HOMOSEX AND THE CHRISTIAN

The Making, and Breaking, of Homosexuality

Miles J. Stanford

INTRODUCTION

We begin this material with the gentle reminder that it concerns, and is exclusively for, Christians. And it is with deep regret that we have no alternative but to say that the Christian home is the basic source and cause of the sin of homosex among Christians.

Also at the outset we are frank to say that which is shared is an oversimplification of a very complex and subtle subject. Although but an outline is submitted, we include some detail where necessary; and all is set forth without the use of technical terms.

While our subject is the Christian homosexual, and in particular the lesbian, we are also dealing with the influence of homosex upon the Christian home and church. By this we mean its effeminate influence upon the male, and its masculine influence upon the female.

Finally, we in no way wish to give the impression that there is a homo in every home, or a pervert in every pew. It is true that there is a grave and growing homosex problem in our midst, but it must be dealt with spiritually and prayerfully, as well as practically. And if there are those to whom this vignette would seemingly do an injustice, we hereby submit our sincere apology. At the risk of insulting your intelligence, we will define a few simple terms:

HOMOSEX -- The Greek word "homo" means "same." Hence homosex is sexual relations in one form or another with one's own gender.

SODOMY -- Any sexual intercourse regarded as abnormal, as between persons of the same sex (usually male), or between a person and an animal. The term is derived from the biblical reference to the sin of the men of Sodom and Gomorrah.

LESBIANISM -- An erotic relationship between two females. The female homosexual is known as a lesbian. The epithet comes from the name of the island "Lesbos" in the Aegean Sea near the mainland of Greece. About 590 B.C. many of the young female inhabitants of the island, disciples of a woman named Sappho, engaged in mutual sex practices.

BISEXUALITY -- The capacity for erotic relations with either sex.

HETEROSEXUALITY -- The normal male and female sexual relationship.

THE WORD OF GOD -- Although the Scriptures deal with homosex in a relatively brief manner, what God does have to say about the sin is the ultimate in warning and condemnation.

THE SODOMITE -- In the Old Testament, before the Law as well as under the Law, the penalty for engaging in homosex was death--and that included not only couples, but in some instances entire cities and even nations.

The Law stated: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination" (i.e., hateful, disgusting, loathsome) (Lev. 18:22). "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 be upon them" (Leviticus 20:13).

Before the Law was given to Israel, God had to utterly destroy an entire area that included the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of the sin of homosex. "The men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly" (Genesis 13:13).

"The Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities." "Turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly" (Genesis 19:24,25; II Pet. 2:6).

THE LESBIAN -- In reference to Gentile unbelief, Paul wrote: "Wherefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator....

"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did exchange the natural use for 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 recompense of their error which was fitting" (Romans 1:24-27).

THE PEOPLE OF GOD -- Despite God's dire warning and extreme example, Judah became involved in the Canaanite sin of homosex! Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord (I Kings 14:22) because she practiced paganism (I Kings 14:23) and permitted the Sodomites to engage in their abominations. Actually, the reason the Lord cleansed the land of Canaan of her inhabitants was because the Canaanites were homosexuals (I Kings 14:24).

The kings of Judah who did "right in the sight of the Lord" were those who properly handled the homosex issue. For one, King Asa "did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord" (I Kings 15:11) -- "he took away the sodomites out of the land" (I Kings 15:12).

King Jehoshaphat likewise did that "which was right in the eyes of the Lord" (I Kings 22:43) -- "the remnant of the sodomites, who remained in the days of his father, Asa, he took out of the land" (I Kings 22:46). And finally, King Josiah "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord" (II Kings 22:2) -- "he broke down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the Lord" (II Kings 23:7).

THE CHRISTIAN HOME -- As we have reluctantly stated, the Christian home is the primary source of homosex among Christians. This terrible truth is compounded by the fact that it is not only careless and carnal homes that contribute to this problem, but "good" Christian homes as well.

By this we mean homes where the parents are sincere believers who are faithfully seeking to bring up their children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). They are serious Christians who are actively engaged in service of one type or another, both in their community and their church.

How can such a thing be? How could concerned Christian parents contribute to the homosexual conditioning of their children? It can be accomplished without even trying! It is the easiest thing possible; and is usually fostered by "spiritual" means.

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MJStanford

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(Materials by Miles J. Stanford are republished here under exclusive permission from the author.)