by Adam Litmer<\/p>\n
The following question was submitted for consideration.<\/p>\n
“I was recently in a conversation where someone claimed that genuine love sanctifies homosexual relationships. I wasn’t sure how to respond to that in the moment. Would you mind offering some thoughts?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I’m happy to offer a few thoughts. The statement about genuine love “sanctifying” homosexual relationships (or any illicit relationship) is not an uncommon sentiment among those seeking to excuse or justify it. We need not take the time to consider the passages that speak on homosexuality as the individual who commented is obviously aware of them and recognizes that homosexuality is sinful unless “sanctified” by true or genuine love.<\/p>\n
I would remind the person that sanctification means setting something apart for holiness or for holy purposes. With that in mind, I would ask them to cite the passage where “love” is said to “sanctify” homosexuality. No such passage exists, so they will not be able to cite one.<\/p>\n
I would press the issue a bit by asking them to cite a passage where any sinful behavior is said to be sanctified by the feelings of the one committing it. This is not a “gotcha” moment, either. Most people who say such things simply repeat what they’ve heard or read from sources that consider themselves authorities. It can be quite eye-opening when those who repeat their error can be made to study Scripture and see the truth for themselves.<\/p>\n
From there, I would encourage them to consider carefully the language of I Kings 11:1-2, a passage I believe to be pertinent to this discussion. “Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, ‘You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.’ Solomon clung to these in love.<\/em>“<\/p>\n
We are told twice that Solomon loved these women, the second time demonstrating a very strong love indeed. However, as one reads through the passage, it is clear that Solmon’s genuine love for these women did not “sanctify” his disobedience, and it will not sanctify ours.<\/p>\n
Finally, I would urge them not to wrongly use biblical terms and expressions to excuse (or worse, encourage) that which God calls sin. In this case, the word “sanctify” is used to prop up sinful behavior. It is wrong, foolish, and exceedingly dangerous. Don’t do that!<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Adam Litmer The following question was submitted for consideration. “I was recently in a conversation where someone claimed that genuine love sanctifies homosexual relationships. I wasn’t sure how to respond to that in the moment. Would you mind offering some thoughts?” I’m happy to offer a few thoughts. The statement about genuine love “sanctifying”…<\/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":[35,65,781],"class_list":["post-68336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-homosexuality","tag-love","tag-sanctification"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18160,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-roman-catholic-priest-attempts-to-defend-homosexuality\/","url_meta":{"origin":68336,"position":0},"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":62739,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/homosexuality\/","url_meta":{"origin":68336,"position":1},"title":"Homosexuality (Hamilton)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 15, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Discussions of homosexuality have been occupying prominent places in the news \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Many arguments that the rights of those practicing homosexual relationships need to be protected. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Arguments that homosexual relationships are normal and should be taught in public schools as acceptable alternatives. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Annoucements of new studies attempting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1850,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-homosexuality-a-race\/","url_meta":{"origin":68336,"position":2},"title":"Is homosexuality a race?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 12, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is homosexuality a race? Answer: According to my dictionary, a race is \"a lineage; a family, tribe, people, or nation belonging to the same stock; a breed or stock.\" In other words, a race is a breed of mankind. When two people of the same race have children, characteristics\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":6922,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-there-to-repent-for-in-being-homosexual\/","url_meta":{"origin":68336,"position":3},"title":"What is there to repent for in being homosexual?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 17, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have just read your article entitled\u00a0What Homosexuals Want and a few questions came up. In the first paragraph, it is referenced that homosexuals, unless they repent, shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven ( I Corinthians 6:9-11). However, in referencing the scriptural quote, it says \"homosexual offenders,\" meaning\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":19962,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/its-about-sex-actually\/","url_meta":{"origin":68336,"position":4},"title":"It’s About Sex, Actually","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Matthew W. Bassford Without a doubt, the greatest marketing campaign of the modern era was (and continues to be) staged by the gay-rights movement. The recent sea change in the national attitude toward same-sex relationships is the result of a brilliant, decades-long initiative in framing and public relations. Though\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/friends-2-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":44596,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/you-only-oppose-homosexuality-out-of-ignorance\/","url_meta":{"origin":68336,"position":5},"title":"You only oppose homosexuality out of ignorance","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 6, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I'm sorry if I may sound a bit rash, but what is wrong with you people?\u00a0 I am deeply concerned on your standpoints of the Scripture and the answers you are giving people.\u00a0 We are all made in our own unique way, and the Lord forgives us for our\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\/68336","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=68336"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68336\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}