Homosexuality: Legally Permissible or Spiritually Misguided?1

Lockard, Homosexualitychoice must be considered. It is generally agreed that humans are at leastsomewhat free to make behavioural choices regardless of past or currentexperiences (Abbott 1995).The concept of “free agency” implies choice, free will or self-determinism—the ability to make decisions independent of past choices or circumstances(Burr, Day & Bahr 1993). Humans do have agency to make conscious choicesand are free to alter their thinking, emotions and behaviours (Warner 2001). Asober example of a person’s free agency to choose moral behaviour evenamidst the most dehumanising situations comes from the Nazi concentrationcamps of the 20 th century. Viktor Frankl a psychiatrist and survivor of the Naziconcentration camp during World War II concurs that the experiences of thecamp (Nazi prison) life prove that man/woman does have a choice in his/heractions. Frankl (1985:86) concludes:There were always choices to make. Every day, every houroffered the opportunity to make a decision. In the final analysisit becomes clear that the sort of person the prisoner became wasthe result of an inner decision and not the result of campinfluences alone. Fundamentally, any man can, even under suchcircumstances, decide what shall become of him—mentally andspiritually.In a similar way, individuals have been predisposed to homosexuality due to avariety of environmental influences may make decisions that lead to same sexbehaviour. But, if they do, there is always an element of choice or free agencyinvolved.Theologically, free agency is a two-fold process. First, there must be“knowledge of truth”. Second, a person must make a decision to “livetruthfully”. Agency does not consist chiefly in doing what we want; rather itconsists in doing what we should do, that is, knowing true principles andmaking a conscious choice to live by them (Williams 2004). In the OldTestament, Joshua admonished the Israelites to make a choice when he said:“Choose this day whom you will serve” (Josh 24:15, ESV). God has alwaysgranted mankind the freedom of choice.146