poochie
Aug 31st 2008, 10:38 AM
Homosexuality is one of the many heated and controversial debates in our society. The church seems to be divided on its views of homosexuality. Many liberal denominations are very openly embracing homosexuality, while many conservatives are not. There are different extremes of interpretation between the Protestant liberal and conservative denominations regarding the subject of Homosexuality. Some liberal churches ordain homosexuals into the ministry, while on the opposite extreme there are churches that would never allow a homosexual to enter the church. While if I were a pastor I would never ordain or allow a homosexual to work in the ministry, I would allow them to enter the church, and to get a chance to come to repentance so they can be forgiven from their sins and come to a everlasting faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Churches that deny Homosexuals to enter their buildings, are denying sinners the chance at salvation. But regardless there are many churches that hate homosexuals.
I’m sure you all have read stories of hate acts against homosexuals by some so-called Christian pastors. Fred Phelps is a very well known infamous Baptist pastor who preaches a message of hate geared at homosexuals. He’s no doubt the biggest anti-homosexual advocate in the world. Often unbelievers think that all Christians think like Fred Phelps and this is not true.
Pastor Fred Phelps
Its tragic that Fred does not know the gospel according to Jesus, because if he did he would have read the verse that says to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.').
Because of Fred's example and poor representation of Christians I can understand why many homosexuals are hostile towards us, and I really do not blame them.
My argument against the sinful Godless act called Homosexuality will begin in the Book of Genesis where this Godless sin is first addressed. Sadly some incorrectly believe that Homosexuality is first mentioned in Leviticus and therefore conclude that this sin does not transcend nor extend beyond the moral Law of Moses. There are many laws in the Law of Moses; many of, which are no longer, practiced by most evangelicals today. For example in the Law of Moses there are a half dozen dietary laws. There are some foods that God forbade and others that He did not. Most evangelicals today no longer practice these laws (well except Seventh Day Adventists). I use this as an example, because many of the supporters of Homosexuality claim that since homosexuality is first mentioned in the Pentateuch (Gen-Deut) then this like all the other laws are no longer active. They only use this argument, because they have failed to read the entire scriptures, and have failed to see that Homosexuality was FIRST addressed in the first book of the bible called Genesis. Homosexuality is not only one of the many social laws but goes far beyond the social and into the moral realm with transcends the book of the law and is addressed in the New Testament as well. Dietary laws do not transcend nor extend beyond the book of Moses, and nor are they mentioned in the NT. As a matter of fact Jesus on several occasions declared all foods to be clean. One such passage is Mark 7:19
NIV
Mark 7:19 For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")
Passages in the Old Testament that condemn Homosexuality
Passage #1
Gen 19:5-8
NASB
[Ge 19:5] and they called to Lot and said to him, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them. [6] But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, [7] and said, Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. [8] Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof.
NIV
Gen. 19:5 They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
Gen. 19:6 ¶ Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him
Gen. 19:7 and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.
Gen. 19:8 Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof."
In the bible this is the first time that the sin of homosexuality is addressed. Both the NASB & KJV avoid using the word sex in verse 5, while the NIV as clear as day uses the word.. The Hebrew word being used in the above to translation to the English word for relations is (yada Strongs 3045). This word appears some 800+ times in the NASB OT. The word basically means the same as the word "sex" as mentioned in the NIV.
In the passage above the two men that the people of Sodom so desperately wanted to have sex with were two angels that were not of this world. They are first mentioned in chapter 18 appearing to Abraham. These men come to Abraham to reveal to him the judgement they will carry out on the city of Sodom because of its great wickedness. No question Homosexuality was one of the many sins that earned its sentence. It was not the only sin, but perhaps the most severe of them.
In verse 11 the men struck the homosexual offenders outside with blindness. I have no exact idea if the blindness was temporarily or permanent, but my guess would be permanent. The angels were not afraid to use their power and knew that sin must be punished. God today in his grace no longer will blind homosexual offenders. But one day the judgement will come. I do know of another instance in scripture where God struck someone blind, but in this instance the victim was the Apostle Paul whom God needed for the fulfillment of his plan. Homosexuality was apparently a common practice in this ancient and evil city as mentioned in Judges.
Another similar passage
NIV
Judg. 19:22 _ While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.
Judg. 19:23 _ The owner of the house went outside and said to them, No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don't do this disgraceful thing.
When I read about Sodom and its homosexual activities. I create a modern comparison between Sodom and San Francisco. One semester when I was at Simpson University a friend of mine played me a video tape series on homosexuality and the entire focus of the videos was San Francisco which is believed to be the capital of the homosexuality sin in the USA. Growing up in that area I could very much relate to the horrific graphics of homosexuals I saw on my tiny TV screen. To go into a little of the gore the videos portrayed. I saw both men and women naked and nude sun bathing, I saw some having sex out in public. And I saw the sick and twisted homosexual parades. These are the parades were many homosexuals are convicted to dance nude, and sadly some of the local churches in San Francisco are convicted to join them.
In some parts of San Francisco it seems okay to walk around nude and to have sex in the open. I can imagine Sodom being like this and why The Lord destroyed this city. Certainly San Francisco will one day be destroyed. Her condemnation is coming rather quick if she does not repent. But for know she is under God's grace and his grace will one day run out.
The second passage that I will focus on comes from the book of Exodus.
Passage #2
Exodus 22:19
NIV
[Ex 22:19] Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal must be put to death.
Probably not many homosexual and sexual immoral people wish to have sex with animals today. But I hesitate to say that there is a small faction of sick, twisted, people that enjoy this sinful act. I know this because on occasion when I search the web or check my email I unfortunately have witnessed both men and women having sex with animals. Sadly in the day of sexual immorality that we live in, it's very difficult not to be exposed to such filth. Such a simple web search, or checking of ones email is all too often all it takes to get exposed to these acts.
In Exodus there are a ton of other social laws that if violated often the punishment was death. The homosexual act of sleeping with an animal was not the only sin that would lead to death, and I by no means am saying that it was the worst of all social law violations. I say this to address those reading this message who enjoy having sex with animals. You see back in the Old Testament anyone caught having sexual relations or intercourse with an animal was to be put to death period. Often those that were put to death were done so by stoning. Certainly a much more painful way to die than lethal injection wouldn't you say? People today do not know how good they have life, and how badly they need God's moral guidance in their lives. If society was still under a Theocratic kingdom with God in charge and the consequence for such sin was death, then the population would be drastically smaller wouldn't you say? But no God has chosen to forgive people of their sins, and has chosen to forgive homosexual offenders. I want every homosexual that reads this to understand that it is not too late for you to turn from your wickedness. It is not too late to turn to the light. But do so while there is yet time, for one day you will be punished for your sins.
Passage #3
Leviticus 18:22-23
ESV
[Lev 18:22] You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
[23] And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.
I heave heard of some fundamentalist Christians that use this passage as a weapon against homosexuals. I am a fundamentalist so you probably are thinking that I am just like every and all other fundamentalists. This is anything but the truth and I for one do not condone the practice of hating homosexuals. Certainly such persons that preach hatred towards homosexuals are not speaking the truth in love. Jesus said that 2nd greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself. It does not take rocket science to figure out that those that that speak to homosexuals with such hatred are by no means loving their neighbor as themselves, for they certainly would not condemn themselves to hell as quickly as they do homosexuals! Jesus also said that all men would know that you are my disciples by your Love. So I believe it necessary to show love for the homosexual sinners, but hate for their sin. So many in the church today get confused on what it means to love, and homosexuals cant separate their sin from themselves. So they believe anyone who calls their sin as the bible calls it, is hating them.
Passage #4
Leviticus 20:13
HCSB
[Lev 20:13] If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman, they have both committed an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood is on their own hands.
Again more condemnation for those that practice homosexuality. Note when I say condemnation I am not implying this with a mean spirit. The bible is the authority and very clearly condemns this sin. The bible does not condemn sinners alone, but without forgiveness for their sin, then they are condemned already. The Israelites were living under a Theocratic kingdom and God alone was in charge. When God is in charge He makes the rules and only He has decided that Homosexual offenders shall be put to death. If such theocratic laws were active today, our world would be a lot smaller and our graves larger!
There are many more passages in the Old Testament condemning Homosexuality but for the sake of time and space I will skip right ahead to the New Testament, which I feel more qualified to address.
I’m sure you all have read stories of hate acts against homosexuals by some so-called Christian pastors. Fred Phelps is a very well known infamous Baptist pastor who preaches a message of hate geared at homosexuals. He’s no doubt the biggest anti-homosexual advocate in the world. Often unbelievers think that all Christians think like Fred Phelps and this is not true.
Pastor Fred Phelps
Its tragic that Fred does not know the gospel according to Jesus, because if he did he would have read the verse that says to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.').
Because of Fred's example and poor representation of Christians I can understand why many homosexuals are hostile towards us, and I really do not blame them.
My argument against the sinful Godless act called Homosexuality will begin in the Book of Genesis where this Godless sin is first addressed. Sadly some incorrectly believe that Homosexuality is first mentioned in Leviticus and therefore conclude that this sin does not transcend nor extend beyond the moral Law of Moses. There are many laws in the Law of Moses; many of, which are no longer, practiced by most evangelicals today. For example in the Law of Moses there are a half dozen dietary laws. There are some foods that God forbade and others that He did not. Most evangelicals today no longer practice these laws (well except Seventh Day Adventists). I use this as an example, because many of the supporters of Homosexuality claim that since homosexuality is first mentioned in the Pentateuch (Gen-Deut) then this like all the other laws are no longer active. They only use this argument, because they have failed to read the entire scriptures, and have failed to see that Homosexuality was FIRST addressed in the first book of the bible called Genesis. Homosexuality is not only one of the many social laws but goes far beyond the social and into the moral realm with transcends the book of the law and is addressed in the New Testament as well. Dietary laws do not transcend nor extend beyond the book of Moses, and nor are they mentioned in the NT. As a matter of fact Jesus on several occasions declared all foods to be clean. One such passage is Mark 7:19
NIV
Mark 7:19 For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")
Passages in the Old Testament that condemn Homosexuality
Passage #1
Gen 19:5-8
NASB
[Ge 19:5] and they called to Lot and said to him, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them. [6] But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, [7] and said, Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. [8] Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof.
NIV
Gen. 19:5 They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
Gen. 19:6 ¶ Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him
Gen. 19:7 and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.
Gen. 19:8 Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof."
In the bible this is the first time that the sin of homosexuality is addressed. Both the NASB & KJV avoid using the word sex in verse 5, while the NIV as clear as day uses the word.. The Hebrew word being used in the above to translation to the English word for relations is (yada Strongs 3045). This word appears some 800+ times in the NASB OT. The word basically means the same as the word "sex" as mentioned in the NIV.
In the passage above the two men that the people of Sodom so desperately wanted to have sex with were two angels that were not of this world. They are first mentioned in chapter 18 appearing to Abraham. These men come to Abraham to reveal to him the judgement they will carry out on the city of Sodom because of its great wickedness. No question Homosexuality was one of the many sins that earned its sentence. It was not the only sin, but perhaps the most severe of them.
In verse 11 the men struck the homosexual offenders outside with blindness. I have no exact idea if the blindness was temporarily or permanent, but my guess would be permanent. The angels were not afraid to use their power and knew that sin must be punished. God today in his grace no longer will blind homosexual offenders. But one day the judgement will come. I do know of another instance in scripture where God struck someone blind, but in this instance the victim was the Apostle Paul whom God needed for the fulfillment of his plan. Homosexuality was apparently a common practice in this ancient and evil city as mentioned in Judges.
Another similar passage
NIV
Judg. 19:22 _ While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.
Judg. 19:23 _ The owner of the house went outside and said to them, No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don't do this disgraceful thing.
When I read about Sodom and its homosexual activities. I create a modern comparison between Sodom and San Francisco. One semester when I was at Simpson University a friend of mine played me a video tape series on homosexuality and the entire focus of the videos was San Francisco which is believed to be the capital of the homosexuality sin in the USA. Growing up in that area I could very much relate to the horrific graphics of homosexuals I saw on my tiny TV screen. To go into a little of the gore the videos portrayed. I saw both men and women naked and nude sun bathing, I saw some having sex out in public. And I saw the sick and twisted homosexual parades. These are the parades were many homosexuals are convicted to dance nude, and sadly some of the local churches in San Francisco are convicted to join them.
In some parts of San Francisco it seems okay to walk around nude and to have sex in the open. I can imagine Sodom being like this and why The Lord destroyed this city. Certainly San Francisco will one day be destroyed. Her condemnation is coming rather quick if she does not repent. But for know she is under God's grace and his grace will one day run out.
The second passage that I will focus on comes from the book of Exodus.
Passage #2
Exodus 22:19
NIV
[Ex 22:19] Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal must be put to death.
Probably not many homosexual and sexual immoral people wish to have sex with animals today. But I hesitate to say that there is a small faction of sick, twisted, people that enjoy this sinful act. I know this because on occasion when I search the web or check my email I unfortunately have witnessed both men and women having sex with animals. Sadly in the day of sexual immorality that we live in, it's very difficult not to be exposed to such filth. Such a simple web search, or checking of ones email is all too often all it takes to get exposed to these acts.
In Exodus there are a ton of other social laws that if violated often the punishment was death. The homosexual act of sleeping with an animal was not the only sin that would lead to death, and I by no means am saying that it was the worst of all social law violations. I say this to address those reading this message who enjoy having sex with animals. You see back in the Old Testament anyone caught having sexual relations or intercourse with an animal was to be put to death period. Often those that were put to death were done so by stoning. Certainly a much more painful way to die than lethal injection wouldn't you say? People today do not know how good they have life, and how badly they need God's moral guidance in their lives. If society was still under a Theocratic kingdom with God in charge and the consequence for such sin was death, then the population would be drastically smaller wouldn't you say? But no God has chosen to forgive people of their sins, and has chosen to forgive homosexual offenders. I want every homosexual that reads this to understand that it is not too late for you to turn from your wickedness. It is not too late to turn to the light. But do so while there is yet time, for one day you will be punished for your sins.
Passage #3
Leviticus 18:22-23
ESV
[Lev 18:22] You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
[23] And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.
I heave heard of some fundamentalist Christians that use this passage as a weapon against homosexuals. I am a fundamentalist so you probably are thinking that I am just like every and all other fundamentalists. This is anything but the truth and I for one do not condone the practice of hating homosexuals. Certainly such persons that preach hatred towards homosexuals are not speaking the truth in love. Jesus said that 2nd greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself. It does not take rocket science to figure out that those that that speak to homosexuals with such hatred are by no means loving their neighbor as themselves, for they certainly would not condemn themselves to hell as quickly as they do homosexuals! Jesus also said that all men would know that you are my disciples by your Love. So I believe it necessary to show love for the homosexual sinners, but hate for their sin. So many in the church today get confused on what it means to love, and homosexuals cant separate their sin from themselves. So they believe anyone who calls their sin as the bible calls it, is hating them.
Passage #4
Leviticus 20:13
HCSB
[Lev 20:13] If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman, they have both committed an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood is on their own hands.
Again more condemnation for those that practice homosexuality. Note when I say condemnation I am not implying this with a mean spirit. The bible is the authority and very clearly condemns this sin. The bible does not condemn sinners alone, but without forgiveness for their sin, then they are condemned already. The Israelites were living under a Theocratic kingdom and God alone was in charge. When God is in charge He makes the rules and only He has decided that Homosexual offenders shall be put to death. If such theocratic laws were active today, our world would be a lot smaller and our graves larger!
There are many more passages in the Old Testament condemning Homosexuality but for the sake of time and space I will skip right ahead to the New Testament, which I feel more qualified to address.