WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY
I. THE CLEAR BIBLICAL PATTERN FOR SEXUALITY
Homosexuality is being here addressed because it is the subject of a lot of false teaching and mistruth about what the Bible has to say. You and I can't be pleasing to God if we're practicing sexual sin, that is, sex outside biblical marriage. The only legitimate sexual relationship is of one man and one woman committed to each other for a lifetime . Jesus said, “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female…and the two will become one flesh’?” Matthew 19:4-5; (see also Mark 10:6-8). This pattern is clear because of God’s design: only through male and female union are children produced. Male and male, or female and female unions do not naturally produce children. There is no such thing as a pregnant man. There has been a big media sensation over Thomas Beatie’s pregnancies, but he's not really a man, she’s a transgender woman! The design has not changed!
II. GOD DOESN’T MAKE PEOPLE HOMOSEXUALS
There are many forms of sexual expression: alone, with animals, with people, with inanimate objects, etc. (see Leviticus 18). Each one of these is a choice, not a genetic predisposition. God never ‘genetically’ made people homosexuals or lesbians. Studies that claim a genetic connection between the two are fallacious. One of the first studies purporting to claim the homosexual lifestyle was genetic was authored by a homosexual researcher. Larger follow-up studies have not found a connection. Documentation? “Why women are leaving men for other women” By Mary A. Fischer, updated 9:46 a.m. EDT, Thu April 23, 2009 OPRAH.COM; “A handful of studies in the 1990s, most of them focused on men, suggested that homosexuality is hardwired. In one study, researchers linked DNA markers in the Xq28 region of the X chromosome to gay males. But a subsequent larger study failed to replicate the results, leaving the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association to speculate that sexual orientation probably has multiple causes, including environmental, cognitive, and biological factors.” God made no one homosexual or lesbian; it’s a choice.
III. WHAT THE BIBLE ACTUALLY SAYS:
A. HOMOSEXUAL ACTS CALLED ‘WICKED’ & ‘DETESTABLE’
1. “Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing” Genesis 19:4-7. That city and at least two others were destroyed that night by God for such flagrant sin.
2. “‘Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable….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” Leviticus 18:22; 20:13.
3. “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” Judges 19:22.
B. CALLED ‘UNNATURAL’ AND A ‘PERVERSION’
“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion” Romans 1:26-27.
C. NOT REPENTING OF WILL CAUSE LOSS OF SALVATION
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” 1 Corinthians 6:9. The Greek word used here, “arsenokoitai,” has no other meaning than “homosexual offender.” Jesus understood the word “inherit” to mean “enter” (see Mark 10:17,23,24; Luke 18:18, 24), so Homosexuality is specified as a sexual behavior that will exclude one from heaven.
IV. GREAT DANGER: LOSS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
*The homosexual movement’s goals include universal acceptance of the gay lifestyle, the discrediting of Scriptures that condemn homosexuality, the muzzling of the clergy and Christian media, granting of special privileges and rights in the law, overturning laws prohibiting pedophilia, indoctrination of children and future generations through public education, and securing all the legal benefits of marriage for any two or more people who claim to have homosexual tendencies. [A Freedom Too Far, Charles Socarides; Marshall Kirk & Erastes Pill, “The Overhauling of Straight America,” Guide, Nov. 1987.]
Religious freedom will almost certainly be jeopardized. On April 28, 2004, the Canadian Parliament passed bill C-250, which effectively criminalized speech or writings that criticize homosexuality. Anything deemed to be "homophobic" is punishable by six months in prison or other severe penalties. Will a new Bible be mandated that is bereft of "hate speech"? Censorship is already in full swing. A teacher was suspended for mentioning the subject negatively on their personal Facebook page; A Christian student who expressed that homosexuality was morally wrong was suspended from school (but later reinstated). Christian radio programs that made homosexuality a subject were canceled in Canada and the radio station carrying the broadcast was censured for airing it. May churches lose their nonprofit status and tax exemptions for refusing to hire homosexuals on religious grounds or citing Scriptures?
V. COURAGE AND COMPASSION ARE NEEDED
*Christians are, for the most part, peace-loving people who do not like angry confrontation and bitter debate. So those who oppose us will attempt to intimidate us by calling us "hateful" or "bigots." What's needed is loving firmness in the face of vitriol and accusations. Everything the Bible teaches about homosexuality will be called "hate speech" or "gay bashing." Christians are very vulnerable to these accusations, because hate is the antithesis of what Jesus taught. We do not condone violence or disrespect for anyone. The opposition will attempt to intimidate and threaten us.
As Christians we can't introduce homosexuals to Jesus Christ if we're calling them names and driving them away. They must be welcomed into our churches and made to feel accepted and appreciated. At the same time, we must oppose their agenda, which is harmful to society, to families, and ultimately to homosexuals themselves.
[*Excerpts from James Dobson’s book, “Marriage Under Fire.”]
ADDENDUM
*Someone might ask, “Isn't it true that what kids needs most are loving parents, regardless of whether the parent is a mother or father?” No. Children need a loving mother AND a father. The most loving mother in the world cannot teach a little boy how to be a man. A gay man cannot teach his son how to love and care for a woman, nor can a lesbian teach her daughter how to love a man or know what to look for in a husband. Is love enough to help two gay dads guide their daughter through her first menstrual cycle? Unlike a mom, they cannot comfort her by sharing their first experience.
