Homosexuality
Rev. Ron Hanko
It is not difficult to believe that there has been for many years an organized campaign in government and the media to promote an "understanding" of homosexuality. In this way homosexuality has become more and more accepted as something "normal" in our society. Even the church has, by and large, surrendered on this issue.
That homosexuality is accepted in society and in the church, however, does not mean it is acceptable to God. The Bible speaks clearly about homosexuality. And since the Bible is the Word of God, all discussion ought to begin and end with what the Bible says. Do you know what the Bible says?
The Bible says clearly that homosexuality is sin. Some may not agree with what the Bible says, but there can be no doubt that this is what it teaches. The book of Romans, chapter 1, verses 26-32, for example, calls homosexuality a "vile" affection and speaks of it as something that is "against nature"—something that God will judge.
All the arguments that homosexuality is genetic so that a person can do nothing about it do not change what God says in His Word. Nor may Christians who believe the Bible be silent about what God’s Word says, even though the whole matter is so highly charged emotionally and politically.
Because homosexuality is sin it brings men and women under the anger of God and in danger of His judgments. The same chapter and verses from the book of Romans already referred to tell us that the judgment of God both against homosexuality and other sins is that those who commit such sins are worthy of death.
To condemn homosexuality as sin, however, is not to exclude practicing homosexuals or those who struggle with homosexual lusts from any hope of salvation. Homosexuality is not the unforgivable sin. The sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ are the help and hope of all sinners who repent.
In the book of I Corinthians, chapter 6, verses 9-11, the Bible not only says to some of the members of the church, "But such were some of you!" It also says, "But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
We are most interested, therefore, that those who are involved in these sins be called to repentance and confession of sin before God. May those who are involved in such sins say by the grace of God: "Such were we, but we are washed and sanctified."