Homosexuality And The Bible Series

SEX AND THE CITY

Lesson 3

Homosexuality and the Bible

Rom. 1:18-32

August 29, 2004

SEX AND THE CITY. MORE THAN A T.V., IT’S A PHILOSOPHY. PERHAPS EVEN A RELIGION.

ONE OF THE DEFINITIONS OF RELIGION IS:

A CAUSE, PRINCIPLE OR SYSTEM OF BELIEFS HELD TO WITH ARDOR (EXTREME VIGOR) AND FAITH.

I THINK I WOULD CALL OUR SOCIETY’S OBSESSION WITH SEX A RELIGION.

PEOPLE HOLD TO, BOW DOWN TO, DEDICATE THEIR LIFE TO AND PURSUE SEX AS MUCH AS THE MOST DEVOTED CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM OR HINDU.

SEXUAL ENTICEMENTS SATURATE THE AIR WAVES, FLOOD THE BILLBOARDS AND TAKE OVER OUR COMPUTERS.

I CAN’T EVEN GO TO A NEWS WEBSITE WITHOUT AN ADVERTISEMENT BEING ON THE SIDE OF THE SCREEN SHOWING A PICTURE OF A HALF DRESSED WOMAN FROM THE NECK TO THE THIGHS.

SEX AND THE CITY THE RELIGION OF OUR CULTURE AND I’M AFRAID IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.

HOWEVER, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ABOUT RECLAMATION.

I HAVE USED THIS PHRASE IN EVERY MESSAGE BECAUSE IT’S A TRUTH WE CAN NEVER FORGET.

WHAT THE WORLD HAS PERVERTED CAN BE PURIFIED FOR THE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST.

GOD IS THE CREATOR OF SEX AND SEXUALITY AND IN CHRIST SEX IS A BEAUTIFUL GIFT AND OUR SEXUALITY FINDS IT FULFILLMENT.

IN OUR FIRST LESSON WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO RECLAIM SEX FROM THE WORLD’S RELIGION.

LAST WEEK WAS A VERY DIFFICULT AND INTENSE MESSAGE.

90% OF THE SERMON WAS TO SINGLES. WE TALKED ABOUT THE PRICE OF MARRIAGE, COMPANIONSHIP AND SEX.

IF I AM YOUR PASTOR AND YOU ARE SINGLE AND YOU DIDN’T HEAR THAT MESSAGE I SAY TO YOU IN THE STRONGEST TERMS – GET THE TAPE!

I MAY JUST REQUIRE ALL WHO ARE CONTEMPLATING MARRIAGE TO LISTEN TO THE TAPE BEFORE I START ANY PREMARITAL COUNSELING.

GET THE TAPE!

TODAY IS OUR LAST LESSON AND I MUST SAY, TO DESCRIBE THIS TOPIC AS A RELIGION IS ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE.

THE EXTREME NATURE IN WHICH PEOPLE HOLD TO THEIR BELIEFS IS STRONGER THAN MANY CHRISTIANS I KNOW.

THE PEOPLE WE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS MORNING PROMOTE THEIR BELIEFS STRONGER THAN WE AT REZ PROMOTE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE METHODS AND TOOLS OF THIS GROUP ARE CREATIVE, BLATANT AND EFFECTIVE.

THE TRUTH BE TOLD, THE CHURCH COULD LEARN A FEW THINGS FROM THE WAY THIS GROUP PROMOTES THEIR RELIGION.

I AM TALKING ABOUT THE RELIGION OF HOMOSEXUALITY.

A SEXUAL PREFERENCE BECAME A LIFESTYLE, THE LIFESTYLE BECAME A POLITICAL AGENDA AND NOW IT’S A RELIGION TO BE ADHERED TO AND PRACTICED WITH DEDICATION.

BUT WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE BIBLE IS OUR TOPIC THIS MORNING.

TO BEGIN WITH TURN WITH ME TO II PET. 3:9.

I KNOW THIS IS NOT A VERSE YOU THOUGHT I WOULD READ CONCERNING HOMOSEXUALITY, BUT PEOPLE OF GOD THIS VERSE IS SO IMPORTANT IN REGARDS TO THIS TOPIC.

LET THIS TRUTH RING LOUD AND CLEAR.

GOD LOVES THE HOMOSEXUAL AND JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS FOR THE HOMOSEXUAL AND GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE NOT WISHING FOR ONE HOMOSEXUAL TO PERISH.

THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FROM HEAVEN EXTENDS TO EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD ON THIS EARTH AND SINCE GOD LOVES THE HOMOSEXUAL SO SHOULD HIS CHURCH – SO SHOULD WE.

PEOPLE OF REZ, NEVER DEHUMANIZE ANYONE BY LABELING THEM.

IN INDIA I WAS STRUCK AGAIN BY THIS.

WE MINISTERED TO THE PROSTITUTES AND THEIR CHILDREN IN CALCUTTA.

AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF SEEING THEM LAUGH AND CRY, AFTER WATCHING THEM HUG THEIR CHILDREN AND TELL THEIR STORIES, I SAID TO MYSELF, “THESE ARE WOMEN, MOTHERS, AND DAUGHTERS.”

TO ALWAYS REFER TO THEM AS PROSTITUTES FORGETS THE HUMAN ASPECT.

THEY ARE PRECIOUS WOMEN CHRIST DIED FOR. THEY ARE MOMS LONGING FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THE SAME THING CAN HAPPEN TO THE HOMOSEXUAL.

IT IS SO EASY TO LABEL PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THEIR SIN THAT WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE FEELINGS OF THE PERSON.

TURN TO ROM. 1:28-32.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO HAS COMMITTED MORE THAN ONCE ANY OF THESE SINS?

HOW WOULD WE FEEL IF OUR SINS BECAME OUR LABEL AND PEOPLE SOMEHOW FELT LIKE THEY COULD TREAT US WITH NO RESPECT AND DISREGARD OUR HUMANITY.

JESUS DIED FOR THE GOSSIP, THE UNTRUSTWORTHY, THE GREEDY AND THE HOMOSEXUAL.

ALRIGHT NOW, HAVING SAID THAT WE MUST NOW LOOK AT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY.

TO DO THAT WE WILL STAY IN ROMANS 1.

READ ROM. 1:18-32.

VERSE 18-25 ARE TALKING ABOUT MANKIND’S REJECTION OF LAWS AND PRINCIPLES GOD CREATED.

THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS, MANKIND GOT IT ALL MESSED UP. INSTEAD OF WORSHIPING THE CREATOR THEY WORSHIP WHAT HE CREATED.

INSTEAD OF SEEING THE GLORY OF GOD IN NATURE THEY LOOKED FOR GLORY IN NATURE ITSELF.

THEY WORSHIP THE ANIMALS AND TREES.

BY THE WAY, THIS IS NOT JUST PAGAN CULTURES IN THE JUNGLES.