In my last entry, I laid the groundwork for why I believe that God loves Homosexuals. The foundation for everything I will now articulate is the premise that the Bible is God's word, without error. Because it is God's word, not mine, and because it is without error, whatever we discover about this issue must be viewed as absolute and mandatory. In other words, if we read something in the Bible, we can't modify it or amend it because of something we really, really, really believe is more true or accurate. Could you imagine taking the Law of Physics and saying "well, I really don't think gravity is accurate, so I'm going to amend my belief of it's principles, and act accordingly. Very quickly you'd be flatter than a pancake! The same God who set the absolute laws of physics in place also set the moral code, and it can be just as disastrous to violate the moral code as it is to violate the laws of physics.
So, let's see if God really does love homosexuals. In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, and in chapter one and verse 27, we already see God's intended order for society. It says "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Here we see that God created humans as both male and female. And because God is neither male or female, equal value was placed on the creation of both male and female. But, there's also another implication here. We can surmise that God had a purpose for creating both male and female. And in the very next verse, verse 28, God gives us the reason for making man both male and female. It says: "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." From this verse we can easily see that God's purpose in making both male and female is first, to provide a way to replenish the population. I really don't have to go any further in stating the case that the purpose for the differences in sexuality are for the purpose of propagating the species. And finally, as to whether God loves people, we read in verse 31: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." God who created everything that is, saw what he had created and was pleased. That's another way of saying that he loves what he created. Now, here's where the issue begins to surface. Having created man in His image means that God gave us the free will to either love and obey Him, or not. No one has to love God. And certainly, no one has to obey God. But, there can be no mistake in the reasoning of God's creation of male and female. Well then; what happened? Simply put, man chose not to love God or obey Him. Over the next few chapters of Genesis, we see mankind begin to disobey God, resulting in a number of firsts. Murder entered the world. Drunkenness entered the world. Worship of false Gods occured, and along the way, homosexual behavior arose. In Chapters 18 and 19, God pronounces judgement on a city named Sodom, because of the homosexual behavior going on in the city. That is where we get the term "sodomy". In chapter 18, two angels show up at Abraham's door and tell him that this behavior is detestable to God, and has brought about the complete destruction of the city of Sodom.
So, to conclude this entry, we have learned several things. First, God's original plan was for male and female to have sex and populate the earth. We also learned that because God doesn't make us love Him or obey Him, mankind disobeyed and fell into all kinds of bad behavior, including murder, and immorality. And we've also seen that one immoral behavior that God took exception to was the act of homosexuality, or sodomy. In my next post I'll begin to develop the position that God has about those who engage in homosexuality. Thanks for reading. WHY NOT POST A COMMENT?
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2 comments:
If a person identifies him/herself as a "homosexual", but does not engage in the sexual practices associated with that lifestyle, are they still a homosexual?
Thanks for responding. It's both a very good question, and a very common dilemma. If a person identifies himself or herself as a homosexual, then I would guess he or she is a homosexual. However, the sin associated with homosexuality is the act, whether done in our minds or in our bodies. I am by nature, selfish. But if I refrain from selfishness, then I'm not sinning. I may struggle with being tempted to commit murder, but if I don't commit murder, then even though I'm imperfect, I'm not a murderer. If someone struggles with the idea of being a homosexual, but practices celebacy, then they are not guilty of the sin of homosexuality. God's word says in James 1:13 - 15 tells us: "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." From these verses we see that temtation in and of itself is not a sin. But, as these verses also tell us, if we continue to entertain the temptation, it does lead to sin. I hope this helps. Thanks again for your thoughful response and stay in touch.
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