Homosexual Proximity

People who believe that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality have to WANT to believe such a thing because the Bible is explicitly clear on the matter.  That's really all that needs to be said because it is self-proving and self-evident.

However, let me expound.  I find that there are four camps of people in the homosexual debate:

1.  Those who don't know what the Bible says about homosexuality, and don't care.

2.  Those who do know what the Bible says about homosexuality and submit to it.
3.  Those who do know what the Bible says about homosexuality, yet seek to pervert and twist scripture.
4.  Those who do know what the Bible says about homosexuality and choose to ignore it.

Camps 3 and 4 are typically people who have a child, sibling or close family member or friend who is gay, or are gay themselves.  Therefore, they seek to justify and comfort themselves about something that they would rather not confront at face value.  Most of the time, deep down inside, these two camps know that the Bible is God's authoritative word on the matter but they have seared their consciences from receiving the truth by their own self-delusion.  I genuinely grieve with compassion and mercy for them because the issue is confusing, frustrating and painful for them to deal with.  The confusion and pain only increases when the world around them tells them it is okay, yet they know the Bible clearly says that it is not.  Therein lies the conflict:  do they choose the world or God......even though what God has to say on the matter is something they feel like they cannot accept. 

However, the Bible is clear on that matter as well.  Jesus said, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."  (Matt 10:37);

also "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters." (Matt 12:30);

and, "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world." (1 John 2:15,16)

What these scriptures articulate is that it is a sin to give anything or anyone, priority over our obedience to God and His Word.  God allows nothing to take precedence over our obedience to Him and His Word, whether it be ourselves, our son or daughter, brother or sister, close friend, cousin or next door neighbor.  Jesus said the first and most important commandment was, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matt 22:37)  Which means no matter how close in relational proximity you are to someone with homosexual tendencies, God and His Word take precedence over their sexual preference and feelings.  Period.  It really is that black and white.  We are called to remain faithful and true to God's Word and let Him work out the rest, which includes delivering loved ones from sins of sexual impulse. And although the topic of this post is homosexuality, sexual impulse also includes promiscuity, fornication and adultery.

Jesus said the second greatest commandment was to, "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matt 22:39) Which means that when we genuinely love someone, we tell them the truth, no matter what.  God's Word is truth.  The Bible says that, "And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed." (2 Pet 2:2).

The word translated as "sensuality" is the Greek word "ASELGEIAIS".  Other versions translate it as "depraved conduct", "shameful immorality", "immoral ways", and "sexual freedom".  I think the "sexual freedom" translation is the most telling of what the scripture is trying to imply.  God's Word is blasphemed when people try to twist and distort it to excuse a sexual preference that is clearly condemned.  And even though I'm not aware of anyone trying to twist scripture to excuse promiscuity, fornication or adultery, I know a whole lot of self-proclaimed Christians that follow such sensualities and do indeed blaspheme the way of truth.  We are never told that we will not be tempted by sexual sin, what we are told is to repent from it and go and sin no more.  Which means to completely turn away from such a lifestyle in every way, shape and form,  including supporting those who lead such lifestyles.  Christ's atoning death was to free us FROM sin, not to free us TO sin. 

The simple fact of the matter all boils down to pride.  Pride bears the fruit of rebellion.  We know what God's Word says, yet we do not want to abide by it.  We want to find a way around it.  We want to ignore it.  We see this played out by the very first sin recorded in the Bible.  Satan, in his pride, distorted God's Word and convinced Eve that she could decide for herself what was best for her, despite God's clear instructions.  The fruit of this interaction was rebellion against God, the very first sin of mankind. The only difference between our beginning and our end is that our beginning was marked by repentance and sorrow for our rebellion and our end is marked by literal parades of pride in our rebellion, replete with rainbow flags.