What About Homosexuality?
What about Homosexuality?
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders . . .
11 And that is what some of you were. . . .1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NIV)
On many campuses today, you can find “Christian” churches having Bible studies for those who have adopted “Alternate Lifestyles.” Many religious leaders seem to advocate that homosexuality is God’s gift to many and we should not be condemning toward what God has made.
About two years ago I was listening to Cliffe Knechtle conducting one of his open-air dialogues at the U of I. Some one had just asked him a question concerning homosexuality and he gave a great Biblical response to the student’s questions. At just about the same time at the other end of the campus was a rally for gay rights that had several pastors and priests speaking for the acceptance of this lifestyle. They even stated that God had said this was ok.
In light of our cultural experience, how do we respond to this question? Many consult psychologists or psychiatrists to give their argument credence. Many Christians attempt the argument this way by presenting all sort of scientific studies to argue their case. The Christian must not use science as his argument because the understanding of science changes with the wind. Science is forever changing. There is no such thing as an absolute statement in science. If we set our moral compass by science, we will be far out of tune with truth. It is very important that we let the Bible speak to us on this subject, and not some outside source.
Many Christians just quote Leviticus 18,
22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: Lev 18:22-24 (KJV)
We must present a thorough response to the challenge of this question.
Many will respond to Leviticus 18 by saying we no longer obey most of Leviticus because of the new covenant Jesus instituted. If we no longer follow all these other rules why do you still say homosexuality is wrong?
Let us seek to give a clear and precise Biblical response so that we may find the light of God’s truth.
It is very clear in the very first chapter of the Bible that God made mankind in his image. He created them male and female. Both male and female have the image of God stamped on them and they were given the command to, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:26)
In Genesis chapter two we read more in detail about the specific creation of Adam and Eve. Adam was created first and began to name the animals he saw, and he wondered that there was no partner for him. Notice this passage indicates that the animals were not for his companionship. They could not help him reproduce.
Then God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep and during his dream sleep God created Eve and brought her to the man. When Adam saw her for the first time he looked at her and said, “Woe! . . . Man! And that has been her name ever since! (Another poor attempt at humor, forgive me.) The Scripture indicates in Genesis 2:25 that the man and wife were naked and they felt no shame. There was perfect beauty in this marital relationship that was unstained by human sin.
Then the fall of man happens in Genesis chapter three. By the time we arrive at the sixth chapter of Genesis, we see that mankind was marrying and giving in marriage and that every thought of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) The flood arrives after years of warning from God to men for them to repent and turn to Him. They did not listen nor did they turn from their evil ways and as a result they were swept away when the flood came.
Immediately after the flood we see again that man is still forever bent on doing evil. By the time we get to Genesis 19, which chronologically is not that long after the flood, we find the men of Sodom and Gomorrah have become so debased that they are now turning from the natural use to an unnatural use of their bodies.
God destroys their two cities along with some smaller suburbs that cling to the sin of Sodom. So just what was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah that brought them such judgment from God? The Bible answers it for us, “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. 50 They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.” Ezek 16:49-50 (NIV)
I want you to notice the progression in this passage. They were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned; they did not help the needy. They were refused to consult anyone other than themselves for their direction in life. They were overfed. They had all they needed. Everything was almost perfect, no need for anything or anyone. It seemed as if the culture was all about them. They were the center of their universe. We see this because they were completely unconcerned for the needs of the poor. It is very interesting to see that when you look at today’s religious movements or philosophical systems that are in opposition to God’s truth, they have very little concern for others. Their talk and public statements are all about their personal concerns for pleasure and a right to live however they see fit.
For evidence of this, ask yourself who is there when trouble and destruction hit cities and countries? Who are the people who help rebuild homes or feed the poor? Who is busy building homes for orphaned children? Who are the ones who help rebuild cities destroyed by terrorist attacks? I have been privileged to help in disaster relief efforts of the Southern Baptist convention and not once have I found there to be an atheistic organization giving out water or helping with the victims of hunger or natural disasters.
Whenever a culture turns from worship of the one true God, they eventually turn to worship themselves in some form or fashion. They became preoccupied with self. They want to have the pleasure of sex but not if children are included. Who among our society is the most needy? Children. But this world, and the world of Sodom, do not want any obligations toward children; that would be inhibiting to their pursuit of pleasure.
Now the question, how could they experience the pleasure of sex without the responsibility that goes with it? We will see the development of the homosexual philosophy as we study Romans Chapter 1:18-32 and see how this all fits together.
Romans chapter one is written to address a culture that has rebelled from God. Paul addresses such culture and then lists the indications that God has given a culture over to judgment.
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Notice that this passage says that these people knew God. They were given a choice to either glorify Him or go their own way. They chose the latter and as a result their thinking became futile. Their minds were no longer able to think in the ways that were pleasing to God. Not only was this so but their hearts were now darkened. When your mind and your heart are darkened and shut out from the knowledge of God, you will only make wrong decisions and choices.
22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:21-32 (NIV)
You will notice that this passage indicates that all the sins of the culture are a result of the culture not giving glory to God. When they turned their back on God and refused to express their gratitude, God withdrew his presence from them and let them go on their own way. As a result they became foolish in their thinking and then their hearts were darkened. What should have been very easy to see as wrong was what they now deemed right and moral.
The Scripture says, “God gave them over to do those things which are not convenient.” They left the permanent pleasures of God for the temporary pleasures of sinful enticements. This was designed by God to lead them to realize their error. They became so hardened in their rebellion that they went from bad to worse and even though they knew this was neither what God had intended nor commanded, they took pleasure in rebelling even more.
When they experienced the conviction of God, instead of turning to God, they chose not even to think about God. They pushed thoughts of God farther and farther from their minds and as a result God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. Look carefully at the downward spiral. The Scriptures say they became filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. Does this bring them to a point of repentance? It does not. It only strengthens their resolve to refuse God even more, and then they make it impossible for others in the culture to have access to God’s truth. They know God’s righteous decrees that those who do such things deserve death, and they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. This is the culture that rebels against God.
The Bible indicates that this world system will always run from the truth of God and seek out other systems that will confirm and condone evil lifestyles. It is important that we see that the sin of homosexuality is the sign of God taking his hand off a culture. When you live in a culture that has turned its back on God’s truth you will find every sort of depravity being glorified.
So how do we respond to the challenge of the person who claims to be a Christian homosexual in our culture? We point them to the Scriptures,
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 6:9-11 (NIV)”
Notice in this passage that Paul says that those who are trapped in specific sins can be delivered. God commands every one of us to repent and turn to Him and leave our life of destructive and sinful practices. He says that those who used to be idolaters, greedy, immoral, thieves, drunkards, cheaters, or homosexuals received a new nature when we trusted in Christ. Notice the key word in verse 11. “ And that is what some of you WERE.” Because of what Jesus Christ has done, you have been delivered from your life of habitual sin and now are a new creation in Christ Jesus. II Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ He is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come.”
The saving work of Jesus Christ delivers you from the guilt of your sin and now in this present age the saving work of the Spirit of God is delivering you from the power of sin. If a person has been transformed by Christ, he or she will begin to live a life that is patterned after Christ in the New Testament.
Homosexuality, along with the sins of lying, adultery, idolatry, etc., are all sins that offend a holy God and sins for which God will visit the offending party with his judgment. If this is true, then we cannot say to the homosexual offender that we are better than him or her. We can only say along with them, that we all stand in deep need of God’s mercy and grace. To ignore the need for repentance, or to refuse to repent in light of God’s judgment, places all of us in grave danger of being separated from God forever.
The liar and the cheater stand next to the homosexual and all are in need of deliverance from sins that will ultimately destroy their lives and lead them down the dark road of deception to destruction. Homosexuality is equated with sexual immorality and God condemns sexual immorality along with all the other acts of rebellion.
Small Group Discussion Questions:
When you read that “ no thieves, nor greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God”, how do you feel about your own standing before God?
What are the sins that you struggle with that are very difficult to overcome?
How has God brought you victory over different sins in your life? Are some more difficult to overcome than others? Why do you think this is?
How can you minister to those who are in the midst of an immoral lifestyle?
For a good insight into reaching those who the world considers moral outcasts, take some time to study Luke 18:9-14
What specific sins has God revealed to you that you need to confess to Him? Take some time today to get alone with God and let Him convict you of the sin in your life so you can experience His cleansing and renewal.