Q: I am trying to put together a essay on Homosexuals in the Bible, was there another name for Homosexuals that I have overlooked? Scriptures and Verses pertaining to this subject would be helpful and appreciated. Thank you very much for your last answer to a recent question, it was very helpful.
A: Thank you for your question. Homosexuality is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. Depending on the translation you use you may see the actual word being used, synonyms of the word, descriptions of homosexual behavior or it can be included within a broader definition of sexual immorality.
Homosexual
The word homosexual is only used once in the New International Version (NIV). This may be due to the relative newness of the word. While the act of homosexuality has been around about as long as sin itself, the word has only been around since the late 19th Century. It can be found in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. It reads, "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 drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." However, if you look at words and phrases which describe the act of homosexuality, the subject is wide spread in the Bible.
Other words used to describe homosexuality
A sodomite is someone who practices sodomy. Sodomy, in terms of this discussion, is defined as anal copulation between members of the same sex. The term sounds familiar because of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah which were destroyed by God because of their sin. When the two angels arrived at Sodom, Lot invited them into his home. Genesis 19:4-5 describes what happened next. "Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house. They 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."" Lot rightly responded to them by calling what they wanted to do as "wicked (v7)." While the word homosexual is not used here, it is clear that what the men of Sodom planned to do, and were doing amongst themselves, was clearly homosexual in nature.
Not the word, but the description of the act of homosexuality
The Bible also talks of homosexuality without assigning any terminology to it at all, but rather by describing the act. Leviticus 18:22 says, "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." A couple of chapters later in Leviticus 20:13, we read, "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." Clearly, both passages are talking about homosexuality, its sinfulness and how God feels about the behavior. A parallel passage can be found in the book of Romans. Romans 1:26-27 reads, "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." Again, it is clear that homosexual behavior is the subject of this passage and that God considers it a grave sin despite the term not being used.
Sexual Immorality
Ultimately, homosexuality is just one of many sexual sins discussed in the Bible. Homosexual behavior is grouped right along with other sexual sins like bestiality (Exodus 20:19; Leviticus 20:15-16; Deuteronomy 27:21), adultery (Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 20:10), fornication (1 Corinthians 5:1), lust (Matthew 5:28, 1 Peter 4:3), perversion (1 Timothy 1:8-11) and prostitution (Leviticus 21:9). As we can see all sexual sin is detestable and abhorred by God. Other descriptions of sexual sin to look for are words like carnal, lasciviousness, lewd and deviant. These words are not just relegated to sexual sin, but they can be used to describe sexual sins of all kinds, including homosexuality. Jesus Christ described the entire subject perfectly as recorded in the Gospel of Mark. " For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean (Mark 7:21-23).' " The act of homosexuality is a fruit of a person whose heart has not been changed through faith in Jesus Christ. As you put your essay together always remember that truth and keep your focus on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Grace and Peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment