“Against Nature” What the Bible Teaches About Homosexuality How Some “Christians” Justify Homosexuality Neglect Bible verses (ignore the clear verses against homosexuality) Selective Bible verses (focus in on the verses about “love” and “forgiveness”) Reinterpret Bible verses (explain away these verses as not really condemning homosexuality) Substitute Bible verses (appeal to science and genetics instead of the Bible) Arguments from the Old Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “‘Help meet’ in Genesis 2:18 means ‘companion’ which is what a homosexual partner is.” Answer: God created a “female,” a “wife” for Adam. One must not ignore who God made to be a “help meet.” Arguments from the Old Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “The sin of Sodom was inhospitality (Lk. 10:12).” “The sin of Sodom was pride (Ezek. 16:49; Isa. 3:9; Jer. 23:14) “The sin of Sodom was nonconsensual, homosexual rape.” Answer: No, the sin was giving “themselves over to fornication” and going “after strange flesh” (Jude 7; see 2 Pet. 2:6). Also, “know” (Heb. yadah) in Gen. 19:5,8 refers to sexual intercourse (see NIV; and Gen. 4:1,17,25; 24:16; 38:26; Num. 31:17,18,35; Judg. 11:39; 19:25; 21:11-12; 1 Sam. 1:19; 1 K. 1:4; Mt. 1:23,25; Lk. 1:27,34) Arguments from the Old Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “Leviticus 18:22 condemns the passive role in homosexuality, not the active role.” “Leviticus 18:22 condemns homosexuality in connection with idolatry.” Answer: No, this passage is condemning the homosexual intercourse of both parties (see Lev. 20:13), not a specific role (posture) of one party while engage in the intercourse. This passage speaks of immoral personal behavior, not just idolatry. Arguments from the Old Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “Ruth and Naomi were lesbian lovers (Ruth 1:14-18) Answer: No, both women were married to men (Ruth 1:2; 4:13). Arguments from the Old Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “David and Jonathan had a homosexual relationship (1 Sam. 18:1-3; 20:30,41).” Answer: First, “love” and “kiss” in the Bible do not always imply erotic, passionate, sexual desire. Second, David was married to Michal, Saul’s daughter (1 Sam. 18:27-28). He had a problem with adultery (2 Sam. 11), not homosexuality! Third, 1 Sam. 20:30 refers to the shame a foolish son brings to his mother (Prov. 10:1; 15:20; 17:25). Arguments from the New Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “Jesus said nothing about homosexuality.” Answer: First, he spoke of the condemnation of Sodom. Second, he spoke positively about what God desires for a man and a woman (Mt. 19:3-9). Third, he spoke through Paul against homosexuality (1 Cor. 6:9-10; 14:37) [Note: It is important to point this out to those who follow the “red letter” edition of the New Testament.] Fourth, Jesus said nothing directly about incest, rape, pedophilia, or bestiality? Are these practices ok? Arguments from the New Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “Jesus said marriage between a male and female is not for everyone; i.e. a eunuch (Mt. 19:12); therefore, a man can be with a man; a woman with a woman.” Answer: Jesus is contrasting marriage (between a man and a woman), and celibacy; not heterosexuality and homosexuality. Arguments from the New Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “Jesus healed the centurion’s “boy,” but he did not condemn their homosexual relationship (Mt. 8:6,8).” Answer: The Gr. pais is translated “child,” “maiden,” “son” “young man,” or “servant.” Luke’s account makes it clear that this “child” was a “servant” (Lk. 7:2ff). There is no hint of homosexuality between the two. Arguments from the New Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “Jesus was a homosexual because it is said that he “loved” some man (Jn. 11:36; 13:23; 21:20).” Answer: The “love” (Gr. agape and phileo) of Jesus toward other men was not errotic, passionate love (Gr. eros). Arguments from the New Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “‘Against nature’ in Roman 1:26 simply means those that are naturally heterosexual trying to be homosexual; i.e., ‘inversion’.” Answer: No, the Greek phusis (“nature”) means “the order of nature.” Paul is talking about that which is abnormal, perverse and contrary to God’s created order of things; the way He made man and woman from the beginning (Gen. 2:18-25) Arguments from the New Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “‘Against nature’ in Roman 1:26 is the same in Romans 11:24, and there it is not condemned.” Answer: What God did with the Gentiles was indeed “against nature” (grafting a wild olive branch onto a domesticated olive tree), but God’s actions here are not described as immoral as they are in Romans 1:26-27. Arguments from the New Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “Paul is simply condemning homosexuality that is tied with idolatry.” “Paul is simply condemning perverted homosexuality (homosexual rape, child molestation), not the loving, compassionate kind.” Answer: No, homosexuality (in Rom. 1 and 1 Cor. 6), and the other sins listed are sinful because they are immoral. Are the other sins listed here ok as long as they are not tied with idolatry, and are the loving, compassionate kind? Arguments from the New Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “Paul and other Bible writers were culturally conditioned against homosexuality, and therefore condemned it.” Answer: First, Paul and all other Bible writers were inspired by God directly to write what they did (Gal. 1:11-17; 2 Tim. 3:16). Second, Peter was “conditioned” against Gentiles, but was told to change (Acts 10; Gal. 2:11-14). If being “conditioned” against homosexuals is wrong, God would have told Paul so. Arguments from the New Testament Used to Justify Homosexuality “‘Strange’ in Jude 7 refers to sexual intercourse with angels (Gen. 6:2).” Answer: No, Jude was talking about the events of Genesis 18-19 (2 Pet. 2:6-9). There is no record of sexual intercourse with angels in Sodom. “Strange” (Gr. heteros) refers to flesh of a “different” kind; i.e. flesh of another man, and not a wife (Gen. 2:23-25). Homosexual “Rights” Homosexuals have a “right” to… Know that God regards their activity, not as a “disease” or “sickness,” but as a sin (1 Cor. 6:9-10) Know that they were not born homosexual, but that they chose their abnormal conduct (Rom. 1:26-27) Know that they will suffer the consequences of their sin (Rom. 1:26-27) Homosexual “Rights” Homesexuals have a “right” to… Know the truth of the gospel (Mk. 16:15-16) Know that they can repent, change, and stop their sin (1 Cor. 6:11) Know that they can be put away by their lawful spouse for their sinful activity (Mt. 19:9; Jude 7) Know that they can have a happy heterosexual marriage (1 Cor. 7:1-2)