Garth Brooks had a song out on the radio
several years ago entitled “We Shall Be Free”. In an interview with ABC’s
Barbara Walters he was asked about the meaning of one line in the song
which states - “When we’re free to love anyone we choose...we shall be
free”. Brooks explained that he has a sister who is homosexual and he “Just
can’t condemn someone for loving someone else!” While, to my knowledge
that was the first time anyone in the country music spotlight had made
any kind of public defense of the homosexual lifestyle, the sentiment is
becoming more and more the norm.
Homosexuality In The Bible
Homosexuality is by no means a recent development.
All the way back in the book of Genesis the Bible tells us about Sodom
whose men came to the door of Lot crying out “...Where are the men who
cane to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”
(19:5 NKJV). Of course the entire city was destroyed.
The New Testament
Many in the religious world have misunderstood
the fact that Jesus never addressed homosexuality directly to be a sanction
for its practice in the Christian age. Nothing could be farther from the
truth! As proof of this consider two points: 1.) Homosexuality is fornication
and 2.) The Apostles taught the Lord’s commandments.
The Apostles’ Doctrine
The Apostle John seven times in the book of
Revelation speaks in condemnation of “fornication” (2:21, 9:21, 14:8, 17:2,4,
18:3 & 19:2). The Apostle Paul speaks eleven times of “fornication.
(Romans 1:29, I Corinthians 5:1, 6:13,18, 7:2, II Corinthians 12:21, Galatians
5:19, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, I Thessalonians 4:3). Further, some
of the most clear statements in the scripture condemning homosexuality
are made by the Apostle Paul. In I Corinthians 6:9,10 he includes “homosexuals”
and “sodomites” in a list of those who - “...Will not inherit the kingdom
of God.” In I Timothy 1:10 Paul describes the behavior of fornicators
and sodomites as that which - “Is contrary to sound doctrine.” In
Romans 1:24-27 Paul traces the thinking which leads people into such practices
describing it as “vile,” “against nature” (1:26), and “shameful”
(1:27). All of this makes it abundantly clear that a person cannot participate
in this type of behavior and have any hope of eternal life with God.
The Right Attitude Is Important
As Christians in our efforts to oppose error
and urge people to repentance I believe it is vitally important that we
ourselves maintain the right attitude. Because of the nature of this sin
and how it has been viewed (even by our own culture) up until recent years
it is easy to view homosexuality as a more offensive sin to God that lying,
stealing, lust, adultery, immodesty, drunkenness or pride. I think it is
important for us to remember that - “All unrighteousness is sin”
(I John 5:17), “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness” (I
John 3:4) and thus “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Christians
who take a very abrasive posture toward homosexuality because of the influence
homosexuals may have on our children, must be certain that we are not hypocritical
in taking a lenient attitude towards the influence of social drinking,
immodesty or other factors whose influence is equally pronounced. Our posture
must be one that exposes the sin, yet lovingly pleads with the sinner to
turn from that which leads to condemnation whether it is drunkenness, pride
or homosexuality.
What Is The Issue?
I’m afraid that many people really miss the
whole point when they defend the lifestyle by viewing it simply as a form
of love shown to another person. Love is not the issue: but behavior.
The law of Moses was very clear about what
was and was not proper sexual behavior. Among those things which were restricted
were: premarital relations (Deuteronomy 22:23-29), adultery (Deuteronomy
22:22), incest (Leviticus 18:6-18), beastiality (Leviticus 18:23) and homosexuality.
Here is how the law read with regard to homosexuality - “You shall not
lie with a man as with a woman. It is an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22).
The punishment for disobedience to this law was clear - “If a man lies
with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.
They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus
20:13).
After the conquest of Canaan an incident much
like that which occurred in Sodom took place in the city of Gibeah. The
men of the city surrounded the house of one of its citizen’s demanding
- “Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!”
- (Judges 19:22). This bizarre incident led to the man giving his concubine
to the men of the city, whom they raped, abused and killed. This uncontrolled
lust led to a national war.
In Matthew 15:19 and Mark 7:21 Jesus includes
in a list of many others sins “fornication” (“sexual immorality” NIV).
He draws the conclusion at the end of this list - “All these evil things
come from within a man and defile a man” ( Mark 7:23). The same word
is used in Matthew 19:9 and Matthew 5:32 in which Jesus grants (as the
sole cause for divorce) that “fornication” is a justifiable reason to put
away one’s mate.
The word translated “fornication” is the Greek
word PORNEIA. According to Thayer it means “Illicit sexual intercourse
in general” (p. 532). The Bible makes it clear that while Jesus was
on earth he was in full compliance with the teachings of the Law of Moses
(Galatians 4:4, Hebrews 4:14,15 & Matthew 5:19). Thus when Jesus echoed
the Law of Moses in condemning “fornication” he was condemning all that
fornication involved (i.e. pre-marital, extra-marital, incest, beastiality
and homosexuality.)
Further, it is clear that Jesus promised that
after His departure the Holy Spirit would be given to the apostles to guide
them “into all truth.” (John 16:13). Thus when the Apostles taught
they could say - “...The things which I write to you are the commandments
of the Lord” (I Corinthians 14:37). That being the case it is abundantly
clear from the writings of the Apostles that homosexuality is condemned.
How does love manifest itself? I may love anyone
or anything but that doesn’t mean that my behavior is totally free with
regard to the object of my love. For example: I may love ice cream. Does
that mean that I do not have to exercise any restraint when it comes to
how much I eat? Or when I eat? I love my spouse but that doesn’t mean that
my behavior doesn’t have to stay within certain bounds (i.e. no abuse,
no force, no compulsion). The same is true with regard to love that people
of the same sex may feel for one another. The Lord has set certain boundaries
on behavior, and especially sexual behavior. To willfully cross these boundaries
is not “love” but rebellion against the Creator.