Table of Contents
Part 1: Adultery
Part 2: Abortion
Part 3: Euthanasia
Part 4: Stem Cell Research
Part 5: Homosexuality
Delivered by Dr. Ian Brown at Carryduff Free Presbyterian Church
In February 2008, amidst a backdrop of shifting cultural and legislative landscapes in the United Kingdom – including the recent introduction of civil partnerships and growing media normalisation of alternative lifestyles – Carryduff Free Presbyterian Church in Northern Ireland hosted the concluding session of its Christian Ethics Conference. This five-part series tackled pressing moral issues from a staunchly biblical perspective, drawing on Scripture to address topics that were increasingly contentious in society. The final instalment, delivered by Dr. Ian Brown – a prominent minister in the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, known for his forthright preaching, leadership roles within the denomination, and unyielding commitment to scriptural authority – focused on homosexuality. Drawing primarily from Romans chapter 1, Dr. Brown’s sermon was a robust defence of God’s ordained order for human sexuality and marriage, while critiquing the deliberate societal push to normalise and promote practices contrary to biblical teaching.
Dr. Brown, who is current (2026) Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church and minister of Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church in Belfast, brought his characteristic blend of humour, scriptural depth, and cultural analysis to the address. His message was not one of mere condemnation but a call to awareness, prayer, and gospel proclamation, emphasising that redemption is available even to those entangled in what he termed “vile affections.”
The Setting and Opening Banter: Welcoming the Congregation
The evening at Carryduff Free Presbyterian Church began on a light note, as Dr. Brown greeted the audience with warmth and typical Ulster wit. “You’re very welcome. Change seats as long as you don’t ask for another hint, and then you’ll just get what I had, the neck blowin’ off you, because, uh, foghorn is right behind you,” he quipped, referring to Rev. McLaughlin’s loud singing voice and his seating arrangements. This humorous aside – acknowledging the practicalities of a chilly Northern Irish church hall – helped ease into the heavier subject matter.
Dr. Brown then addressed the frequent use of his title: “I don’t know that I’ve been called doctor as many times in the space of a few minutes as I have been here tonight. So if any of you are looking at an eye operation or a leg amputated or anything like that, uh, there’s a side room out there, and I’ll happily see you on your way out.” He clarified, with a chuckle, “I really can’t wear tights,” distancing himself from any medical pretensions. Such levity was brief, however, as he transitioned to the sermon’s gravity: “Our subject isn’t exactly the most edifying. It’s not one that you want to be regularly preaching on, but it’s a useful topic, and, in fact, it’s a necessary topic in the dark days in which we live.”
He praised the church’s minister for including the topic, noting that homosexuality was “spreading its tentacles” and being “promoted on every hand.” This set the stage for a sermon that was unapologetically direct, aimed at equipping believers to navigate a society where, in Dr. Brown’s view, moral boundaries were eroding rapidly.
Scriptural Reading and Prayer: Grounding in Romans 1
Central to the sermon was an extended public reading of Romans 1:16–32, recited with deliberate emphasis to underscore Paul’s theological progression. Dr. Brown began: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” He continued through the chapter, highlighting humanity’s rejection of God’s evident truth in creation, leading to idolatry and divine abandonment to sinful desires.
Particular attention was given to verses 24–32, where Paul describes God’s giving over of humanity to “uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts” and “vile affections.” Dr. Brown read: “For even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” He explained that the term “vile” translates to “filthy, dirty, evil, dishonourable,” framing homosexuality not as love but as a perversion of God’s design.
Following the reading, Dr. Brown borrowed a hymnbook to secure his notes with an elastic band – “My notes are going to get right down to my ankles here” – before leading in prayer. His supplication was poignant: “Heavenly Father… we come with joy and thanksgiving within our hearts. How great and good is the God that we adore… We praise thee that [Christ] is the source and the reason of all true joy.” He lamented laws “paled by… which are not to the benefit of the families… in direct contravention to the law of Thy Word,” praying for their overthrow and a national revival: “Come, Lord, and open our eyes… that we might see again a gracious revival of true God-honouring, Christ-promoting religion in this land again.”
This prayer not only invoked divine intervention but also modelled the sermon’s balance: hatred of sin coupled with compassion for sinners and hope in God’s sovereignty.
God’s Ordained Order: Marriage from Creation to Christ
Expanding on biblical foundations, Dr. Brown turned to Genesis 2:18–24 to affirm marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman. “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him,” God said, creating Eve as Adam’s complement. “He didn’t come along… and bring another man as a suitable partner for Adam,” Dr. Brown stressed, emphasising procreation and lifelong union. “One man with one woman dwelling together for their lifetime.”
This pattern was endorsed by Christ in Mark 10:6–9: “From the beginning of the creation God made them male and female… What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Dr. Brown preempted objections: “When you’re in debate with someone who’s promoting the Sodomite Agenda, they’re going to say… ‘Things have changed… There’s nothing in the New Testament that would militate against homosexuality.’ Our Lord Jesus… completely endorsed and emphasised the whole nature of the marriage union.”
Homosexuality, he argued, is “a perversion of God’s intended function… an attack on God’s institution of marriage.” Quoting Romans 1:26–27 again, he described same-sex acts as “against nature,” leading to “recompense of their error” – physical, moral, and spiritual consequences.
Critique of Cultural Promotion: Rights, Families, and Children Under Attack
Dr. Brown quoted Paul Weyrich: “A nation of strong families is one whose citizens possess virtue and ordered liberty,” lamenting the decline of such families. He critiqued civil partnerships as perverse, low uptake among homosexuals despite low uptake: “Most of them continue… living extremely promiscuous lives… [making] a total mockery of… marriage.”
On rights, he asserted children’s entitlement to a mother and father: “Who gave parents the right to have children? God did. Who gave a child the right to a father and a mother? God did.” Homosexual unions, unable to procreate naturally, were seen as demanding children as “fodder for our foulness.” He quoted activists like Michael Swift (“The family unit… spawning ground of lies, betrayals, mediocrity, hypocrisy and violence will be abolished… must be eliminated”) and Michelangelo Signorile (redefine marriage to “debunk a myth and radically alter an archaic institution… The most subversive action lesbian and gay men can undertake is to transform the notion of family entirely”). He warned of efforts in Canada under liberal governance to legalise polygamy and erode marriage step by step: “They were redefining marriage… until everything became marriage, therefore marriage really was nothing at all… They had taken out of marriage what God had said in his institution it should be.”
Dr. Brown raised alarm: “The family unit is under attack and our children are becoming the pawns… in the hand of a pitiful bunch called homosexuals.” He asked, “Where did the common crop of sodomites come from?… From among the ranks of our children,” citing a former lesbian’s testimony: “I’ve never had such a miserable track in my life… injecting drugs, drinking myself stupid, living this lifestyle, never more miserable… don’t let them tell you they’re having a good time.” He portrayed homosexuals as “hunting down our children,” not dramatically but literally, through recruitment strategies that target the young and impressionable.
Strategies of Promotion: Media, Legislation, Education, and the Church
Dr. Brown’s analysis of promotional strategies drew heavily from the 1989 book After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90s by Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen, which he described as a blueprint for homosexual activists’ agenda. He outlined their step-by-step approach: “This is not me making it up. That’s their book of strategy. This is what they’re at.” The strategies were presented as a calculated “planned psychological attack” to reshape public perception, desensitise opposition, and convert minds through pervasive influence.
- Media Saturation and Propaganda: Dr. Brown began with the media as the “Advanced Survival calls,” quoting the book’s points: “Begin portraying homosexuals as victims in need of protection… so that straights will be inclined by reflex to adopt the role of protector.” He added: “Present homosexuals… as wholesome and admirable by straight standards… Then desensitise people to homosexual issues by inundating the media with our messages… Then convert people to the belief that gayness is actually good… Conversion of the average American’s emotions, mind and will through a planned psychological attack in the form of propaganda fed to the nation by the media.”He provided concrete examples from 2006 Oscars, where films like Capote (tracing a homosexual author’s life), Transamerica (featuring a sex-change operation), and Brokeback Mountain (depicting a “vile, sodomite relationship” between cowboys) dominated. For Brokeback Mountain, he suggested a biblical soundtrack from Romans 1:32: “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Quoting reviewer Dr. R. Winfield: “Nature is pure… depicted with majesty… It is, of course, in this setting that the homosexual romance blossoms… Contrast that with the scenes of marriage… shot in a tiny, dark squalid hovel with screaming children… Children… are an intrusion into life, an incumbrance, and a terrible burden.” Dr. Brown concluded: “You see what they’re doing? Again attacking God’s order. Promoting their vile agenda.”Television was lambasted for injecting homosexuality into everyday viewing: “You can’t have a soap nowadays without a cup of perverse injected into the script… Or maybe a whole bunch of them.” Programmes like Law and Order (featuring a lesbian actress), Will & Grace, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Queer as Folk, Boy Meets Boy, and even family shows like Doctor Who, Byker Grove, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Simpsons, and South Park were cited as part of a “full-orbed assault” on young people. Celebrities like Sir Ian McKellen (from Lord of the Rings) were highlighted as “most popular sodomites, very outspoken in the promotion of gay rights.” Websites like “We Are Family” were criticised for fighting “homophobia” while promoting homosexuality as a legitimate family alternative: “This is another legitimate alternative lifestyle, every bit as legitimate as the one that you lead.”
- Legislative Advancements and Legal Protections: Dr. Brown detailed how laws were being enacted to entrench the agenda, often against public will. Civil partnerships, introduced on 5 December 2005, were a key example: “Brought into our country against the will of the majority of the people.” He quoted Tony Blair’s 21 December 2005 commentary in The Independent, boasting of “producing a gay UK” and falsely claiming 6% of the population was gay: “Incredible. It’s a decided lie… And they know it, and we know it, but the media carry it.”Other measures included full custody, adoption, and foster care rights for homosexuals; lowering the age of consent to 16 (with pushes for further reduction); repeal of Section 28 (preventing promotion of homosexuality in schools); the Incitement to Religious Hatred Act; and Sexual Orientation Regulations (effective 1 January 2007 in Northern Ireland). He warned of emerging laws repealing blasphemy protections while introducing anti-homophobic measures: “You can call Jesus whatever vile name you want, but you cannot even make a suggestion that the homosexual is doing something that is wrong… without the risk of ending up in court.” Groups like the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) were exposed for advocating “freedom of sexual expression… for young people and children,” per their 1972 platform demanding repeal of age-of-consent laws. In Holland, the “paedophile party” was cited as a harbinger: “I guarantee you 50 years back in Holland there was no chance of it either.” Dr. Brown concluded: “The only truly protected species in our country today is the homosexual… I don’t have rights like he has.”
- Educational Indoctrination Targeting the Young: This area elicited Dr. Brown’s strongest warnings, as activists sought to “bring it right out into the daylight and put it into our classrooms.” He noted: “We’re up against a very determined enemy. These people are intent on bringing their sordid behaviour… into our classroom, infecting the minds of our children.” Books for ages 3–8 like Daddy’s Roommate were dissected: “Daddy and his roommate Frank live together, work together, eat together, sleep together… Being gay is just one more kind of love, and love is the best kind of happiness.” Others included Heather Has Two Mommies, Gloria Goes to Gay Pride, and How Would You Feel If Your Dad Was Gay? (for ages 6–12).In the UK, a 1996 Belfast Telegraph article by two homosexuals demanded primary school teaching on gay relationships, arguing awareness as young as five. Gay History Month (February 2006) exposed children as young as seven to lessons on homosexuality, with organisers urging inclusion of historical figures as gay “even if there is no evidence.” Steve Doughty in the Daily Mail (4 January 2006) reported: “Children as young as seven could be taught gay history… urges teachers to introduce pupils to sexual and swear words.” Lynette Burrows was praised for accusing organisers of “peddling poison,” despite police warnings for “homophobic” comments on adoption.Sarah Harris in the Daily Mail (21 July 2006) highlighted the National Union of Teachers demanding nursery staff educate three-year-olds on gay families. Dr. Brown called this a “blitzkrieg of indoctrination” using anti-bullying as pretext: “Children are being battered in school because they’re gay… We need a gay education awareness campaign… Let’s indoctrinate the minds of impressionable young people that gayness is good.” He countered: “You get battered in school for any piece… But this is the way they get in.”
- Infiltration of the Church for Endorsement: Dr. Brown viewed the church as the “blue chip endorsement,” with liberals providing a voice: “They’ve been trying to get a voice here, a voice there… And in many cases, they have obtained it from liberal, from anti-biblical churches.” He linked feminist reinterpretations (e.g., women’s ordination) to homosexual arguments: “The arguments that allow women ministers into pulpits are the very same arguments and the same passages that the homosexuals… jump on the bandwagon, use the same texts… argue, you can’t discriminate against us. It’s the same twisted, warped, un-biblical theology.”The Anglican Communion’s turmoil was exemplified: African bishops opposed validity, while Western ones (e.g., Bishop Richard Harries of Oxford) claimed “traditionalists… need to be converted to see that homosexual unions are confirmed by the Scriptures.” Dr. Brown refuted this with Leviticus 18:22 (“abomination”), 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (excluding practitioners from heaven); Romans 1:25–28 (unnatural depravity); Genesis 19 (Sodom’s destruction); and Jude 7 (eternal fire). He recalled protesting homosexual delegates at the 1989 World Council of Churches in Zimbabwe, where liberals negotiated protections: “They came to an agreement… that when they brought in their homosexual delegates… they would not be arrested.”
Consequences and Gospel Hope: Depravity vs. Redemption
Dr. Brown portrayed homosexuality’s outcomes as multifaceted – depraved behaviour, physical/mental health crises, societal decay, and spiritual judgement – yet always contrasted with gospel redemption. He rejected the “gay gene” theory: “There’s no such thing… No one was born gay. God never gave any gift with the label homosexuality upon it… It only flourishes when a heart turns away from him.”
- Depravity and Societal Impact: An American survey showed 34% of child abusers were homosexual despite comprising only 2% of the population: “That’s an interesting statistic to work on.” He linked it to broader corruption: “Depraved is the result. The corruption of minds and bodies.”
- Health and Personal Toll: While noting AIDS as “the most deadly disease that can be traced to homosexual behaviour,” he expanded: “Homosexual behaviour also increases the likelihood of psychiatric mental-emotional disorders… Young people are 4 times as likely to suffer major depression… 4 times as likely to commit suicide… 5 times as likely to have nicotine or alcohol dependence… 6 times as likely to suffer multiple disorders… And more than 6 times as likely to have attempted suicide.” He reiterated: “You’re calling it a lifestyle? It’s not a lifestyle. It’s a death-style… How to get into the grave by a pretty quick, sure method… And how to wreck yourself on the way.”
- Spiritual and Eternal Recompense: Echoing Romans 1:27 (“receiving in themselves that recompence”), Dr. Brown cited Genesis 19, Jude 7, and Romans 1:32 as evidence of divine devastation: “It’s a sin that has the seeds of destruction within itself… Certain to end in divine devastation.” Yet, he warned against hatred: “What sort of act of us hate more than anything? Is any mention of [it] in the same breath as homosexual?”
Despite these grim consequences, hope was paramount: 1 Corinthians 6:11 – “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified…” He noted: “There are more former homosexuals in the world today than there are active practising homosexuals… Washed, cleansed, sanctified, trophies of grace.” Dr. Brown urged: “They’re trying to convert our minds to accept their vile sin. But we want to convert their hearts and souls… By grace, through the power of God.”
He called believers to “ACT”: Awareness (“Don’t be the ostrich head in the sand”); Contend against (“protest and pray… spread and proclamation of the Word of God”); Teach and evangelise (“Evangelise the lost, including the homosexual… They need the gospel… And have been converted”).
Closing Prayer and Reflection
The sermon ended in prayer for grace amid perversity: “May we manifest thy love unto those… locked in the grip of this iniquity… See many rescued for the Lord Jesus… Answer prayer, do us good in the Saviour’s name.”
Dr. Brown’s 2008 address, delivered at Carryduff Free Presbyterian Church, remains a clarion call for biblical fidelity in ethics. As we reflect in 2026 – a time when debates on sexuality, family, and faith continue to evolve – its themes endure, urging believers to uphold truth with compassion, contend against perceived moral cancers, and extend the gospel’s transforming power to all.
