The statement that homosexuals are men who have sex with other men is simply a restatement of the definition of the word. Unlike you, I don’t view people who steal as a separate, protected category of mankind. I see them as people who are committing a sin. When I deal with people who commit fornication or adultery, I don’t see them as a class of people. I see people deceived by sin and needing education as to the consequences of their choices. People involved in homosexuality are in the same boat. I understand that people desire to dismiss their sin by hiding behind the false facade of “I can’t help it” but my duty as a preacher is to teach the truth. That you don’t like the truth doesn’t impact my duty.<\/p>\n
I’m wondering when the drug addict community is going to rise up to declare their rights? Will the thieves form a guild to protect their members? Sin isn’t a protected class and that is where we disagree. You don’t want to see homosexuality as a sin, even though God defines it as sinful.<\/p>\n
I also understand people’s desire to silence opposition by declaring their opponents to be “hateful,” but the desire and the statements don’t define me. I oppose sins of all kinds, but I don’t hate those snared by sins. It is only when a person purposely chooses to become an enemy of God that they become my enemy. Even then, I reserve the hope that I might persuade them back to God while I continue to oppose what they stand for.<\/p>\n
What is really going on is that you want to deny freedom of speech to people who believe you are wrong. It doesn’t matter how it is worded — kindly or harshly — the fact that they don’t accept your view of the world is enough for you to campaign against them.<\/p>\n
You claim it is a “private” matter, but it isn’t. You put your sin in the eyes of the public and basically dare anyone to oppose you. When people, such as myself, do so, then you take offense. Get used to it. The fact that you announce support for living in sin means I have a duty to show people the absurdity of your position.<\/p>\n
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God<\/em>” (I Corinthians 6:9-10).<\/p>\n“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due<\/em>” (Romans 1:26-27).<\/p>\n“If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them<\/em>” (Leviticus 20:13).<\/p>\n“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination<\/em>” (Leviticus 18:22).<\/p>\n“Realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted<\/em>” (I Timothy 1:9-11).<\/p><\/blockquote>\nYes, I will continue to teach the young and the old the dangers of homosexuality and other sins. I love their souls too much to leave them blind to the truth that they do not need to sin. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men<\/em>” (II Corinthians 5:10-11). Even you have that choice. You don’t have to believe Satan’s lies.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Question: I find\u00a0your “explanation” of homosexuality\u00a0intended for young viewers to be detestable. I am rather sickened at the notion that you would take advantage of the ignorance of children and plant the seeds of hate within them. A person’s sexual orientation is no business of anyone but the one in question, and God. It’s because…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[37,651,35],"class_list":["post-3384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-apologetics","tag-attacks","tag-homosexuality"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":37522,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-if-i-change-my-gender-and-marry-my-best-friend\/","url_meta":{"origin":3384,"position":0},"title":"What if I change my gender and marry my best friend?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, I have someone who I love deeply. He is more of a best friend because of how we experience each other. He is like a friend or best friend than a lover, which is a spouse. I want more than anything to get married, have a child, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34372,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-we-make-a-stand-against-homosexuality\/","url_meta":{"origin":3384,"position":1},"title":"How do we make a stand against homosexuality?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 11, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello! First, I would like to say thanks for the website. My question is: how can we show others that homosexuality is wrong? \u00a0Our country will not hear any religious claims that marriage between two of the same sex is wrong. \u00a0I know we are to love everyone, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34359,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/your-question-and-answer-on-homosexuality-really-helps\/","url_meta":{"origin":3384,"position":2},"title":"Your question and answer on homosexuality really helps","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 9, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I just wanted to say that I appreciate the\u00a0Q&A section of your website, which I found today during a google search for church of Christ responses to homosexuality.\u00a0 Because many of my friends are gay, and those who aren't are non-Christian and, therefore, supportive of the gay equality\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":36871,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-it-bother-you-that-kids-are-killing-themselves-because-you-teach-against-homosexuality\/","url_meta":{"origin":3384,"position":3},"title":"Does it bother you that kids are killing themselves because you teach against homosexuality?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 3, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, I've been reading various parts of your website and have a question for you. I'm wondering how you feel about young people killing themselves when their churches condemn their gayness and, no matter how much they try, they cannot change to straight. You seem to say in one\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":18160,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-roman-catholic-priest-attempts-to-defend-homosexuality\/","url_meta":{"origin":3384,"position":4},"title":"A Roman Catholic priest attempts to defend homosexuality","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 18, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I found your article concerning homosexuality and the Bible, under the title \"Is homosexuality condemned in the Scriptures?\" I would like to clarify something, and perhaps provide a new perspective. You stated that \"the reason that the Bible doesn't mention \"gay love\" is that such a thing does not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14233,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-homosexuality-a-sign-of-mental-illness\/","url_meta":{"origin":3384,"position":5},"title":"Is homosexuality a sign of mental illness?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 23, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: A few days ago I saw my two friends making out and they are both guys. Everyone thinks they are mentally sick. Does being gay mean you have mental problems? I am really worried about them. They also asked for my suggestions. Answer: Having sex with someone of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3384"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3384\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}