“HOMESEXUALITY IS A SIN!”
Some choose to describe homosexuality with other words like perversion or abomination. But I chose sin, because to me, that word is all encompassing of any description you could come up with. Sadly in today’s world we aren’t supposed to say such things, or we DO NOT say such things. Why is such a statement as listed above considered so wrong to say in 2005? Today, if you were to make this statement, you are automatically labeled as a hatemonger, whose very language would incite hatred and violence against gays. Opponents of this lifestyle are blamed for any violence perpetrated against gays. Why do you think this is?
As a result of this all, the only conclusion that society has come up with to help with this problem is to say that if we are going to stamp out prejudice and violence against homosexuals in our world, then we must silence ANY criticism of the lifestyle. So that is exactly what society has set out to so. Can you see any evidences of this attempt? They are all around!
Many call this attempt to silence speaking against homosexual lifestyles the “Gay Agenda”. Is there really a “Gay Agenda”? Are homosexuals really trying to force us to accept them, or is this something we made up and they are simply and quietly trying to live their own private lives?
Despite any denial you may hear, it is absolutely true. Not every homosexual is out there forcing things down my throat, NO!, but to find evidence that a movement does exist, one need look no further than your local bookstore or library. In 1990 Dr. Marshall Kirk and advertising executive Hunter Madsen wrote “After the Ball: How America Will Conquer it’s Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90’s”. This book describes a massive plan to use pop culture and media to “normalize the abnormal” practice of homosexuality by utilizing basic brainwashing techniques. They proposed 3 steps:
1- Desensitize the public to homosexuality by demonstrating gays are just like anyone else. EX: If you can laugh at Will (Will&Grace) or decorate with the Queer Eye Crew or even sympathize with the gay man with AIDS in Tom Hanks’ Philadelphia, then you could hardly be frightened or repulsed by them!
2- Force the public to feel guilty about their "bigotry” towards homosexuals. EX: When the news stereotypes opponents as shrill, uneducated and prejudiced (or all like Fred Phelps!), then folks will say “gee..I don’t want to be like THAT”.
3- A final conversion where masses of society will change their attitudes towards homosexuality “through a planned psychological attack in the form of propaganda fed to the nation via all forms of media”. (Gay Constitution Amendments?)
WOW!!!! Did they just describe the last 10 years or what? Did their plan work or what? How successful would you say the conversion of American attitudes has been?
The attitudes of much of the general public might have changed…BUT GOD’S WORD HAS NOT! The Bible describes homosexuality as a perversion of God’s design for human sexuality. And it has devastating effects physically, emotionally and worse….spiritually! So I am going to say something you may not like…..HOMOSEXUALITY IS A DISTORTION OF GOD’S PLAN AND IT IS A SIN!
But, I DO believe there is a better way to uphold this politically incorrect truth than by yelling on a street corner, condemning people without talking or picketing a funeral with “God Hates Fags” signs (you can read all about this sad truth on the internet). There is a giant need to mix hard truth with tender love when dealing with this volatile subject.
What does a Christian say to a person who feels completely at peace with their homosexuality?
The first step should be to turn to God’s word and point out that this lifestyle is contrary to the Scriptures. What do the Scriptures say?:
· Lev. 18:22
· Lev. 20:13
· Romans 1:26-27
· I Cor. 6:9-10
· I Tim. 1:8-10
· Matt 19:4-6
God addresses the SIN of homosexuality in BOTH the Old and New Testaments!
OVERCOMING OBJECTIONS:
So, if one can clearly read (especially a Christian!) that it is a sin, how can they go on and/or rationalize this sin. Proponents are always ready and equipped for debate! So, next, we will take a look at some of the biggest and most popular myths about homosexuality that both believers and unbelievers are increasingly embracing in today’s world:
· Myth One- The only prohibitions against homosexuality are in the OT, therefore they no longer apply to Christians. – This argument centers for the most part on the direct ban of homosexuality in Leviticus. While it is true that we no longer are bound by the law, that does not change the fact that some behaviors listed in the OT were and STILL ARE sin. Obviously some of those behaviors were and still are inherently evil, and obviously some of them are ludicrous to even consider today as binding! But it is a moot argument anyway, as we already have read several passages in which the NT too refers to the sin of Homosexuality. When confronted with these passages, you will often then be hit with Myth Two.
· Myth Two- Jesus never condemned homosexuality- Did Jesus ever say anything himself directly towards this sin? Many will argue that he did not, and in some sense they would be correct. As far as I can read he never did DIRECTLY address the issue of homosexuality. But he never addressed such actions as bestiality, pedophilia, incest or necrophilia etc. either. He did not have to! By affirming God’s original design for sexuality, he in a sense condemns any deviation from that standard (Matt.19:4-6). And furthermore, as Christians we believe that all things in the Bible were spoken by God! Do God and Jesus have a relationship? DO they agree? …… See where I am going? Even more disturbing, is that this argument proposes that the words in “Red Letters" are more authoritative than the rest of scriptures.
· Myth Three-Shouldn’t those who DO NOT believe in Jesus’ Word be allowed to enjoy the legal benefits of marriage?- This is a huge one in today’s society. I am curious to what you think:Why SHOULDN’T they? To alter the definition of marriage in any way would severely devalue the institution of marriage!!! If we were to start describing the immoral union of 2 men or 2 women as a marriage, what would keep us from stopping there??? Nothing would! Then who’s to say that 13 men could not marry 1 woman, or a woman could not marry her cat? I know these are silly examples, but if we allow the labeling of ANY relationship as a marriage, it creates confusion and opens the path for more perversions of the true definition of the union that Jesus taught was to be between ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN.
· Myth Four- The Bible’s condemnation of homosexuality is based on a misunderstanding of the text.- This is a HUGE one amongst believers in Christ who are gay. They must somehow find a way to reconcile their lifestyles with Scripture, so they turn to this argument. Let's take a closer look at one of the exact scriptures they will attack:
o Genesis 19- (read verses 4-13)- Many will argue that the residents were only interested in a simple “let’s get to know them” type visit, since many translations say “so that we may have RELATIONS with them”. But original texts and translations show the word used clearly was a word to describe sexual relations. Otherwise why would Lot characterize the request as “wicked”? Others will say the sin condemned here was not homosexuality, but RAPE. While a good argument can be made, there is not much weight behind this, as the city was known for its’ rampant homosexuality, evident even here, as it describes the mob including “men of all ages and from every quarter”.
There is really no way around it. It IS a sin and wrong in the Lord’s eyes. And it is an issue that is going to grow even more pressing in our lives. How will God’s church respond? With love? With compassion? The most important question is simply “What does God REALLY think of this behavior? Do we translate the Bible through the lens of homosexuality or do we interpret homosexuality through the lens of The Holy Bible? I believe it is in these words one can find the launching pad for a healing and lasting change.
HOMOSEXUALITY IS A SIN!!!! But here is the good news….. God loves even the sinners in this world! And through this love, He can change our lives, transform our hearts and lead us ALL to righteousness!