The Sunday Mail
Pastor Tinashe Zinyemba
At the start of this discussion on relationships, our key scripture was Genesis 2v18 “ . . . It is not good for man to be alone . . . ”
We concluded that man is a relational being and that through this verse God was letting us know that relationships are key to man’s existence.
We looked at how man relates to God, how you should relate to your parents, enemies, and last week friends. This week we start looking at romantic relationships. We will obviously spend some time here.
Throughout the Bible, we find young people who fall madly in love and start a family. For some there are significant challenges but the grace of God always manifests and sees them through.
We have Adam and Eve, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Ruth and Boaz, Esther and the king, Solomon and Sheba and, of course, the ultimate one – Christ and the Church.
It is definitely God’s intention for you to find your soul mate who will help you to fulfil your destiny, someone for you to be happy with and share your highs and lows with.
I want to firstly address a very important issue that is affecting many people and has caused quite a stir in the church. If you look at the examples mentioned above they are between males and females. There are instances in scripture whereby we have people of the same gender being very close for example Jonathan and David or Ruth and Naomi.
These relationships were not romantic or sexual in anyway. In Romans 1:26-27 Apostle Paul says, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meant.”
This is one of the many verses that refers to homosexual tendencies and how they are against God’s will.
In this first instalment I would like to help those who are attracted to people of the same sex. As scripture declares it is unnatural. If you find yourself in such a situation whereby you are more attracted to people of the same sex then I suggest you get help.
These activities are prevalent in schools particularly those that are same sex, as well as in tertiary institutions. The first step is to realise that you are in such a situation. God hates the act of homosexuality and not the person.
After realising it you should firstly pray about it then look for a mature person who you can confide should you face challenges in dealing with it alone. There is a tendency throughout the world media to push and encourage homosexual tendencies. However, this is in no way biblical and that is definitely not the natural or divine design for your life.
God intends for us to be in healthy relationships that are wholesome and allow for your growth and happiness as an individual.
The union between a male and female is God-ordained in the Garden of Eden. Hence if you are attracted to a member of the opposite sex it is perfectly natural what is important is to have a control over your emotions and your faculties as well as to know how to conduct yourself in a relationship. We will pick it up from here next week.
Till next week, God bless.
Tinashe Zinyemba is a pastor with New Life Covenant Church. Email feedback at [email protected]
