Homosexuality Part 2

Homosexuality Is A Sin - Did God Say?

I grew up as a catholic and the teachings back then was homosexuality was indeed a sin. So even though I have felt that I am different I have struggled and fight not to become one or at least hide it. Then some of the churches in other countries have accepted same sex marriage; this somehow is one of the factors why I had given up to it 6 years ago. Because a lot of people are practicing homosexual lifestyle, it became natural to the society that they have become more open-minded to this unnatural kind of relationship or sexual orientation. Somehow, I just let myself went with the flow even though I knew deep down inside me that it was wrong.

Traditionally the church has always considered homosexuality a sin, in fact, has reacted rather badly at times to this problem. Homosexuality was not seen as just a sin among sins but a special sin: a category all of itself, a crime against nature. The punishment included torture, humiliation and burning. Modern day punishments include HIV/AIDS for sexually immoral. There was no question whether or not homosexuality was sin; it was!

Today it seems incredible that such a homophobic church could swing so far to the other side of this issue, yet it has in many instances. Not only the church, but governmental legislation from Norway to New Zealand now favors the gay lifestyle. Where once it was a crime to engage in homosexual behavior, now it is becoming a crime to question it. Church and government have capitulated to gay demands and now defend this new "alternative" lifestyle.

Again in the traditional viewpoint, God, seeing it was not good that man should be alone made a helper suitable for him. A woman is physically created to receive the man in sexual union. Any sexual relationship other than that between a man and a woman in marriage has been viewed as a sin and a product of the Fall. The three biblical requirements for marriage are; a man and a woman, a sexual relationship, and a lifetime commitment. If only one or two of these elements are present, there is a distortion of God's plan. An example of that might be two men in a sexual relationship with a lifetime commitment or a man and a woman in a sexual relationship without commitment. For this reason many church leaders continue to see homosexuality as a sin, a result of man's fallen nature. Whatever new scientific "evidence" that may come to light can never change God's basic plan.

In Genesis 19, a sexual encounter of a man with another man is considered a wicked thing to do; when the men from Sodom insisted Lot's men visitors to have sex with them. Also it was considered unlawful in Leviticus 18:22 where it says do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman for that is detestable. The punishment for this sin is death according to Leviticus 20:13. God's wrath against mankind was revealed in the new testament under Romans 1; in verse 27 said that men abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Based on my experience I think, it was the HIV that I have acquired and its consequences.

Frank Worthen mentioned some gay theologies and rationalizations which favor the homosexuality but he concluded that God did not accept them at the time of Noah and God has not changed since then. One theology he mentioned he find difficult to accept is that it is against nature for a person to be freed from his homosexual orientation and to seek for marriage and family. The argument that homosexual orientation, for some, is natural and according to nature is completely and totally false.

One more scripture regarding homosexuality is 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Do you know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

This verse considers all sex outside of marriage is sinful. It mentioned the fornicators, those who engage in sexual relations while unmarried; adulterers, those who have sexual relations with someone other than their marriage partner, and finally, Paul speaks of those who engage in homosexual practices.

Did God say? Where have we heard these words before? Do they have a familiar ring? In Genesis 3:1 we will find Satan questioning God's directives. Satan works through deception, introducing into the church deadly heresies that oppose God's design for man. What God has made perfectly clear, Satan cast doubt upon. These three words: "Did God say?" have separated man from God; not only severing his personal relationship with God but with his fellowmen as well, bringing death and defeat. Homosexuality along with all sin, found its birth the fateful day that man accepted and believed the lies of the Enemy.

When I first read all about these things, I must admit it was new to me and probably to you as well; knowing this deeply affect my and your life in times to come. On the 13th of this month, I will be in my 4th month as a Christian. The first several weeks were really tough for me, but as the days goes by it is getting easier somehow every time I remind myself with all these scriptures. Besides, we must admit that after sex we're just deceiving ourselves that we're ok or satisfied but if we're going to dig deeper with our emotions we're actually not.

Next topic, my decision and perhaps yours too.