Homosexuality

 
Homosexuality traces its roots back to the first Book of the Bible. Throughout its long history, it has been met with different degrees of hostility. This page takes a look at why.

Genesis 19:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

In Genesis, Lot refers to their request as a wicked act.

Genesis 19:6-7 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him and said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

Why does Lot describe their actions as wicked?

Is it wrong to love someone of the same sex? No. God says to love one another as you love yourself.

Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.'

1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

Is it wrong to find someone of the same sex attractive? No. God is an artist who makes beautiful creatures.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time...

Romans1:26-32 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;... Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

The Book of Romans says that homosexual activities is not natural.

God created male and female to become one and join in sexual activities, not the same sexes. The creation of sexes and their purpose is discussed in Genesis.

So, Lot considered their request wicked because it is not natural.

The reason that is given in Romans 1 is they "burned in their lust."

The key word in this phrase is Lust.

Colossians 3:5 defines lust as idolatry. There it is written: "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry."

Lust is also defined as an eagerness to possess or to enjoy an overwhelming desire or craving (Mark 4:19). Lust is a sinful longing, an inward sinful desire which leads to the falling away from God (Romans 1:21).

Lust is the origin of all sin and has its place in the heart. This is why lust is so hard to overcome and why it confuses many people. Things of the heart are hard to understand.

1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The Bible says that it is wrong for a man to lust after a woman (Job 31:1; Prov 6:32). Why then would it be right for a man to lust after a man? The sin associated with lust is desiring something that is not in the will of the Lord. Lust does not just mean sexual desire either; it includes anything that is desired more than God or anything that is desired that is not in accordance with His word.

Matthew 5: 27-28 "You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Therefore, the people of Sodom's request was considered evil by Lot because it involved acts of lust which is against the will of God.

The Book of Romans also refers to homosexual activity as acts of fornication.

Fornication is having sexual relations outside of marriage, which is a sin. Because God created male and female to unite in marriage, it is not possible for same sex marriages to occur.

Therefore, the homosexual acts requested by the people of Sodom were not appropriate.

Leviticus also refers to homosexuality as an abomination.

Leviticus 18:22-23 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 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.

What is the penalty of this abomination?

Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

It says that "they shall be put to death", because the wages (or cost) of sin is death, and sinners will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Lot was aware that their request was an abomination (poluting the body) and he wanted to discourage them from partaking in those actions.

In Jude the wicked actions requested by the people of Sodom and the punishment for their actions are explicitedly written.

Jude 1:7 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.

So, the reason homosexuality has seen so much hostility is that it is associated with lust, fornication, unnatural acts, and rebellion against God. Because homosexual actions and thoughts involves these things, homosexuality is a sin.

But people caught in this sin can recieve God's forgiveness.

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

A person can recieve power over sin by receiving Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Savior and thereby receiving the gift of Eternal Life in the Kingdom of God!

God does not leave us in sin. He does not condem us to a life of serving sin. He opens our eyes to sin so that we can turn away from the darkness of sin and face towards the light of God.

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

God gives us power over sin, so that we are not slaves to sin and we do not have to live a life unpleasing to Him.

Romans 6:6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

God does all of this because He loves us.

1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Knowing that God can help each of us in our daily life is an awesome thing to realize and something each of us can stand on when we are in need. It is truly awesome to stand on the promises of God!

James 1:25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

Psalm 32:8 The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."