Homosexuality

This first appeared in the January, 1978 edition of The Christian Courier. I doubt when Wayne Jackson wrote it that he could ever imagine that the issue of "gay rights" would have made as much progress as it has. Writings like this are needed now more than ever. The East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California published this. Wayne Jackson was the editor.

When a person refuses to acknowledge the existence of God, or repudiates the sacred Scriptures as a guide for moral conduct, it is entirely predictable that his lifestyle will be to some degree at least, of a baser variety. Perhaps, however the most nauseating phenomenon of our day is the growing attempt to parade sexual perversion under the guise of "Christianity." In recent times a rash of "Gay Community Churches" have been organized in various U. S. cities. These groups are claiming (and their theology is as perverted as their immorality) that the Bible is much misunderstood on the issue of homosexuality and does not in fact, condemn such acts per se. In this series of articles on this theme, some of the positions being advocated will be examined.

The Sin of Sodom - The name Sodom lives in the infamy of history. So well known is the Biblical narrative concerning the sexual perversity of the men of Sodom, that the term "Sodomite" has across the centuries, become synonymous with homosexual. How shocking therefore, was the recent "revelation" from some gay sympathizing religionists that the sin of Sodom was merely "inhospitality!" Only a perverted mind could draw such a conclusion from the clear narrative of Genesis 19. Let us briefly examine that record, along with some related passages.

When Jehovah's two messengers came to Lot's house in the city of Sodom, certain base men of the town (cf. Judges 19:22ff) surrounded the dwelling and urged Abraham's nephew to send out the visitors, "that we may know them" (Genesis 19:5). the word "know" (Hebrew yada, Greek ginosko) is sometimes employed in the Bible as a euphemism for, "to have sexual relations with" (Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Colin Brown, ed., II, p. 395; Cf. Arndt & Gingrich, Greek Lexicon, p. 160). For example, Adam, "knew Eve his wife; and she conceived" (Genesis 4:1); again, Joseph, "knew" not Mary until she had given birth to Jesus (Matthew 1:25). Clearly, the men of Sodom wanted to engage in homosexual activity with Lot's guests; and he knew their design and so urged: "I pray you my brethren, do not so WICKEDLY" (19:7). In his unjustified rashness to preserve those heavenly visitors, Lot even offered his two daughters, who had, "not known man" (19:8) as substitutes but not even this would dissuade the perverted Sodomites.

The Men of Sodom - Those homosexuals are repeatedly characterized as "wicked" and their sin is said to be "very grievous" (Genesis 18:20ff). Isaiah denounced those who, "declare their sin as Sodom and hide it not" (Isaiah 3:9). Other prophets likewise alluded to the iniquity of Sodom (cf. Ezekiel 16:49). In the New Testament the inspired Peter affirmed that God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes and, "condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;" yet righteous Lot, who was, "oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked" and daily vexed with their, "lawless deeds" was delivered (II Peter 2:6-8).

Finally, Jude explicitly declares that Sodom and Gomorrah, along with their neighboring communities had, "given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh" (Jude 7). "Fornication" here is the Greek word ekporneuo (the prefix ek strengthens porneuo and implies excessive indulgence). Homosexuality is a form of fornication! The men of Sodom were guilty of it and accordingly were destroyed. No practicing fornicator can enter Heaven (Revelation 22:15). Let those who would excuse such conduct take warning.