The Edifier
West Allen Church of Christ
Homosexuality
It seems that our society is becoming more and more insensitive toward sin. One example of this is the public's increasing tolerant attitude toward our nations estimated 25 million homosexuals. A survey sponsored by the polling company Louis Harris and Associates found that only 6 in 10 disapprove of homosexual marriages. Opposition to homosexual marriage ran 57 percent to 30 percent in an Associated Press poll in June. The number of adults believing that homosexual relations should be legal is up 33 percent in just ten years.
Today homosexuality is no longer considered something that is shameful and hidden from the public. All kinds of prominent citizens, from politicians to actors to athletes have openly declared their homosexuality and publicly defend the practice.
The news media constantly mentions homosexuality, never condemning it, only tolerating and accepting it, speaking of "sexual preference" and "alternate lifestyles."
Even several denominations have excepted homosexual memberships and have church leaders who are gay.
If all these facts are alarming to you, they should be; for they plainly show the rapid moral decline of the nation in which we live. It should impress us with the overwhelming need our country has to hear the truth concerning the sin of homosexuality.
The sin of homosexuality is condemned throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament God said "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination...If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act" (Lev 18:22;). 20:13 The city of Sodom, a place that God destroyed with fire and brimstone, was said to have contained men who were "wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord" (Gen 13:13). In Genesis 19 we find that their wickedness involved the sin of homosexuality.
Homosexuality is also condemned in the New Testament. The apostle wrote, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Cor 6:9-10). There are many other passages that condemn any type of sexual immorality which includes homosexuality (see Eph 5:1-11: Gal 5:19-21; Col 3:5-6; Rev 21:8).
The Bible not only makes it very plain that homosexuality is condemned by God, but also teaches that those who tolerate and condone such sin stand condemned before Him. In Romans chapter 1 the inspired writer spoke of those whom God gave up to vile passions stating, "women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." He then condemns those "who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them" (Rom 1:26-32).
Let it be known in our society that homosexuality is sinful that those practicing or condoning it might repent and turn unto God.