Articles
The Problem of Homosexuality - 6.26.2022 Bulletin
The problem of Homosexuality
One of the problems in today’s culture is the increasing percentage of those who identify LGBT, or something other than straight. A Gallup article from February this year found that of the more than 12,000 people surveyed, 7.1% of Americans identify as such, up from 3.5% in 2012 when the first poll was done. The bigger issue at hand, based on this poll, is the percentage of those who identify as LBGT is highest among the younger generations, 20.8% for Generation-Z and 10.5% for Millennials. Those percentages are up from 10.5% and 7.8% in 2017 respectively. Needless to say more people, straight or not, have become accepting of this lifestyle. More companies feature it in advertisements, more TV shows include a character or characters who are gay, marches and parades are set up to celebrate it, there is even a month dedicated to it. Worst of all, some teachers are trying to incorporate it into their education programs in elementary schools. How sad. Christians cannot endorse the actions of those who choose to live in this manner, or promote this as an acceptable lifestyle. Quite the opposite, Christians need to bring to light what the Bible says on the topic to help people realize the danger of living in this way.
God’s plan for marriage
From the beginning God had a plan in place for marriage. Genesis 2.24 says, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” Jesus goes back to the beginning to give the marriage structure in Mark 10.6-9 when speaking to the Pharisees about divorce. God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman, with no exceptions. The marriage relationship is sacred and should be taken seriously. Marriage is the only relationship spoken of with two people becoming “one flesh.” Also, in Ephesians 5.22-31, Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit uses marriage to explain Christ’s relationship to the church, Christ is the head, and the church is His bride. God’s word is very strict about marriage, and marriages between people of the same sex are not lawful in God’s eyes.
What the Bible says about homosexuality
Nowhere in the Bible, Old Testament or New Testament will you find homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle choice. Leviticus 18.22, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination” [see also Leviticus 20.13]. Among the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah was the sin of homosexuality [Genesis 19.5], and these cities were destroyed. Romans 1.26-27 condemns the act calling it “unnatural” and “indecent” [NASB1995]) or “shameful” [NKJV]. To call something unnatural means God set up a natural order for the sexual relationship, males with females. But instead men and women have “exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural” [Romans 1.26b]. These unnatural acts being called “shameful”, “indecent” or an “abomination” going back to Leviticus shows exactly how God feels about the matter, and cannot be taken lightly. Also, homosexuals are among those listed in 1 Corinthians 6.9 who will not inherit the kingdom of God. These passages leave no room for doubt how God feels about homosexuality.
It is perceived that because Christians don’t support homosexuality, that Christians hate all homosexuals, and might be called a bigot or homophobic. That isn’t or shouldn’t be the case. God loves all people no matter their spiritual condition. Christians are called to strive to show that same kind of love. Therefore, Christians are not to hate homosexuals or anyone else for that matter. Christians are to love the sinner, and hate the sin. This is the proper approach to any sin. Passages like 1 Corinthians 6.9-10, and Galatians 5.19-21 provide us with a list of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. While homosexuals are included, so are others: thieves, drunkards, adulterers, the jealous, the envious, and those who have outburst of anger. There are no degrees of sin, one sin is not worse than another. A love for mankind is to call out the sin in the lives of others, and see them turn from the error in their lives. Sin cannot be tolerated because sin leads to spiritual death [Romans 6.23]. Sin causes separation between God and mankind, therefore a person must be cleansed of their sin in order to be right with God. This can only be accomplished through repentance and baptism [Luke 5.32; 1 Peter 3.21]. Jesus died on the cross to take away sins. Anyone, no matter their history, can come to God and seek forgiveness of their sins. God wants all to come to repentance, because all have sinned [2 Peter 3.9]. The love of God will not save those who are lost in sin who fail to seek forgiveness, and God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked [Ezekiel 33.11]. Once a person has washed their sins away in baptism, they must not return to their old life of sin, for it has been done way with [Romans 6.1-3]. A person must now pursue those things that lead to righteousness [Ephesians 4.24; 1 Peter 2.24].
As stated earlier, Christians cannot endorse or support anyone who chooses to live a homosexual lifestyle, just as a Christian cannot endorse or support any form of sin that exist in someone’s life. What the Christian must do is help those in sin see that Christ is the answer and guide them to Him so that their soul may be saved.
- Glad_Tidings_-_6.26.2022_PDF.pdf (1.66 MB)
