A disturbing
broadcast today made a distinction between Paul's condemnation of homosexuality
and being lustful...stating that it was
only a condemnation of lustful relationships but not loving relationships between
two men or two women.
Several things need
to be pointed out. Firstly, there needs to be an understanding of several
things:
- The Scriptural definition and depiction of marriage.
- Cultural differences between the present time and the Biblical era and how our understanding is skewed by the present culture.
- Exactness of the meaning of different languages (being Hebrew in the OT and Greek in the NT).
- Long before the Mosaic Law was established, marriage was defined in Genesis 2:18-24, " And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Understanding this passage is key to our understanding of this entire matter. First, Adam is made in the image of God and so represents God. He is God's living analogy of Himself for the human race.
As
such, He, not wanting to be alone, creates mankind and begins to tell a sacred
Story using the pictures of their lives. Adam, as the first man is also alone.
Although there are many other living creatures, none meet his need for a
companion. So, God brings a bride out of Adam's side. This is a foreshadowing
of what God is about to do using His Creature…He is going to bring about a
companion for Himself that is compatible for Him…His Bride. So, marriage, as
defined here in Gen 2, is between a man and a woman. This pattern is repeated
throughout the Scriptures, never varying. Men, even God's men, pushed the
envelope by marrying more than one woman, but, although they were not remanded
for this, the Spiritual Bride is always spoken of as being One Bride, not many
brides.
- The Word of God is clear in the NT as well. Putting the emphasis on the idea of lust vs "love", does not change the fact that the Scripture clearly condemns men laying with men. Romans 1:26-32, " For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.". There is no such thing as a sexual, long-term relationship between men that is not condemned by the living God. He concludes that matter as a lustful situation, not as a loving situation. Let us remember the 'victim' in this scenario. The person assuming the female role…who bends over to present his body to another man, is being hurt physically. Both are subject to the diseases resulting from anal sex, but he alone is also subject to the physical pain of the encounter. Why would someone take such a position? It could be compared with any other abusive action. For whatever reason a man puts himself in such a situation, it should not be overlooked and subsequently receive the blessing of a blissfully ignorant and removed society. We don't blissfully, and ignorantly, let girls and women be subjugated by an abusive relationship if we know what is happening! Subjugation of weaker people, and hateful abuse is rampant in human history. Why do we tolerate this particular arrangement when we KNOW what the health consequences are?
Anything
and everything can be justified by using Scripture. If the intent of the heart
is to justify one's self a Scripture can certainly be found to do so. That is
why the Scripture says to rightly divide
the Word of Truth. A heart that is willing to go God's way is required to see
clearly…any other bent will skew the meaning. So, I say to every soul…are you
as willing to go right as you are to go left? Or to go up as you are to go
down? Will you insist that God's answer agree with your desires, or will you
insist only to hear what He actually has to say?
Many
will say Lord, Lord, in that Day of Judgment, citing 'godly' deeds and actions,
but He will not acknowledge them. This is the 'way of Cain'. Cain did it his
way. He knew what God required of him, but did not agree with Him. He would
have had to go to his younger brother to procure a blood sacrifice, and he
would not. So, he reasoned within himself that he would give God the best of
his produce. When God did not acknowledge his sacrifice he became extremely
angry and ultimately gave God the blood sacrifice, didn't he? You want blood,
here's Abel's blood…here ya go. That is what is revealed in the heart of those
who subtly want their own way…they justify it by any means available, and if
anyone says anything to the contrary they're gonna get real angry. Hate is
murder. Romans 1:18-25, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness; 19 because that which may be known of God is manifest in them;
for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the
creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21
because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were
thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was
darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 and
changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own
hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 who changed the
truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the
Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." Isaiah 53:6, "All we like
sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord
hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." I John 3:11-17, "11 For
this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one
another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And
wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s
righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that
we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that
loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a
murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and
we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s
good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion
from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?".
If
you feel like you were 'born that way', you are invited to be born again, not
of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible. Remember too, that we all, being
born sinners were born as thieves, liars, cheaters, whatever the case may be.
If you can use 'I was born that way' as an excuse, so can everyone else.
- Please read the Companion Bible preface in order to understand this material.
Then,
armed with a newfound understanding you did not possess before, look at Romans
the first chapter.
