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It’s become more and more popular over the last few decades to say that Sodom and Gomorrah’s sin was not what we call sodomy or homosexuality, but it’s just not Scripturally accurate.
Genesis 19:1-5 shows that the men (not the women) of the city wanted/desired to have sex with the male visitors. Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 calls this very act to’evah, often translated abomination, and this is easily seen by even pro-gay “Christian” proponents, because their argument here is just: “The law is no longer binding through Christ.” Unbelievers see it clearly too. I once heard Ian McKellan say that he tore out the Leviticus 18 page of the Gideon Bible when he slept in a hotel room, because he didn’t want to sleep beside such garbage. They all see it; it’s not hard to see. Jude 1:7 then says the cities were given over to ekporneuo, a Greek word meaning sexually immoral acts, and suffered the punishment of eternal fire. The strange flesh Jude mentions isn’t speaking of the men wanting sex with angels - they didn’t even know the men were angels - it’s speaking of the flesh being different than female, i.e. a male-to-male sexual relationship. The text many progressives like to go to is in Ezekiel 16:49. There we find that *a* sin of Sodom was pride connected with a neglect of helping the poor and needy. Most do not read the next verse though where it says that Sodom practiced to’evah, the same word used in Leviticus 18:22 (and verse 26, 27, 29, and 30) and Leviticus 20:13. It would be fine to say that practicing homosexuality was not Sodom’s *only* sin, but that’s certainly not how those using Ezekiel 16:49 frame it. They attempt to bypass the Older Testament Law by saying Leviticus has been abolished, or they try to use some fancy footwork to get around what Genesis and the rest of the Bible teaches against, all in hopes of appeasing a modern crowd. White and Neil write, “Indeed, arrogance and pride are closely related to a willingness to twist even the most basic and fundamental aspect of our being, our sexuality, and to flaunt this in the face of God and our fellow creatures.” (The Same Sex Controversy, p.42) Some try to say gang rape is in view in Genesis 19:1-5, but it was only the men of the city who were lustfully wanting the *male* visitors. They weren’t interested in the females. And there was no violence going on in Genesis 19:1-5, only a request that righteous Lot knew was wicked (2 Pet. 2:6-8). Yahweh even held the Canaanites accountable to their many sexual sins; that’s how Leviticus 18 begins and ends. He tells Israel to not act like the Canaanites, because the Canaanites were vomited out of their land due to their sexual sins (Lev. 18:27-28). It’s similar to when Yahweh speaks of the “iniquity of the Amorites” (Gen. 15:16). Homosexual practice is just like adultery, it’s not limited to being prohibited in Israel. In the beginning Yahweh made them male and female (Mt. 19:4). This is why a man leaves *father and mother* (one family unit) and *he* cleaves to his *wife* (forming a new family unit), Genesis 2:23-24. It’s been happening for thousands of years. Some people use the, “Well Jesus never condemned homosexuality.” I can at least understand if an unbeliever says something like that (because they don’t believe the Bible), but for a believer to say such is unacceptable. We are supposed to be whole Bible Christians. Yeshua (Jesus) doesn’t have to address something for it to be a sin. His Father is the law-giver, and is top authority. As a matter of fact, Yeshua didn’t even speak his own words (John 12:49-50). Stick with the whole Bible my friends. Don’t let anyone fool you by quoting one verse. #pridemonth
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The following is from a dear friend and sister in the faith. She recently sent this out in an email, and I thought it to be so wonderfully written that I should share it here. -- Matthew Janzen I came across this article and video last night by a woman delivered from a life of lesbianism. The topic of homosexuality is close to my heart, as I have loved one's who need deliverance from this particular sin, and I'm sure we all have loved ones who need to be delivered from a mind conformed to a world that supports and accepts sin. Since being converted, I have noticed how strongly the Christian community reacts to this particular sin. It seems they either react with disgust, as though it is a plague. Or, they make exceptions and allowances for sin, basically re-wording the Word of the Creator. In fact, sin is a plague, and is disgusting. However, it has grieved me deeply over the years, that these particular sinners are shunned as though the work of our Savior, Yeshua wasn't quite enough for them. I have to remind myself at times that these situations are NOT hopeless; it is no more of a problem for YHWH to deliver them from their sin, than it was for Him to deliver me. There is so much hope! We, who call ourselves "Christians" also have so much room for improvement in ministering to homosexuals. Do you favor adulterers over homosexuals? Is one sin more acceptable? Do not both destroy? Homosexuals wear their sin on their sleeve, so to speak. It is easy to look down upon them. It's easier to accept a co-worker or neighbor who is afflicted by pornography addiction, a fornicator, adulterer. The fact is, we are rubbing shoulders with sinners everyday, because we are all sinners. The only difference between us and them is that YHWH had mercy on us and delivered us from the sin that would have been the death of us. The very same YHWH can and is still delivering, often, in spite of us. As I read this woman's testimony and listened to her poem, tears were pouring down my face. In a society that is so bent on making it easier and more acceptable to live with our sin, embrace our sin, and love our sin, there is still One who is delivering, and preparing a people equipped to assist in His saving ministry. Although this woman's ministry may be different from what we are used to, it is clear that there is a need in this area, and the Father is working. However offensive we may feel another's sin is, let us not forget that we were once dead in our sin, and praise the Father that His mercy is far greater than our own, and may He fill our hearts with His grace and mercy that we may be of use in His continuing work on this earth. An excerpt from her interview in the video: "I care about reaching homosexuals because God cares. I care because I know how it is to be judged, I know how it is to be shunned. The body of Christ tends to shun homosexuals because they don't know how to effectively minister to them. " I do not watch beauty pageants. I believe that Christian women should not parade themselves in immodest clothing such as nightgowns and swimsuits. Today this even includes some of the regular day-to-day clothing that women fashion. The Bible makes it extremely clear that both men and women are to be modestly clothed (Gen. 3:21; 1 Timothy 2:9).
That being said, I wanted to give a few comments on what I read about concerning Miss California's recent comments after being asked about same sex "marriage." Her response was basically that she wasn't there to judge anyone else, but she was raised (and still believes) believing that marriage was between a man and a woman. It appears that her statement outraged the judge that asked her the question, and he has since written some terrible things about her. I am glad that she at least stood up for what she believes to be right. However, a much bigger problem exists here, and this is that the belief that marriage is to be between men and women should not be presented as an opinion. It is not just her opinion or my opinion; it is the rock solid standard of the Almighty Creator. Scripture makes it clear from the very beginning. Yahweh created Adam and then made this man a helper comparable to himself - the helper was a woman, not another man. He commanded the two of them to be fruitful and multiply, something that can only be done in the man-woman marriage context. Yahweh even goes on in the Genesis account to say that there comes a time when a man must leave his father and mother. Notice again that the man is leaving his father (man) and mother (woman), and then cleaving to his wife. This shows the family unit begins with the marriage of a man and a woman. What Christians need to do is quit worrying about how people will feel about their standards (which are God's standards) and quit worrying about being politically correct. If Yahweh's word teaches it we need not be ashamed about believing it and proclaiming it. We can always proclaim it in love, but love includes rebuke (Lev. 19:17). We are called to command sinners to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt. 4:17). Repentance includes a turning away from sin and a turning to righteousness. If thieves, murderers, drunkards, revilers, adulterers, fornicators, and yes homosexuals want to inherit the kingdom, they must stop practicing their sin. This is the law of Yahweh. Matthew Janzen |
AuthorBlog by Matthew Janzen. Lover of Yahweh, Yeshua, my wife and 5 children. All else is commentary. Archives
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