Homosexuality Mainstream
By George C. Stewart

On the evening of April 10, 2007 the Morehead State University (Morehead, KY) hosted a lecture on homosexuality. The lecturer was John Corvino who holds a Ph.D. and is a philosophy professor at Wayne State University in Detroit. I decided to attend.

Dr. Corvino’s promotional states: "Combining philosophical rigor with sensitivity and humor, Corvino examines and dismantles the most common arguments against homosexual conduct—including those based on nature, harm and religion."

The speaker revealed that he is a Roman Catholic and is still a part of the church. However, his presentation made very clear that he does not believe in biblical Christianity.

About 110 attended this lecture, with most being students, and about 99% of the total being favorable to the speaker’s views.

Corvino is an excellent speaker and he cleverly weaves his arguments in such a way that can easily deceive the non-discerning. He also peppers his lecture with anecdotes and humor to further disarm the uncritical thinker.

His approach is to present four arguments which are used to show that homosexual practices are morally wrong and then proceed to show how those arguments are false. The four arguments are: biblical teaching, nature, universality and harm caused by the practice.

Corvino reasons that since the book of Leviticus supports slavery, while condemning usury and homosexuality, the Bible cannot be a reliable argument against homosexuality. Therefore the Bible is an ancient book which is not relevant for today. End of story.

His other methods of destroying "straw men" are just as shallow. I will not take the time to present them here but one can access his lectures at:

http://www.lib.wayne.edu/services/media/lectures/corvino.php.

At the end of Corvino’s lecture he received a standing ovation from at least 99% of the audience. He had been speaking to the choir. I knew that if I said anything I would be ridiculed, but after praying for strength I made an effort. I said:

My name is George Stewart. I am a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am a Bible-believing preacher who preaches at the Salt Lick Christian church.

I think it is sad that tax-payers’ money is being used to support homosexuality on the college campus, especially since there was no alternative view presented. And I plan to contact the University to do just that.

You are a very clever speaker but your logic is weak. And the humor does not cover it.

You mentioned "morality." But if a community is to function properly there has to be a standard. I might think it is morally right to murder. You might think it is morally right to steal. I believe the only standard can come from God.

Finally, I believe my Lord is weeping tonight.

As I sat down there was an enormous groan from the audience. It seemed as though they had just witnessed Charles Manson in action.

Corvino’s response was very gracious. He said he respected me for speaking out in the midst of a hostile crowd—for he had been there. He acknowledged that humor can sometimes be used to disarm an audience. He also acknowledged that morality requires a standard, but since the Bible is interpreted differently by different people that could not be used as a standard. This is the well-worn way of attempting to bypass the Bible and use one’s own standard. His solution is to get a general consensus from the community. He did not explain how that could be accomplished. In fact, as he had admitted earlier in his lecture, community standards change. Of course, he likes the fact that the community is increasingly accepting homosexuality—just as his mother has learned to do.

In this response he did address Romans one, but said it dealt with idolatry and had nothing to do with homosexuality. One can twist the Scriptures to ease their guilt. But that doesn’t change God’s mind.

The audience was not as kind to my remarks as Corvino was. One young man was appalled at what I had said. He said my argument was totally contrary to the Gospel and to Christ’s preaching of love. He said, "Love is what we are talking about here." As we know, the sinner’s definition of "love" is not always the same as God’s.

An older man (obviously referring to me) said that there are several churches in the community that would welcome those in the audience. (Probably excluding me.) He said not all churches accept the Bible literally (as George Stewart does). And, he said, he is an elder in such a church—one that believes in tolerance and acceptance. Is it any wonder our culture is so morally corrupt?

After the meeting I was interviewed briefly by the University NPR station. I am sure their left-leaning audience will love what I said.

I am also sure I did not make any converts in this encounter. However, the Old Testament prophets proclaimed the message even when the people did not listen. Consider Isaiah’s call in Isaiah chapter six and Jeremiah’s call in Jeremiah chapter one. And we as Christians have an obligation to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).