Are Gays the Only Ones Who are "Born This Way"

             

                            

“Born This Way” is the title of a song, by American recording artist Lady GaGa, from her second album of the same name.  GaGa’s inspiration came from the 1990s empowering music for women and the gay community. GaGa explains that “Born This Way” was her freedom song. She sang part of the chorus at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in 2010.

According to the song’s title, “Born This Way” is about love and equality. The song was a commercial success, becoming the fastest selling song in iTunes history and debuting atop the Billboard’s Hot 100.

“Born This Way” has become a rallying cry for the gay community – as well as an excuse celeb for why no one should ever have an exception to the gay lifestyle, albeit religious or otherwise; because someone certainly cannot help the way they were born - sounds logical on the surface - right? 

“Born This Way” has inspired a foundation by the same name: “Born This Way Foundation”, subtitle: “Empowering Youth, Inspiring Bravery”. Lady GaGa says that she and her mother are passionate about tolerance, acceptance, and kindness.  The website is meant to encourage and support gay youth.  However the support is first and foremost meant to encourage and support gay youth to simply consign themselves to the “Way They Were Born”.  

So what “Way” are we really talking about here – and are gays the only ones who can say they are “Born This Way”?  More importantly, just because we are born a certain way, with certain tendencies - does that automatically mean all these tendencies are right and good?  Does it mean that we can or should never try to curb certain inclinations?  Is the way we were born set in stone?    

Now I know that the gays bristle at their same-sex orientations being labeled as sinful - and of course the orientation in and of itself is not sinful.  Well they can argue about that if they want.  My point is - that just because we are Born a certain Way does not prove their argument.  

There is only One Way in which we are ALL born ...

We read in Psalm 50, “Indeed, in guilt was I born, and in sin my mother conceived me”  The effects of our fallen nature inherited from the rebellion of our first parents, is something we are all Born With! There is not one of us who does not struggle with certain proclivities.    In Romans 7:19, St Paul laments:  “For the good I would do I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do.”     

The struggle with the “Way We Are Born” is a lifelong battle.   Yet, Lady GaGa and her ilk, are now suggesting that the sinful state in which each of us is born, should now be made peace with and expressed with “bravery”.  

In Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, the cynical and jaded Lord Henry, seduces the beautiful young Dorian to “Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing.”   He further advises the younger man, “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”  

These dark influences upon the young Dorian, ultimately lead him to sell his very soul in order to hold on to his youth, and continue to pursue and give expression to, his every desire and inclination, without restraint.  Dorian ultimately trades his very soul in fact, so that a portrait painted of him by his friend Basil, will show the ravages of his sin and age, while he personally, will remain the image of youth and beauty.  From here, guided by his dark angel, Lord Henry, he sinks further and further into every excess of depravity.  

However, instead of finding freedom, as GaGa advocates, by giving in to every inclination that he was “Born With”, Dorian becomes more lonely and isolated, living in agonizing secretiveness.  This is the true result of sin – loneliness and isolation.  Though he may revel and rejoice with friends and camaraderie on the surface – deep inside his heart, the sinner is alone.  

Lady GaGa claims that, “Born This Way” is her freedom song.  However Dorian is finally forced to discover that true freedom and peace of mind, can only come from reigning in and controlling the sinful inclinations that we are ALL “Born With”!   

Each of us is born with a weakness or proclivity to something destructive – either to ourselves or others - anyone who says they weren’t is lying to themselves.   I for one am all too painfully aware of my own shortcomings, and how I must make war against myself on a daily basis against my own fallen nature.  And I realize only too well, that I personally have very little power over my baser instincts on my own – but I must rely heavily on a higher power as the alcoholics call Him – I call Him “Our Father Who Art in Heaven”, and I cry out:  “Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt. A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.” Psalm 50.   

Lady Gaga says “Born This Way” is her freedom song – the poor girl is mistaken however - for the true freedom we are all looking for – is a freedom from the “Way we Were Born”  “Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me.”     This is true freedom.

Being born a certain way should not be the final page of our lives. For if a man dies no better than how he was born, he has never really been born.    

To be continued …