Good and law abiding people in this country are being confronted by a "movement" (the "gay movement") that insists on making homosexuality legal and socially acceptable. Will you stand back and allow this to happen, without uttering a word? You will if your view differs from God's view. The purpose of this article is to show God's strict law concerning homosexuality and to encourage you, the reader, to share in the same view as his, if you don't already. "So speak and so do, as those who will be judged by the law of liberty" (Jas. 2:12).

From the beginning of time, mankind has always "balked" at following God's way. For example, before God destroyed the wickedness of the world by flood during the days of Noah, his word tells us, "Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually

.. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth" (Gen. 6:5,12). Some men seem to think they have a better way than God's, and under the influence of Satan, manage to turn other people around to their way of thinking. God tells us, "`For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:8,9). Also the Bible says, "0 Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself,. It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jer. 10:23). It is evident that the ways of God are far superior to the ways of man.

Today, "the gay community" is attempting to tell us that homosexuality is an "alternate lifestyle" chosen with God's approval. Without a doubt, those who advocate such an idea are either without knowledge of God's teaching or simply rejecting God's teaching on the subject.

God views homosexuality as a violation of natural law and a violation of his law. Until recently, homosexuality was a violation of the law in various states of our country. When people refuse God's will for the sake of their own way, he "gives them up." From his word, we find (50-60 A.D.), "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. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting . . . who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve ("con-sent"  ASV) of those who practice them" (Rom. 1:26-28,32). The bottom line is that God views homosexuality as sin. Please read further as to what God's word continues to say concerning this matter:

When Lot (1898 B.C.) entertained the messengers of the Lord in his home in Sodom, the men of the town said, "Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally" (Gen. 19:5). Lot offered his virgin daughters to them, but they wanted the men (vv. 8-9). From the city of Sodom comes the word "sodomy." Sodomy is defined: "Unnatural sexual relations, especially between male persons or between a human being and an animal" (definition from The Reader's Digest Great Encyclopedia Dictionary). As homosexuality then was an abomination (detestable) unto God, so it has ever been.

In God's law to Israel (1450 B.C.) it was written, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. Nor shall you mate with any beast, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before a breast to mate with it. It is perversion. Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you" (Lev. 18:22-24). In Leviticus 20:13, "If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them."

The aforementioned passages from God's word, the Bible, reveal his attitude toward homosexuality. Some may have you believe that God feels and looks at things differently today, or that his word just doesn't apply to the changing and modern times in which we live. That's the way Satan would have men believe, but notice again from Divine Scripture: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16,17). And, "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever" (1 Pet. 1:24-25).

Can people change from such a lifestyle? They most certainly can! There were Christians in the church at Corinth during the first century (50-60 A.D.) who had departed from such sinful conduct. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:9-11). It is as sinful to practice homosexuality as it is to practice stealing, etc. Notice the doom in store for those who choose to continue living such sinful lives: "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8).

Now that God's view and attitude regarding homosexuality can clearly be seen from his word, what will your view and attitude be? Hopefully, the same as God's! If not, it can be. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). God proved his love for all sinners by giving His Son Jesus on Calvary's cross. "For God so loved the word that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (Jn. 3:16). "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us" (I Jn. 3:16). It is God's desire that men believe, repent and become obedient to his will in order to be forgiven.

(This article was prepared in tract form by Tim Stevens, local evangelist for the Church of Christ in Belen, NM. This tract is being distributed door to door in a personal work effort designed to make people aware of the stand taken by the church and to offer Bible studies to them. Brother Stevens has given other brethren permission to reproduce and use this material.)

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 12, p. 8-9
June 17, 1993