A Reaping?

In the USA there are 25,000 cases, and some 18,000 have died. Possibly 1.5 million people carry the virus. In Britain of more than 500 victims, over one half have died; and there are approximately 30,000 carriers of the virus. "The scale of the African crisis, however, stuns the imagination". So runs an authoritative quote from a recent leading UK newspaper report. In certain central and eastern African countries the dire effect of the infection approaches holocaust proportions.

There is no cure; no really effective treatment at all, except for some symptoms, and that of temporary effect. No hope has appeared so far of a vaccine for preventive inoculation. The disease is, of course, AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) in which the human body's defence mechanisms against disease break down with catastrophic effects. Exceedingly few cases have been recorded from truly accidental causes, e.g. to health workers; and countries with well developed health care systems can now prevent recurrence of the early tragic transmission of infection to people requiring blood transfusions.

Apart from the sharing of blood contaminated syringes by drug abusers, the disease is transmitted through sexual intercourse and was initially mainly confined to homosexual men who practised their own deviant forms of sexual activity. Now, however, there is clearly also risk in sexual relations between men and women if one of the persons is infected. The latter point is, of course, the vital one. For where a man and woman live together in conjugal faithfulness to one another there is no question of this disease intruding on their lives. The now often trumpeted catchphrase "everyone is at risk" is simply untrue. It is when men and men, or men and women indulge their desires with a number of "partners" the risk of infection grows with the extent of the liberties they take.

These are the facts; facts which can only be made clear and unmistakable in terms which some may find sadly uncomfortable and rather distasteful. So they are, but that is the true nature of the position.

The world-wide cry for every p055ible measure to control this fearful situation has, for the most part, rejected all moral judgement and dismissed as irrelevant counsel which is based on recognition of God's laws. It may sound harsh to say of people in dire trouble and sickness that their

philosophy can be summed up as "make sin safer", but there is no other way to describe advice to "reduce the number of sexual partners". We are observing a massive rejection of the laws of God on human sexual relationships; observing something which is as old as the fallen human race but which has been brought into the glare of public view by new and horrific consequences.

Most readers of this magazine are well able to find their way through the scriptures on the subject of human relations between the sexes, and on homosexuality. On the latter, Gen. 19:1-13; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom. 1:

18-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Tim. 1:8-11 are not "a few isolated proof texts" as has been alleged, but the plain explicit commands of the God of the Bible. And the negative instruction of such passages is securely based in the positive teaching of God's word on sex and marriage, beginning in Genesis 1 and 2. It is sad in the extreme that several reports from certain Christian denominations in recent years have seriously compromised the clear biblical position on homosexual practices. The latter, let us be reminded, are to be sharply distinguished from the desires which do arise in many people towards those of the same sex, probably as a result of unusual development of this aspect of their personality, but which are subjected to God's prohibitions as to active expression. Similarly, the Christian is bound to honour the commands of Scripture in the matter of fornication and adultery between the sexes even in the presence of the temptations produced by the desires which form part of human nature. The reality with regard to AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases, is that such submission to God's law is the only answer to control - an answer sadly described by many as "unrealistic" but, in fact, simply unacceptable.

Notwithstanding the solemn truth of what is stated above, there is surely a call to Christian people to show the caring compassion of Christ to fellow men and women in deep trouble and need, wherever this is possible, and without compromising one's stand on divine principles. And the compassionate care and Christian love which this "plague" will demand in the years ahead will be massive in volume and profound in quality. A reaping, yes, in terms of Galatians 6:7, but should we not in due humility supplicate our God that He may in His infinite mercy grant the discovery of the medical means to treat this terrible illness, not that men and women can then persist in or return to unbridled self-indulgence, but rather that they may be touched by the kindness of God and drawn into submission to His perfect and holy will.

unknown | Mar 1987
Focus