Coming Out

Why Discuss Homosexuality? It is an issue that the Church has been silent on for too long. The President has publically declared his “evolving” views on the matter. The world does not know how to “respectfully disagree”. It affects most of us, if not all. 1 Peter 3:15 ~ But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

7 Major Passages Gen. 19:5 ~ They (all the men) called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” – Secularist: Condemns anal raping of strangers for the purpose of humiliation. – Rel. Cons: Condemns same sex sexual-relations. Lev. 18:22 ~ Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable. – Secularist: Condemns gay ritual sex in a Pagan temple ( תּוֹעֵבָה, unclean in a ritual food sense). – Rel. Cons: Condemns same sex sexual-relations.

Lev. 20:13 ~ If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. – Secularist: Condemns gay ritual sex in temple as well as not conforming to God’s Justice by condemning the “rapee”. – Rel. Cons: Condemns same sex sexual-relations. 1 Cor. 6:9-10 ~ Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor the drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. – Secularist: Male child molesters and those children will go to hell (ἀρσενοκοίτης or homosexual) vs. (μαλακός or boy kept for homosexual relations with a man) – Rel. Cons: Sexual active homosexuals will answer for sin (just like any other) and Christ has the power to gain victory over such sins.

1 Tim 1:9-11 ~ We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels…for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers – and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. – Secularist: Refers only to child molestors (ἀρσενοκοίτης or homosexual) vs (πόρνος or male who participates in unlawful sexual relations) – Rel. Cons: Refers to not just homosexual behavior, but sexually immoral behavior of any type. Jude 1:7 ~ In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. – Secularist: Humans who have sex with other species or angels (ἐκπορνεύω or give oneself to fornication) and (ἕτερος σάρξ or “strange flesh”) – Rel. Cons: Sexually active homosexuals based on what we actually see happen in the story (even though the two men were angels)

Rom. 1:26-27 ~ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. – Secularist: Group of heterosexuals who against their basic nature participate in same sex behavior during ritual orgies. – Rel. Cons: God gives man over to homosexuality and sin as their reward for desiring sin rather than the truth of God.

What is Marriage? Gen. 1:27, 2:24 ~ “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” – Shows that marriage is designed to show us the unity of God’s plans. Heaven with Earth, Male with Female, God with God’s image, and eventually Christ with the Church Matt. 19:6 ~ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. – Marriage is a gift. God initiates it, so can we really call it a “right” within society?

Eph. 5:32-33 ~ This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. – Women want to be unconditionally loved. Men want to be unconditionally respected. Just as Christians submit to Christ’s leading in our lives, and Christ continues to love us unconditionally. Can a homosexual marriage even meet these “requirements”? As an incomplete image of God, lacking the proper “roles”, and the question of whether God would even bless a marriage based on same sex relations, it is fair to respond to equal rights for all with the underlying question; Does it even qualify as marriage?

2 Tim. 3:16-17 ~ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. – Today we care so much about our own opinions that we forget following God’s plan may require some uncomfortable correcting and changing of those opinions. – We need to safe guard marriage within the Christian Community! Why should the world look to us for advice if we don’t have it working? – Above all we need to address the deeper issue of Scripture being authoritative over our lives, “Coming out” as Christ followers and not religious followers.

Benediction Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen 1 Timothy 1:17