About homosexuality. Long passage here, but please read on...
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their 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.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."
Romans 1: 18-32
Recently there has been all the hype in the media about homosexuality and gays; it is very important that we understand the issue. The church has made its stand very clear, that it disapproves of homosexuality. Forgive me for putting in such a long passage above, but I believe it is a very important one. If you would look through it, the first part says that basically God's attributes and morality can be seen and felt very clearly in this world, and that men know about God, know what is right and wrong, but basically have turned away and refused to acknowledge Him. Romans 2:14-16 talks a bit more about the conscience.
The second part is important- basically it says that because of men's rebellion and sinfulness, God has "given them up" to further sin-hence leading to first "dishonouring their bodies"- casual, unnatural sex, and then eventually, homosexuality. So homosexuality is a sin- you can say it is a sin that has developed over man's history as man has continually gone astray and become more and more steeped in sin. Adam's sin led to more sin which led to even more sin- homosexuality is one of those latter sins. It's like a virus that constantly mutates to form new strains.
What about the question about nature vs nurture? What if homosexuals are born that way? Is it fair to criticise them and tell them to change? After all, they can't help it right? Many people, even Christians, bring up this argument; it is very sad that there are gays even among Christians. But this argument is clearly wrong, I hope I can help to explain why.
Science has found no evidence that homosexuality is inherited; but even if it did, it would be greatly debated. But even if homosexuality is inherited, even if some people can be born with it, so what? Is not one of the essential principles of Christianity that we are all born into sin? "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5. Homosexuality is just one of the numerous sins that we are born into- there is lust, pride, selfishness, malice, hatred, greed; the list goes on. That is why I included the last part of the Romans passage. Look through that whole list present there. Do we not find many of those sins present in ourselves. And what does that passage say? That all who do these things are deserving of death!
Hear then what Jesus said, "There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:1-5. Do you get the picture? All of us have sinned, in various ways, but all have sinned, and all deserve to die.
What then must our response be to sin, whatever form it may take? Jesus made it clear- repent. To repent means to be sorry and to turn away from our sin. To repent means to seek to remove that sin from our lives. Did not Jesus teach us to deny ourselves? This also means denying and rejecting our sinful natures, and fighting them to ensure that they do not take control of our lives! For homosexuals this means that homosexuality must be fought against and denied, just in the same way that for others, lust, pride, anger and so forth must be fought against and denied. It is a common, universal response to sin that we all must have. All must repent and believe in Christ.
But at the same time we must remember that it is the sin we hate and not the sinner. We love every person. Every person is precious in God's sight, and precious to us. It is the sin that keeps him or her from coming to God; it is the sin that is his or her curse. That curse must be removed, so that every person can experience the full joy of knowing God. Thank God that all our sins have been covered by the precious blood of Christ. We are forgiven!
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their 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.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."
Romans 1: 18-32
Recently there has been all the hype in the media about homosexuality and gays; it is very important that we understand the issue. The church has made its stand very clear, that it disapproves of homosexuality. Forgive me for putting in such a long passage above, but I believe it is a very important one. If you would look through it, the first part says that basically God's attributes and morality can be seen and felt very clearly in this world, and that men know about God, know what is right and wrong, but basically have turned away and refused to acknowledge Him. Romans 2:14-16 talks a bit more about the conscience.
The second part is important- basically it says that because of men's rebellion and sinfulness, God has "given them up" to further sin-hence leading to first "dishonouring their bodies"- casual, unnatural sex, and then eventually, homosexuality. So homosexuality is a sin- you can say it is a sin that has developed over man's history as man has continually gone astray and become more and more steeped in sin. Adam's sin led to more sin which led to even more sin- homosexuality is one of those latter sins. It's like a virus that constantly mutates to form new strains.
What about the question about nature vs nurture? What if homosexuals are born that way? Is it fair to criticise them and tell them to change? After all, they can't help it right? Many people, even Christians, bring up this argument; it is very sad that there are gays even among Christians. But this argument is clearly wrong, I hope I can help to explain why.
Science has found no evidence that homosexuality is inherited; but even if it did, it would be greatly debated. But even if homosexuality is inherited, even if some people can be born with it, so what? Is not one of the essential principles of Christianity that we are all born into sin? "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5. Homosexuality is just one of the numerous sins that we are born into- there is lust, pride, selfishness, malice, hatred, greed; the list goes on. That is why I included the last part of the Romans passage. Look through that whole list present there. Do we not find many of those sins present in ourselves. And what does that passage say? That all who do these things are deserving of death!
Hear then what Jesus said, "There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:1-5. Do you get the picture? All of us have sinned, in various ways, but all have sinned, and all deserve to die.
What then must our response be to sin, whatever form it may take? Jesus made it clear- repent. To repent means to be sorry and to turn away from our sin. To repent means to seek to remove that sin from our lives. Did not Jesus teach us to deny ourselves? This also means denying and rejecting our sinful natures, and fighting them to ensure that they do not take control of our lives! For homosexuals this means that homosexuality must be fought against and denied, just in the same way that for others, lust, pride, anger and so forth must be fought against and denied. It is a common, universal response to sin that we all must have. All must repent and believe in Christ.
But at the same time we must remember that it is the sin we hate and not the sinner. We love every person. Every person is precious in God's sight, and precious to us. It is the sin that keeps him or her from coming to God; it is the sin that is his or her curse. That curse must be removed, so that every person can experience the full joy of knowing God. Thank God that all our sins have been covered by the precious blood of Christ. We are forgiven!
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