There are many arguments minimizing homosexual behavior:
1) They are born that way.
2) Jesus never taught against homosexuality.
3) We are to love everyone. That includes homosexuals.
4) Scripture isn't the inspired word of God.
5) The destruction of Sodom and Gemorrah was because of homophobia.
6) Christianity is an intolerant hateful religion.
7) All sins are equal.
1) They are born that way:
Yes, they were! We are all born with the predisposition to sin.
Romans 5:12 (KJV) "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
One person's sin may be lasciviousness, anothers theft or anothers lying. Most people are actually prone to sin in many behaviors. The sin of homosexuality is a behavior, not a genetic trait, because a choice is made.
Matthew 7:13 (KJV) " Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"
There are two gates. The gate to destruction and the one to preservation. Which gate a person takes is a choice. Mankind was given reason and a free will. We're not forced to obey. it must be done freely to please God. It's an act of love.
God doesn't destroy what he has created unless its vile. The cities of Sodom and Gemorrah were destroyed because of sin. That particular sin was homosexuality. Mankind had become perverse in their ways. If God had created them homosexual, he certainly would not have destroyed them. He never destroyed the blind, the inform nor the handicapped!
2) Jesus never taught against homosexuality:
Jesus is God. Jesus has no beginning and no end because he was there at the creation. This is found in John 1. What Jesus says and did is always internally consistent with God because Jesus is God manifested to mankind! "Internally consistent" means that God never contradicts himself. Sometimes our interpretation is such, but God doesn't.
Here's what God says about homosexual behavior:
Remembering that Jesus IS GOD, Jesus said that it's "an abomination" it's "detestable", it's damnable and it's "depraved". Is Jesus a liar, or those who would argue this point in denial? You know the answer!
3) We are to love everyone including homosexuals:
That's a very true statement! We are all sinners and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23 (KJV) "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
We have all sinned. That doesn't mean that all sins are equal. It just means without saving grace that we're all damned!
The antidote for sin is Jesus:
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Believing in Jesus is believing what is righteous. It's not rationalizing our particular sin. In order to get forgiveness we must feel contrition. If sorrow is felt by any sinner, including the homosexual, redemption is available to those who believe. Yes, we each have trouble giving up our sin of choice!
Luke 3:3 "And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;"
Luke 13:5 "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
The key to salvation is repentance. If one sins it's necessary to have sorrow for the sins. If one's a thief, he must be sorrow that he stole. If one's a philanderer, he must be sorry for his infidelity and if one is a homosexual, he must be sorry for egregious behavior. One can't continue in their "sin of choice" and be truly remorseful! Most thieves quit stealing when they're saved. Oh, they may do some petty theft when tempted on rare occasions, but their lifestyle is not one of rebellious behavior. However, those who are homosexual not only practice that behavior in thought, if not deed, but try to justify the behavior by denigrating God-breathed scripture.
Homosexual leaders condemn Christianity instead of having remorse! They may be reprobate!
Romans 1:28 "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"
A reprobate is one damned to hell. God has given up on them! Reprobation is reserved for those who continually reject Christ and even mock his word. They are full of disobedience and live for self! We're to quit trying to save the reprobate:
Mark 6:11 "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city."
This particular verse seems to be directed at homosexuals. The people spoken of in this passage are reprobate. As Christians we are to "shake off the dust under your feet" in response to their deaf ears! Since Sodom and Gemorrha are mentioned and their sin was homosexuality, my interpretation is that practicing homosexuals are reprobate. I don't mean that to be mean, but that's what I understand from the words of God, which I honor!
Romans 1: 27 "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"
4) Scripture isn't the inspired word of God:
If you believe that scripture is not divinely inspired you are part of the false Church and are among the anti-Christs.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God..."
Enough said! If one is making the claim that the Bible is just "teachings" they are just denying God! When the Bible says something it's truth because God is Truth!
Deuteronomy 32:4 "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."
When even theologians take issue with the inspired word of God, they are dupes of Satan and not part of the universal church of Christ. When God says that homosexuality is an abomination, that's what it is! We haven't learned more about the behavior because God the Creator knew all about it from Day One!
The people who teach that scripture is not divinely inspired are the same who teach "social justice". I must point out that "social justice" is often at odds with "divine justice". Social justice is the toleration of any behavior! "Divine justice" is based on obedience to God's word:
2 Corinthians 2:9 "For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things."
"All things" should be obvious! A Christian quits sinning! He quits cursing, fornicating, murdering, and he quits lascivious and lewd behaviors, including homosexuality. The church which accepts sin as a normal Christian life style are called the "Great Whore Babylon" by St. John. End of time behaviors included a greater propensity of homosexual behavior!
5) The destruction of Sodom and Gemorrah was because of homophobia:
Genesis 19:4 "But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know (have sex with) them (two angels which are all males)."
The destruction was because of homosexuality! Those who dream up homophobia are liars! Fearing anything was never a sin!
6) Christianity is an intolerant hateful religion.
Those who espouse this view no nothing of the teachings of Christ... or just choose to fool themselves! Christ is all about love and forgiveness. He's merciful and gracious. However, he hates the behavior of sin and the thoughts of the sinner. Those who say that Christianity is hateful are full of hate themselves! Rather than submit to God they retain their rebellious hearts. Their destination is hell. We should never give them ear!
7) All sins are equal:
It's true that all are sinners! That doesn't mean that all sin is equal.
John 19:11 "Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin."
Sin has degree! Pontius Pilate had Jesus killed, but those who delivered Jesus to Pilate had greater sin. Yes, sin does have degree! Anyone knows that if you're guilty of breaking one law you may have well broke them all because works do not save! However, that doesn't imply that a Christian who sins will go to hell. Those who live a life of sin and are unrepentant will be in apostasy and damn themselves. One cannot be a practicing homosexual and expect to enter the kingdom of God any more than a murderer can kill every day and expect a heavenly reward.
However, many believe that smoking is a sin. Smoking is an outward activity taken by mouth. It's not desirable behavior, but scripture tells us that it's of no matter what goes into the mouth:
Matthew 15:11 "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."
Smoking is merely an addictive habit which interferes with communion with God. Because the body is God's temple, it's being disrespectful. The heart may be righteous, but what one takes into the body contaminated. I'm of the opinion that no one is in hell because they smoke, as much as I hate smoking. However, those who practice abominable acts are disgusting to God. What they need is a remission of sins which means a cessation of sin! If one lives their life in a manner as they did before salvation, were they truly saved, "faux saved" on their own terms, or have they changed.
Becoming a new person means putting off the old:
2 Corinthians 5:17 " Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Being a Christian means being a changed person! The old sinning self is buried, the sin washed away and their spirit renewed. What is left behind is a life of sin! Yes, we still sin, but we try not to! I do things wrong, myself, but repent. Does the homosexual repent when sodomizing or does he justify that behavior? It's obvious that those who practice this sin endeavor to justify it rather than obey God. That's rationalizing sinful behavior. They hope to get on the train, but don't have the ticket!
Those who accept the notion that all sins are equal are trivializing what God deems disgusting. He never said that smoking is disgusting. He did say that homosexuality is! Using this argument one who smokes or drinks adult bevereges are enablers for those who fornicate with people of the same sex. We need to be careful what we believe because it will damn others!
You say that you have friends and family who are nice people, but are homosexual? Who are the most kind loving people? It has been reported that pedophiles seem to be the most kind and loving. That's a trick of the devil! He mixes a little "good" into the pot of "evil" so we rationalize our sin of choice!
If we don't admonish and rebuke the sins of people we're damning them to everlasting punishment. If Christians don't reprove homosexuals, those who you claim that you love are going to hell because you enabled them!
Consider what I've written. Consider scripture. When one does what's right in their own heart, they're on a path to destruction because an unsaved heart is depraved! A saved heart is tainted by the disobedience of Adam. Be careful what you believe!
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