I have refused to broach the subject of homosexuality in any meaningful way. In fact, I daresay that last Monday's post was the first mention of it whatsoever. But today, I will meaningfully discuss the homosexual issue.
Homosexuality is indeed a sin. It is forbidden throughout the Old and New Testaments. It was clear from the Old Testament Law that those participating in homosexual acts was not allowed in the congregation of the Israelites. But perhaps, the clearest picture of the wrongfulness of homosexuality is seen in Romans 1, where Paul describes it as part of the punishment God put upon man in turning them over to their own devices.
I'd like to park here for a moment because this punishment needs some explaining. As I've mentioned before, God can and does punish people by giving them exactly what they want. When for instance, the Israelites grew tired of Manna in the wilderness, He gave them the meat they asked for, indeed so much of it that they grew sick and weary.
What is happening in Romans 1 is God is punishing man for neglecting His obvious presence in the world in that he "gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves." The first part of these lusts is described as man lusting after man, and woman after woman.
So, homosexuality is wrong, but there is an important point to be made that homosexuality is only the first item on the list of lusts that the Lord has turned man over to. Homosexuality is definitely no worse than any other form of adultery and I think that we as the church should probably just treat it that way.
Homosexuality also causes the same standing before God as my sins of lying, anger, pride, and others put me in prior to Christ's redeeming grace. Let us remember that we Christians are no better than any participating in homosexual acts.
Now what does that say for the way we should live our lives and interact with this world. Honestly, I recommend that you bring that question to someone who has more life experience than this little college Freshman. But what I can tell you is a little case study about how Jesus handled a similar situation. The passage is John 8:1-11, and in it our Lord Christ provides grace to the adulterous woman, but then doesn't giver her a pass on her sin, but instead admonishes her to "Go and sin no more." So as I leave you today, take a look,
"Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee. She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
