GLORY IN THEIR SHAME (Part 2: Homosexuality)

In discussing such a subject from the perspective of a minister of the church, most homosexuals would expect the “hellfire and brimstone” article with hatefulness and disdain in every sentence. This is not that article. The homosexuals that often leave the church do so because of how they were treated. Many homosexuals have families who rear them in the church or a Christian-style home. They want their families to help and love them. What they typically receive from their families is anger and rejection. God doesn’t hate the homosexual, so the Christian should in no way be mean and hateful to people who feel sexual attraction for their same gender. Every person endures temptations and feelings that God condemns at some point in their lives (Rom. 3:23). Homosexuals don’t need the personal and quick judgment of Christians, what they need resides in the Bible. They need to know what God has said on the matter of homosexuality, and they need to know what to do with their feelings they can’t make go away. What they do NOT need is for Christians to ostracize them and cut them off from any spiritual or moral help. They should not be banned from worship services or Christian homes any more than any other sinner who needs to hear the gospel and be loved by Christians.

While the present American culture advocates for the advancement of homosexuality, claiming that love is love, the American people as a whole do not speak for God! What does the inspired, apostle Paul say about homosexuality in the Word of God? Paul addresses the Gentiles in Romans 1 who have degraded their culture, living without God. The larger context of Paul’s address to the Gentiles shows that they practiced “ungodliness” and “unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). The word means a “lack of reverence toward God,” and the second word means to reject revealed truth and to willfully live in sin (Zodhiates’ Word Study of the New Testament). Furthermore, they deliberately set out to “suppress the truth” (1:18), that is, “hold down” the truth about God, the world, and themselves. Additionally, they reject the testimony of God which could be seen in the created world and the spark of deity that is in the heart of every man (Rom. 1:19,20). The result of this rejection causes their “foolish hearts” to darken, thinking themselves to be wise (Rom. 1:22,23). They dishonored their bodies in various ways, they loved lies more than the truth, they gave themselves over to every kind of wickedness, and not only did they commit such acts, but they enjoyed them (Rom. 1:25-32).

Paul listed and expounded upon one the affections indulged by the Gentile nations, homosexuality. Paul wrote, “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” (Rom. 1:26,27). God did not create a person to be a homosexual because God clearly states that man “changed the natural use into that which is against nature.” Humanity changed what God had designed in nature. God created man for woman and woman for man (Matt. 19:4-6). God addressed both men and women in this context (Sometimes lesbians will say that God only talks about homosexuality being wrong for men). The act of homosexuality was not created by God to tempt the world. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:13,14). Humans were led away in their own misplaced lusts. Homosexuality is a choice; it is not natural; it is not forced on a person by God. God never made anyone a homosexual.

Even though the Bible clearly teaches about homosexuality (1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Tim. 1:10), there are those who seek to defend the lifestyle. Some will say that such a lifestyle does not hurt anyone. However, humanity does not define sin, nor do they decide the ultimate Judgment. The homosexual lifestyle breeds immorality, the perversion of marriage, the condemnation of the soul, and fornication, which will send a person to hell. Obviously, being sent to hell is hurtful. God knows and understands the actions of humanity beyond what the majority can comprehend, so clearly God understands something about this act that many people miss or refuse to see. God wants to protect the world, not stifle sexual freedom for no reason.

Other advocates might claim that Christ taught an all-accepting love, including the love of homosexuality. Not so. Christ teaches an all-present love expressing how God sent His Son as a result of His love for all the world, but Christ does not teach an all-accepting judgment of every lifestyle (Matt. 7:20-22; Luke 13:3). The apostles, including Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians, teach the doctrine of Christ and further His work through the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:19-21). Advocates will say that Paul talks about the homosexual behavior which was being forced on others in Rome and does not apply to the widespread practice of consenting homosexuality. God makes no such distinction in the scriptures between good homosexuality and bad homosexuality. God forbids homosexuality in general (1 Cor. 6:9-11; 1 John 3:4).

No matter what the sin or temptation, God always gives an escape from the temptation; there exist no temptation so strong that a person cannot overcome (1 Cor. 10:13; Phil. 4:13). What does a person do who feels a sexual attraction for the same gender? First, one must acknowledge that such lusts and thoughts do not reflect a godly mind (Phil. 4:8). One cannot continue to fantasize about the same gender and expect the desires to not grow and become a burden. Christ commands in His Sermon on the Mount to those who think about wrongful sexual lusts to find the source or trigger of these thoughts and get rid of them (Matt. 5:28-30). If homosexual fantasies are triggered by certain movies or places or people, then cut such things from one’s daily life as much as possible.

Secondly, just because one has an attraction for someone does not mean that one must act on that attraction. One can live a godly life without being married like Paul. Paul cut himself off from such thoughts and feelings that would cause sinful lust (1 Cor. 7:7-9). Paul lived a celibate life and devoted his whole being to the furtherance of the gospel. If one knows that they have no attraction for the opposite sex and cannot marry the same gender without condemning themselves, then spend time in another avenue of life that brings purpose and joy to one’s life in the service of God. Paul explains one can serve God in many forms and paths (1 Cor. 7:17-24). Like the alcoholic and drug addict, homosexuals may always have an attraction and desire for what is forbidden by God, but they do not have to act on that desire (James 1:12-16).

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