Alternate Life Style or Sin?

 

          Is homosexuality just an alternate lifestyle or is it sin?  Homosexuals have received much positive publicity. This has led to social acceptance and even to same sex marriages. However, remember, many things which are gladly accepted by man are abhorred by God.  Even though the morals of our nation are so low that homosexuality is an acceptable way of life for many it is still an abomination to God. We might also do well to remember that not nearly as many people as the liberal media would have us to believe are homosexual. Estimates of homosexuality in the USA range from 1-3 % -- 1.8% of men and 2.8% of women consider themselves bisexual.

 

          Remember Sodom and Gomorrah: Genesis 19 pictures Sodom's depravity and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as God rained fire and brimstone upon them. These cities were destroyed for wickedness and one of the wicked things they were guilty of was men lusting after men. "But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord." (Genesis 13:13) The sin of homosexuality still bears the name of this wicked place. It is called sodomy. Homosexuality is both unnatural and unclean. Those who practice such set themselves up for eternal destruction. "As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 7)

 

          Remember the Gentiles: Paul wrote, "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." (Romans 1:26-27) God referred to their homosexual acts as "uncleanness and vile or evil affections." One cannot be given over to a greater slavery than his own lust. "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fullgrown, brings forth death." (James 1:14-15) Through lust which produces homosexuality God is dishonored and the person practicing such is also dishonored.

 

          God loves homosexuals, but He hates their homosexuality.  Homosexuals can be saved; but in order to go to heaven they must repent of their sin and turn in humble and complete obedience to God's will. If one chooses to continue in homosexuality he will spend eternity separated from God. "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." (Leviticus 18:22)

    

          Will you accept God's wonderful good news that Jesus died for your sins? Will you be baptized into Christ to put on Christ so that your sins can be forgiven by His blood? "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27) Believers contact Christ's saving blood by being baptized into His death. Those that become children of God have reason to rejoice. (Acts 8:39) Rejoicing follows man's response to God's good news of forgiveness by the death of Jesus.

 

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA