Homosexuality

There are those who want people to believe homosexuality is normal. Jesus tells us what is normal. And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them 'male and female', and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?' So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate" (Matthew 19:4-6).

Many religious leaders are defending this practice. The United Methodist Church recommended their members accept homosexuals as "persons of sacred worth" and welcome them into fellowship of that Church. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Netherlands made a report saying that homosexuality should not be something to keep a person from becoming a pastor in their Church. The United Church of Christ has ordained homosexuals into their ministry. There is even a homosexual denomination in the United States called the Metropolitan Community Church.

There is much confusion in our society, just as there was in the days of Isaiah. Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20). Just because some people say that homosexuality is right, does not make it so!

Some say we should not be talking about this issue, because it is a political issue. However, it was a moral issue long before it was a political issue. The Bible teaches us homosexuality is in. If a person does not repent and stop the practice, they will be lost eternally.

The first example of homosexuality is found in the city of Sodom. The wickedness of the city is described in Genesis 19:4-7. Men, both young and old, wanted to have sexual relations with Lot's male visitors. The New Testament confirms this is a true account (cf. Matthew 11:23,24; Jude 7; 2 Peter 2:6-8).

Sodom and Gomorrah serve as the standard by which other sins are compared (Isaiah 3:9; 13:19; Jeremiah 23:14; Matthew 11:23,24).

Note three passages condemning this practice. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.... Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you (Leviticus 18:22,24). 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 (Leviticus 20:13). There shall be no ritual harlot of the daughters of Israel, or a perverted one of the sons of Israel. You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog to the house of the LORD your God for any vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 23:17,18). The word dog here is a synonym for a homosexual. "Dogs" will not be in heaven (Revelation 22:14,15).

Israel's faithfulness was partly determined by the king's attitude toward the perverted persons (homosexuals) in the land (1 Kings 14:22-24; 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7).

God, through Paul, makes it clear those who practice homosexuality will not go to heaven. 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 (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The word for "homosexuals" comes from the Greek phrase which means "men having sexual relations." 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 (Romans 1:26,27). Note the words Paul uses in this passage: "vile," "against nature," "shameful," "error." These are not words of approval. In the context, Paul is discussing the unrighteousness of the Gentiles (Romans 1:18). But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 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 (1 Timothy 1:8-10). In verse 10, Paul mentions the "sodomite." This is the same Greek word that is used in 1 Corinthians 6:9 translated "homosexual."

All of these passages show us the way God views this practice. It is not approved, but condemned.

God loves all people and wants all to be saved (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:4). The homosexual can be saved the same way any other sinner can be saved. They must repent and be baptized (Acts 17:30; Acts 22:16).

Then, the practice must be stopped! 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 (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

There is great pressure placed upon the Christian to ignore sin in our society. It is not popular to take a stand against sin today. Neither was it easy for the Old Testament prophets to take a stand against sin. It was not easy for Christians in the first century to preach the gospel to the heathen world. It will not be easy today, but we must obey God (Acts 5:29).

It may not be easy for the person who practices homosexuality to give up this sinful practice. But, if we want to go to heaven, we have to live our lives according to His will (Matthew 7:21-23). The most important thing in the world is to go to heaven!