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Did Jesus mention homosexuality?

Results so far:

Yes
44% 370 votes Total: 832 votes
No
56% 462 votes
Yes

Anyone who has studied the Bible to any extent realizes that homosexuality is mentioned many times. Whether it is referenced by the terms "abusers of themselves with mankind", "without natural affection" or some other term, homosexuality is condemned many times in both the Old and New Testaments.

What does the Bible have to say about homosexuality?

Romans 1:26-32: "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 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. 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; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

The Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, describes sins which are unpleasing to God and we can clearly see that homosexuality is on the list. Bible scholars feel that this is a very unique passage in that it is one of the few places in the Bible that refers to same-gender sexual behavior by women.

1 Timothy 1:9-10: "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine."

Leviticus 18 In this chapter God is speaking and giving instructions to Moses about what the people of Israel must not do: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God. After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD. (Skipping to verse 22) Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."

In this reference,it is quite clear that homosexual acts are not acceptable to God and He clearly expresses how he feels about the issue.

Leviticus 20:13 "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

Jesus speaks on issues of homosexuality:

Matthe s 19:4-5: "He answered, 'Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?'"

The Pharisees were asking Jesus a question about the possibility of getting a divorce under any circumstances. Jesus was well aware of the acts of "men lying with men" and of "men and women without natural affections". Even though the question wasn't about the specific relationships between "men" and "women", Jesus specifically restated the account of the Creation found in the book of Genesis because He wanted the people to clearly understand that marriage and the desire for sexuality must be exclusive to a male and female relationship.

Jesus made it clear that these were the rules and no one should change them in verse 6 of Matthew 19: "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

Jesus in speaking to His disciples about His return, explains some of the things that He will find when He returns:

Luke 17:34-35 "I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left."

Jesus could have said that two men would be deer hunting or fishing, so why did He single out "two men in one bed"? Jesus was addressing the issue of homosexuality and explaining that even though two men are homosexuals, they will each have a choice, to repent of their sin and enter the kingdom of heaven or remain homosexuals and perish.

To argue the case for homosexuality using the Bible as a reference, is totally a waste of time. The Bible is very specific in speaking against it and outlines the penalties for practicing that form of lifestyle.

Jesus didn't specifically mention the word "homosexual" in His teachings, simply because the word hadn't yet been invented. He did, however, always speak of how we all should live our daily lives. Jesus ordained the marriage between a man and a woman when he spoke the words "one man and one woman" and the purpose was simple, to populate the world. If all relationships were between people of the same sex, that would be quite difficult. It was for this simple reason that God didn't first create two men.

Learn more about this author, Ken Bradford.
Contact this writer Click here to send this author comments or questions.

No

Jesus never directly addressed the issues of homosexuality but he also never directly addressed issues such as pedophilia, bestiality or incest. He did, however, make it perfectly clear that a sexual union was fully intended to be between a man and a woman.

"Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." (Matt.19:4)

In the Old Testament, Sodom and Gomorrah were terribly wicked cities whose inhabitants were mostly homosexual. Abraham's nephew, Lot, lived in Sodom and God sent angels into the city to bring him out.

"... all the men from every part of the city of Sodom, both young and old, surrounded the house. They called to Lot, 'Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.' Lot went outside... 'Don't do this wicked thing... 'Get out of our way,' they replied... They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door. But the men inside (angels) reached out and pulled Lot back into the house... Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness." (Gen. 19:4-10)

When it came to blasphemous sins, Jesus often referred to Sodom and Gomorrah as a rule of measure. "It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city." (Mark 6:11) "But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee."

Judging by the Lord's own words it doesn't take a PhD to see that he does not approve of homosexuality. The God of the Old and New Testament is one and the same and homosexuality is condemned in both.

The church at Corinth was having a problem with homosexuality and Paul told them in no uncertain terms, "Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves... none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God." (1Cor.6:9)

Paul also said in Ephesians 5:31 that a man is to cleave unto his wife and the two of them will become one flesh which he described as a mystery concerning Christ and the church. If gay marriages were approved by our Lord it would make him a spiritual homosexual. God forbid! (as Paul would say)

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain," is one of the ten commandments of God and the most popular understanding of it is associated with cursing. Today's Biblical scholars believe that this commandment has nothing to do with vocabulary but instead has to do with misrepresentation. Those who call themselves Christian have taken the Lord's name and therefore must properly represent him.

Using what Jesus did not say to justify what we know is sin comes perilously close to blasphemy. God has placed his laws within our hearts and we all know, deep down inside, what is sin and what is not. The Bible is perfectly clear on the issues of homosexuality and trying to get around it in such a way is absurd.

We are warned in 1 Corinthians 6:18 to flee from sexual sin because every other sin is done outside the body and the body of a genuine Christian is the temple of the Holy Ghost.

Nevertheless, there is certainly forgiveness for the sin of homosexuality (1Cor. 6:11) for there is only one unforgivable sin (Luke 12:10) and homosexuality is not it. Along with forgiveness comes grace which gives us the power to turn from the lust of our flesh and please God.






Learn more about this author, Pat Lunsford.
Contact this writer Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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