The issue of normalizing homosexuality has been ongoing for decades here in Maine and even appears on the front pages of newspapers at times.  A few days ago, it was the subject of all three radio news stations that I listen to on the way to work in the morning.  One was talking about the significant economic benefits of all the homosexual weddings being performed in Maine, another one was talking about women's rights as compared to transgendered men who want to use ladies bathrooms, and the third one was talking about the wording on the referendum question just released by the Secretary of State.

In the beginning, homosexual rights activists emphatically stated that they were just looking for protection from discrimination and that marriage was never their goal.  Those who have been in the battle for over two decades knew better at the time, and so here we are today with Gay Marriage, as the law in Maine.  And as we oppose the movement, we are accused of all sorts of things. Click HERE to read a blog starting on May 4th where "Ben" blasted Michael Heath, expressing sorrow for his sons and the reply from Mike's son in Iraq.

This issue has brought much debate, even in the Church.  It is an issue that the church must take a stand on - a Biblical stand.

A little review:
- More and more states are considering the sanction of homosexual marriage.
 - Gay couples are already granted the privileges of married partners when it comes to insurance coverage.
- There are laws prohibiting the discrimination of homosexuals.
- The military has a “Don’t ask - don’t tell” policy, so far.
- Christians are being labeled as “homophobics”, and criticized for their opposition to homosexuality, as being uncaring, unloving, judgmental, and hateful.  And don't  even think of quoting scripture.
- Gay-Rights parades are being promoted on city streets.
- There is a “Gay Day” at Disney World.
- It is politically incorrect to be against homosexuality, and doing so can jeopardize one’s political career.
- The Boy Scouts of America were criticized, and lost significant funding, because they refused to accept an openly homosexual Scoutmaster.
- Television programs are rampant with gay issues.  Several new programs have emerged with openly gay characters, gay makeovers, etc. They are being portrayed as normal and those who oppose them are characterized as near mental cases.
- The American Psychological Association has threatened to revoke the license of any psychologist or psychiatrist who counsels a homosexual to change his lifestyle when, previous to 1970, they classified homosexuality as a mental disorder.

Homosexuality used to be a clear-cut issue that every Christian agreed on: homosexuality is a sin. Now, it has become an issue that is dividing the church.  Years ago even non-Christians knew it was wrong.

Isaiah 5:20 – “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

The Bible speaks to the subject of homosexuality.

I. SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY

Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” God had a reason for creating us “male and female”.  When we get away from God’s created purpose for the sexuality of His creation, and pervert His intention, it becomes a sin.  God has blessed the male/female bond in marriage.

Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

1 Cor. 7:3-4 – “Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.  The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.”

It wasn’t long before mankind began to pervert God’s plan.  In Genesis Chapter 19 we find that homosexuality was rampant in Sodom and we see in verse 13 that Sodom was destroyed because of the people’s wickedness.

After Israel entered the Promised Land, some men in the tribe of Benjamin wanted to rape a man who was visiting their town (Judges 19:22-23).  Because the tribe of Benjamin defended the homosexuals, the other tribes went to war against them, and their 26,000 soldiers were slain until only 600 remained.

When evil King Rehoboam ruled Judah, the Bible says in 1 Kings 14:24: “And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.”

When Godly King Asa ruled, the Bible says - 1 Kings 15:11-12 – “And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father.  And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.”

Because God is a holy God, He instituted into His law some very plain statements regarding the sin of homosexuality:
- Leviticus 18:22 – “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination.”
- Leviticus 20:13 – “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
- Deut. 23:17 – “There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.”

God’s hatred of the sin of homosexuality hasn’t changed.  We find that the New Testament also condemns this sin:

- Romans 1:26-27 – “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.”
- 1 Tim. 1:9-11 – “Realizing the fact that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.”
- 1 Cor. 6:9 – “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals . . .”
- Jude 1:7 – “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”

II. CONSEQUENCES

God has designed marriage as being one man and one woman, in a single, long-term relationship.  Homosexual relationships are not viewed as a marriage.

Homosexuality brings with it a high price.

Reports show that:
- 74% of male homosexuals had more than 100 partners in a lifetime.
- 41% of male homosexuals had more than 500 partners in a lifetime.
- 28% of male homosexuals had more than 1000 partners in a lifetime.

Only 8% of homosexual men and 7% of lesbian women ever had a relationship that lasted more than 3 years.

A 1989 report in San Francisco showed that:
- 89% of homosexuals had used marijuana as compared to 25% of the straight population.
- 50% had used cocaine as compared to 6% of the straight population.
- 50% had used LSD as compared to 3% of the straight population.

Other reports show that:
- 30% are problem drinkers as compared to 10% of the straight population.
- 40% experience depression as compared to 3% of the straight population.
- 35% consider suicide as compared to 11% of the straight population.
- 18% attempt suicide as compared to 3% of the straight population.
- 80% have a history of sexually transmitted diseases.
- 30% are HIV infected.
- 10% have AIDS.

And they want society to treat homosexuality as an accepted and normal lifestyle!

III. QUESTIONS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY

The Gay community offers several statements:

1. “We are born this way -  we have no choice.  God made us this way - God don’t make no junk.  Why would anyone choose a lifestyle that is so controversial?  We can’t help it.”

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER THAT?

A “gay gene” has never been found.  Homosexuality is a choice.  It is true that some people have more gay tendencies than others.  Some have more of an inclination to turn to a gay lifestyle.  But it’s still their choice.  Children of alcoholics and child/wife abusers are more likely to become alcoholics and child/wife abusers themselves.  But, it’s their choice.  They are not born that way.  Environment, society, culture and values play a big part in a person turning to a homosexual lifestyle. 

2. “Christians are violating Scripture when they judge the homosexual - Matthew 7:1 even says ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged.’  Where is your Christian love & compassion?”

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER THAT?

When we evaluate the lifestyle of the homosexual, we are not judging anyone.  God has already done that.  All we can do is repeat what God has already said in His Word about homosexuality.  We don’t have to judge anyone - that is up to God, and He has made it clear what He thinks.  Consider this: when we come to a traffic light and say, “it’s red”, we are not judging the light, we are stating what we observe with our eyes.  When it turns green and we say “it is green," again we are not judging the traffic light.

IV. HOPE FOR THE HOMOSEXUAL

The gay community says that they can’t change - they are what they are.  But the Bible says:

- 1 Cor. 6:9-11 – “and such were some of you”.
- 2 Cor. 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
- Romans 12:1-2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
- Ephesians 4:22-24 – “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and  holiness of the truth.”

QUESTION: Can a person be a homosexual and be a Christian?  It depends on who you ask.

We’ve all read varied opinions on this. Most say that you can’t be homosexual and be a Christian.

Look at the sins listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.  Can a person be an alcoholic and be a Christian?  Can a person be a Christian and steal? Can a person be a Christian and commit adultery?  The qualification has to do with repentance.

Let’s take a closer look: what about the homosexual who is genuinely converted - and has given up the homosexual lifestyle but is tempted and commits the sin again.  Some would say he was never saved in the first place.  But what about the alcoholic who has been genuinely converted and falls off the wagon or the Christian who commits adultery when tempted?  Pastors will answer this question differently, depending on their particular theology.  We would all agree that it is a matter of their heart.  Are they genuinely seeking God’s help or are they just playing games.  God is the ultimate judge, not man. Most of us have a hard time with a person who says that they are a “Christian homosexual”.  We probably would also have a hard time with a person who says they are a “Christian alcoholic”, or “Christian thief”, or “Christian adulterer”.

Most of us understand that when you become a “new creature”, and “old things are passed away”, it doesn’t mean that some of the old sins won’t tempt you, and you won’t occasionally, in a moment of weakness, re-commit them.  You don’t have to, but you also won’t be perfect until you are in Glory.  This doesn’t mean that it is acceptable to commit these sins, but it also doesn’t mean that just because a person hasn’t had complete victory over every sin in their life, that they aren’t saved.

Being saved doesn’t necessarily mean that a previous sin will immediately cease or will never be repeated or that they will have immediate victory over every sin.  A converted homosexual may well struggle with this sin in his life.

But, a true Christian will not continue to deliberately practice a lifestyle of sin.  A true Christian will not deliberately and continuously violate what they know to be a commandment of God and practice a sin that they know God hates and forbids; a sin that brings shame to His name.  A true Christian will repent of their sin and seek to honor God and not flaunt a sinful lifestyle. 

Most evangelical leaders will agree that the homosexual who refuses to repent, and openly lives in the sin, and refuses to accept their lifestyle as a sin against a Holy God, is not saved.  Just like the thief, alcoholic, or adulterer who refuses to repent and lives habitually in their sin, flaunting their sin in an open lifestyle for all to see.

1 John 3:8-10 – “The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.  No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”

I John 2:6 - "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked."

V. OUR RESPONSIBILITY

We know that it is our responsibility to separate the sinner from their sin.  Scripture is clear that the sin of homosexuality is described as an abomination to God.  God hates the sin and so should we.  Jesus never tolerated sin and neither should we.

But Jesus loves the sinner and so should we.  The only thing that can help the sinner is the love of Jesus. Mark 2:17 - “And hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’"

Those who practice homosexuality are invited to enter the Kingdom of God like every other sinner, which is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  We need to be available to offer the homosexual  the power of Jesus to transform his or her life and to be set free from the power of sin.  We cannot condone the sin but we can commend them to Jesus.

During this time of signature gathering to overturn the current Gay Marriage law, let us be bold and unashamed of what we are doing because it is loving to rescue the perishing.  Let us also have a Christ-like attitude as we do the Lord’s work in our attempt to bring correction to our broken society.

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