July 2000
Just recently, the homosexual community celebrated a Gay Pride Day with a parade. Later that week a community church held a Gay Pride barbecue. Homosexuals have been around before the days of Sodom, and they will remain to exist until the end of the world. This is a fact. I have had homosexuals working under me as well as along side of me, and I have always treated them with respect sharing with them the love of Christ, just as I would someone who is sexually immoral. However, when the church turns its back on God's teachings concerning homosexuals and welcomes them in the church, then I have a problem. Consider what God says. When we think of homosexuals as Christians one must consider the first command given to man:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. (Ge.1:27-28)¶
Homosexuality is rebellion to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. For the homosexual relationship cannot procreate offspring and so does not constitute the Biblical description of the family. When God created woman, the Bible tells us that man was alone:
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. (Ge.2:18-20)
Man was not lonely, that is in need of social company, but rather he was alone -unable to fill the earth. God solution was to make a woman, which made a family:
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called `woman', for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. (Ge.2:22-24)
In this way homosexuality is a rebellion to God's intended purpose for a man and woman.
One of the most obvious characteristics of the homosexual movement is self-centeredness. They are not satisfied with the laws being changed to accommodate their behavior; rather they seek society as a whole to concede that their lifestyle is acceptable behavior. When the Police in a local community conducted a special investigation focusing on child pornography, the majority of those arrested were homosexuals. This brought public outcry from the gay community that they were being singled out in the investigation, rather the truth was that the majority of those involved in child pornography were gay men. Historically, the homosexual movement is one of gay rights over the rights of other individuals -specifically heterosexuals. This is the case of the first Biblical account of such a practice:
Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them." Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing. … "Get out of our way," they replied. And they said, "This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We'll treat you worse than them." They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door. (Ge.19:4-9)
All the men from every part of the city, both young and old, surrounded the house and demanded that their rights be honored over those of the two angelic visitors. For this reason, before the gay movement with their agenda, anyone found to be homosexual were called "Sodomites". God destroyed Sodom with the other cities of the plain because:
The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it." (Ge.19:13)
God destroyed the plain to the point that it now lies below sea-level and is referred to as the Dead Sea. The only other instance recorded in the Scriptures of homosexual behavior is found:
While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him." The owner of the house went outside and said to them, "No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don't do this disgraceful thing. (Jud.19:22-23)
In these two accounts we find the characteristic that is so evident within the gay community with its agenda: we do not want to have the same rights as others, we want to have rights above heterosexuals. Therefore the Biblical examples of the mentality of homosexuals is self-centeredness.
One might consider how we came to a place of moral ruin where homosexuals are given preferential rights over heterosexuals. If we study the Scriptures we would find in the history of the nation of Israel that homosexuality was practiced several times. First we find God blessing Israel, bountiful crops, peace with the surrounding nations etc.. Then Israel would neglect God, as their abundance caused them to no longer need God, thus being self-sufficient. This would cause them to seek pleasure in place of God, causing them to turn to other gods: Baal and Asherah with their sexually immoral rituals. It was at this time that male prostitutes would serve at these shrines for those of an alternative lifestyle. These instances are found in 1 Kings 14:24; 15:12; 22:46; till even the temple of God became polluted by these practices:
He took the Asherah pole from the temple of the LORD
to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem and burned it there. He ground it to powder and scattered the dust over the graves of the common people. He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine-prostitutes, which were in the temple of the LORD and where women did weaving for Asherah. (2Ki.23:6-7)The same downward trend of Israel can be found in North American culture and it European counterparts. Consider the rejection of God and the acceptance of evolution in the school system; followed by acceptance in society of sexual immorality it the 60's; homosexuality in the 70's; and the issue of sex at any age in the 80's. This downward spiral of degradation was prophesied in the Bible in Paul's letter to the Romans:
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. (Ro.1:21)
When people are aware of God but do not give Him the recognition that is due Him, it does not take long before they replace Him:
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (Ro.1:22 -23)
Once God is replaced, man's life becomes a morally lawless. No longer is sex for the married, rather it is done with anyone they desire whenever they desire. Since they have reject not only God but all that He commanded as well, God allows them to fall into the sins of homosexuality:
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie
, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is for ever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 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. (Ro.1:25-27)Without God man does not only fall into homosexuality, but knowing no boundaries they become lawless, every person doing what is right in their own eyes:
Furthermore, since they did not think it worth while to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 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, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. (Ro.1:28-31)
This is the stage where we find the American culture today. Many wonder why these things happen today but are unwilling to return to God. They might be sinking their own ship, but at least they are the ones making the decision to sink it. Some try to tell the gay community what God has said concerning their alternative lifestyle, but the gay community labels them homophobic and turn a deaf ear. Yet it is written:
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. (Ro.1:32)
Therefore the homosexual movement is a direct result of society turning its back on God and charting its own course in morality.
One of the greatest mysteries in the whole homosexual debate is how can the church condone such a lifestyle when the Scripture is clear that a homosexual will not inherit heaven:
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 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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. (1Cor.6:9-11)
Some in Corinth were homosexual offenders, without hope of inheriting the kingdom of God:
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Ga.5:19-21)
Paul repeats that those who live sexually immoral lives will not inherit the kingdom of God. There are churches that have deceived homosexuals that they will get to heaven, but this lacks Biblical support:
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no-one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. (Eph.5:5-7)
There are many churches which deceive the people, teaching them that they don't have to give up their pet sins to go the heaven. They are deceived by empty words, for it is written:
Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." (2Ti.2:19)
Homosexuals are told that they are sinners saved by grace; that they can continue in their sin and God's grace will cover and forgive it. Do they not read the Scriptures?
If we deliberately keep on sinning
after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. (He.10:26-27)If people continue in homosexuality, they will face the judgement of God. For Satan has planted his people in the church:
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. (2Co.11:13-15)
Satan has his false teachers telling the homosexual community that they do not have to change, but they too will go to hell:
For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Even in the first century church Paul warns that some will pervert the gospel to draw men unto themselves:
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. (Ac.20:29-31)
Therefore, no matter who tells you that homosexuals will go the heaven, the Bible is unmistakably clear that Satan and his imitators are the ones promoting such apostasy.
Some of Satan's emissaries, who masquerade as God's messengers, have argued that God punished the town of Sodom because the men of the city sought to rape the angelic visitors and that the Bible does not condemn consensual sexual relations. However, if we consider the laws God gave to the nation of Israel, their deception becomes clear:
Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable. (Le.18:22)
God stated that not only does He finds homosexual relationships detestable under the old covenant, but also gives a mandatory sentence for those found guilty of such sin:
If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Le.20:13)
God demanded the death sentence for those found guilty of homosexual sin, which illustrates the severity of judgement that homosexuals will receive when they stand before the great white throne of God's judgement:
In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 1:7)
Christians are under a new covenant, which the Bible teaches that homosexuals are outside of a saving grace. However, we must make sure that we as Christians respond to them in love according to the Scriptures. First we need to understand that homosexuality is a sin, like stealing, adultery and murder. If this is the case then a homosexual can be saved.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. (1Ti.1:15-16)
We must share the good news of Jesus Christ with homosexuals so that they can receive Christ, who can cleanse them from their sin. For there were some who were homosexual offenders in the Corinthian church:
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 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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. (1Cor.6:9-11)
If that is what some of them were, then it means they no longer are homosexual but became heterosexuals. Paul considered himself the worst of sinners, as he persecuted the Christians, putting them to death. For we read:
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. (1Ti.1:15-16)
Homosexuals are no worse then Paul prior to his conversion. The good news is that the grace of God that saves comes with the grace to change as well:
For the grace of God that brings salvation
has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (Ti.2:11-12)The church has confused mercy and grace: mercy forgives, but grace empowers. For the Scriptures are clear that we cannot go on sinning in the hope that grace will abound as a band-aid solution:
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning, so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Ro.6:1-4)
Christ did not come to merely deal with the symptom of homosexuality, He came to deal with the cause of our sin. The sin nature is crucified in our baptism; don't they know:
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Ga.5:24-25)
For the Christian life is not a set of beliefs, nor a set of rituals or traditions, we have a new life:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2Co.5:17)
The homosexual is gone the heterosexual has come. It is Christ living in them Who will keep them from sin:
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. (1Jn.5:18)
Therefore, we must share the gospel in the hope that a homosexual will accept Christ then He will live in them, displacing their sinful nature with its passions and desires with his Spirit.