On Ketchup and Gay Rights

Some people ask the question, “Are people born gay? Or is it a choice?”

Many Christians would reply, “Well, of course they weren’t born that way! They made the choice to become gay.”

But when faced with the question, “How do you know? Why do you think that?” most don’t know what to say. Some might retort, “In the garden, God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” And while that’s true, how does it help the situation?

So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
    for she was taken out of man.”

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

-Genesis 2:21-25

In the Garden of Eden, God created woman out of man—and when a man and a woman are married, when they “become one flesh,” it pleases God because that is how He made us from the beginning. When a man and a man are together, or a woman and a woman, it is directly defiant to the way God created us to be.

But think of it in terms of ketchup and cantaloupe.

In 1876, Henry J. Heinz created ketchup. And when Henry J. Heinz created ketchup, what do you suppose it was for? It was made to be used as a “table sauce” for hot foods such as hamburgers, fries, sandwiches, hot dogs, French toast, and eggs. (Ketchup is very good on eggs, by the way).

So the creator had a specific purpose for his creation and how it would be used.

But what happens when that creation was used in ways it was not created for?

When my brother and I were little, we mixed ketchup and mustard and dipped cantaloupe in it. It was definitely not a natural taste (it was extremely disgusting, actually), but we eventually grew to like it. In fact, every time we saw cantaloupe on the table, we ran to the fridge for ketchup and mustard.

Ketchup was not invented as a dip for cantaloupe. In fact, if poor Henry J. Heinz knew how I had used his yummy invention, he probably would’ve wrinkled his nose in disgust. In fact, I might even go as far as to say that it would tarnish Heinz’s reputation as a successful businessman if people knew what disgusting concoctions my brother and I made with the ingredient he created.

So.

God created men and woman to glorify Him. That is the purpose of our existence—to glorify our Creator. He created man to go with woman and woman to go with man. And then God’s creation rebelled and decided to use what God had given them in ways that are utterly disgusting. They went against God’s plan and took matters into their own hands. I can guarantee you that God is doing more than wrinkling His nose at the way we have tarnished His reputation as a creator.

The consequence for mixing ketchup, mustard and cantaloupe was a horrendous stomachache.

The consequence for homosexuality is far worse. The wrath of God will fall on those who reject the truth and follow evil. He will repay each person according to what they have done. (Romans 2:5-8)

Henry J. Heniz is dead and can do nothing about the way I have misused his product.

God is most certainly not dead, and He will do something about the way we have misused what He has given us.