HOMOSEXUALITY
In our times an aberant life-style is damanding respectability.
It is homosexuality. We are not talking about political equality (job opportunites
for all people without any question for their life-styles, etc.). We are
discussing homosexuality as it pertains to moral
rightness. Moral rightness from the stand-point of what the Bible says
about it.
It matters not what percentage of our population have "come out of the closet" as declared homosexuals - any more than what percent of our population are pedophiles or are sexually addicted in some other way. What matters is what does the Bible say on the subject.
It does little good to argue the reasons for one being a homosexual, whether it is by a personal choice or a combination of other factors (introduction to it at an early age; some set of circumstances possibly contributing to setting up the situation, etc., etc.). We want to know what the Bible says about it. Those who believe the Bible to be God speaking to us today will want to know what it says so that they might receive the power and help necessary to never begin the abominable practice in the first place or to stop the practice if they are already involved.
THE BIBLE PLAINLY CONDEMNS HOMOSEXUALITY BOTH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
THE OLD TESTAMENT:|
1. Genesis 18 & 19: God said that "the outcry of
Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and .... their sin is very grave."
Abraham refered to many in Sodom as "wicked."
In chapter 19 we learn exactly what was so "wicked" and such a "sin..very
grave." It was the practice of men wanting to "know men carnally"
(19:5). It was homosexuality. God was so displeased with the wickedness
of those cities, of which he could not find even "ten..righteous"
souls,
that he
destroyed
them with "brimstone and fire" (18:32;19:24). The NT writer Peter, looking
back at that time, tells us that God "turned the cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah into ashes, (and) condemned them to destruction." Their practices,
Peter says were "ungodly," "the filthy conduct of the
wicked" and "lawless deeds" (2 Pet.
2:6-8).
Even before the great flood recorded in Genesis chapter 6 "the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in he earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5). When we see the sins of Lot's time being referred to as ungodly, wicked, filthy conduct and lawless deeds it would not be surprising that the pre-flood popluation was also engaged in such abominable practices.
LEVITICUS 18:22: God said "You shall not lie with a man as with a woman.
It is an abomination." How could that be any more plain? Homoxexuality
is put in the very same context as mating with animals. "You shall not
mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it" (V. 22).
LEVITICUS 20:13: "If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both
of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death.
Their blood shall be upon them."
Judg 19:22: "
Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city,
certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door,
and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth
the man that came into thine house, that we may know him"
(KJV).
I KINGS 15:12: King Asa "took away the sodomites out of the land,..."
1 KINGS 14:24: During Rehoboam reign we read "And there were sodomites in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations
which the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel."
1 KINGS 22:46: About Jehoshaphat. "And the remnant of the sodomites, which
remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land."
Smith's Bible Dictionary relates "This word (Sodomites) does not denote the inhabitants of Sodom; but it is employed in the Authorized Version of the Old Testament for those who practice as a religious rite the abominable and unnatural vice which the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah have derived their lasting infamy."
In the New King James the word "sodomites" is replaced with "perverted" men. The margin has this: "those practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals." This seems to be the case in the passages in Kings, but because their practices were engaged in during "religious rituals" in no way means that that was the only time such behavior was sinful. The practice itself, as we learned from Leviticus is an "abomination" in God's sight.
THE NEW TESTAMENT:
ROMANS 1:24-27: Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women Exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due" (NKJ).
This passage shows that both men and women are condemned in their unnatural sexual behaviours of homosexuality and lesbianism. God's word has spoken! God's word speaks!
1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-11: "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (NKJ)
By divine inspiration the apostle Paul tells us that along with other types of sinners, homosexuals and sodomites "will not inherit the kingdom of heaven." Further he tells us that there is hope for such filthy sinners. They can change. They can be converted. They can stop their wicked acts and become faithful Christians. It might not be easy, but it can be done through Jesus Christ (Phil. 4:13). Yes, even "many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized" (Acts 18:8; Mk. 16:16).
1 TIMOTHY 1:9-11: Paul wrote, "knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust." (NKJ)
Whether one is simply willingly submissive to these awful practices or actively pursues them, those practices will bring down the wrath of God. Quite possibly in this life with sexually transmitted diseases (Rom. 1:27b) or for sure in the final Judgment (Mt. 25:46; Rev. 22:15; Eccl. 12:13-14).
FINALLY: All the cries that "I was born that way," I can't help it," "we have our rights," etc., etc. will not change God's will in the matter. He has spoken and all sinners with their sinful practices are to repent (change) and obey the gospel of Christ (Mk.16:15-16). Receiving all the help and power from the gospel that it can give, as well as from true Christians friends and brethren. "God... now command all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained" (Acts 17:30; Jn. 12:48; Jn.12:48).
Peter McPherson