Homosexuality

Homosexuality has become a controversial subject in our day, even in the churches of Jesus Christ. That is not because God’s word as revealed in Scripture is not plain enough, but because people prefer to conform to the spirit of the age, to the values of our anti-Christian culture, and because they are reluctant to offend people who differ with them. We even have churches such as the Metropolitan Life Church that actively seek to promote a homosexual lifestyle purportedly based on an interpretation of the Scriptures. However the scriptures warn that ^"Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Exodus 23:2). Rather the Scriptures warn us about such deceit and command us to "speak the truth in love".

That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. Ephesians 4:14-15

Real love will seek the best for another, and the best is always to be conformed to the will of God, to be at peace with God, and to be prepared to stand before the judgment throne of Jesus Christ as one day we all shall. Not only is it loving to speak the truth to our neighbour but it is a duty, it is commanded.

"So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Ezekiel 33:7-9

And what is the truth about homosexuality? The Bible is clear on this subject. God has given us ample testimony in his word how he views that particular practice. The following Scriptures make that abundantly clear. That God considers homosexuality to be a perversion, contrary to nature, and an abomination in his holy sight is the uniform witness of his word against this practice.

Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death. Exodus 22:19

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. Leviticus 18:22

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. Deuteronomy 23:17

It is also clear that God does not hesitate to judge this sin in the strongest terms even in this life. Homosexuals are also called Sodomites, after Sodom, the city that gave its name to this sin that they so notoriously practiced.

Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. Genesis 19:24-25

When a similar case occurred in Gibeah of the Tribe of Benjamin as had happened in Lot’s day in Sodom, God similarly judged it and the whole tribe of Benjamin was almost destroyed on account of this sin and their militant defense of it. (Judges 19:22-20:48).

Paul, echoes these truths in the New Testament when he teaches the Christians in Rome that homosexuality itself is a judgment of God.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves…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 1:24,26-27

And Paul emphatically teaches that such persons, if they abide in this sin without repentance, cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, but will undergo the eternal wrath of God in the world to come.

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

Paul clearly classifies sodomites as being lawless and ungodly sinners. Paul is speaking the truth in love. He is emphatically warning his hearers against the inevitable consequences of this perverted and wicked lifestyle.

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 1:9-10

Biblical evangelism is a two-edged sword. It has bad news as well as good news. Above we have been dealing with the bad news. God is a Holy God, he has created man in his own image and commanded us to be holy as He is holy. Since man has fallen into sin he abides under the wrath of God who is "of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot fellowship with iniquity". However, there is also the good news. The old English word gospel literally means good news, even as the Greek word evangel means glad tidings. And Paul does not leave his listeners without hope. After his most explicit condemnation of homosexuality he states…

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 6:11

Deliverance from slavery to any sin, whether it be alcohol or drugs, sex or sodomy, can be found in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. As Jesus himself taught…

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32