The Bible reveals that sex was created by God and is good, it was his idea. Soon, The First Words of God Recorded and Addressed to Humanity summarize the Bible’s teachings on sex: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth?(Genesis 1:28). This positive commandment demonstrates that sex was designed to glorify God, to strengthen the bond between husband and wife, to be lived exclusively between a man and a woman in the marital relationship, and to spread the human race.
On this side of the fall, sex and sexuality are distorted to a greater or lesser degree. Today, however, there is a strong controversy over homosexuality in evangelical circles and, increasingly, also in reformed churches. Homosexuality is not only often presented as a good thing, but it is also presented as something that must be sought with God’s blessing. It is alarming that acceptance of homosexual behavior among professing evangelicals is increasing. Some people tell us that the kind of same-sex relationships we see today (loving, monogamous) are not covered in the scriptures. Although this trend seems to continue, these revisionist views should be rejected by followers of Jesus Christ.
- The Word of God is firm in his negative view of homosexuality and sexual desire for the same sex.
- The Bible is the infallible standard by which we must consider homosexuality and understand the evangelical remedy for it.
- Unfortunately.
- The reliability of the Bible in this area.
- Has been questioned today by many who affirm the Christian faith.
- Christians who regard the scriptures as authoritative and inspired should not accept this diluted vision of God’s Word.
- The Bible reveals God’s position on the problems of the human heart.
- With homosexuality being one of many.
How should Christians think about homosexuality?We have to understand this in three ways: first, homosexuality in the scriptures is always mentioned in terms of action, something that is done physically with another person, or a pattern of inner and active thinking of the mind and heart. The Greek word most commonly used to describe homosexuality. in the New Testament is arsenokoit? S, who refers to a man lying with another man; therefore, whenever mentioned, it is always defined in terms of an activity, behavior or person engaged in this behavior of the heart and body.
Second, homosexuality is called sin in all the passages in which it is mentioned. It is forbidden and is expressly considered contrary to God’s will. The scriptures clarify this in Genesis 19: 4-9; Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Timothy 1. 9-10 and Judas 7. Romans 1. 24-27 also describes the activity of heart-centered passion and lust, as well as behavior, for both men and women. The behavior is listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, where we also learned that this was the story of some Christians in the early church, among those who had experienced salvation there were former practitioners of homosexuality.
Therefore, not only is homosexual behavior of the body and heart defined as sin, but also described as a consequence and effect of the fall. In reference to the reality of illicit sex, Leviticus 18:6-19 lists more than a dozen forms of sexual sin, including homosexuality and sex with animals. Once again, the gravity of sexual sin, especially homosexuality, is strongly declared in Romans 1: 24-26, using vivid and terrible expressions such as “The Desires of Your Own Heart”, “Infamous Passions” and having a “reproachable mental disposition”. This is in addition to the verses of Judas who speak of “transforming the grace of our God into debauchery” and of people who “prostituted” after another flesh. “The latter designation relates specifically to what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah.
But should God really communicate that sexual abuse in the aforementioned way (and, by inference, the desires that lead to such abuse) is forbidden and considered a sin?Our desires, especially our sexual desires, are never neutral. To see same-sex desire as neutral, especially when that objective desire of the other person sexually or sees the person alone as an object of sexual passion, is to ignore the depth in the scriptures, the heart is often seen as the center of our desires. In Mark 7. 21, Jesus describes the heart as the center of all sexual immorality and sensuality. These inclinations are described as vile things that come from within. He speaks of desire, whether the object of that desire is someone of the opposite sex or of the same sex, James 1:14-15 tells us that we are attracted and seduced by our desires and that desire gives birth to sin. is not a neutral part of our being, but a very active part of it.
Certainly, these views of the scriptures are largely rejected. There is an essential factor in trying to legitimize homosexuality biblically. Simply put, in today’s culture, our sociology increasingly interprets, defines and determines our theology. What do I mean by that? There was a time when believers regularly went to the Bible, both to learn to think about life’s problems and to find solutions to the dilemmas they faced, including problems related to sex and sexuality, but that is no longer the case. Today, the impact and influence of the social network and someone’s experience with friends and family have replaced what the Bible might say about it. Another term to understand this transfer of authority and credibility from the Word of God to personal experience is cultural accommodation. , it seems that many people believe that the scriptures should bow to our experiences or those of others.
We should also note that homosexuality is never described in the scriptures as a condition or state of existence. Contrary to the modern idea of one? Innate homosexual orientation – a term often used in the last twenty-five years or more – this concept is not found in the scriptures. Is it assumed in the Bible that we can bow or “orient ourselves”?For all that we continually value our mind and heart Do something in thought or action several times and for a long time, and it will be anchored in us.
But should we be careful with oversimplified thinking here, especially when considering our responsibility?something many don’t think they have about their desires or same-sex behavior. We are the product of complex interactions of many factors over many years. Why are some people subject to a number of psychosocial persuasions, including anger, depression, or addiction?Here is the answer: we do not always choose our struggles or our temptations, although we take responsibility for what we do with them. They develop in us through a complex interaction of temperament, internal and external influences, and our own voluntary, ruined and sinful self. We cooperate easily and naturally with these influences so that heart habits and behaviors become strong and dominant. In a sense, we are the sum of thousands of small decisions we make. We have cooperated with our cultivated desires. So, despite the external factors that may have been involved in the development of these temptations that we find particularly attractive, we are still responsible for having a pious life, even in the area of sexuality.
Finally, we must understand that God offers forgiveness, pure testimony, and restoration for Jesus Christ to all repentant sinners, including those with a history of homosexual behavior and other sins; Not only does he forgive us for being inclined to abuse his gift of sex and sexuality, but does his grace really educate us so that, renounced from evil and worldly passions, we may live reasonably, accurately and piously in this century?(Titus 2. 11-12). This does not necessarily mean that we can affirm that we do not use sex as part of our history or that illicit sexual desires will not continue to bother us or be a source of temptation, but it does mean that God’s grace gives us the power to live transformed into disciples of Jesus Christ, it allows us to resist temptation and live for its glory.
Christ is the mediator of this grace and gives power to believers; but the Church, the body of Christ, also plays a crucial role. I heard a shepherd say, “Repentance kills what kills me, without killing me. “I don’t know anyone who can do this alone. Learning to walk in obedience and mortify our sin and sinful nature is never something that can be tried alone or isolated. Biblical change is a community activity. The church’s call is to offer support and encouragement to those who experience same-sex temptations and other sexual temptations To walk with those who are tempted in this way means that we help them bear the weight of their struggles and temptations, offering friendship and camaraderie, and helping them to believe for the first time or to re-believe in the gospel every day. This is what Christ does for us and what we must do for others who are dealing with sexual sin. In doing so, we will also remember that we are also forgiven for our transgressions.