HOMOSEXUALITY:  IN THE NEWS AND ON THE MARCH

Victor M. Eskew

 

          In the early 1970’s, this writer was in junior high school.  It was then that homosexuality seems to have started its push into the public arena.  At that time, most were extremely disgusted by the practice.  Those who engaged in it were shamed by society.  Most laughed at it, ridiculed it, and called those who practiced it names.

          The homosexual movement, however, did not grow discouraged.  Over the past forty years, they have made great inroads into our nation’s fabric.  Recently, there have been several things in the news about the homosexual issue.  These not only reveal important facts to us, but they also show us that homosexuality is still on the march.

          First, our President has come out in support of homosexual marriages.  While doing an interview on ABC News, President Obama stated:  “At a certain point I just concluded, for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”  This, dear readers, comes from the highest ranking official in our nation.  Many people look to this man for their guidance, including their guidance in the realm of morality.  What he says will impact a large segment of our society.

          Second, two laws have recently been submitted to the Supreme Court for reviews.  One of these is known as The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that was originally passed in 1996.  This is a federal law that defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman.  The second item is referred to as Proposition 8.  This law was passed in the state of California in November, 2008.  It also defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman.  The Supreme Court will be examining the constitutional nature of both of these laws.  Their decision is expected to be rendered sometime in June.  Most believe that the Court will declare both laws to be unconstitutional.  If this is the result, there will be massive consequences that follow.  Homosexual marriages will now have the right to exist in all 50 states.  It will be merely a matter of getting the laws on the books.  In addition, if a majority of people in a state oppose homosexual marriages, there will be nothing they can do to stop them.

          Third, there was a recent article in the Times-Union entitled, “Pro Procreation.”  No name was attached to the article.  This is what it said:

 

                     “The writers of the Bible, be they early Christians or early Jews,                                             were members of relatively small groups intent on increasing their                                            numbers.  Homosexuality did them no good in achieving this goal.                                            That’s the reason for the anti-gay passages in the Bible.  I learned                                             this in a course I took at Vanderbilt Divinity School.”

 

This article reveals several things to us:  1) There are many in our community who support gay marriage, 2) The newspaper is willing to publish anonymous letters that set forth ludicrous arguments against marriage between a man and a woman, and 3) At least one of our universities is willing to throw stones at Jews and Christians who oppose homosexuality.

          These types of things and many other efforts are causing homosexuality to be accepted in our society.  Nine states now approve homosexual marriages.  Seventy percent of those between the ages of 18 and 32 support same-sex marriages.  “Of Democrats in the Senate, only six have not declared support for marriage equality” (www.alligator.org, “Supreme Court should stand on the right side of history,” Allesandro Bardol).

          Our nation, her leaders, her educators, and many of her citizens are accepting, supporting, and campaigning for the acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex marriages because of spiritual ignorance.  Some of these individuals do not believe in God.  If they do, they do not hold to the Bible as the inspired Word of God.  If they do acknowledge the Bible as God’s Word, they believe that much of it is old and out-of-date.  These positions cause them to be blinded about homosexuality and marriage.

          According to the Holy Scriptures, God is the One who instituted marriage at the beginning of time.  When He created the home, He brought a man and a woman together in the holy bond of sacred matrimony.  “And the Lord God caused deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept:  and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib which the Lord had taken from man, made he a woman and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh:  she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife:  and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:21-24).  God created a woman for Adam.  God brought a woman unto the man as a help meet for him.  A man is to leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife in marriage.  This is the original, divine pattern for marriage.

          Since it was God who created marriage, He also has the right, the authority, to legislate about marriage.  In every dispensation, God has opposed homosexuality.  In the days of Patriarchy, God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of homosexuality.  We are told that the men of the city of Sodom surrounded Lot’s house, and cried:  “Where are the men which came in unto thee this night?  Bring them out to us that we may know them” (Gen. 19:5).  “To know them” involved having sexual relationships with them.  God referred to this sin as “very grievous” (Gen. 18:20).  Fire and brimstone were rained down upon this city and the cities of the plain as God’s divine retribution against their sins.

          In the Mosaic Age, the children of Israel were given the Law of Moses to make them a holy nation unto God (Exo. 19:5-6).  Laws were given for many areas of their lives.  Homosexuality was addressed.  The laws about this show us that God had no tolerance of it.  Leviticus 18:22, says:  “Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind:  it is abomination.”  Leviticus 20:13, reveals that the death penalty was the punishment to be meted out when this sin was committed.  “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination:  they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”

          Homosexuality is also opposed in the New Testament of Jesus Christ.  Three texts specifically address this practice.  In Romans 1, homosexuality is said to involve “vile affections,” “that which is unseemly,” and “error” (Rom. 1:26-27).  In Romans 1:28, we learn that the practice springs from a “reprobate mind.”  When we turn to the book of I Corinthians, homosexuality is put on a list of sins that will keep one out of the kingdom of God.  “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived:  neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, not covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. 6:9-10).  There is a third passage in I Timothy 1:9-11, that teaches us that homosexuality is contrary to the sound doctrine found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

          Dear readers, the God who created marriage also legislated about marriage.  He said that homosexuality is a sin, an abomination, something that is unseemly, and a crime that will keep on out of heaven.  Many in our nation are ignorant of these things.  If not ignorant, then they are in bold rebellion against the God of the Universe.

          Christians must arise and oppose this evil on all fronts!  If we do not, this evil will destroy the home, our nation, and our churches.  This iniquity of Satan could also cause God’s judgment to be poured out on us much like it was on the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, and the plain.  Let all of God’s faithful arise and fight.  Don’t sit back and hope the opposition of others will be enough to stop this scourge on our society.