Homosexuality and the Bible

Matthew Vines wrote an article to reconcile the two. Let's see if it holds up to scrutiny. Check out the original article here:

Matthew Vines article

So, Matthew Vines comes out as a homosexual and then sets out on a quest to justify his sin rather than repent of it. Nothing new there. But he claims some success in convincing family and church members that are close to him.

I guess the time is ripe for that, as the Gay Agenda marches on, intent on cramming this down our throat until it is considered normal, mocking and bullying anyone who would disagree and hold to the biblical worldview.

He claims there are six relevant passages, and then attempts to twist the meaning of each one so that he can make the claim that homosexuality is not condemned as sin in the Bible.

Here's a better article on the subject: CARM Bible and Homosexuality

But let's deal with Matthew Vines' article.
For the first one he cites the story of Sodom (where we get the word sodomy from today) and Gomorrah. He doesn't reference the actual passage, however. He simply tells it in his own words and then goes to Ezekiel 16:49 for a summary that he likes better.

Let's look at that one first.

Ezekiel 16:49-50
"Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.
50 "They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it."

I notice that Mr Vines left out verse 50, the very next verse. I wonder why. I wonder what abomination it is speaking of, and haughtiness...like a Pride Parade perhaps?

Let's go all the way back to Genesis to get the full story in context. I suspect there is a clear reason that Matthew Vines chose to take another passage completely, instead of the original detailed account.

Genesis 19 isn't just about a "threatened gang rape". All of the men of the city came, young and old, ALL of them. And when they were struck blind by the angels, they still did not give up, groping around, trying to find the door in order to get to those men!

I would like to think that if I were struck blind, my priorities might change at that point and I would go home. Not so with these men who were so intent upon raping these strangers.

Anyway, read Genesis 19 for yourself, in context, and determine what is being taught. I don't think it's difficult to discern.

Next up, he goes to Leviticus 18:22, which seems quite clear. I guess that's why he just glosses over it, dismissing it by claiming that other OT laws given to the Israelites are now obsolete because Jesus fulfilled this law.

What? Is he saying that Jesus died so I could continue in my sin? I don't think so. You'll be hard pressed to find a verse that says that.

Then he briefly mentions Hebrews 8:13 and Romans 10:4 in an attempt to disregard the verses he doesn't like, claiming the Old Testament law is invalid today.

Maybe this is a good place to look at the OT law, the division of the law and how it pertains today. John MacArthur explains it nicely in the notes of his study Bible:

The Law can be divided into three categories: Moral, Civil, and Ceremonial.

The Ceremonial Laws (animal sacrifices, the Sabbath, etc) were pointing us to a coming Messiah, and so this aspect of the Mosaic Law has been set aside, fulfilled in Christ.

Colossians 2:14-17 l
"having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a new moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ."

The Civil Laws were written to a specific people at a specific time and specific place. The basic responsibility for the civil aspect, showing the application of the moral Law in a community, has been transferred to human government.

Romans 13:1
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."

The Moral Law finds its basis in the character of God and is presented in outline form in the Ten Commandments. It still stands and applies to our lives now, having never been revoked or abolished, but finds its authority in the New Covenant.

Every unbeliever is still under its requirement of perfection and its condemnation, until he comes to Christ, and every believer still finds in it the standard for behavior.

Romans 8:3-4
"For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

Normally, unbelievers like to quote the most obscure Ceremonial or old Civil Laws, but the real problem they have concerns the Moral Law and submission to the Lord.

Matthew Vines would do well to dig a bit deeper, with a good study Bible like MacArthur's.

However, Mr Vines instead mentions Romans 1:26-27, attempting to minimize the issue by making the claim that Paul was really talking about lust, not homosexuality in itself. Nice try.

Next, he again goes into a completely different subject in an attempt to discredit the topic of homosexuality by using a verse about the length of men's hair (1 Corinthians 11:14). Mr Vines seems to think that if we don't hold to this one, then we can ignore other parts of the Bible, as if it were the same thing.

In answer to this, simply read through the MacArthur quote again in order to discern how the Law is divided into three sections.

Finally, Vines makes the assertion of the "last two likely references" regarding homosexuality from the New Testament. However, he doesn't quote them or even give the references.

Rather, he gives a broad, sweeping assessment that these verses were never talking about homosexuality as "committed, monogamous relationships." He claims "the Bible never addresses the issues of sexual orientation or same-sex marriage"

Well, this is because "sexual orientation" isn't something real. It's simply a preference, a choice, and the Bible clearly condemns it as sinful without the need of each individual instance of it.

Homosexuality is called an abomination, period. It doesn't matter if it's prostitution, rape, or a "committed relationship", the act itself is sin, regardless of any attempts to justify it.

I wonder if Matthew Vines meant to reference 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 in his general summary. It's worth looking at.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

Do you see how this one breaks out the "sexually immoral" as well as "homosexuality"? This pretty much kills his idea that Paul was only talking about lust and excess in Romans 1:26-27.

Sexually immoral covers lust and excess, and yet, homosexuality is listed as it's own separate subject here. No wonder he didn't quote this one or even reference it.

This one verse in the New Testament completely destroys his entire argument. Case closed.

Soli Deo Gloria

Who Are You?

Bigot. Uneducated. Hateful.

The GLBT community is constantly compared to the civil rights movement and racism today, and people just accept that argument. You can't really argue with that, can you? Well, not if you let them make that presupposition in the first place.

However, I don't think it's anything like racism at all. In fact, I think it's degrading to the civil rights movement and all those who risked their lives fighting for freedom from that.

I find it, not like racism at all, but rather, like smoking, and everyone knows that it's OK to discriminate against smokers. Their bad choices damage their own health, as well as those around them. Homosexuality has also been proven to be very unhealthy to those practicing it.

Now, before you start screaming that sexual orientation is not a choice, that they're born that way, let me just state that I agree completely. We are all born with a sinful nature, my sins may manifest in different ways than yours, but it is still a sin nature with devastating effects. The biggest difference is that we need to turn from those sins, rather than attempt to legitimize them.

Enter, the Gay Agenda, set upon making the world see homosexuality as normal.

Make no mistake, it does exist. You can read all about it, and see how successful it's been, leading right up to where we are today.

The Gay Agenda

Followed by a book, expanding on these ideas a couple of years later, is this book, called "After The Ball".

After The Ball

One way of going about achieving this goal is to compare it to some other fight that has already been won and has widespread public support. Racism fits the bill nicely, compare it to that.

Next, ensure that any who would dare to oppose the agenda are dealt with swiftly and harshly, in order to strike fear into the perceived enemy so that they will lay down and do nothing. Mock them, ridicule them, bully them into silence. Oh, and while we're at it, let's make them out to be the bullies, that will make it more difficult for them to cry foul.

Now then, we must garner sympathy for the movement, so this will require some persecution, whether real or not, matters very little, but there must be the perception of persecution and mistreatment.
Here are some examples.

Assault on student

Man Admits Hate Crime False Attack

Falsified Police Report in Alleged Anti Gay Attack

Amren.com

News Video Joseph Baken

The College Fix

Bias Hoax

Gay Lesbian Task Force

And let's not forget the famous Matthew Shepard case.

abc news

Turns out, it didn't happen quite as we were told.

Another thing to keep in mind, in our already over-sexually charged society, it is very easy to remind people of their own shortcomings in order to quiet them down for fear of being seen as some sort of hypocrite.

Yet, we are not seeing any adultery pride parades, or any proud liars clubs. People are not real receptive to child molesters, but what is the real difference? Weren't they born with their sexual orientation, too?

If you simply look at it in a rational way, it becomes quite clear just how ridiculous this whole idea is. And so, you are a bigot. Uneducated. A hater.

Homophobic?

I wouldn't call it "homophobic". I'm not any more afraid of a homosexual than I am anyone else.

I mean, I've seen the gang violence of the "gay" population when Christians are simply stating what the Bible says on the subject and opposing their lifestyle as sin, and that looks like a fearful place to be.
It reminds me of the large groups of radical Muslims who attack Christians.

Although, Muslims also see homosexuality as sin, so what is it going to look like when those two violent groups collide?

I think a better term to describe this would be "sinaphobia".

I am afraid of the righteous and just wrath of the Almighty Creator of the universe when He comes against those who would attempt to oppose Him (Luke 12:5).

I am afraid of the judgment that is coming down upon my country as we sit idly by and condone all kinds of sin and make excuses for it (Romans 1:32).

I am afraid for those who would pour out contempt and blaspheme the name of the One who created them and the environment they live in, the One who gives every blessing and allows every breath and heartbeat (Hebrews 10:31).

I mean, think about it. He created everything you know in the universe and much more that you aren't even aware of! Out of nothing! Beings more powerful than you can even imagine, tremble at the very mention of His name, yet mere mortals deny His very existence for the sake of their sins.

I am not "homophobic" and I do not hate homosexuals, I fear for them greatly. And this is why I will speak the Biblical truth to them in love, that they also might repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation from the eternal hell that we all deserve (www.needgod.com).

Homosexuality is only one in a list of sins (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). If one would truly trust in Him, the love for their sinful lifestyle would change (1 John 1:9), they would become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Soli Deo Gloria

Leopard's Spots

I am neither afraid of homosexuals, nor do I hate them. What I am sick of is this whole homosexual agenda being constantly crammed down my throat. I am considered a narrow minded, judgmental bigot because I believe what the Bible says on the subject, and no one seems to notice the narrow minded, judgmental bigotry against Christian beliefs these days. Can you say hypocrites?

The comparison of homosexuality and racism is really annoying. Does this not offend anyone who has personally dealt with racism before? It's nowhere near the same thing. A person's sexual preference does not necessarily have to be shoved in everyone's face publically, while a race or skin color is a physical difference that is readily apparent. The Bible tells us this - "can a leopard change it's spots, or an Ethiopian change his skin color?" Of course not. But can a man turn from an abominable sin and stop committing it? Sure, when that person is saved by Jesus Christ.

The homosexual agenda is not about "rights" so much as it is about special benefits and attempting to make everyone else accept this deviant behavior as normal. But it is not, and as a Christian who holds to a Biblical worldview, I will not change my mind on that. This doesn't mean that I hate gays or lesbians, and it certainly doesn't mean that I condone them being beaten or mistreated. Nor does it mean that they deserve special rights for their particular sin, either. We don't have "adultery pride" parades, and although society as a whole tends to overlook the sin of fornication, it is not crammed down everyone's throat.

The reason the homosexual agenda is gaining momentum with the general heterosexual population is simply sin. No one wants to point out the sins of homosexuality, lest their own sexual sins of fornication and adultery be brought up. Or their lust for power and greed of money or overindulgence in pleasures and food. America's population as a whole is obese both physically and spiritually, due to lack of exercise and spiritual discernment. Gluttony prevails and laziness wins out in the American heart, we wouldn't want to jeopardize our comfortable lifestyles by bringing up the nasty little three letter word of sin, would we?

Our churches promise our hearts desire, and we greedily flock to hear the prosperity gospel, overlooking how blessed we already are. Our insatiable appetite for the finer things is never quenched, as we trample others to get more than we can ever need or use in our lifetime. We can hardly judge anyone else's sins when our own lives are chock full of it. And anyone who would dare realize this and bring it up in public must immediately be shut down, ridiculed and silenced. If they won't be silenced, they must at least be mocked to the point that no one will listen to them.

So here we are today in America, Christians are now called hateful, dangerous bigots, while we accept the murderous ideals of Islam. Atheism provides the new religion of Darwinian Evolution masquerading as "science" and anyone who is brave enough to point out the inconsistencies and lack of proof is quickly shot down as some uneducated, myth believing, flat earth fool with no sense whatsoever.

With abortion killing our unborn children for convenience and profit, God being mocked and any mention of Him no longer allowed in class rooms, and erasing and re-writing any history of God in the foundation of our country, how could we not be under His judgment at this very time? And then people have the audacity to ask why God would allow bad things to happen in our country. Look around, figure it out. Read your Bible and see history repeat itself as we learn nothing from the Israelites past in rejecting God and facing judgment time and time again. The only real surprise is, why are we so blind?

Couple Banned from Foster Care due to Christian Beliefs

LINK
This couple has been barred from foster care due to their refusal to compromise their Christian beliefs regarding homosexuality in Britain.  Seriously?  Now Christian values are making people unfit to raise children?

Wow, this stuff is getting out of hand.  How long before we have a similar situation here in the States?