By Keith Watson
Recently Colorado residents voted on “Amendment two” which was defeated by a “yes” vote, if that makes any sense. It was designed to keep from discriminating against “gays.” Because the amendment was voted down the “gays” are in an uproar and threatening to leave Colorado. Sounds to me like they have a guilty conscience. The real questions are, “What is going to happen to our nation?” and “Is homosexuality wrong in God’s eyes?”
Through the centuries God has used many nations to accomplish his will. Such was the case with Assyria, when the northern kingdom of Israel became so wicked. Assyria conquered Israel in 721 B.C. God used Babylon to conquer Assyria and Judah when their wickedness became so great. Among the afore mentioned nations, lying, stealing, bribery, murder, adultery, divorce and homosexuality, are just some wickedness that was rampant.
David wrote these words through the Spirit, “The wicked shall be turned back unto Sheol, Even all the nations that forget God” (Psa.9:17). Solomon had warned humanity of the consequences of such wickedness, many years before the fall of the different nations. “Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34).
In our nation today we see many such like sins. It should cause one to stop and think. How long will God allow those of the United States to continue to mock him? God allows the iniquity of a nation to rise to its fill, then he brings it down (Gen. 15:16). How much more will it take before God allows the United States to be taken over?
Among the previously mentioned sins, perhaps none is more disgusting to God or man than that of homosexuality. God destroyed two cities in the plains of the Jordan (Gen.13:10), called Sodom and Gomorrah, because their wickedness was so great (Gen.13:13). Our English word, “sodomy” is a derivative of the word “Sodom,” for the cities were full of the sins of sodomy.
To gain a full appreciation, the reader is urged to read Genesis 19:1-25. These cities were filled with homosexuality and many other sins were committed within their borders. Note the language of Genesis 19:4-5. “But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; and they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men that came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them.” Notice the language, “that we may know them.” It had been used earlier to describe sexual relations in Genesis 4:1. “And the man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain.” As the result of sin the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed; only Lot and his two daughters were saved.
All this occurred well before the giving of the law on Sinai (Exod. 20). Did God’s attitude change toward homosexuality after the giving of the law? If the reader will turn to Leviticus 18:22,29, he will note that God’s attitude did not change. God condemns homosexuality and gives the consequence for such in Leviticus 20:13, “And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
What about today under the New Testament, has God’s attitude changed? God describes the Gentiles’ attitude toward morality in Romans 1:24-32. Notice verses 26 and 27, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.” Paul says that what they were doing was against nature itself. He goes on to say that, “they that practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practice them” (1:32). If homosexuality is natural, then why are not the animals practicing such? It is not natural! It is against nature and more important it is against God. Homosexuality is not a disease or an abnormality of the brain. It is learned behavior, much like lying, stealing, fornication, etc. Those that learn and practice such, must stop. It is also condemned in 1 Corinthians 6:9, “Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men.” They will not inherit the kingdom in this life or the next, unless they bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. God loves the person that is involved in homosexuality. He hates homosexuality! It is an abomination before God.
God condemns homosexuality from the beginning of the Bible to the end. But it is not popular to talk about what “God wants” today. For man is too busy doing only what “he wants.” What will it take to cause people to wake up to the fact that God rules in the nations of men (Dan. 4:25,32)?
God will not be mocked! Paul writes in Galatians 6:7-8, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.” Must we be made the fool before we learn the all important lesson, God is over all (Eph.4:6).
We will all stand before him and give account (Rom. 14:11-12; 2 Cor. 5:10), whether in this life by turning (repenting) and accepting his terms, or in the next. May our God and Father help us to reach the lost and the lost to turn to him through his Son.
Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 4, p. 16-17
February 18, 1993