Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Leviticus 18:22
My goal in writing this article (or series of articles as it may turnout) is to help clarify the position of the Bible concerning homosexuality. More specifically, I am writing for two reasons. First, I have seen, heard, and read of those who are misrepresenting God and the Bible as they debate this behavior. Please understand that I do not feel God needs my help. He is God and will take care of His own reputation. However, misinformation often leads to wrong decisions, and I believe many are making decisions on this topic without having the true facts. I would hope to help some of those people. Secondly, I am seeing those that I care about being maligned and hurt as they attempt to help their friends understand the truth on this subject. I think these good people need support, and I want to give that support to them if I can.
DISCLAIMERS-That looks official, doesn't it? I used that term because I hoped you would read this section before moving on. There are several things that I really, really want you to know.
1. I accept that there is one God who has revealed Himself through His Son Jesus Christ, and His Word, the Holy Bible. If you disagree with any or all of that statement, that is your option, and we can debate it at another time; however, that disclaimer means that opinions on this topic-both yours and mine-are irrelevant to the scope of this article. God is the Authority in right and wrong, not our opinions.
It is obvious that opinions change. That is illustrated by the fact that America is now having this debate. For years, homosexuality in America was viewed as God teaches in the Bible, a perversion of something He created. This was not just a "law on the books," it was the opinion of a vast majority of the people. Apparently today that is not the case; but just because a nation changes its mind about a behavior does not mean that God does. It only means that man's opinions do not settle anything. We must go to a higher authority, and I accept God and His Word as the highest Authority.
2. The printed word can not reveal my love and concern for those who are involved in the homosexual lifestyle or the promotion of it. Printed words are cold, hard, factual. Unlike a teary eye, a warm smile, or a caring expression, they will not show compassion. Many will label me a bigot and a judgmental person because I write things that they will not agree with. That is their prerogative, but I will tell you up front that I am nothing like that. I write because I care enough to tell you the truth and warn you of the dangers that lie ahead. Even so, I will be direct so that I may be brief and blunt so as not to be misunderstood.
3. I reserve the right to add to and alter this document in the future. I already have a lot more that I would like to say but will refrain as much as possible from doing so because I want to keep the article(s) as concise as possible. Also, as I find a better or more accurate way to express a truth, I will make changes. You might want to check back from time to time to see what has been changed or added.
4. No one has my permission to misquote or partially quote me. If you want to express a thought that I have given, please put it in your own words and take credit for saying it. If you feel you must quote me directly, you must copy the section in its entirety, giving my website, www.pastorcarldhall.org, as the source where the information is located, and my name as the author. A "section" is all of the material between the Roman numerals.
I. Does the Bible teach that homosexuality is wrong?
A. While some attempt to deny or side step the answer to that question, the answer is really very simple… YES!
B. In fact, several Bible verses call homosexuality an abomination, which suggests that this sin goes against the very nature of both God and man.
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Le 18:22
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. Le 2:13
And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 1Ki 14:24
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the…ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;1Timothy 1
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,1 …shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1Corinthains 6
26 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:
27 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 meet. Romans 1
C. And, of course, there is the account of Sodom and Gomorrah from which comes the Biblical term to describe the behavior, "sodomy." Here are a few highlights but the account is recorded in Genesis 18 and 19.
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. Ge 13:13
And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; Ge 18:2
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. Genesis 19
And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 1Ki 15:12
And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land. 1Ki 22:46
And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove. 2Ki 23:7
D. Some want to argue that the reason God judged Sodom was not because of their sexual orientation but because of pride, idleness, and not caring for the poor.
1. They use this verse:
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. Eze 16:49
2. While there is no question that Sodom had committed many other sins for which she was accountable before God (as have we all), THE sin Sodom was judged for was her sexual sin, as plainly stated by Jude.
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude 1:7
E. A person may not like or agree with what the Bible says and that is their choice; however, the Bible is not vague in revealing God's position on this topic. God calls homosexuality a sin for which He will judge the human race and individuals. If you have heard someone, especially someone who is supposedly religious, say that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality as wrong, you have either listened to a person who is woefully ignorant or willfully deceitful. Either way, they are not a reliable source to trust for spiritual matters, and you would be wise to re-evaluate everything they have ever told you.
