The Bible condemns homosexuality in no uncertain terms. For this cause, God destroyed the city of Sodom. To most thinking Christians, the terms "gay" and "Christian" are mutually exclusive. That the church has not only the right but the responsibility to bear witness to this fact is a given. The question remains however, where does that duty to bear true witness end?
This issue has come to the fore in Uganda as Pastor Martin Ssempa has become more vociferous in his calls to punish homosexuality with death. To increase public support for a proposed measure before the Ugandan parliament, he has shown “gay” pornography to his congregation in an attempt to garner support for the law.
That a pastor would expose his congregation to pornography should call his judgment into question. Though his opposition to such behavior is laudable, his methods are not.
The Bible is replete with exhortations against the practice. Indeed, one need not labor to find scriptural prohibitions of homosexuality.
Leviticus 18:22 states plainly:
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
1st Timothy 1: 10 speaks of
…them that defile themselves with mankind…
Jude 1: 7
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
That the practice is against God’s law and morally reprehensible to all who believe the Bible has been established. One might seem justified in seeking to impose capital punishment by reading the following scriptures:
Romans 1:32
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.
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.
The question remains then, shall we kill them? Before tying them to the stake for a good stoning, we must consider yet other verses in the same Bible. Just exactly who gave them over to these unnatural affections? In the Bible, we have our answer:
Romans 1:26-27
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 recompence of their error which was meet.
Did you catch that? It was God who gave them over. Does that mean that he approves? No. It means that it was his call. Lest we forget also, any revenge meted out upon them must also be done in scriptural fashion. Exactly whose duty is it to see too it that sin is recompensed?
Nahum 1:2
God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
Romans 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Lest Pastor Ssempa and those of like mind assume the responsibility of a reaper, let’s examine who shall do the reaping:
Matthew 13:39:
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Under the New Covenant, we are not obliged nor entitled to take the place of God’s angels. We are to grow together with the tares until they are removed by God at a time and by a device of his choosing.
To be sure, this author finds the unsanitary practices of homosexuals to be abhorrent. But this abhorrence does not give license to negate scriptural commands.
Matthew 13:30
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
The Word of God is a sharp, two edged sword. He who lives by it shall die by it. Sadly, few professing Christians are willing to live by that sword, preferring instead to kill by it.
Such believers should beware to handle that sword carefully. It cuts both ways.
© 2010 Craig Portwood
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Comments
From studying the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Hebrew and working on it with well-known biblical commentaries, I strongly disagree that the story is a prohibition against gay sex. Rather, it is a prohibition against sexual violence. Most rapes are committed by heterosexual men who have a sexual partner. Furthermore, when the story was written, "sodomy" was not a word in the Hebrew vocab. That connotation came much later. This interpretation by Mr Portwood is not supported by the text.
The story troubles me greatly that Lot is willing to sacrifice his daughters to these violent strangers, but it also troubles me that so many people wrongly think this is about condemning homosexuality. Just as we no longer condone slavery that is an assumed part of life in biblical times, so I believe we should no longer condemn homosexuality even though it is prohibited in the Bible. We now know that homosexuality is not a choice, so it must be God's will that there are homosexuals.
Our Heavenly Father doesn't want anyone to perish but all to come to repentance. This was demonstrated by the fact that Jesus ate with publicans and sinners - no doubt those sinners included harlots and homosexuals. This is why He is longsuffering for us. If God demonstrated to man the same level of patience that men have for other men we'd all be dead.
"The souls who came to Jesus felt in His presence that even for them there was escape from the pit of sin. The Pharisees had only scorn and condemnation for them; but Christ greeted them as children of God, estranged indeed from the Father's house, but not forgotten by the Father's heart. And their very misery and sin made them only the more the objects of His compassion. The farther they had wandered from Him, the more earnest the longing and the greater the sacrifice for their rescue. - Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 186
Shirah, that some people are born HIV positive, is it God's will? That some people are born physically deformed and others are born mentally challanged, is it God's will?
Mike,
If this present "reality" were in fact the only habitation we would know, your argument would have more merit. It is a transitory state. It is but a dream from which we shall all, sooner or later, awake. Our true existence is in the heavenlies.
Read my article, "Is reality an illusion?" for more on this.
Shirah, I have heard your argument before. This does not negate the other verses supporting my contention.
Craig, I have read your article, "Is reality an illusion?". You like Hogan, have done extremely well in your conjectural analysis of the possibility of a holographic universe. I rather like it when you say "If this holographic principle is true, it means that...." and, "If Hogan’s model of a holographic universe can be proved...." and "If the "world of the flesh" is not real...." and yet you tend to treat these "if's" as reality and ends with an interesting rhetoric question! The truth is that notwithstanding the theories and hypotheses, the physical world has not been shown to be an illusion or what Hogan purports it to be, but is as real as you reading his script. Seems therefore that my argument has far more merit that you would allow......until something can be proven and the "if's" become reality and reality an illusion.
Homosexuality Is a Choice. I will give it to you that some people are born with tendencies.And that a Man may be drawn to another man and a Woman may be drawn to another woman BUT ! WE have a free will choice . When these people read the Bible ,which condemes Homosexuality, need to stop and think.Do I want to go ahead and have sex with this person OR put my wants aside and obey the word of God ? Homosexuals want to say the Bible says its ok .Even a Fool can read the Bible and understand the the Bible condemns this practice.Better think long and hard.The choice is yours.Do Gods will or your will.But there will be a payday Someday. When Rabbi Yeshua(Jesus) returns (John 1:49) Baruch Ha Ba B'Shem Adoni B'Shem Yeshua !
In the Tanach,,O.T. The God of Israel told my Jesish brothers not only to go to war but to kill every Gentile in the cities."Do Not leave ANYTHING breathing.Now think about that.Men Women Children Pregnent Women Babies anamals Kill Them ALL.
Now today after Rabbi Yeshua(Jesus)was ressurected we are in a time of grace.WE are to share the Gospel will all.As did Rabbi Yeshua when He was on earth.WE are to Love All no matter what they have done or are doing.We all have sinned.Now in the last day Yeshua tells us that He will send Angles to seperate the redemned from the unsaved. Remember God said now on this side of the Cross He will be the one to go to war He will punish He will through and cause the un saved to be thrown in Hell and the Lake of Fire,,,He Will NOT US. THis Pastor should read the Bible and arm himself with Love and go share the Goodnews with the Homosexuals and Love them but also share with them the Truth ,they may not want to hear.Repent or face Hell. Baruch Rabbi Yeshua
Mike,
Hogan presents a theory which so far is the only reasonable explanation of the anomaly in the GEO 600 data. My point is that, far from disproving the relevant scriptures, his data would tend to support them. Despite any scientific assertions to the contrary, all experience is subjective. This includes the phenomena we call 'reality.' As far as 'proof' is concerned, we will only know with absolute certainty when the experiment of our lives is over.
I realize this may be dangerous spiritual ground but I am tempted to paraphrase Pontius Pilate’s question to Christ: What is proof?
Indeed, the more answers we have, the more questions we are left with.
Moses,
You are correct.
I also believe that had the children of Israel made an utter end of God's enemies in that day, there would be no remnant of them today by which the people Israel are ensnared.
Homosexuality, like each and every other lifestyle, is a choice. Though some may have homosexual tendencies, predisposition does not dictate that the individual must surrender to it.
My take on Romans 1:26-27, is that God abandoned them to their choice. If God then has so forsaken them, what right or duty have believers to kill them?
On these things we both seem to agree.
Craig, I have read your article, "Is reality an illusion?". You like Hogan, have done extremely well in your conjectural analysis of the possibility of a holographic universe. I rather like it when you say "If this holographic principle is true, it means that...." and, "If Hogan’s model of a holographic universe can be proved...." and "If the "world of the flesh" is not real...." and yet you tend to treat these "if's" as reality and ends with an interesting rhetoric question! The truth is that notwithstanding the theories and hypotheses, the physical world has not been shown to be an illusion or what Hogan purports it to be, but is as real as you reading his script. Seems therefore that my argument has far more merit that you would allow......until something can be proven and the "if's" become reality and reality an illusion.
I FOR ONE DO NOT BELIEVE hOMOSEXUALS ARE BORN THAT WAY. Perversion is a learned dicipline not something one is born with. Accepting homosexuality is an abomination and its clearly against Gods will. Sodom was destroyed for those unseemly acts so whats the Governments excuse?
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