God’s View on Homosexuality
ICS Daily Devotions
Genesis 19:4-5,24 (NKJV) Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”…Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens.
The church must not succumb to populism, especially when it comes to the issue of homosexualism. Instead, she should stand firm against values that violate God’s moral laws and values, lest she loses her testimony of being the light and the salt of this world.
The first sign of homosexuality was found in Sodom. When God sent the angels to deliver Lot and his family from Sodom before it was to be destroyed due to their exceedingly grave sins, we saw a glimpse of the sins in the city when the men of the city came to Lot’s house demanding to have sex with the angels, which shows there were homosexual activities in Sodom.
Leviticus 18:22 (NKJV) You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
Leviticus 20:13 (NKJV) If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They must surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.
The corruption in the world through lust has to do with homosexuality, bisexuality as well as natural sexual sins. Homosexuality is an abomination in the eyes of God and punishable by death in the Old Testament.
Because God is holy, righteous and just, He detests sin and must judge sin. Also, God had not sent His Son to redeem mankind from sin in this passage yet. Therefore, He had to judge sin by destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. Homosexuality is clearly wrong in God’s eyes, and He does not condone it.
However, we live in the New Testament because Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law and the penalty of sin. He has made known His love for us by forgiving our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. The Gospel has been made known to us and the whole of creation testifies of the existence of God. Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save all is us through His blood, including the LGBTQ community. God extended His love to all sinners.
Therefore, while we should make a stand as a church that homosexuality is not an alternative lifestyle because it is unnatural and wrong, we should always love those concerned even though we may not condone their sinful acts or lifestyles. They have a need and may be thirsting for genuine care and concern. We should be open to befriend them, love them, and minister to them. Jesus can heal their souls and save them, but He also needs us to minister to them and to share the Gospel with them.
Sermon Series: Natural or Unnatural
