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The Growing Acceptance of
Homosexuality
Andy Sochor
It was not that long ago in our society that homosexuality was a
shameful practice that was mostly kept secret so that others would
not know about it. Times have certainly changed. We’ve seen the
transition from secrecy and shame to those who practice it parading
and protesting in the streets, demanding that society recognize and
accept same-sex marriages.
As we consider this practice, and the growing acceptance of it, it
is important to be reminded of what the Bible teaches. In this
article we will look at what has happened when homosexuality was
widely practiced and/or accepted, as well as what the Bible has to
say about the practice itself.
What We Should Expect as Acceptance Grows?
There are two times in the Bible where there was a broad acceptance
of homosexuality and/or a high percentage of the population who
practiced it -- Sodom in Genesis 19 and Gibeah in Judges 19. For the
sake of space, I will not reproduce the full texts here, but instead
will provide a summary. But I encourage you to read those accounts
in their entirety.
In Genesis 19, two angels came to Sodom. Lot, a righteous man (cf. 2
Peter 2:7), invited these angels (who came in the form of men) into
his home. Later that night, the men of the city surrounded Lot’s
house and demanded that Lot send out the two men so that they might
“have [sexual] relations with them,” possibly rape them. Lot
refused, instead offering his two daughters. The crowd would not
accept them and instead became angry with Lot for “acting like a
judge” over them. The angels rescued Lot from them, then told him of
the coming destruction and warned Lot and his family to flee. After
escaping, God destroyed the city.
The account in Judges 19 has several similarities with the record of
Sodom. A Levite was traveling with his concubine and came to Gibeah,
a city of the tribe of Benjamin. Having no place to stay, an old man
invited them to his house for the night. That night, “certain
worthless fellows” came and demanded the old man
deliver the Levite to them, that they might “have relations with
him.” Like Lot, this man refused and offered instead his daughter
and the Levite’s concubine. The men outside would not listen. For
some reason (why, we’re not told), the Levite sent out his concubine
to the men. They proceeded to violently rape her throughout the
night, so severely that she was dead in the morning. The Levite then
issued a call to the other tribes to deal with this atrocity. The
next chapter describes how the tribes came together, “united as one
man,” demanding that the tribe of Benjamin deliver the men guilty of
this crime. Benjamin refused, a civil war broke out, and the tribe
of Benjamin was all but wiped out.
As I said, there are many similarities in these accounts. One
notable difference seems to be in the percentage of people engaged
in this practice. Of course, numbers aren’t given. But the
implication is
there that there was a higher concentration of those who practiced
homosexuality in Sodom than in Gibeah. In Sodom, it was “all the
people from every quarter” (Genesis 19:4). In Gibeah, it was
“certain worthless fellows.” But even if we could say that there
were fewer in Gibeah who practiced this, we still know that it was
widely accepted. We know that because the tribe of Benjamin, which
included 26,000 men ready for battle (Judges 20:15), defended these
men. Both of these accounts show situations in which homosexuality
is widely accepted.
As we look at these accounts, what should we expect in our society
as acceptance grows?
They will become more demanding.
As the practice becomes more accepted and homosexuals do not have to
fear, they will become more demanding. In Sodom and in Gibeah, the
men there demanded that the strangers be handed over to them so they
could have sexual relations with them (Genesis 19:5; Judges 19:22).
In our society, homosexuals are demanding that everyone recognize
and accept their lifestyle. Not quite as severe maybe as the demands
in Sodom and Gibeah, but perhaps a step towards that. Who is to say
what the next demand would be?
They will become more intolerant.
With many calling for tolerance towards homosexuals, intolerance
grows among them. They are intolerant of those who refuse to believe
that their practice is acceptable and moral. They will not tolerate
others “judging” them.
This was the problem Lot encountered. He pleaded with the men of the
city to not do what they had planned to do. They refused to tolerate
Lot “acting like a judge” over them and turned against him (Genesis
19:7-9). This is common nature for many people. They tolerate the
viewpoints of others unless the other believes they are doing
something wrong. This will get worse as more people accept the
practice.
They will become violent.
Thankfully, we have not seen much of this in our country. But I fear
it is coming, especially in certain places. When their growing
demands are not met, and as their intolerance builds, they will
eventually become violent. This happened in Sodom when the men tried
to harm Lot (Genesis 19:9). It happened in Gibeah when the men
violently raped and killed the Levite’s concubine (Judges 19:25-27).
This is where we are heading when society accepts the practice of
homosexuality.
What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality?
Seeing then what we can expect when homosexuality is widely
practiced and/or accepted, let us also be reminded about what the
Bible has to say about the practice itself.
It is a chosen practice.
Paul told the Corinthians of certain people who “will not inherit
the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9). One of the practices he
lists is homosexuality. Immediately following this list, Paul
writes, “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). Some of
the Christians in Corinth had a background in homosexuality. But
since coming to Christ, they gave up the practice. That was the
choice they made. Many say that homosexuals are born that way. This
has never been proven, but it is still affirmed. However, it cannot
be true that certain people are born homosexuals, unable to decide
how they will behave sexually.
First, we saw that there were Christians in Corinth who were former
homosexuals. Second, homosexuality is a sin (more on this in the
next point). Third, “God is not one to show partiality” (Acts
10:34). If homosexuality is a sin and people are born this way and
cannot change, then God has made it so that certain people cannot be
saved. He would be guilty of showing partiality. This cannot be
true. God is just and impartial. We choose how we will act.
It is a sinful practice.
This is why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. The Lord even told
Abraham, before the angels visited Sodom, that He planned to destroy
them because “their sin is exceedingly grave” (Genesis 18:20). Some
have suggested that God did not destroy Sodom for the sin of
homosexuality (which they believe is not a sin), but because they
were inhospitable and wanting to do harm to the visitors to their
city. Jude gives us the reason why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed
-- “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since
they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went
after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the
punishment of eternal fire” (Jude 7). Notice there is no mention of
a lack of hospitality or love for travelers. Their sin was in going
after strange flesh and indulging
in gross immorality. The sin that led God to destroy them was
homosexuality.
Later, the Law of Moses defined homosexuality as sin (Leviticus
18:22; 20:13). Lot and the old man of Gibeah, one living before the
Law and the other living during the time of the Law, both recognized
homosexuality as being a wicked activity (Genesis 19:7; Judges
19:23). This practice is also condemned in the New Testament (Romans
1:26-27,32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 2:9-10).
One may wonder why I point out that homosexuality was called sinful
under the Old Law. After all, we’re not living under that Law
anymore (Colossians 2:14), and the passages in the New Testament are
sufficient to show the sinfulness of the practice. This is true. But
looking at the Old Testament passages shows us a pattern. This
behavior was never accepted by God. There was never a time where God
looked favorably, or even apathetically, toward the practice.
Homosexuality puts one in a worse condition. By saying that, I do
not mean that unrepentant homosexuals will suffer a worse punishment
than those who practice other sins. All sins are equal when it comes
to punishment and separation from God (James 2:10). But certain sins
can reflect a worse condition for the sinner. We can see an example
of this by comparing Peter and Judas. Both Peter and Judas sinned
during the time leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. Peter denied that
he knew Jesus. Judas betrayed Jesus and turned Him over to be
crucified. Peter was willing to die with Jesus (Matthew 26:35). But
when the situation got difficult, he was weak and denied the Lord
(Matthew 26:69-75). Judas’ sin was premeditated. He plotted with the
chief priests to deliver Jesus to them (Matthew 26:14-16). He
planned to betray Christ, even as he ate with Him (John 13:26-30).
He led the mob to Jesus so they could arrest Him, indicating to them
the sign to identify the one to arrest (Matthew 26:47-50). Both men
sinned. But Judas’ sin indicated that he was in a worse condition, a
condition from which it would be difficult to return.
Homosexuality is one sin that represents a worse condition. Paul
explains this to the Romans. He spoke of those who refused to honor
God (v. 21). As a result, they became arrogant, thinking they did
not need God. “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and
exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the
form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and
crawling creatures” (v. 22-23). By rejecting God, “they exchanged
the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature
rather than the Creator” (v. 25). Where does this mind set lead --
this attitude that one does not need God, will not honor God, and
instead will invent their own “god” to serve? Paul goes on: “For
this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their
women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of
the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with
men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the
due penalty of their error” (v. 26-27). Paul affirms that the
practice of homosexuality indicates a complete rejection of God and
His way.
Some may argue with that conclusion, even citing homosexuals in
“Christian” denominations. But the ones Paul spoke of were religious
(v. 24). They were just serving a different god. In the same way
today, there are homosexuals who are religious, even those who claim
to be Christians, but the God that they serve is one of their own
invention. They serve a god who accepts their practice. This passage
reminds us that it is not natural for one to practice homosexuality
(v. 26-27). It is completely contrary to the way God made us. This
could provide a possible explanation for why both Lot and the old
man in Gibeah offered innocent women to the perverted mobs rather
than give them the men they wanted (Genesis 19:8; Judges 19:24). In
their minds, it would be worse to practice homosexuality than for
these men to commit fornication with the women.
Again, sin is sin. Both are wrong. But the implication is that it is
natural to think of homosexuality as being worse. In a way it is --
it indicates a condition of man in which he has completely rejected
God and His way, therefore making it more difficult for one to
repent and come back to God.
Those who practice homosexuality can be saved. We can see from the
word of God that homosexuality is a sin, and a sin that is difficult
for one to give up. But is it still possible for one who practices
this to be saved. Paul told the Corinthians that “the unrighteous
will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9). He then
lists specific sins that will keep one from inheriting the kingdom.
One of these sins is homosexuality. But Paul goes on to say, “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). Some of the Christians in
Corinth were former homosexuals. While it is a sin that is difficult
for one to give up, it is possible for one to do so. So those who
practice homosexuality can be saved, but they must first give up
their sin. Repentance is necessary. So they are not without hope.
But it will depend on what they choose to do.
Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner
There is a commonly used phrase: hate the sin but love the sinner.
This phrase is not specifically stated in the Bible, but the
principle is certainly taught. “And have mercy on some, who are
doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some
have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh”
(Jude 22-23). We are to hate the thing which defiles a man -- sin.
But we are to be loving and merciful toward those who practice sin.
We are to hate the sin of homosexuality. But we are still to love
those who practice it. We should not treat these people any worse
than others. Jesus died for them, just as He did for us (John 3:16).
Salvation is open to them, just as it is to all (Titus 2:11).
Some will single out homosexuals and specifically target them for
ridicule or even physical harm. Christians must have no part in
this. We are to be good to all, showing a Christ-like example, and
looking for opportunities to reach others with the gospel. ~
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