Born this Way

This week Washington became the ninth state to legalize same-sex marriage, furthering the debate over civil rights for gays. Last year, Lady Gaga's popular song "Born this Way" underscored the controvery over whether someone is born gay.  Personally, if a research scientist discovers a ‘gay’ gene tomorrow, I won’t be concerned. Why?—because we are all born with unique behavioral predispositions—it’s called flesh; and it causes us to sin.

For example, I was not born happy; I am, by nature, melancholic. Moreover, I am impatient, self-centered, prone to outbursts, unforgiving, and critical. These traits are natural to me, requiring no effort to perform. I was born ‘born this way.’

And I didn’t know how I would ever overcome being ‘born this way’ until I truly understood what it meant to be ‘born again.’ The Bible says everyone who is born of God is marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—all reflections of our genetic relation to Jesus. Yes, we have all been born with unwanted predispositions. But born again, we have a new start. “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person; the old life is gone; a new life has begun” (2 Cor. 5:17). But take it from me; when you decide you will no longer live the way you were born (Eph 4:17), and endeavor to live life as your “new self” (Eph. 4:24), you will experience severe growing pains!