Wednesday, April 20, 2011

FAQ: Homosexuality

Homosexuality is referred to many times in the Bible, some of which you may be aware. In the Old Testament, Leviticus 18:22 it says, “You must not have sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman; it is a detestable act.” (New English Translation). (The reason the Old Testament is cited in this manner is because this is a moral aspect of the old law. The moral aspects are based upon God who does not change. What God “detested” in the OT he detests in the New Testament.) Likewise, in Romans 1:26-27 Paul notes that homosexuals have abandoned their natural sexual relationship for an unnatural one. (Side note: Darwinistic Evolution struggles with a reasonable explanation as to why homosexuality occurs in nature; as it is counter-productive to natural selection.) Then also in 1 Corinthians Paul makes a point about homosexuality that isn’t quite understood by seculars in the Christian/Homosexual dialog.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NET) says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you once lived this way. 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.”

The point is that Paul makes is Christians don’t view homosexuality as different as any other sin. They are all morally reprehensible in God’s eyes, and for the Christian that means conforming their lives to what God asks of us (not unreasonable). It’s not like homosexuality is a special sin to Christians, we are just as against pride, sex outside of marriage, greed, hatred and jealousy (for example) as we of homosexuality. It’s all sin! God has nothing to do with sin; sin disqualifies you from Heaven and fellowship with God. James wrote in James 2:10, “For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” James is saying by committing that one sin makes you just as guilty as someone who has committed thousands of sin. You are both equally in need of forgiveness from your sin. That forgiveness can only come from turning from that sin (whatever it is) towards Christ.

Homosexuality is difficult to handle today not because the truth is difficult to understand but because of how Christians have historically handled the issue. Over the past decades Christians have, in my opinion, misbehaved in their approach towards Homosexuals. Instead of trying to win them over to Christ with love many engaged in persecution and shunning of homosexuals. That, in turn, was counter-productive and has spawned a lot of hate from the homosexual community towards the Christian community. Even some Christians still don’t understand that it’s not about winning the argument; it’s about winning the soul.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"It’s not like homosexuality is a special sin to Christians, we are just as against pride, sex outside of marriage, greed, hatred and jealousy (for example) as we of homosexuality."

Fully understood and doubly noted. But pride, sex outside of marriage, greed, hatred & jealousy all hurt other people. They're all negative emotions or actions that ultimately hinder. Homosexuality is about love. It's about LOVE. And so why does it matter who you love? Shouldn't it matter THAT you love?

As far as I can gather, the only reason homosexuals "should" feel guilty of sin is (not because -- as with pride, greed, hatred, etc -- they are hurting or inhibiting those around them, but solely) "because the bible says so" - right?

Consider the man who suffers from severe depression. He has had many girlfriends in the past, but he's been seeing one happy, Jesus-praising, lovely lady for years. He loves her, he cares about her, and she's everything he could ask for in a partner. But he isn't happy, and she knows it. They break up, on good but sad terms. He's even lonelier then. So lonely that he contemplates suicide.

Then he meets a man. A good man. A God-loving man. A man whom he falls madly and deeply in love with; a man who falls madly and deepy in love with him. A man who brings out every piece of good in him, and every ray of sunshine. He's happier than he's ever been in his whole life, more in touch with his spiritual side than he's ever been in his whole life, and he just KNOWS that everything is right. His depression is gone and he no longer thinks about suicide.

How come this is sinful?? I am a big believer, but intolerance of homosexuality is just not okay to me, so I'm genuinely interested & trying very hard not to judge. How can God ask this man to go back to the life in which he wanted to kill himself? How can being alone and miserable or with a woman and miserable, contemplating thoughts of suicide, be less sinful than being happy and in love and doing positive things for the community and the world, simply because this genuine happiness stems from the love of another man?

The only answer I have ever been given to this question is (in all kinds of fancy terms and different ways)"because the bible says so" - is this your answer, too???

Thanks,
NS

The boy who has been saved said...

To Nsmith

I think that yes - that is the answer, because the bible says so. The bible is God's word. 2 Timothy 3:16 states this when it says:

'All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,'

So, the whole bible is God's word - so if God says its sinful, is it not sinful? God hates sin, and he knows what it is. So yes, Homosexuality is sinful and wrong (like any other sin) because God says so, through his word the bible. (Hebrews 1:1-2 talks about God speaking through the prophets and later Jesus, what they say is recorded in the bible, and they spoke God's words, so again, the bible is God's word.)

As for the man in depression, that is a completely different issue, and it can't be fixed by a human solution. Love fails (between humans) because we are not perfect - we will make mistakes, we will fail and ultimately, will that not drive the man back to depression? and if it doesn't, he certainly isn't honoring God by disobeying his direct command.

Thoughts?

Thanks for the blog :D Keep up the christian posts, and God Bless!

Paula Robledo said...

Scary. Really scary. 21st century and people still haven't discovered fire.

Unknown said...

I really support homosexual as sin because the bible never mentioned anything about homosexual. Looking back the the original the garden of Eden. God created Adam and make him to a deep sleep. Took of his rib and created a woman to be Adam's partner. God never created a man to be Adam's partner. This are just man made stories which is really out of the Bible context and it is a abomination the eyes of God. This was the very own sin that the men of Sodom and Gomorah wanted to commit with the angles and the fire came down and destroy them.