Homosexuality

How the times have changed over the last 47 years that I have been alive. Having grown up in the "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Andy Griffith" era, I am amazed at how our society has changed in many areas. Especially in the area of sexual immorality in general and homosexuality in particular. I don't think I even heard the term "homosexual" or "gay" (used in the current definition) until the late 1970's when I think the first homosexual appeared in a television sitcom. Now some may assert that I have lived a sheltered life and that is possible. But then I personally don't see why children need to be exposed to sexual issues in kindergarten.

Obviously with the onslaught of the terrible disease of AIDS in the 1980's, the issue of homosexuality became very prominent in our society. From then until now the homosexual lobby has tried their hardest to get society to accept their homosexual behavior as a normal, alternative lifestyle. It has come to a point where just about every time I turn on the television, I am confronted with shows that are boasting in their homosexual content. This is a concerted effort to remove the stigma from homosexuality and make it an acceptable part of our society. I believe they are succeeding in these efforts.

Recently the Supreme Court ruled that states couldn't have laws banning homosexual behavior. Some said that this ruling would lead to a further acceptance of homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle. Within a few months of this ruling the Massachusetts Supreme court ruled, in effect, that their state legislature had to conform the laws of the state to include the allowance of homosexual marriage. This seemed to awaken part of society out its slumber. People started to talk about a constitutional amendment on marriage to stem the tide of liberal judicial activism that is currently permeating our court systems and overriding the will of society.

As you probably noticed on my home page I have an interracial marriage. Some in the pro-homosexual community like to point out that there were laws against interracial marriages in this country until relatively recent times. They equate a ban on homosexual marriages with those of the previous bans on interracial marriages. However, there is one major difference. Blacks and whites cannot choose what color they are born. Homosexuality is a behavior as opposed to a trait. Heterosexuals and homosexuals can choose not to participate in certain behaviors such as adultery or pedophilia. Below you will see some links to web sites that show that homosexuals can and do change their sexual behavior. But there are no web sites listed to show how a person can realistically change the color of their skin.

There are some people who say that homosexuality is okay in the eyes of God because He created you that way. What does God in His word say about homosexuality?

This verse is part of the Law that God gave to the Israelites. As you can see, God forbids homosexual relationships.

Romans 1:21-27 - When they knew God they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful, but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature, and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was necessary. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind.

In this section the Bible describes homosexual behavior as: unclean, dishonorable, vile, unnatural, unseemly, and reprobate. Obviously, contrary to notion that God is accepting of homosexuality, He detests such behavior and does not condone it in any form.

Several years ago I started a discussion in a Christian newsgroup concerning the issue of homosexuality. Other persons had posted questions asking where the Bible condemned homosexuality. The verses mentioned above figured prominently in those discussions. I decided to look at this issue from a different perspective. The title of my discussion was "Where does the Bible commend homosexuality?" After more than one-hundred posts no one found a single verse in the Bible that commends or affirms homosexuality. You can find this discussion in the Google News Archives at: "Where does the Bible commend homosexuality?"

This page on homosexuality is not intended to condemn anyone. There are many other sins that are just as egregious or worse. You can read about them in the Bible. I'm sure there are some who would call me homophobic. They would say that I hate homosexuals and want to see them burn in hell. Quite the contrary, because even though God forbids the sin of homosexuality, nowhere in the Bible does He say He hates homosexuals. In John 3:16-17 God says that He sent His only begotten Son to save and rescue the world and not to condemn it. If God doesn't hate homosexuals then by what right would I have to hate them. I am a sinner who needs God's mercy and salvation, probably more so than most homosexuals.

To say that homosexuality is a sin based on the Bible is an accurate statement. To say that one who believes that the Bible is God's truth revealed to humankind is a homophobe is an inaccurate statement. Because I believe this I am opposed to our country sanctioning homosexual marriage. How can we Americans continue to sing "God bless America" and expect Him to bless us when we are flaunting our sins in His face?

In the gospel of John, the religious leaders were trying to trap Jesus into an unpopular position. These leaders brought a woman before Him who they said committed adultery. They asked Jesus what should be done with her hoping that He would say that she was to be stoned to death and thereby He would appear unmerciful to the people. He replied, "Let the one among you who is without sin cast the first stone at her." The leaders, being convicted in their hearts, left one by one until the only ones left standing there were Jesus and the adulterous woman. Jesus looked at her and said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?" She replied to Jesus, "No one, Lord." Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more." It is important to see that Jesus was forgiving of this woman's sin. It is equally important to see that He told her to go and not participate in the sin of adultery anymore. If the religious leaders had brought a person who had committed a homosexual act to Jesus instead of a woman caught in adultery His response would have been the same. "I do not condemn you. You are forgiven. Go and do not commit the sin of homosexuality anymore."

God is merciful and wants to set people free from their sins through His Son, Jesus Christ. We, the American people, need to allow Him to do just that.