Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: April 12, 2009
WHAT GOD TEACHES ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY
Christians acknowledge, accept and agree with what God teaches on any subject. If you love God you will
obey His will. First John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” Philippians 2:5
teaches us to have the mind of Christ in all things. If we are honest, whether we agree with God or not, we
will acknowledge what He says. Most of the world rejects so much of God’s will. Many will even refuse to
agree that God has taught on certain themes, therefore, they will ignore, deny and defy His will. Preferring
to accommodate sin, rather than avoid sin or seek forgiveness of sin, many try to prove that sin is not sinful.
The information that our subject suggests is so clear that we need not belabor it in order to learn the
correct conclusion. Even though it is a “hot topic” in society, which is evidence of man’s rebellion against
God, there is no doubt what God has taught on homosexuality.
AT THE CREATION
God created male and female. The marriage was composed of a man and a woman. He created Adam and Eve,
not Ellen and Ann, or Phil and Will. From the beginning we know what is the intention and plan of God.
SODOM AND GOMORRAH
From Genesis thirteen, can there be any doubt about God’s anger toward this sin? After the separation of
Abraham from Lot, Lot chose to pitch his tent toward Sodom. This was before the Lord decided to destroy the
place. When the Lord proposed the destruction, Abraham bargained and negotiated with the Lord to preserve
the city for Lot’s sake. Beginning with fifty, Abraham finally asked if he could find ten righteous men in the
city, would God spare it. God said He would. But evidently there were not even that many righteous men in
Sodom.
Lot was warned by angels what was coming. The angels were set upon by a homosexual mob, and the angels
smote the mob with blindness. Would you like to have lived in that neighborhood?
The sin of sodomy (sexual relations between men) gets its name from this wicked and abominable city. GOD
DESTROYED THOSE PEOPLE. Homosexuality is one form of fornication. Can there be any question in the
mind of any honest person of God’s displeasure toward those who commit such things?
UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES
We can only appeal to the honest. Leviticus 18:22, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it
is abomination.” Deuteronomy 23:17, “There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of
the sons of Israel.” Judges 19:22, in that period of Israel’s history when every man did that which was right
in his own eyes, “Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of
Belial, beset the household round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the
old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.” Again, how would
like to have lived there? While not “politically correct” and not fitting according to some “thinking” and moral
levels, even among government and social leaders, can there be any doubt as to the mind of Deity regarding
this sinful conduct?
THE NEW TESTAMENT
Be opened minded enough to open the Bible and read Romans 1:20-25. See what those of whom this chapter
speaks actually did. See how they acted. Notice what they thought. Do not omit observing what happened to
them. They refused to have God, hated God, and were damned in judgment. We are not making sinful
judgments when we condemn homosexuality. It is not self-righteousness that proclaims homosexuality to
be abominable. One who sets his judgments above what God has declared to be sinful is so far out of line
that we wonder if there is any hope left for him anywhere. Certainly not as he is. Only those who accept
what God has taught can be right.
IS GOD TO BLAME?
Some contend homosexuals cannot help being homosexual and that this circumstance is natural with them.
They claim it results from their genes and they are not responsible. Keep in mind, God condemned it. Are
we to say that God is wrong in condemning this act? Does not God know what sin is? Is God or nature to
blame? Indeed not! Nor is there valid evidence to suggest it is a natural thing. People learn to be
homosexuals just like they learn to be alcoholics. Homosexuality is not a disease like cancer or pneumonia.
Everything is called a disease today and nobody is really accountable for their misbehavior. But this sinful
behavior is not just another physical disease.
Let us grant for a moment that being a homosexual is beyond one’s ability to help. This is a circumstance
we forcefully deny. God still prohibits the practice. One may feel inclined to be a whoremonger, but God still
condemns the whoremonger. There is no excuse the “modern experts” can raise to justify what God has said
is sinful. If only men did not think they were smarter than God we would not have so many so confused.
Those guilty of this sexual perversion were not “born that way.” This problem is acquired and there are many
contributing factors. It can be corrected also.
NOT LACK OF COMPASSION
Whenever sin is condemned, those who are permissive like to accuse others of lacking in compassion.
Jesus condemned sin. Did He lack compassion? The condemnation of that which is destructive to a person
is an act of love and concern. Look at the havoc this abomination has already wrought against society in our
time. How often are those who are suffering from Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases asked, “Was
it worth it? Do you recommend it to others in view of its consequences?”
The term “gay” is such a misnomer. If there are any people on earth who are not gay, as in happy, it is the
homosexual and lesbian. They compose a sinful group of people and it is so sad for them and others.
CAN THEY BE SAVED?
Can the homosexual or lesbian be saved? They cannot while remaining in their sin. But they, like every
other sinner, can be saved and their sin forgiven if they conform to the will of the Savior. There is no sin too
hideous that God cannot forgive provided His terms are met. But one cannot continue in sin (Rom. 6:1,2)
and expect to be saved. A thief cannot continue stealing, and an adulterer must forsake his adultery, just
like the liar must stop lying. The sexual pervert must leave that sin.
Many have done this very thing, which is additional evidence that being a homosexual is not something one
cannot overcome. There were some in Corinth that stopped this sort of thing (1 Cor. 6:11). Notice what they
WERE, but did not remain that way.
The way of forgiveness for the homosexual is the same as for other sinners. He must believe that Jesus is
the Christ the Son of God, repent of his sins, confess his faith in Christ, and be baptized into Christ for the
remission of his sins. It is then that the blood of Christ cleanses his soul. He is made as white as snow; a
new creature. Then he is to live life as a faithful Christian.
IT MATTERS NOT WHAT OTHERS SAY
It really does not matter what anybody else says once God has spoken. While many try to excuse this sin
and lessen the ugliness of it, it does not matter what they say. They may say it is just a different lifestyle.
It is that, all right. But IT IS WRONG. Churches may even accept homosexuals as they are without change
in behavior, but IT IS WRONG. Psychologists may try to excuse it and place the blame somewhere else, but
IT IS WRONG. Politicians may clamor for their votes and lower the moral levels of the nation for their own
gain, but IT IS WRONG. Entertainers may do it and athletes may “come out of the closet,” but IT IS
WRONG. Scientists may explain it away, but IT IS WRONG. Feminists may condone it and masses and
mobs may display their corruption and defiance of things moral and decent in rallies and parades, but IT IS
WRONG. There may be advocates of this evil in the halls of government, but IT IS WRONG. Laws may be
passed or repealed that would allow it, but IT IS WRONG.
There is no way to make evil into righteousness. Evil must be ceased and forgiven. The will of the Lord is
without question. Even though many do not accept His will regarding homosexuality, IT IS WRONG. IT WILL
ALWAYS BE WRONG!
That being true, there is no doubt where we must stand regarding it regardless of who may be condemned
because of it. The Lord’s people love what God loves and hates what God hates. He hates every false way.
Read your Bible and you will see that God’s will about this is clear, concise and will never change. We must
be sure we stand with God even if our nation becomes a continent of cities like Sodom.
—James Boyd, 2004 — via “Seek The Old Paths,” Oct., 2004