The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Timothy 1:9-11,
"We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for
lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and
irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for
murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing
homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for
whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the
gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to
me."
As Paul observes the proper use of the law, he lists some of those for
whom the Lord gave it to Moses, those who are violators. Here is the
listing Paul provides:
lawbreakers and rebels
ungodly and sinful
unholy and irreligious
those who kill their parents
murderers
sexually immoral
those who practice homosexuality
slave traders
liars and perjurers
those practicing what is contrary to sound doctrine that conforms with
the gospel
Not the first choice of folks you might invite over for dinner - a
wicked lot. And, yet, society today is demanding that we accord one
group - homosexuals - with the same legitimacy and acceptance we might
any other person. Further, it is demanded we no longer speak of
homosexuality as sinful, and that to suggest so is an expression of
hate. So insistent is this move to legitimize homosexuality, we are
told that the disgust and repulsion we may feel about the practice of
homosexuality is really due to "fear". It isn't to be viewed through a
moral compass, but to be embraced and if we don't do so then we are
the ones with the problem, a problem born of fear. So, anyone who
suggests something wrong with homosexuality, that it is not to be
embraced as an altogether appropriate alternative lifestyle, are
branded as "homophobes." I think we might dismiss the
mis-characterization of "homophobia" with the simple point that
disgust and fear are two entirely different emotions.
What does God say about homosexuality? He told Moses, "Do not have
sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is
detestable." Leviticus 18:22. Paul tells us that for those who reject
God, he will give many over to homosexuality as something sinful,
debasing and degrading as a judgment against them, "They exchanged the
truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things
rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this,
God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged
natural sexual 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 shameful acts with other men, and
received in themselves the due penalty for their error." Romans
1:25-27.
We read in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Do you not know that wrongdoers will
not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the
sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex
with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor
swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." Just as God does not
embrace the sexually immoral, idolaters, thieves and so forth, he does
not embrace homosexuals. No one enters the kingdom of God as a
homosexual.
When it comes to identifying what is good/bad, right/wrong,
moral/immoral, holy and righteous or the profane, God is my source. I
don't care what society, culture, the leaders of our day have to say
about homosexuality, they are not a reliable source for such
determinations. Anyone listening to them is a fool. Why listen to
anyone who is "evolving" on the issue when we can just go straight to
the source for knowing if it is a sin or not?
What God has to say is that those engaged in homosexual acts are
engaged in sin. However, like all people who enter into the kingdom of
God, it is not something that cannot be forgiven. We have all sinned
and we all have sins we need forgiven. Listen to what Paul goes on to
say about those who cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven, "And that
is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified,
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the
Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:11. Isn't that wonderful? God
loves homosexuals as he does any other sinner and sent his Son Jesus
Christ to pay the penalty for that sin!
In spite of what the geniuses are telling us these days, just as other
sinners, homosexuals can turn from their sin to embrace Jesus Christ.
Many have done just so. Pointing to the sinfulness of homosexuality is
not hate at all. It is an act of love which just might result in
someone embracing Jesus Christ and changing their eternal destiny.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send
me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are
receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just
respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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