Homosexuality in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

A4P Guest: Hello A4P, I’m a born again Christian and one of the leaders in our local church. I’m here in your inbox to bring something to your attention and ask you to help us in what we are trying to do. Homosexual communities from America and Europe are pouring out here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They give birr 150 (~$8) to public school teachers so that the teachers will teach students how people are born to be homosexuals and that being a homosexual is not different from being a heterosexual. So, we are putting together a flyer to call everyone to march against homosexuality here in Addis Ababa on a certain day. Would you please post that flyer on your page so that many will join us on that day?

A4P: Let me ask you few questions before I address your question:

Did you guys ever gather together to march against adultery that is eating and chewing up churches in a daily basis? Did you guys march against fornication which is becoming a common practice today in churches? (Fornication: sex between two unmarried couple.) When is the last time did you guys march against those who are vising prostitutes in Kasanches and Piasa and come to church to minister? (Kasanches and Piasa are known places of prostitution in Addis Ababa.) Have you guys ever march against abortion which is rampantly rising in Ethiopian churches as Plan B and IUD are being promoted as alternative birth control methods?

This is what I’m trying to ask you: Did you guys see homosexuality differently than other sexual sins? If you do, the Bible doesn’t see homosexuality differently than fornication, adultery, incest and murder (abortion). If the Bible doesn’t, why should you?

While porn addiction is taking over the life of many born-again Christians, it is not wise for me to use my time to march or encourage and organize a march against homosexuality. While born again Christian young girls and vibrant young anointed men are given over to sensuality as they devour sexually explicit and/or suggestive Ethiopian dramas and movies, I don’t think it is wise for me to march against homosexuality.

If we are indeed in Christ, we are the light of this world; we are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14). But while we are losing our “saltiness and light,” what is the point of marching against a practice we ourselves are not that much far away from?

Jesus died for homosexuals and heterosexuals. Period! Jesus died for me who was guilty of all sorts of sexual sins. He died for me so that I may live for Him alone (2 Corinthians 5:15). My role as a Christian then is to live out the message of Jesus Christ so that, just like me, the lost homosexuals as well as heterosexuals will come to the true Shepherd of their souls. That is called Great Commission, calling others to Christ! Do you think marching against homosexuality will call homosexuals to Christ? Hmm!

When we who are called in Christ Jesus flee from any form of sexual sin, we become hope and help for the homosexuals as well as the heterosexuals who are drowning in the sea of their sinful sexual lifestyles.

After all, we all are sexually broken people. Jesus called us while we were dead and broken in all areas of our life. And when we see others’ sexual deadness or brokenness, why do we march against them?

Let’s speak louder what we believe by living it all out and nobody will miss our messages. We don’t need to march to be heard. If we practice what we believe, our life will be a megaphone, “a daily violent riot” nobody can ignore. Let’s stand against sinful sexual lifestyles, like fornication, adultery, incest and homosexuality by leading a life that is in complete opposite of those sinful lifestyles.

The Word of God commands us to separate ourselves from those who called themselves brothers and sisters in Christ but live in fornication, adultery and homosexuality (1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6). Jesus was accused of being a friend of sinners and He called you and I to be friends of sinners. Are we? Or, are we best friends of those who called themselves Christians but play with sex outside marriage; or steal other’s wife and sleep with and try to call that “a marriage”?

By the ways, we can learn a very important lesson from those American and European homosexual communities who are trying to teach Ethiopian kids about homosexuality. That important lesson is this: They target little kids. They invest their time, energy and money on little kids so that those little kids when they grow up, they will never depart from the lifestyle they taught them to embrace at that early informative stage of life. That is a biblical principle that works very effectively (Proverbs 22:6).

So, instead of you wasting your precious time and energy to organize a march against the fallen world, organize something to train up Christian parents so that they can teach their own kids about the biblical truth, spiritual meaning and significance of sex, human sexuality and marriage between one man and one woman.

As some people say, “work on your side of the street” instead of looking over the other side of the street and missing out on your work.

If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, the most powerful God is in your team. He that is in you is more powerful than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). You can’t lose a battle if you abide in Him.

Always remember this: The dark side of the street only gets attracted to the bright and sparkling side of the street, not to the street which is as dark as it is! ///