by Jonathan Perz<\/p>\n
“Therefore a man<\/strong> shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife<\/strong>, and they shall become one flesh<\/em>” (Genesis 2:24).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
No law, edict, dictate of man or man’s government will ever change these words! Jesus reaffirmed them (Matthew 19:4-5) and they will stand regardless of any decision of men made today, tomorrow, or any day in the future.<\/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<\/strong>, nor sodomites<\/strong>, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God<\/em>” (I Corinthians 6:9-10).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Likewise, no law of man will ever change this Spirit-inspired statement! The statement was as true in ancient Corinth, where the law of the land seemed to have no problem with such practices, as it is true today. Homosexual couples will likely obtain the legal status they desire in the United States of America, but such status will not make them any less sinners in the eyes of God for their choice.<\/p>\n
You see, it is not sinful for a man to love a man or a woman to love a woman. We are all to love one another (John 13:34-35). It is sinful for a man to lust after and have sex with another man and likewise, a woman to lust after and have sex with another woman (Romans 1:24-32). This is the real problem with homosex<\/strong>uality.<\/p>\n
It is not inherently sinful for a man to have joy and happiness in this life, particularly in our relationships with one another (James 1:17). It is sinful to pursue the passing pleasures of sin (that which is in violation of God’s laws – I John 3:4) in your desire to find happiness (cf. Hebrews 11:24-26). This is another problem with homosexuality.<\/p>\n
Though we may rightly question the wisdom of it (I Corinthians 15:33; 5:6), it is not sinful for Christians to associate with homosexuals (I Corinthians 5:9-10). This might even include purchasing products from companies that endorse homosexuality. It is sinful for a Christian to associate with anyone named a brother who is practicing homosexuality. This is not “homophobia” as it is so often labeled, it is faith. This is not “hate” as it is so often labeled, it is love. Not the world’s kind of love, but the kind of love that looks to eternity and is not constrained by the love of this world (to include the lust of the flesh – I John 2:15-17). To ask Christians to turn a blind eye and embrace that which our God abhors is another significant problem with homosexuality.<\/p>\n
It seems an inevitability that the United States of America will at some point in time in the near future deem lawful the “marriage” of homosexual couples (whether one state at a time or by some larger legislation). However, we can know two things for certain:<\/p>\n
\n
- Though “married,” God will never “join them” one to another, and<\/li>\n
- Though “married,” God will never approve of their profaning that Holy institution which He loves (cf. Malachi 2:11).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Even if the legal right to “marriage” is granted, the battle is far from over. We will be pressed to defend our right to speak against homosexuality, as our faith requires. We will be pressed to continue the fight for souls by teaching them to repent, just as the first Christians did in ancient Corinth (“and such were some of you<\/em>” – I Corinthians 6:11). Other battles, including the issues of polygamy, bestiality, and pedophilia are sure to follow (as they are all rooted in the same basic grounds of one’s right to the pursuit of happiness). Nevertheless, when it is all said and done, God will judge. He will judge every homosexual, just as He will judge every heterosexual. He will judge everyone who rejects God and His word, just as He will judge everyone who accepts God and His will. God will judge.<\/p>\n
Therefore brethren, stand fast. Hold true to God’s word, regardless of the world around us. Continue to fight the good fight of faith, but be sure to employ the weapons God has given us — the sword of the Spirit … the shield of faith. Let us not lean upon the arm of flesh. It will fail us every time. Let us not depend upon carnal weapons, for such dependence will only demonstrate a lack of faith in God. Trust in the justice of God and know that His judgment is just.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jonathan Perz “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). No law, edict, dictate of man or man’s government will ever change these words! Jesus reaffirmed them (Matthew 19:4-5) and they will stand regardless of any decision of men made today, tomorrow,…<\/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,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[35],"class_list":["post-38114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-homosexuality"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":25250,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-widow-remain-unmarried-but-have-sex-with-a-married-man\/","url_meta":{"origin":38114,"position":0},"title":"Can a widow remain unmarried but have sex with a married man?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 14, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: If a widow does not want to get married, can she fall in love with a married person who will take care of her sexual needs? In the past, this was the duty of the deceased siblings. How should they go about enjoying life? Answer: Having a relationship with\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":35789,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/was-the-death-penalty-for-homosexuals-only-referring-to-hell\/","url_meta":{"origin":38114,"position":1},"title":"Was the death penalty for homosexuals only referring to hell?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 11, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Does Deuteronomy 20 really say that we should kill gay people? I was always under the idea that it was saying God was going to kill them by sending them to hell when they died because they knew better and refused to change. Am I right? It came up\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":29105,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-about-the-ten-commandments\/","url_meta":{"origin":38114,"position":2},"title":"What about the Ten Commandments?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 28, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jerry Blount It seems a constant source of confusion among Christians to determine our relationship to the Ten Commandments. How do we sort all this out? On the one hand, Paul said,\u00a0For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/MosesTablets.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6939,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/since-children-are-no-longer-stoned-for-disobedience-how-can-homosexuality-be-called-wrong\/","url_meta":{"origin":38114,"position":3},"title":"Since children are no longer stoned for disobedience, how can homosexuality be called wrong?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 19, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: During a recent \u2018homosexuality\u2019 debate someone has thrown out (and judging by Google it\u2019s the newest rallying cry) that we can\u2019t oppose homosexuality while at the same time opposing the stoning of disobedient children. I have a feeling that the usual Old Testament versus New Testament law argument is\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":21322,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-we-break-up-after-committing-fornication\/","url_meta":{"origin":38114,"position":4},"title":"Do we break up after committing fornication?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear sir, I want to say a very big Thank You, for creating this platform to express our minds. I have a little problem, and I need your advice, sir. I am from a Christian home. I know the importance of Christian doctrine, and I tried as much as\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":32735,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/where-does-god-say-a-man-and-woman-have-to-be-married\/","url_meta":{"origin":38114,"position":5},"title":"Where does God say a man and woman have to be married?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 2, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Where in the Bible does it say or indicate that a man and a woman have to be married?\u00a0 Adam and Eve coexisted there was no ceremony. 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