Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Keep it Gay: Christianity and Homosexuality

(There is good news at the end)

There are some (seemingly) in the body of Christ that are a little more left leaning when it comes to societal issues. This is certainly a good thing when it comes to war and justice issues. But the problem comes from when we take this sort of stance on what are clearly moral issues, like homosexuality. While i have addressed this issue before as it relates to gay clergy, an online chat i had with someone has led me to revisit the general issue from a Biblical viewpoint.

Those who claim to be Christians, yet support homosexuality and gay rights often cite that Jesus never said anything about homosexuality, so therefore it must be OK. What they neglect to notice is that the Old Testament and even parts of the New Testament are quite clear on the matter. That is, homosexuality is a sin.

BUT, this does not give us the right to protest pride parades and tell them that God hates them and they are going to Hell. Without Jesus Christ, we'd be headed there too.

The problem with Christians saying homosexuality is OK is that God's Word is clear that it's not. That's what I'll focus on here. As i have heard Derek Gilbert say: "You can't pick and choose what parts of the Bible you want to follow. It's either God's inerrant Word, or it isn't. If you pick and choose, you can't in any meaningful sense call yourself a Christian."

Those that argue that Jesus did not explicitly say anything about homosexuality in His time incarnated are absolutely correct. He didn't address it. But he also did not address witchcraft, child sacrifice or selling your daughter into prostitution - all forbidden by the Law. In short, He did not mention alot of stuff, because He came to save, not condemn and judge at that time.

Just because Jesus was silent on an issue does not mean it's OK for us to do it when the Law clearly forbids it. That's how i ended up backsliding into some New Age stuff years ago.

Though Jesus was silent on gay-ness in His ministry, He did address it as the Word of God in the Old Testament and He did not invalidate the OT, but in Matthew 5:18 emphasized that the Law was valid.

About Homosexuality, the Law says:

Leviticus 18:22

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.


The argument i saw the other day mentioned that near this was the commandment not to eat shellfish, so people that do are sinners in need of repentance. However, Acts 10, Jesus told Peter that all animals were basically OK to eat. (At least that's my understanding.

So if we want to cast aside the rest of the Law because Christ didn't mention a specific piece of it, or that we now disregard some of it due to dietary considerations we had better be careful. After all, immediately preceding Leviticus 18:22 is verse 21 (obviously). But verse 21 forbids child sacrifice to Molech (or via Molech if you see my star of David article). If you want to throw out one, then what about the other?

No, we can't throw out the Law, even though none of us can keep the Law, and even missing but one part of the Law, makes us a sinner. You can exchange homosexuality for any other sin listed in the Law from petty theft to child sacrifice, sin is sin. You do one sin in the Law, you are guilty of them all.

I've stolen before, i've looked at women with lust in my heart, i have broken God's Law. All of it, and thus need a savior.

James 2:10

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.


Notice, it doesn't tell us to take out the parts of the Law that we don't like or can't attain. Though we can't keep the Law tells us where we have sinned, and what we need to repent of. The entire book of Galatians is about not being able to meet the Law, yet that it is still valid. If the Law doesn't convict us of sin, what will?

Romans 3:20

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.


1 John 1:8

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.


Jesus condemned sin, but He met the sinner where they were and helped them. That's what He's done in my life. That's what He did in the Bible. The Samaritan woman at the well, He pointed out her sin, yet at the end of that encounter my suspicion is that she repented and became a believer. In the event where another woman was caught in adultery, Jesus saved her from being stoned. Jesus said to the adulteress:


John 8:10 - 11

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.


We also can't throw out the Law, because Paul (who was commissioned by Jesus Christ Himself!) said we can't. If you throw out Paul, you throw out the one who chose Him to spread the Gospel - Jesus Christ


2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:


And Paul also said:


1 Corinthians 6:9 - 11

Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,

or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.

Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

(Blueletter Bible, NLT)


Homosexuality is no worse than any other sin. To God (a Holy God), ALL sin is disgusting. From the time i look at a woman with lust in my heart, to theft to homosexuality. All sin must be dealt with by Jesus Christ. His Word, the OT tells us what sin is so we know what to repent of.

If you are a homosexual, and want out of that lifestyle, if you feel shame or feel it's wrong. There is hope. Jesus Christ loves you, He died for you. Ask Him into your life, turn from your sin and follow Him. He can and will set you free!

Here is the testimony of an ex-homosexual who came to Jesus. Please share more if you know of good ones.

The same one

http://vimeo.com/10554921

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEzSoGroPxA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

4 comments:

  1. "The argument i saw the other day mentioned that near this was the commandment not to eat shellfish, so people that do are sinners in need of repentance. However, Acts 10, Jesus told Peter that all animals were basically OK to eat. (At least that's my understanding)."

    Yes, and no. Doesn't Jesus speak to the multitudes in parables, and without a parable spake he not unto them?

    Do I think God is going to send us to hell for eatin' some dang good pop-corn shrimp? Probably not, but He definitely could if He wanted to. It is a sin to eat shellfish, lest we pick and choose which parts we want to believe.

    Is it a forgivable sin? Well yeah, since there is only one unforgivable sin.

    Anyway, the whole thing about Peter's dream was that Peter, if you remember, was a Jew. In fact, all the disciples of Jesus, were Jews. Jesus came first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles.

    Because Roman soldiers were the ones who actually carried out the sentence that the Sanhedrin ordered, the entire world was now at fault for taking part in Jesus' death; but best of all forgiven for it.

    Up until Peter's dream, he had no intention of sharing the good news with the gentiles. He was still trying to give the message to the Jews. God told him, basically, "The Gentiles are my creation also, so go to them and warn them too." It's also why Jesus told us in the parable of the wedding feast, that he sent his servants into the streets to take in strangers from among the land, and that THEY too would be invited.

    Notice that later in this same story, when they mention that the Gentiles received the Holy Word of God, Peter and his brethren rejoiced!

    Acts 10:45 (KJV)
    "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."

    ALL who call upon the name of God, are heard by God.

    Romans 10:13 (KJV)
    "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

    Including the Gentiles, and it is beautiful.

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    1. Good analysis. Nobody is going to hell for eating shellfish or being gay. We're going to hell if we don't accept Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the Cross

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  2. Ok, this is great, i keep reading articles I would like to comment on. It is not often I find someone that I'am in agreement on. I would fall into that category of left-leaning Christians or a progressive Christian including Christian morals. So often is the conundrum of being "cast out" by the left when homosexuality comes up and "cast out" by the right when politics come up. But I fully agree here, the old testament clearly condemns homosexuality and Paul also in the new testament in Romans 1.
    I mean the church can compromise it's way into the Babylon of corporate greed and decandent morality or it can stand it's ground all the way around. I believe to stand it's ground against all that is the true church of God.

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    1. I guess we're in the same sinking boat. The Bible is crystal clear on homosexuality and other sin. Both old and new testaments.

      Long comment here...

      So I've made some left leaning political statements on facebook that I believe were in line with the Bible and treating people in a proper manner. These have been antiwar, anti-TSA groping comments and some Christians I used to go to church with blasted me about it.

      Later on, I Joined the Christian Left facebook group because they're on board with some political/antiwar, pro helping poor, etc things. Great, seemed like real Christians...UNTIL they showed their true (rainbow) colors. I made a small issue of it saying things like how the Bible tells us not to keep sinning, etc. I also said something like, if homosexuals can continue in what the Bible says is sin, than everyone else can too. Why give up porn, or drinking to excess, stealing, etc.

      It didn't go over well.

      I love one common argument, "well Jesus never addressed homosexuality specifically". Well, silence on a specific issue does not mean approval. Interestingly, He DID address it in Mark 10. He said a man and woman become one flesh, not a man and man or a woman and a woman.

      So, take heart, I have the same problem!

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