Thinking Cap # 19 - The Question: Homosexuality.

Go to most any large city in the country and you have a Metropolitan Church or some other named church that caters to the Homosexual "Christian" audience. Look at any main-stream protestant religion as well at the Episcopalians and several Baptist associations and you can find those who officially sanction homosexual marriages and homosexual clergy. How can so many be wrong. Or, perhaps they are not wrong. Just what does the Bible have to say on the topic of Homosexuality? Would you allow one to join your church? Be your pastor?

It is just my opinion, but I feel we must deal with this 'lifestyle' in an objective rather than emotional fashion. What does the Bible have to say?

• Homosexuality is a sin. As a matter of fact it is "bad" sin (see Thinking Cap #8 on the World Wide Web site [http://www.pas.com.au/bcu/tcap/kenth.html] for a review of the concept that there are degrees of sin in God's eyes). It is called an "abomination" and a "vile affection." (Lev. 18:22 and Rom. 1:26-27).
• The Bible says that those who engage in homosexual behavior can not go to heaven (1 Cor. 6:9). Or at least that's what I take the "kingdom of God" to mean (stay tuned for Thinking Cap #24 for a more detailed analysis of this concept). I realize that it is just one sin of many listed in that verse and that any of them, once confessed and put under the blood can be forgiven. Such a person will be saved. But, it does not give much credence to homosexuality as an accepted "alternate" lifestyle.
• The Bible also comments on those who seek profit by catering to the homosexual. This would include bars (forgetting what the Bible teaches on alcoholic beverages - see Thinking Cap #3), dining establishments, beaches, tourist locations (South Beach, San Francisco, Providence, Key West, ...). Prov. 13:11 and Prov. 10:21 tells us that wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished. Ezra 9:14 warns us against joining in with people of abominations. The story of Gehazi in 2 Kings 5:20-27 tells of a man who saw a perfect opportunity to become rich by selfish means. His personal gain was more important to him than serving God.
• It would also be unwise to forget the lesson of Sodom and Gomorrah in Gen. 18 & 19 wherein homosexuality was rampant.
• However, homosexuality, like other sins can be forgiven and the person restored. It would be wrong for us to treat them in such a way as to drive them away from Christ, rather than love them to Christ (Gal. 6:1-2). Christians are usually very good at identifying sin and ostracizing those who are partakers (especially if it is a sin over which you have victory), but are not that good at loving the sinner back to a proper relationship with Christ.

Pleasant Thinking,
Kent Haralson

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