(Sept 2009 MKH) One night, a couple years ago, I heard a talk show commentator discussing with a Christian on the radio about homosexuality. He couldn’t understand why anyone would care what another person does, the example was homosexuality. Why would anyone care?
Well, first of all, if you believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, you must go to his word for guidelines for living. If murder is a sin, why isn’t homosexuality?
Some people think there aren’t specific words from God on the subject, but I don’t believe that assessment is accurate.
Leviticus 18:22 (New International Version)
22 " 'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.
Judges 19:22 (New International Version)
22 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."
Leviticus 20:13 (New International Version)
13 " '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. ( and No, I don't believe they should be put to death today...this was the old testament...under the "law" prior to Christ dying for our sins).
This last verse here was in the Old Testament. This is the period of “Law”, this piece of history tells what God expected to happen to the Jews if they did not follow His word. The New Testament is the part of the Bible known as “Grace”, where we were given guidelines of how to live after Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. After Christ paid our debt for sin with his blood, we now just ask God for forgiveness for our sins. If God says something was a sin, or was detestable, because times have changed we no longer are required to die for those sins, but that doesn’t mean God doesn’t still look upon those acts as sin. He just has a different way of having us pay for or repent of those sins. (ie: for the wages of sin is death, everlasting death, going to Hell rather than Heaven if we choose to accept His gift, accepting Christ, we LIVE forever in Heaven.) He still thinks murder is a sin, and our laws state in some cases that a person must pay for that sin with his life now, rather than allowing God to punish that person with everlasting death away from Him in Hell. I do not believe that God looks at our sins in different or varying degrees, a sin is a sin. However, we have the privilege of asking God to forgive us for the sin today.
There is a whole story about what God’s thoughts were regarding homosexuality in the book of Genesis 19:1-25 (New International Version) “Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed”.
If society doesn’t believe some things are sins, or are wrong, what do we use as a gauge to determine sin or a wrong way of living? Do we just use our own conscience to determine what is wrong? What may be permissible for me may not be for someone else. For example, some women look at it as sin to wear a pair of slacks, wearing jewelry, or to cut their hair. For me, those things are not wrong. For me to sleep with another person when I’m married is a sin. God says it is adultery. In some societies that is permitted. Even if it is permitted in some places, or if you do not think it is wrong, it is wrong for me, because I believe Gods word says it is wrong.
Christians are not perfect, just saved by grace. We work daily at being Christians worthy of the Christ we honor and worship. We use Gods word as guides for righteous living. Some understand God’s word more than others, but just because you don’t want to believe what God said doesn’t mean He didn’t say it. Just because you don’t think it is wrong does not mean it is the way He wants us to live. I’ve never seen a million dollars, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Genesis 1:26-28 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Genesis 2: 18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." 19 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. 20 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. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 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."
24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
If you do not choose to believe God’s word, that is on you. These are more of God’s words Revelation 21:8 (New International Version) 8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
More of what God’s word says on the subject of sexual immorality. Galatians 5:19-21 (New International Version) 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery (debauchery=excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures , intemperance, seduction from duty, allegiance or virtue); 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 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.
Remember, if we accept God’s word, and his gift to us, Christ Jesus, we can be forgiven of these sins and anything else we do that is against His will. We do not say sexual sin is this or that; God is the one who gave the guidelines. If you do not believe that God gave us the Bible as a guide for living and His words to us, then I suppose you can choose to live however you wish. If you were in a burning building, I would do everything in my power to rescue you from that burning building. I would choose to save your life. I look at sin and life away from God as a person who is dying, a person who will be in eternity away from God, in the lake of fire. That burning building is real to me. If you have been given this gift as God gave us, you can’t help but see the love He has for his children. Acts 2:38 (New International Version) 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
God doesn’t choose to send anyone to hell, we do that for ourselves. If a Christian is trying to guide people away from homosexuality, then it is to save them. More than the health implications it is saving their eternal soul.
If you want more information on what the homosexual agenda is, read Janet Folgers book, The Criminalization of Christianity”. There is an agenda, and allowing the change of law for marriage a breakdown of the family will lead to the breakdown of society.
I’d like to end my thought here, with one more point. According to Janet’s book, she notes one more thought that seems to be a trend in America. People seem to want to think that people are born this way. According to the New York Academy of Medicine in a 1963 report, their committee stated that homosexuality was on an increase. “The committee reported: Homosexuality is indeed an illness. The homosexual is an emotionally disturbed individual who has not acquired the normal capacity to develop satisfying heterosexual relations.” (Jeffrey Satinover, Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth (Grand Rapids, MI: Hamewith Books, 1998), 32.
Now you may wonder why the APA (American Psychiatric Association) removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders...it was because of intimidation tactics. If you want to know more about this claim, see Janet’s book, Chapter 5, page 76. It is absolutely unbelievable the things that are going on in this country.
Do I hate people with any kind of belief or problem? NO. I believe every person’s choices are their own. I do not have to like what they choose to do, and I can still love the sinner just not the sin. Just as Christ loves me, a sinner, but hates my sins.
