It is sometimes alleged that God's word does not condemn homosexuality
(consensual sex between two males) as an act, but the condemnation rests
on homosexual abuse (forced sex or the rape of one male by another male).
The only way to decide the issue is to allow the sacred scriptures to speak for
themselves.
First, we want to be emphatic: God loves all people regardless of their
condition. The word "love" (agape) means to have high interest in the well-
being of others. (Jno. 3:16) The issue is not whether God loves all human
beings. God loves everybody, including homosexuals!
Second, we want to be clearly understood; God desires all people to be
saved regardless of their animosity toward him or the depth of their moral
corruption. All people will not be saved because all will not appropriate
God's grace that he extends to them. Nevertheless, God "desires" all people
to be saved. (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9) God desires that homosexuals be saved.
It is important therefore for us not to be detoured by "side issues." There
would be no debate if it were a matter of God's love for homosexuals. That
issue has been settled, and all informed people who oppose homosexuality
love the homosexuals, and they teach that God loves homosexuals. The
issue is this: does God's word condemn the act of homosexuality or only
so-called homosexual abuse?
Homosexuality has always been understood as a violation of God's will
for mankind. It was wrong during patriarchy, Judaism, and in these days, the
age of the N.T.
In Gen. 19, when the angels entered Lot's house, "the men of the city, the
men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded
the house; and they called to Lot, 'Where are the men who came to you tonight?
Bring them out to us , so that we may know them." (verses 4-5; NRSV) The
men of the city wanted to "know" them. The word "know" (yada) means to
"know sexually, to lie with." (A Bilingual Dictionary of the Hebrew and
Aramaic Old Testament, Ludwig Koehler & Walter Baumgartner, page
365) The men of Sodom wanted to have sexual relations with the angels who
entered Lot's house. Lot's reasoned response was "I beg you, my brothers,
do not act so wickedly." (v. 7) He knew that Yahweh's will was not for men
to lie with men as with women, so he offered them his daughters. (v. 8) In
this context the condemnation rests on the act itself, not some alleged
homosexual abuse.
Homosexuality was also understood to be wrong during the time when
Moses' law was binding on the nation of Israel. Yahweh through Moses said,
"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination." (Lev.
18:22; NRSV) In this text it is the act itself that is condemned. "You shall not
lie with a male as with a woman." The phrases "lie with" and "as with" show
sexual intent; hence sexual intimacy is indicated. These phrases show us that
Yahweh condemns the act of homosexuality. He calls it "an abomination."
In the eyes of Yahweh homosexuality is an atrocious evil. It is an act that
God detests. Homosexuality was a capital offense under the law of Moses.
(cf. Lev. 20:13)
The new covenant also expresses God's disdain for the sin of
homosexuality. Paul places it under the classification of
"degrading passions," "unnatural intercourse," "indecent acts," and
"error/deviation." (Rom. 1:26-27) It is the act itself that is degrading,
unnatural, indecent, and perverted. It is a deviation from that which is
according to God's standard for male and female relations. Paul says both
partners in a homosexual relationship are "wrongdoers," and they "will
not inherit the kingdom of God." In order to be acceptable with God, they
must be "washed," "sanctified," and "justified" in the name of the Lord Jesus
and by the Spirit of our God. As long as they practice the sin of homosexuality
they are neither "washed," "sanctified," or "justified." (1 Cor. 6:9-11)
Homosexuality is an act that God's word declares to be sinful, against
nature, degrading, indecent, and therefore unacceptable to God.
Homosexuality itself is an act that involves abuse of one's body, mind,
partner, society, God's law, and soul! God desires that homosexuals
repent, cease their evil practices, and be immersed into the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in order to receive the
forgiveness of their sins, including the sin of homosexuality (Mat. 28:19;
Acts 2:38)
RD
Copyright 2011
(consensual sex between two males) as an act, but the condemnation rests
on homosexual abuse (forced sex or the rape of one male by another male).
The only way to decide the issue is to allow the sacred scriptures to speak for
themselves.
First, we want to be emphatic: God loves all people regardless of their
condition. The word "love" (agape) means to have high interest in the well-
being of others. (Jno. 3:16) The issue is not whether God loves all human
beings. God loves everybody, including homosexuals!
Second, we want to be clearly understood; God desires all people to be
saved regardless of their animosity toward him or the depth of their moral
corruption. All people will not be saved because all will not appropriate
God's grace that he extends to them. Nevertheless, God "desires" all people
to be saved. (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9) God desires that homosexuals be saved.
It is important therefore for us not to be detoured by "side issues." There
would be no debate if it were a matter of God's love for homosexuals. That
issue has been settled, and all informed people who oppose homosexuality
love the homosexuals, and they teach that God loves homosexuals. The
issue is this: does God's word condemn the act of homosexuality or only
so-called homosexual abuse?
Homosexuality has always been understood as a violation of God's will
for mankind. It was wrong during patriarchy, Judaism, and in these days, the
age of the N.T.
In Gen. 19, when the angels entered Lot's house, "the men of the city, the
men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded
the house; and they called to Lot, 'Where are the men who came to you tonight?
Bring them out to us , so that we may know them." (verses 4-5; NRSV) The
men of the city wanted to "know" them. The word "know" (yada) means to
"know sexually, to lie with." (A Bilingual Dictionary of the Hebrew and
Aramaic Old Testament, Ludwig Koehler & Walter Baumgartner, page
365) The men of Sodom wanted to have sexual relations with the angels who
entered Lot's house. Lot's reasoned response was "I beg you, my brothers,
do not act so wickedly." (v. 7) He knew that Yahweh's will was not for men
to lie with men as with women, so he offered them his daughters. (v. 8) In
this context the condemnation rests on the act itself, not some alleged
homosexual abuse.
Homosexuality was also understood to be wrong during the time when
Moses' law was binding on the nation of Israel. Yahweh through Moses said,
"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination." (Lev.
18:22; NRSV) In this text it is the act itself that is condemned. "You shall not
lie with a male as with a woman." The phrases "lie with" and "as with" show
sexual intent; hence sexual intimacy is indicated. These phrases show us that
Yahweh condemns the act of homosexuality. He calls it "an abomination."
In the eyes of Yahweh homosexuality is an atrocious evil. It is an act that
God detests. Homosexuality was a capital offense under the law of Moses.
(cf. Lev. 20:13)
The new covenant also expresses God's disdain for the sin of
homosexuality. Paul places it under the classification of
"degrading passions," "unnatural intercourse," "indecent acts," and
"error/deviation." (Rom. 1:26-27) It is the act itself that is degrading,
unnatural, indecent, and perverted. It is a deviation from that which is
according to God's standard for male and female relations. Paul says both
partners in a homosexual relationship are "wrongdoers," and they "will
not inherit the kingdom of God." In order to be acceptable with God, they
must be "washed," "sanctified," and "justified" in the name of the Lord Jesus
and by the Spirit of our God. As long as they practice the sin of homosexuality
they are neither "washed," "sanctified," or "justified." (1 Cor. 6:9-11)
Homosexuality is an act that God's word declares to be sinful, against
nature, degrading, indecent, and therefore unacceptable to God.
Homosexuality itself is an act that involves abuse of one's body, mind,
partner, society, God's law, and soul! God desires that homosexuals
repent, cease their evil practices, and be immersed into the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in order to receive the
forgiveness of their sins, including the sin of homosexuality (Mat. 28:19;
Acts 2:38)
RD
Copyright 2011
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