HOMOSEXUALITY:

What does the Bible say?

"In olden days, a glimpse of stocking was something shocking, now anything goes!" Too true with too many implications. The moral standards of our country, and even more so of the world, have been in a tail spin for decades. Sexual promiscuity has become all too common among the young unmarried and the married as well.

In no way do we intend to make light sexual sins of this nature, but in this article, we will confine our remarks to Homosexuality: What does the Bible say?

Let’s begin with the Beginning

We don’t read far in the Bible until we come to this statement: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. {28} Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Gen 1:27-28 NKJV)

In its own discreet way, the Bible has already indirectly dealt with the issue of homosexuality. God created us as male and female. As such, we are to "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it;” . . . . Part of the purpose of sex is to produce children. The future of the world and the economy of the world depend on it. Without young people getting married and buying homes in which to rear families, our economy and cities would soon go into decline. There is great wisdom in God’s plan of reproduction.

Intended for Pleasure

It is also clear that God intended the sexual relationship for pleasure, but He made it very clear that this pleasure was reserved for a man and his wife. Sexual relations between a man and a woman who are not married to each other is clearly forbidden in passages such as Heb 13:4 (NKJV): “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” In this passage, both fornicators (unmarried people engaging in sexual relations with each other) and adulterers (married people engaging in sexual relations with someone other than the one to whom they are married.) are said to be under the judgment of God, and with the implication of condemnation.

God intended that we marry and that we have a good marital relationship. Paul makes this very clear in 1 Cor 7:2-5 (NKJV): “Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. {3} Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. {4} The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. {5} Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

Rather briefly, we have dealt with God’s plan for our sexuality. Basically, that we marry a member of the opposite sex. That we have sexual relations to produce children and to provide for each other’s sexual needs and desires. That is God’s plan, and it is a plan which provides the very best for all involved. As with many things, man sometimes becomes self centered, and becomes interested in anything that brings him pleasure without regard for other people, or for God’s laws.

Homosexuality Has Been Here a Long Time.

The first mention of the problem is found in Gen 13:13 (NKJV): “But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.” There is no mention in this verse of the specific nature of their sins, but that becomes clear as the account continues (Gen 19:4-5 NKJV): Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. {5} And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally." If this version isn’t clear enough, I’ll share two others (Gen 19:5 NASB): “and they called to Lot and said to him, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them’” (Gen 19:5 NIV). 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."

I think most people have heard the expression, “Sodomy,” as a reference to one form of homosexuality. Most people also know the punishment that God measured out for this sin which God regarded as especially serious. Gen 19:27-29 (NKJV): “And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. {28} Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. {29} And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.

The New Testament Clearly Condemns Homosexuality!

1 Cor 6:9-11 (NKJV): 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, {10} nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. {11} 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.

This passage teaches two very important concepts: (1) homosexuality is wrong, and (2) it can be forgiven, but it isn’t something that we are to continue doing Paul included homosexuality in a short list of sins as he wrote to Timothy. 1 Tim 1:9-10 (NASB): "realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers {10} and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,"

Some of the harshest words are used as Paul wrote to the Romans. (Rom 1:20-32, NKJV):

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, {21} because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. {22} Professing to be wise, they became fools, {23} and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man; and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. {24} Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, {25} who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. {26} For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. {27} 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. {28} And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; {29} . . . {32} who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

Of what other sin does the Bible say God gave them up to vile passions. Just consider the statement: God gave them up Of what other sin does the Bible say God gave them over to a debased mind? Of what other sin does the Bible say, “receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” In our day, is this penalty AIDS? Whether it is or not, one thing is certain: God condemns the practice in no uncertain terms. Not only that, but he concludes by saying, “who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (v. 32). In that statement, I see a prohibition of approving “same sex marriages,” or anything else that approves, or encourages the practice.

Excuses Don’t Count!

Many want to argue that they were just born that way. I don’t believe that God condemns something in such harsh terms if we have no control over it. I’m thankful that the practice is totally repulsive to me, hence, not a temptation, but we have the clear promise of God for those that are tempted, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor 10:13 NKJV). If this is a problem for someone, he needs to do what we should always do with temptation: Ask God to help us with the problem. Sometimes it helps to share with a trusted friend, "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16, NKJV)

The Bible treats homosexuality very seriously from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to Paul's statements to the church at Rome. It is to be taken seriously. It isn't a problem that judges and law making bodies can make okay. The One Great Lawgiver has spoken, and He has very clearly said, "It isn't okay!"

--Harley Pinon

harleypinon.com/homosexuality.htm