Is Homosexuality a sin for New Testament Believers?
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IS HOMOSEXUALITY A SIN FOR NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS? Article Written by L.Ray Smith It may seem strange and even foolish that I should even ask such questions. Aren’t the Scriptures clear on this subject? Apparently not, if you listen to the many voices now embracing this life style. There are scholars and theologians who adamantly try to defend their homosexual life style based on the Scriptures. While some do not believe that homosexual sex is even mentioned or described in Scripture, others freely admit that it is mentioned and was a capital crime under Moses, and strongly condemned by the Apostle Paul as being worthy of death. But among the latter it is argued that neither of these condemnations in the Old or the New Testaments applies to homosexual Believers in Christ. That is a twist we will examine carefully, as most have probably never heard of such a defense. The purpose of this paper is not to single out or come down upon homosexuals. I have never written a paper entitled: “Is Stealing a Sin for New Testament Believers?” or, “Is Bearing False Witness a Sin?” or, “Is Murder a Sin?” So why “homosexuality? Because more and more, the media, entertainment, the government, the Church, the general population of America and much of the world, no longer believes it is a sin to be discriminated against, whereas even the basest of nations have laws against stealing, false witness, and murder. So, my purpose here is not to judge, but to specifically establish whether homosexuality is a sin or not a sin for Believers in Christ under the New Covenant. If it is not a sin, and these practices are normal and virtuous, then we should not be speaking or discriminating against them. But if it is a sin, then we should certainly speak out against it just as we should against adultery, idolatry, lying, stealing, etc. Let’s try and look at the Scriptural facts with unbiased, open minds. If we are interested in obedience to Jesus Christ then we should be eager to know the truth one way or the other. Most homosexuals do not argue with Lev. 20:13:
They concede that this verse is speaking of homosexuality-sex between members of the same gender. Their argument is that it no longer applies to them as Believers in Christ under the New Covenant, stating that they are no longer under the law of Moses. It is beyond the scope of this paper to go into what is meant by no longer being “under the law.” But I will give just a few comments concerning whether Lev. 20:13 is still binding on Christian Believers.
A SILLY ARGUMENT Over the years I have received some bizarre reasons from the gay community regarding why they don’t think homosexuality is a sin. Here is an example I received this week from a self-professed lesbian:
No, I don’t think so at all. Lev. 20:13 does not need to be one of the Ten Commandments before it has any jurisdiction over Christian Believers. Jesus did not address child-molestation either; neither is it one of the Ten Commandments. Neither did Jesus address drug abuse, nor pornography, smoking, spousal abuse, or torture. Does this fact therefore condone such sins and atrocities? Are we to assume therefore that none of these are wrong or sinful? I hope we are not foolish enough to believe that if something is not mentioned in the Bible, then it shouldn’t be considered a sin. Listen: One of the Ten Commandments was against “stealing.” But stealing did not carry the death sentence. Yet witchcraft (not one of the Ten Commandments) did carry the death sentence (Lev. 20:27). Having sexual intercourse with an animal carried the death sentence for both men and women (Lev. 20:15-16). Who among us would deign to suggest to their children that having sex with farm yard animals is now okay since it is not condemned in the New Testament by Jesus, neither is one of the Ten Commandments? When all else fails, try a little common sense and basic morality.
WHAT IS HOMOSEXUALITY? The actual words “homosexual” and “lesbian” are not found in the Scriptures. The word “homosexual” is reported to be a German invention to euphemize and take the place of the distasteful word “sodomite.” Although the word “sodomy” as used today may not even have a direct connection with the sexual sins of historical Sodom. While the Scriptures do not speak to us in crude street language, describing the actual mechanics of homosexual acts, nonetheless, the practice of same sex lust assuredly is mentioned and condemned in Scripture as a sin that needs to be repented of just as idolatry, adultery, stealing, murder, and all sins. The word homosexual is applied to both men and women whose sexual preference is with one of the same gender. Male homosexuals are generally called “gay” or “gay men,” while female homosexuals are generally called “gay women” or “lesbians.” Most gay men will acknowledge that male homosexuality is mentioned in Scripture. What may be alarming to many of my readers is that while they concede that it is mentioned and talked about, they deny that it is categorically a sin. On the other hand, many argue that gay women or lesbianism are not mentioned in Scripture at all. I will briefly comment on the one main Old Testament Scripture forbidding homosexuality. Below is an excerpt from the gaychurch.org web site regarding Lev. 18:22 & 20:13. Professor Soards tells us:
Just a couple of comments: Clearly it is admitted that same gender sex was condemned under Moses (being punishable by death), and that it was a practice of “Baal worship.” And so it suggested that homosexuality was not inherently wrong, but rather it was wrong because it was practiced in the worship of Baal. Apparently, had not the pagans used homosexuality in their worship of Baal, God would have allowed it. I think not. It is then suggested that since homosexuality was a part of the things forbidden under the law of Moses (which they call “the Code”), but Christian Believers are not under the Code, but under Christ, therefore, “the Code became obsolete.” Well I have already commented on the absurdity of this with regarding things like bestiality, which I seriously doubt they would condone under this same “became obsolete” argument. So what is the argument for not following the admonition of Paul regarding same gender sex in Rom. 1:26-27? Well you just read it:
Now I must admit that statement overwhelms me. Since it cannot be denied that Paul is speaking of same gender sex in Rom. 1:26-27, what are they to do? Well, they dogmatically state that Paul is not condemning homosexuality sex between homosexuals, but rather they state that Paul is CONDEMNING HOMOSEXUAL SEX BETWEEN HETEROSEXUALS! Is that not akin to suggesting that it is not wrong for alcoholics to get drunk, but rather it is wrong for NON-ALCOHOLICS to get drunk? We will now see whether the Scriptures substantiate the above assertion that:
We will first look at three sexual perversions closely allied with homosexuality. THREE CATEGORIES OF PERVERTED SEX
What are paramours, catamites, and sodomites? paramours(King James, ‘fornicators’)-Strong’s #4205 pornos “to sell, a male prostitute (as venal), a debauchee (libertine): fornicator, whoremonger.”
catamites(King James, ‘effeminate’)-Strong’s #3120 malakos “soft, fine clothing, a catamite, effeminate.” catamite: “a boy who has a sexual relationship with a man” (AHCD).
sodomites(King James, ‘abusers of themselves with mankind’-Strong’s #733 arsenokoites “a sodomite, defile self with mankind.”
THESE PERVERSIONS ARE CONDEMNED IN SCRIPTURE
Paul states that none who continue to commit the sins listed above “shall inherit the kingdom of God.” These sins need to be repented of and put in the past. And that is what the chosen Few in these Gentiles churches were doing. Notice Paul’s consolation to those who repented of these sinful deeds of the flesh:
Next we will see whether the Scriptures actually and specifically speak of both male and female homosexuality. Here are a couple more statements from http://gaychurch.org:
Conservative theologian Richard Hays says:
We shall see.
MEN WITH MEN AND WOMEN WITH WOMEN
There is a lot more contained in this verse than perceived in the eye of English. First of all, all that is to follow in this dissertation by Paul comes under the general category of “vile affections.” The word vile in this verse is Strong’s #819 atimia, which means, “infamy, indignity, disgrace, dishonor, reproach, shame, vile.” And so the things of which Paul is going to speak, are things that are: infamous, indignant, disgraceful, dishonorable, reproachable, shameful, and vile. Not a pretty picture; not a dissertation on godly virtue and morality.
WHAT WAS “AGAINST NATURE?” First Paul mentions:
Some foolishly bury their heads in the sand and suggest that nothing immoral is actually mentioned here. Does it sound to you that leaving the natural use of something and using it in a way that is against nature burning in their lust, is a good thing? No, I think not. Okay, but can we determine exactly what it is that was being misused and against nature? Yes, we certainly can. We just saw that it has to do with affections that women have that are against nature. That is, against the nature of the proper use of something (‘did change the natural USE’). But what? Just what is that certain something that women change from the natural use of into something that is vile, disgraceful, and shameful? What is it that they are using disgracefully because of unnatural vile affections? I’ll now show you maybe more precisely than you really want to know, what it was that “…their women did change the natural use [of] into that which is against nature…” Do we think Paul is referring to the improper use of their ears? Did they change the natural use of their eyes? Maybe it was their hands? Did these men and women in question here start using their feet in an unnatural way? Whatever it was that the women were doing against nature, the men were likewise also doing the very same thing:
What does Paul mean by “likewise also?” Simple, the Greek for “likewise” is homoios, and it means “similar,” “likewise.” The Greek for “also” is kai and it means “and, also, even, too, both indeed, likewise.” Interestingly, we have another verse of Scripture which also uses these same two Greek words and translates them the same:
We are to treat others in a similar way, as we would want others to treat us. That is how these two words are used in Luke 6:31, and that is how they are used in Rom. 1:27. What the women were doing against nature, the men “likewise also” were doing “against nature.” Now then, what was it that they were doing? The men who were doing likewise also as the women “burned in their lust one [man] toward another [man], MEN WITH MEN…” Okay, lest someone suggest that this is merely human companionship and doesn’t involve SEX, let’s continue and see just what parts of the human anatomy is being referenced here.
WHAT DID PAUL MEAN BY “UNSEEMLY?”
It is so easy when reading Scripture to not pay close attention to all the words. These five words “working that which is unseemly” are translated from only one Greek word, aschemosune, and this word is used only one other time in Scripture, which I will now show you so as to remove all doubt as to its meaning:
Here Jesus is using figurative language. In the same way someone is shamed by taking off all their clothing in public (so will those who do not spiritually watch for Jesus be spiritually shamed). So what is it that people see when someone is naked? Why, for example, are there many topless beaches around the world where total nudity is not allowed? What shame [aschemosune] is made visible in Rev. 15:16 by walking naked? And what is it that is “working that which is unseemly [aschemosune]” in Rom. 1:27? Some of you are already way ahead of me. The King James translators have often chosen words of modesty, so as to not offend the sensitive reader. Strong’s Greek Dictionary: “unseemly/shame” #808, aschemosune, “an indecency; by implication the pudenda: shame, which is unseemly.” And just what is the “pudenda?” The American Heritage College Dictionary: pudendum/ pl. pudenda n. “The human external genital organs, especially of a woman” (p. 1127). There it is. It was the genital organs of the female that:
I will not get anymore graphic than that. Romans 1:26-27 is a very strong condemnation of the list of vile affections starting with sex between women with women, and men with men. And professing faith in the love and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ does not turn this perversion into a virtue. When Isaiah tells us to:
Should I just keep my mouth shut on this subject? Few Christians believe that those who practice adultery, stealing, and lying will enter God’s Kingdom without repenting. But this is not the case with practicing homosexuals. Speaking against homosexuality may soon become a hate crime law in which offenders will be prosecuted as criminals. Let’s take a closer Scriptural look at this subject while the law still allows it.
THE REST OF PAUL’S PROCLAMATION AGAINST HOMOSEXUALS Let’s look at these verses on homosexuality by the Apostle Paul, in the context of this section of Scripture:
This is the largest single list of ungodliness, unrighteousness, sins, crimes, and corruption found anywhere in the entirety of the Scriptures, and notice that heading the list are:
Paul concludes this list of carnal sins by stating: “they which commit such things are WORTHY OF DEATH” (as is every other sin mentioned). Now the very fact that the perpetrators of such sexual perversions deny they are sins, and large segments of society and government condone these sins, shows how morally decayed our nation is becoming.
HOMOSEXUALITY IN AMERICA In Politics and Government: Most Democratic presidential candidates recently spoke at a gay forum in which they unanimously gave approval to the homosexuals in America. There was a split over whether gays can legally marry partners of the same sex, but as for gay relationships and gay rights they received overwhelming support from these wanna-be presidents of the USA. Likewise it is reported that up to three-quarters of Americans support gay rights and civil unions, but half do not support gay marriage. In Entertainment: TV dramas, situation comedies, and major films are now glamorizing the gay life. A recent film about two gay cowboys, entitled BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, received rave reviews, such as the following:
In The Church: Chicago-“Flouting what they call a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, more than 80 gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered Lutheran ministers declared their sexuality on Tuesday in hopes of changing a church rule that excludes gay and lesbian clergy who do not live chastely.” Is such protesting effective: Lutherans Vote To Allow Gay Clergy
After Paul states “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections,” he gives us the following list of sins:
What justification, pray tell, is there in lifting out the first two sins: “…women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly…,” as being perfectly virtuous (if done out of what gays would call true love) while the rest of the sins remain sins? By whose authority are the government, the media, and the Church rendering these sins as defendable and virtuous? It is now both politically incorrect and socially incorrect to speak of these perversions as sin, and now (according to polls) the majority of Americans also either feels pressured, or just cannot see any immorality in homosexuality. When immorality is condoned and even lauded, it spills over into every aspect of society. Even child rapists are getting off with little more than a slap on the hand and a few months probation. Such behavior in our judicial system forty or fifty years ago would have been outrageous, but few are showing much alarm over such judicial travesties today. I am not condemning the sinners, but I am condemning the sin and the lax attitudes toward this sin. As Paul clearly states:
How is it that Paul can state: “such were” some of you?
God will pardon all of our sins, but they must be put in our past. If I condoned my own past sins, I never would have repented of them.
Continuing:
Now back up to the beginning of Romans 6:
There is salvation available, and it is by grace, not our own personal works of righteousness, but we must first repent. This repentance is also by grace. It is a gift from God just like salvation itself. Once again, we are ALL in the same boat for we have ALL sinned. Notice next what Paul says after his declaration against a list of 27 major sins. Paul’s statement that “…they which commit such things are worthy of DEATH,” does not end his declarations on this subject. We must continue into chapter 2:
While “Christ died for our sins” (I Cor. 15:3), all sins that Jesus died for must be repented of or that person will not inherit the Kingdom of God, but will rather be raised up in Judgment. Christ dying for the sins of the world is not the final step with the issue of sin and sinners. The final step is to GET THE SIN OUT OF THE SINNER, and that is precisely what will happen, Christ “will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31) and the ungodly “will learn righteousness” (Isa. 26:9). Then and only then will “God be ALL in All” (I Cor. 15:28). Here is one of the most sobering Scriptures in the entire New Testament:
Jesus Christ personally commissioned Paul to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. What Paul wrote to the churches was under divine inspiration of Jesus Christ. All of these profound life and death declarations of Paul are just as valid as if Jesus Himself declared them.
AS LONG AS IT DOESN’T HURT ANYONE It has been foolishly stated that virtually anything is permissible including deviant sex, “As long as it doesn’t hurt anyone.” But what some can’t seem to realize is that it hurts them. Having sex with animals doesn’t hurt anyone else, but it sure hurts the one doing it. It is both a perversion of the body and a perversion of the mind.
DOESN’T NATURE TEACH US THE PROPER USE OF SEX? Numerous species of animals have been seen performing sex on the same gender. Therefore, if this is a part of God’s own nature of things among some animals, then surely it is permissible among humans? Oh really? And since when are we to look to the beasts of the field for the proper interpretation of human morality? Since animals kill and eat each other, does this set a moral standard for people to do the same? Since numerous species kill and eat their own young, does this justify people killing and eating their own babies?
I WAS BORN THIS WAY Numerous homosexuals have written me stating that God made them homosexuals, seeing that they were “born this way.” Much of this research has been done by gays that have a vested interest in the outcome. Hence much of their research is in fact biased, as is admitted by those who favor homosexuality. Is there a homosexual gene which causes homosexuality, and has any such thing ever been scientifically proven? There are hundreds and hundreds of web sites on this one aspect of homosexuality alone. Here are some quotations from the NARTH web site:
From the American Psychological Association:
From “Gay Brain” Researcher Simon LeVay:
From Dennis McFadden, University of Texas neuroscientist:
From Sociologist Steven Goldberg:
[Above quotations from NARTH web site (National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality) All bold emphasis are theirs, not mine] Here are a few quotations from THE NATIONAL VALUES COALITION:
The Catholic Medical Association web site is helping to debunk the notion that individuals are “born gay.”
Although there are some agencies that still adhere to the “born gay” theory, some of their own advocates are not admitting error–there is no known gay gene. Even the Catholic Church who has had to deal with an un-surmountable plethora of sexual sins within their priesthood of recent years, cannot and do not attempt to blame such sexual perversion on genes or heredity which would lighten their burden in this matter enormously. Interestingly I could find no web-page which discussed whether or not there is a reported gene for child molesters. Not one. And yet some of them also contend that they were “born pedophiles,” and at a very young age fantasized over having sex with little children. Homosexuality is not even in the same ball park with the gross perversion of pedophilia, yet both claim to be “born that way.” Should we lighten the burden; lighten the sentence; lighten the moral perspective of pedophiles because they CLAIM to be “born that way?” Nonsense. It is not a defense for the pedophile, and neither it is a defense for the homosexual. GOD IS THE LAW-GIVER AND DETERMINES WHAT IS SIN
When David acknowledged his sins of adultery and murder by having Bathsheba’s husband Uriah killed so he could then take Uriah’s beautiful wife Bathsheba in adultery, he didn’t repent toward Bathsheba, or Uriah, or even the nation of Israel, but rather said:
Although David was not a spiritually converted man (he died with murder in his heart, I Kings 2:1-9), he nonetheless, had the sense to know that it is God and not man who determines what is sin and what is righteousness. Any king of any nation has the right to send any soldier to the front line where he may well be killed, and then steal the man’s wife back home. But that doesn’t make it right in God’s eyes. James informs us that:
God also inspired Isaiah to write:
Did the Apostle Paul have totally different criteria than that of Isaiah? Was Paul’s condemnation of “women with women and men with men” an example of “rasha” (morally wrong), but somehow this same sin to Isaiah would be “good” and not “evil?” Nonsense. GOD CONDEMNS ALL LUST FOR SEX The seventh commandment states: “You shall not commit adultery” (Ex. 20:14). It is generally thought that adultery means one partner of a marriage having sex with a third person. This is a narrow view of the commandment, however. Jesus plainly taught us the spiritual meaning of this commandment:
The word gune can mean a wife, but it is also used many times to represent unmarried women. So notice the profound implications of Jesus declaration: He quotes the Old Testament commandment against adultery and states that it applies to lusting after a women (not just physically intercourse). And not just someone’s wife, but any woman. Now under Moses, the law against adultery applied equally to women who committed adultery against their husbands. And so, likewise, if a woman just “looks upon a man to lust after him,” she has committed adultery with him in her heart. But does this include women lusting after women, and men lusting after men?” Of course. Do we think that a man is not allowed to “lust” after a women (which can be legally married together), but it is perfectly okay for a man to “lust” after another man (which can not be legally married together)? And if you think the 7th commandment does not cover this sin, then I assure you that the 10th one does. THE 7th and 10th COMMANDMENTS BOOKEND HOMOSEXUALITY
If you think that homosexuals don’t “LUST” for sex with the same gender, then I believe there is still some cheap swampland available in Florida. THE 7th COMMANDMENT: Jesus said:
Likewise, one breaks the 7th commandment if a woman lusts after a man, or a woman lusts after a woman, or a women lusts after a little boy, or a man lusts after a man, or a man lusts after a little boy, or a little girl. If the “lust” itself BREAKS the commandment, what in the world do we think the actual “act” BREAKS? THE 10th COMMANDMENT: Paul said:
Okay then, if we can all walk and chew gum at the same time, we should not have a problem in putting these two Greek words together. Jesus said that “epithumeo-covet, desire, lust after” breaks the 7th commandment against adultery. And Paul said that the reason that “epithumia-a longing for what is forbidden, concupiscence {a strong sexual lust}, desire, and lust” is wrong is because the 10th commandment states “You shall not covet“–“epithumeo, covet, desire, lust after.” But wait, there’s more. The 10th commandment goes on to say:
Now then, let me spell it out for you: Believers in Christ Jesus are NOT to covet [epithumeo-“covet, desire, lust after”] his neighbor’s: WIFE-neither men nor women are to covet one’s neighbor’s wife. MANSERVANT-neither men nor women are to covet their neighbor’s manservant, whether they be 9 years old or 29 years old. MAIDSERVANT-neither men nor women are to covet one’s neighbor’s maidservant, whether they are 9 years old or 29 years old. OX OR ASS-neither men nor women are to covet one’s neighbor’s ox or ass whether for production of meat or to have sex with them. The teaching of the Old Testament, the New Testament, the 7th commandment, the 10th commandment, the teachings of the Apostle Paul, and our Lord Jesus Christ, all condemn homosexuality as SIN. This subject is completely book-ended-there is no wiggle room left for justifying the practice of homosexuality in any form. Does the Bible speak of “illegal sex” and “legal sex?” Yes, it does: GOD’S REMEDY FOR SEXUAL GRATIFICATION How are we to be sexually gratified? Here’s the Scriptural teaching.
So what would the homosexual say to this? Well at least some of them would totally agree. Why do you think that they are trying to get same-sex marriage legalized? Yes, they would agree with Paul-let’s get MARRIED. Back up a few verses for God’s answer as to who should be married to whom:
Paul gives only one answer to the problem of fornication, and it is for each man to have his wife and each woman to have her own husband. Does anyone see Paul suggesting an “alternative life style” in which fornication can be avoided? Does Paul suggest that porneia can be avoided by every man having his own husband, and every woman her own wife? Paul knew about “women with women and men with men” when he wrote his epistle to the Romans (Rom. 1:26-27). Such unions against nature are clearly not acceptable solutions to burning with inflamed sexual emotions, and a way to “avoid fornication/porneia.” Peter warns against being willingly ignorant, and Paul sternly warns against “Believers” who “willfully sin?”
Paul could not have been more clear. To avoid the sin of porneia, we are to [1] MARRY, [2] MEN marry a WIFE, and [3] WOMEN marry a HUSBAND. Men marrying men and women marrying women are not legal options. Men and women who have vile affections, and BURN in their lust, women with women and men with men… are worthy of DEATH (Rom. 1:26-27 & 32). How many homosexuals would dare insinuate that their passion for one another of the same gender is not “coveting/lust?” Are Believers to think that they can continue living in such sin and somehow be covered by the “the grace of God?” Long after Christ’s resurrection and the introduction of faith, grace, and justification, Paul is still teaching that such burning affections for the same sex are VILE, and worthy of DEATH. And if you can’t contain, then get married-MEN TO WIVES AND WOMEN TO HUSBANDS. Does anyone in their right mind believe that Paul would tell us: “To avoid sexual perversion, you should enter into a union of sexual perversion?”
The ONLY way to avoid the sins of porneia if one cannot contain one’s inflamed desires, is to marry a mate of the opposite sex. When our Creator God Almighty inaugurated holy matrimony, He joined together Adam and Eve, not Kevin & Steve or Alice & Marie! I know that some homosexuals are arrogant and try to justify their sin. Others hate their sin and wish to stop but can’t. We all make choices, and a choice is what we prefer. One may hate the fact that he is a smoker, yet, he “prefers” the feeling he gets from smoking over the feeling he doesn’t get when he runs out of cigarettes or tries to quit. To quit you must have a stronger reason for not doing something than you have for doing something. It’s all about motivation. Sometimes just knowing that something is a sin is reason to quit. That is why I quit smoking. I knew it was not good for my health, it was dirty, it was annoying to others, and it was costly, etc. But I did not quit until I became convinced that is was sinning against God. I enjoyed smoking a LOT when I quit. But sometimes it takes a doctor telling you that you will die if you don’t quit a particular life style. But the bottom line is, you won’t stop committing the sin unless and until God Almighty has determined that you will quit. And that is equally true for atheists, although they don’t know or won’t acknowledge that as yet. Heterosexual men are just as weak when it comes to lusting after women, as homosexuals are when it comes to lusting after members of the same gender. The ONLY way that I know of to break these sins and have victory over them is for God to empower you with a greater motivation to live righteously than to live un-righteously. If what you desire to be is “good,” then there is only One Source:
We will continue to pray for all those who desire to come out of the bondage and slavery of “…the sin which does so easily beset us….” (Heb. 12:1).
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