharacterfitforheaven,theobstaclespresentedbyone
personscarnalityarelittledifferentfromanyoneelses.Weallneedjustasmuchgraceand
divinepowertoovercomeasthenextperson.

Practicematters
Ifinditacuriousthingthatthetermpracticinghomosexualhasbeeninventedto
separatethosewhohavethepredispositionfromthosewhoactuallyadoptthelifestyle.Does
Godseparatepracticingadulterersfromthosewhodonotgobeyondlustfulthoughts?
Practicingthievesfromthosewhodonomorethancovet?Practicingmurderersfrom
thosewhodonotcarryouttheirmurderousplans?
Ofcourse,inthehumanarenapracticedoesmakeadifference.Wouldanyone
geneticallypredisposedtoalcoholismbecomeanalcoholiciftheyneverintheirlifetasted
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LeeRoyHolmesSin,Genetics,andtheWeakestGeneration
beveragealcohol?Wouldanyonebecomeobesewhonevertookinmorecaloriesthanthey
burned?Wouldanyhomehavebeenbrokenbyunfaithfulnesstothemarriagevowsifboth
spouseshadalwayskeptthosevows?
Thisbringsustothefocusofourdiscussion:Howmanypracticinghomosexuals
wouldtherebeifthoseexperiencingsamesexattractionsneverengagedintheact?
Somewhere,sometime,aclearchoicehastobemadetocrossabarrierthatGodandnature
itselfhaserected,andputintopracticetheurgingsofthecarnalnature.Practicematters.
Ibelievethephilosophyandrationaleundergirdingandprotectinghomosexuality
(andvirtuallyeveryothersinfulchoice)isrootedinspiritualism.Listenforthatseductive
voiceinthefollowing:

Spiritualismassertsthatmenareunfallendemigods;thateachmindwilljudgeitself;
thattrueknowledgeplacesmenabovealllaw;thatallsinscommittedareinnocent;
forwhateveris,isright,andGoddothnotcondemn.Thebasestofhumanbeingsit
representsasinheaven,andhighlyexaltedthere.Thusitdeclarestoallmen,It
mattersnotwhatyoudo;liveasyouplease,heavenisyourhome.Multitudesarethus
ledtobelievethatdesireisthehighestlaw,thatlicenseisliberty,andthatmanis
accountableonlytohimself.
Withsuchteachinggivenattheveryoutsetoflife,whenimpulseisstrongest,
andthedemandforselfrestraintandpurityismosturgent,wherearethesafeguards
ofvirtue?WhatistopreventtheworldfrombecomingasecondSodom?(Education,
pp.227,228).

Thehomosexualityisgeneticdefenseisindefensible.TryingtoputaDNAmarkeron
oursinfulbehaviorisfutile.Asinnerisasinnerisasinner.Weareallsavedbygrace
throughfaith(Ephesians2:8).Letsnotusegeneticstoexcuseoursinfulconduct.Itisagross
affronttothesacrificeofChristandthepardonandpowerHeoffers.Instead,letsthankGod
whogivesusthevictorythroughourLordJesusChrist(1Corinthians15:57).

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LeeRoyHolmesSin,Genetics,andtheWeakestGeneration
Theweakestgeneration

Throughthesuccessivegenerationssincethefall,thetendencyhasbeencontinually
downward.Diseasehasbeentransmittedfromparentstochildren,generationafter
generation.Eveninfantsinthecradlesufferfromafflictionscausedbythesinsoftheir
parents(CounselsonHealth,p.19).

Aftersixthousandyearsofsuchdegradation,itsawonderwearentallabunchingof
maniacsforaginginthejungle.ButitisGodsplanthatintheweakestgenerationevertolive
upontheearthshouldalsobeseenthegreatestdemonstrationofHispowertosave.Weare
thatgeneration.Ourgenepoolhasbeencontaminatedbythegeneticmutationsofscoresof
generations.Ourphysical,mental,andspiritualfacultieshavebeenseverelycompromised.
Andyet,itisinusandthroughusthatGodwillshowtheforcesofhellthatHeisalsoable
tosavetotheuttermostthosewhocometoGodthroughHim(Hebrews7:25).
Todothat,Hehasgivenusthegreatestlightevergiventoanygeneration.Wehavea
broaderanddeeperunderstandingoftheBiblethananybeforeus.TheBiblehas
accumulatedandbounduptogetheritstreasuresforthislastgeneration(SelectedMessages,
bk.3,p.339).WealsohavetheSpiritofProphecy.AllwhobelievethattheLordhasspoken
throughSisterWhiteandhasgivenheramessagewillbesafefromthemanydelusionsthat
willcomeintheselastdays(LastDayEvents,p.44).Godhasalsomadeavailabletousthe
greatestpowerevergiventoearthsinhabitants.

Butnearthecloseofearth'sharvest,aspecialbestowalofspiritualgraceispromisedto
preparethechurchforthecomingoftheSonofman.ThisoutpouringoftheSpiritis
likenedtothefallingofthelatterrain;anditisforthisaddedpowerthatChristiansare
tosendtheirpetitionstotheLordoftheharvestinthetimeofthelatterrain(Actsof
theApostles,p.55).
Wecanovercome.
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LeeRoyHolmesSin,Genetics,andtheWeakestGeneration
Wearewithoutexcuse.Wecanovercome.Yes;fully,entirely.Jesusdiedtomakea
wayofescapeforus,thatwemightovercomeeveryfault,resisteverytemptation,andsit
downatlastwithHiminHisthrone(OurHighCalling,p.353).Godhasnotleftustobattle
withevilinourownfinitestrength.Whatevermaybeourinheritedorcultivatedtendencies
towrong,wecanovercomethroughthepowerthatHeisreadytoimpart(Ministryof
Healing,p.175).
Therehathnotemptationtakenyoubutsuchasiscommontoman:butGodis
faithful,whowillnotsufferyoutobetemptedabovethatyeareable;butwillwiththe
temptationalsomakeawaytoescape,thatyemaybeabletobearit(1Corinthians10:13).
Thehourislate.Wecannotaffordtoallowourselvestobesidetrackedanddividedon
issuestowhichGodhasclearlyspoken.

Throughindulgenceinsin,theworldisbecomingascorruptasitwasinthedaysof
SodomandGomorrah...TheverysinsthatbroughtuponSodomthefireof
destructionarepracticedtoday,andarefastripeningtheworldforthedayoffinal
doom.Indulgenceinintoxicatingliquorandinlicentiouspractices,iscommoninall
ourcitiesandvillages,andthelastgreatdayishasteningupontheworld(Reviewand
Herald,May1,1894).
Andbelieveme,ImtalkingtomyselfwhenIsay,neithercanweaffordtobe
unsympatheticwiththosewhosestrugglesaredifferentfromourown.Wemustlearnto
showcompassionwithoutcompromise.NoneofusdareforgetJesuswarningthat,inthe
judgment,itwillbemoretolerableforSodomthanforCapernaum(Matthew11:23,24),more
tolerableforthosewhohave,throughnofaultoftheirown,livedtheirlivesindarkness,than
forSeventhdayAdventistswhohavereadyaccesstosuchanimmensetreasuryoflight.
Letus,withallloveandkindness,pointotherstothoseresourcesandlookforwardto
joiningourvoiceswiththeirsinsingingthesongofvictory.

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LeeRoyHolmesSin,Genetics,andtheWeakestGeneration
ENDNOTES
1.SeeRomans1:1632;Lev.18:22;20:13.
2.RachaelRettner,LiveScience,June24,2013.
3.KelleyFitzgerald,MedicalNewsToday,Jan.6,2014.
4.WilliamR.Rice,UrbanFriberg,SergeyGavrilets,HomosexualityAsaConsequenceof
EpigeneticallyCanalizedSexualDevelopment,TheQuarterlyReviewofBiology,Dec.2012.
5.WilliamR.Rice,asquotedinChicagoSunTimes,Jan.15,2013.
6.www.genome.gov,EpigenomicsFactSheet,NationalHumanGenomeResearchInstitute,
May7,2012.
7.DanHurley,GrandmasExperiencesLeaveaMarkonYourGenes,DiscoverMagazine,
May,2013.
8.JeremyYoder,nothinginbiologymakessense.org.Dec.18,2012.
9.SeeAdventistReviewOnline,Dec.13,2013.

BIOGRAPHICALNOTE:LeeRoyHolmeshasservedtheSeventhdayAdventistChurchintheNorth
PacificUnionasBibleteacher,pastor,andschooladministratorforoverfortyyears.Mostrecentlyhe
servedaspastorfortheKettleFalls,Washingtondistrict.HehascoauthoredtwoBibletextbooksused
inouracademies,andwrittenthebook,TheChurchthatDoesNotFall.Hehasthreesonswhoare
activeintheirlocalchurches.
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