You may have noticed in the news, papers, chat shows and even from some religious leaders the upsurge of those affirming homosexuality. This has been further backed by many governments introducing increasing equal rights in many areas. There are those who are “gay Christians” attending mainstream Christian churches and even in leadership. The Bible talks of those calling evil good and good evil (See Isaiah 5:20) and they do so at the expense of many souls. This article seeks to reply to common misconceptions and errors.

Error 1 – The Bible is not against homosexuality

Those who try to twist or reinterpret the many Bible passages are deluding themselves. The Bible is clear that homosexuality has always been wrong in different ages of the Bible.

• In the patriarchs (Genesis 19:1-28). From the start it is clear that homosexuality is a perversion of sexuality.
• In the Law of Moses (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13).
• In the Prophets (Ezekiel 16:46-50).
• In the New Testament (Romans 1:18-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Jude 7-8).
• At the final judgment. This is in the future. The sexually immoral are among those who are cast into the lake of fire.(Revelation 21:8). In Hebrews 13:4 we see that marriage is the only acceptable sexual relationship. See also 1 Corinthians 7:2. Marriage is God’s answer to curb sexual immorality.

Homosexuality is not the only sin mentioned in the Bible but it is still a sin like lying, stealing and should not be practiced. The end result for all sinners is a lost eternity in torment. If you believe in God and are a practising homosexual then you should know you are sinning against God! Paul predicts an abandonment of truth for the sake of personal fulfillment: “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths”. (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Error 2 – Homosexuality cannot be changed

In Psychiatry, homosexuality is neither seen as a mental illness nor moral depravity. This has helped those pushing the gay agenda in redefining homosexuality as being God-ordained and morally permissible. When God is reputed to sanction what He has already clearly forbidden, then a religious travesty is being played out, and boldly. Social justice arguments are effective because they sound so good. They demand an end to homophobia and insensitivity; who wants to say they are against such goals? The argument that homosexuality is your sexual orientation and cannot be changed may sound good but it is not true.

• While many mental health authorities believe homosexuality is unchangeable, many others believe it can be changed – This misinformation has done great damage. Anyone who says there is no hope for change, is either ignorant or a liar. Every secular study of change has shown some success rate, and persons who testify to substantial healings by God are many. Those people who abandon homosexuality to follow Christ do so for the same reasons as anyone come to Christ – to deal with sin and find healing.
• This argument is illogical in that it assumes if a condition is unchangeable it is therefore desirable! Other conditions such as alcoholism, for example, are widely believed to be unchangeable, and have to be coped with daily. That hardly makes them desirable, natural or God-ordained.
• See Romans 1:26-27. Paul views homosexuality as a symptom of fallen humanity, describing it as unnatural and unseemly. He is saying, in other words, that homosexuality is biologically unnatural – not just unnatural to heterosexuals – but unnatural to anyone.

Error 3 – Homosexual relationships are not wrong if there is love

The argument is misleading in that it assumes love sanctifies a relationship. A clergyman might bless a homosexual marriage but God won’t. One of the most popular errors in the realm of Christian ethics has been the effort to make love an omnipotent spiritual quality which has the power to sanctify anything that is done its name. Love is not enough to justify a relationship. An unmarried Christian couple may be very much in love; if they become sexually involved before marriage, it will still be sin, no matter how much love went into it. And it will still be wrong. A married man can fall deeply in love with a woman other than his wife; that will never sanctify adultery.

Scripture places boundaries on human relationships, offering no compromise, even if love is present and desires to cross those boundaries. If a form of sexual relating is wrong, it remains wrong no matter what degree of love goes along with it. The world would rather have a “user-friendly” God who accepts them whatever their immoral lifestyle.

Conclusion

First Corinthians 6 is very clear about the eternal consequence for those who practice homosexuality, but there’s good news. No matter what the sin is, whether homosexuality or anything else, God has provided forgiveness, salvation, and the hope of eternal life to those who repent and embrace the gospel. Right after identifying homosexuals as those who “will not inherit the kingdom of God,” Paul said, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

God’s plan for many homosexuals is that they come to salvation. There were former homosexuals in the Corinthian church back in Paul’s day, just as there are many former homosexuals today in faithful churches around the country. With regenerated hearts, they sit in biblical churches throughout the country praising their Saviour, along with former fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, coveters, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers. Remember, such were some of you too.

Categories: Apologetics

Tags: human-rights, religion, society, theology