1. Ethics and the Christian Understanding Why Homosexuality is Wrong

2. Discrimination on the basis of race is Biblically wrong—even though it has been widely practiced in the U.S. 1.Colonist/American Indian relations A.The Naturalization Act of 1790 excluded Indians, Indentured Servants, Slaves, Free Blacks, and Asians from U.S. Citizenship 2.Race Based Slavery 1.Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857): Blacks have no legal standing, since they are property 2.Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): segregation is constitutional (“separate” but equal”)

3. 3.Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) A.Chinese workers were banned from immigrating into the U.S. for 10 years. The Law was finally repealed in 1943 4.“Gentlemen’s Agreement” (1907) A.In exchange for not passing a law banning Japanese from immigrating to the U.S. Japan agreed to not allow immigration to the U.S. 5.Plus an entire cultural mentality of racism

4. This kind of discrimination is Biblically wrong because 1.Israel’s discrimination against other nations was covenant based, not race based. 2.Racism is “built into” the fall, and fixed only by the cross. Ephesians 2.11-12 3.Salvation is for all races. Revelation 5.9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

5. “ Discrimination” on the basis of gender is NOT wrong, if confined to Biblical precepts 1.Men and women are equal, spiritually: Gal.3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus 2.Men and women are not equal, functionally: 1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

6. This is no more an insult to women than is the distinct function of Jesus Christ, as opposed to His Heavenly Father

7. But being against homosexuality is not in the same category as racial discrimination

8. Human marriage is ultimately about God’s glory 1.Ephesians 5.22-33; especially 5.27 2.This is how the marriage functions: I Corinthians 11.7/ Proverbs 12.4 3.If there is no woman in the marriage, how can there be glory? 4.If there is no man in the marriage, how can there be a head for the glory to rest on? 5.And it is the rejection of God’s glory that leads to this distortion. Romans 1.20-25