HE LOVES YOU NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY!

by

Pastor Lisa Arias

(A study on what the Bible has to say about homosexuality.)

INTRODUCTION

Can a gay person really be saved? What does the Bible really say? According to the Bible, I found that the answer is yes! Furthermore, you don’t have to "stop being gay" in order to be considered righteous by God!

This article is based on three assumptions. First, God sent his Son into the world to die for us so that we may have eternal life simply by believing in Jesus. According to John 3:16, 17 there are no conditions on God’s love. The only condition set on obtaining everlasting life, or salvation, is to believe in Jesus.

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (KJV)

Second, what we are to believe about Jesus is that he died and was raised from the dead on the third day. If we believe this with our hearts and confess with our mouth that "Jesus is Lord" then we will be saved. We also must realize that Jesus is the only way.

Romans 10:9-10

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 15:3-5

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. (NIV)

John 14:5-6

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (NIV)

Third, the Bible is the God-breathed or the inspired Word of God. All of God’s Word is good.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (NIV)

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (NIV)

According to the general Church community gays are an abomination. Gays are told that they have a no hope in God; they will end up like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah; and they are treated as though they embody all evil. A Christian co-worker once told me that the antichrist is going to be a homosexual man. She believed that he was going to be in the closet at first to make everybody like him. She said that when the time comes for him to show his evil he will come out of the closet. I want to proclaim to you that the concept that gays have no hope in God, as gay people, is not a Biblical teaching but a traditional teaching.

Mark 7:6-7

He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' (NIV)

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (NIV)

There are many examples of traditional teachings that served no other purpose but to separate people from God.

1. Galileo discovered that the earth revolved around the sun. The Church considered this heresy according to their misinterpretation of Genesis 1. They sentenced him to life imprisonment under house arrest.

2. The Church used Genesis 9:21-27 to "prove" that Blacks were cursed by God into a life of slavery in order to justify what was done to them during the plantation days and to justify racism. The fact is that the curse fell upon Canaan, one of Noah’s grandson’s. Canaan was one of four brothers. His three brothers settled in Africa but Canaan settled in the Middle East.

3. Another example of a traditional teaching with no basis in Scripture is the hatred of Jews. Some think that God condemned the Jews because they killed Jesus. If it were not for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ there would be no salvation. Romans 11:25-32 tells us that God’s call is irrevocable. The Jews are still special to Him and they will be saved as a nation in Christ at the appointed time. Besides, Christ’s death and resurrection was God’s plan since the foundation of creation.

Romans 11:25-32

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.  (NIV)

Revelation 13:8

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast__ all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

Finally, the Church community is wrong when it uses God’s Word to condemn you for being gay. The fact that you care what God thinks about you proves them wrong!. The fact that you have suffered hurt, humiliation, guilt, rejection and shame at the hands of these people proves that they are misrepresenting God!

The God of the Bible is full of justice, mercy and love. Yes, He has gotten and will get angry with people, but this anger is always precipitated by three things: abandoning Him in exchange for another god, abusing others morally, financially, sexually or otherwise, and abusing ourselves in the same manner. You will see this consistent theme from Genesis to Revelation..

SEARCHING OUT THE SCRIPTURES

When we look at Scriptures there are three things to consider in order to minimize misinterpretation of what God is saying:

A. Cultural setting

B. Original meaning

C. Overall theme of the Bible

After all, haven’t your words ever been misunderstood by people who only half listened to you? How much easier it is to misunderstand the Word of God!

Isaiah 55:8-9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (NIV)

A. Cultural setting:

Look at the following scripture found in Song of Solomon 4:1_4: "How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone. Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate. Your neck is like the tower of David, built with elegance; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors. (NIV)

In order to understand the depth of the love and emotion being expressed here it is important to understand the significance of sheep, goats, pomegranates, warrior shields and the tower of David to that culture and then apply it to our culture. Otherwise, this scripture can be misinterpreted.

B. Original Meaning:

In the King James Version Luke 8:19 reads: "Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. The word press does not mean radio, TV and newspaper personalities but it simply means ‘crowd’. If we don’t examine the original meanings of the words then we could easily mistranslate and misinterpret what the Bible says.

C. Overall theme of the Bible:

I don’t believe that any one person has all the truth. In 1 Corinthians the Apostle Paul said: "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

Because no one knows everything fully it is very easy to make the Scriptures "prove" anything. This is what happens when we take the Scriptures out of context from the rest of the Bible. For example, look at Luke 14:25, 26: "Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ‘if anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters__ yes, even his own life__ he cannot be my disciple.’" I can easily use that to "prove" that Jesus preached hate, was totally against the family, placed little or no value on human life and that following him means that we must be full of self hate. Of course that interpretation is wrong because it is not consistent with the overall theme of the Bible. With a little extra look into the original meaning of the word "hate" could better be translated as "love less than". Now that changes things and puts that text back in context with the overall message of the Bible. It is a message of God’s love for us that is consistent from Genesis to Revelation. In turn, we are asked to love God above all else, love others and love ourselves.

Matthew 22:36-40:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

THE GAY LIFESTYLE

Unfortunately, the gay lifestyle has come to mean a life involving promiscuity, serial monogamy, prostitution, child molestation, degradation, baths, bookstores, golden showers, brown scenes, orgies, drugs, alcohol, etc. The gay "lifestyle" has but one purpose: to search for something to satisfy a never ending hunger. Just look at most of the ads in our gay publications. Actually, this is not a lifestyle at all. It's more like a DEATH-style. We don't live by it we die by it. God hates it. He hates it because He loves us. You see, this death-style degrades us, hurts us, and makes us feel bad about ourselves deep down inside. If you really think about it you will find that it’s a prison.

Please notice that everything associated with this "lifestyle" is also found in the heterosexual world as well...promiscuity, serial monogamy, prostitution, child molestation, degradation, baths, bookstores, golden showers, brown scenes, orgies, drugs, alcohol etc. The only difference is that heterosexuals do these things with people of the opposite sex and homosexuals do them with people of the same sex. Also note that just as all heterosexuals do not participate in this type of life, neither do all homosexuals.

If homosexuality is all wrong in God's eyes because some homosexuals live like this does that mean heterosexuality is wrong because some heterosexuals do likewise? Of course not!! God hates these things no matter who does them. After all, don't you hate it when someone you deeply care about is hurting themselves and others you care about? Think about it. God's love is greater than we can ever imagine much less express to another! That's why He hates the things that hurt us.

To be sure I do not defend such a lifestyle in this work. Just because a person is gay does not mean they have to buy into this gay stereotype. We are who we are and God knew it from our mothers' womb. We were made wonderfully complex!

Psalms 139:13-18.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. (NIV)

The purpose of this work is to assure you that God DOES NOT condemn you just for being gay. A homosexual is different from a heterosexual in one way: a homosexual is attracted to people of the same sex and a heterosexual is attracted to people of the opposite sex. Otherwise we are all the people of God's creation with similar yet unique complexities of heart, mind and soul. Certainly, we’ll all do better to devote our whole hearts, minds and souls to loving God.

Matthew 22:36-40:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

IS SEX FOR PROCREATION ONLY?

Some say that being gay is wrong because there is no way to procreate. If that is so, then sex between a sterile man and/or a barren woman can't be justified either since there is no way for them to procreate. The sex for procreation only argument is unscriptural. Let's look at the two examples in the Bible where sex took place for procreation only:

1.  Abraham and Hagar

In Genesis chapter 16 we find the story of Abraham and Sarah. God had promised Abraham a son but Sarah was barren. After trying with no success Sarah decided to take matters into her own hands and in Genesis 16:1,2 she tells Abraham to sleep with her handmaiden so that he could build a family through her.

Genesis 16:1-2

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai said.

I don't think Sarah really meant for her husband to just "sleep" with the maid since that's not how you make babies. She was telling him to have sex with her. The sex for procreation only between Abraham and Hagar was not what God wanted. The child, Ishmael, was born from that union God blessed him but made it very clear that he was not the son of the promise. In fact, at one point God didn't even recognize Ishmael once Isaac was born from Sarah about 14 years later. (Genesis 22:1,2). Ishmael ended up being the father of the Arabs. Because of this union of sex for procreation only, there continues to be animosity between Arabs and Jews who are indeed brothers!!

2.  Lot and His Daughters

In this account Lot's daughters feel an urgency to procreate. The only available man is their father. They decided to get their father drunk so they could get pregnant by him.

Genesis 19:30-38

Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father." That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I lay with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father." So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went and lay with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben_Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today. (NIV)

The oldest daughter gave birth to the Moabites and the youngest gave birth to the Ammonites. These tribes became idol worshiping enemies of Israel. One of their gods was Molech to whom they offered human sacrifices. (You can read about this throughout the Old Testament.)

What does the Bible say about sex as an expression of love between two people in covenant relationship? There are several barren women in the Bible who were favored by their husbands. These couples continued to have sex knowing that they could not conceive under normal circumstances. They were Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, and Elizabeth. Sarah and Elizabeth were still having sex with their husbands past child bearing years! Was it for procreation or as an expression of love? Each of these women were greatly blessed even though they had sex when procreation was not physically possible. You can read about Sarah and Rachel in Genesis 18:9-12 and 30:22-24, about Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:1-20, and about Elizabeth in Luke 1:6,7.

A final example of sex as an expression of love is found in the Song of Solomon. This book of the Bible is a collection of love poems between two people that are in covenant relationship. When you read this book of the Bible you will not find the words children, offspring or family. You will find the word lover mentioned 28 times, darling mentioned 19 times and the bride's breasts are complimented 8 times.

SODOM AND GOMORRAH

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah has been used by people to condemn gays. The argument used by them is that God destroyed these cities because the people of these cities were homosexuals. In this section we will show conclusive BIBLICAL evidence that Sodom and Gomorrah were NOT destroyed because of homosexuals. The only book I will use to show this is the Bible. The Bible does not contradict itself because the it is the Word of God and God is not fickle.

The beginning of this story is found in Genesis

Genesis 13:8-13:

So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left." Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. (NIV)

Abraham and Lot were so wealthy that they had to separate because the land could not support both of them with all their family members, herds, and workers in one place Lot chose to move his family to the twin cities.

The next time we hear about these cities is in Genesis 18:16-33. Here God tells Abraham his plan for Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 18:20-21

Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know." (NIV)

Abraham pleads for these cities because of his nephew Lot. While Abraham and God were talking, the other two angels go to Sodom. Let's read for ourselves what really happened that day:

Genesis 19:1-13

The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. "My lords," he said, "please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning." "No," they answered, "we will spend the night in the square." But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.

Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom– both young and old__ surrounded the house. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them." Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing. Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof." "Get out of our way," they replied. And they said, "This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We'll treat you worse than them." They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door. But the men inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house and shut the door. Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door. The two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here__sons_in_ law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it." (NIV)

There are several major holes in the theory that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of homosexuality. First, The idea that "all" the men of Sodom were gay is ridiculous. For one thing, Lot's daughters were pledged to be married to men of Sodom. Second, if all the men were homosexuals, why did Lot offer his daughters to appease them? What good would it do to offer a gay man a woman to have sex with? Finally, these people threatened Lot. If he didn't comply with their wishes they said they would do WORSE to him that to the two visitors. They were also trying to force the door down. They were obviously violent and they were trying to get at two unwilling guests. Whenever you mix sex with violence against an unwilling person you do not have homosexuality, you have RAPE.

There is another story in the Bible in which the same thing happened:

Judges 19:13-27

He added, "Come, let's try to reach Gibeah or Ramah and spend the night in one of those places." So they went on, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin. There they stopped to spend the night. They went and sat in the city square, but no one took them into his home for the night. That evening an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was living in Gibeah (the men of the place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the fields. When he looked and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, "Where are you going? Where did you come from?" He answered, "We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the LORD. No one has taken me into his house. We have both straw and fodder for our donkeys and bread and wine for ourselves your servants__ me, your maidservant, and the young man with us. We don't need anything." "You are welcome at my house," the old man said. "Let me supply whatever you need. Only don't spend the night in the square." So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.

While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him." The owner of the house went outside and said to them, "No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don't do this disgraceful thing. Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But to this man, don't do such a disgraceful thing." But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight. When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. (NIV)

Notice the similarity in the stories. Compare Genesis 19:4,5 with Judges 19:22

Genesis 19:4,5

Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom__ both young and old__ surrounded the house. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."

Judges 19:22

While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him."

In the account in Judges the "wicked men" were appeased with the female concubine. This proves they were not homosexuals. They were after sex for power or rape. If you read further you’ll learn that the tribe of Benjamin was almost totally destroyed because of this incident. Neither the tribe of Benjamin nor the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were punished because of homosexuality. Both of these accounts clearly describe rape. What the men of Sodom were going to do to the angels in Genesis was what the men of Gibeah did to the traveler's concubine in Judges.

Why were Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed? What were the grievous sins that God judged them worthy of such destruction? What was the great outcry God was referring to in Genesis chapter 18? We don’t need to wonder. The Bible tells us exactly why these cities were destroyed.

Ezekiel 16:48-50

As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done. "'Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen. (NIV)

Ezekiel Chapter 16 is an allegory God used to compare unfaithful Jerusalem to an adulterous wife for committing religious adultery. As you can see God listed the sins of Sodom. No homosexuality is listed there. Those detestable or abominable acts mentioned refereed to the religious rituals popular in that time. We will cover these in the section on false gods.

Deuteronomy 29:22-26

Your children who follow you in later generations and foreigners who come from distant lands will see the calamities that have fallen on the land and the diseases with which the LORD has afflicted it. The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur__ nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce anger.

All the nations will ask: "Why has the LORD done this to this land? Why this fierce, burning anger?" And the answer will be: "It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt. They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, gods they did not know, gods he had not given them. (NIV)

Moses was about to die and he predicted the scattering of Israel and the destruction of the land like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This destruction of Israel was not prophesied because of homosexuality but because of religious infidelity. This is quite in line with the context of the entire Bible. Of course God promises their restoration in Deuteronomy chapter 30. This complete restoration is about to happen in the end times, but that is another study..

Amos 4:11

"I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me," declares the LORD. (NIV)

If you read the book of Amos you find that God promises to overthrow Israel as He overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah for three things: turning away from God which is religious unfaithfulness, being evil to the poor and living selfishly. Homosexuality is not even addressed.

Jeremiah 23:13,14

"Among the prophets of Samaria I saw this repulsive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray. And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah." (NIV)

Here is yet another comparison of the promised judgment of Israel to the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. Once again the theme is religious unfaithfulness, not homosexuality.

Matthew 10:11-15

"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. (NIV)

Here, Jesus Christ compares the sin of Sodom to the sin of faithlessness in people who reject the Gospel and inhospitality.

Matthew 11:20-24

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you." (NIV)

Here the Lord again makes reference to Sodom's destruction as he talks about unrepentant cities that refuse to believe in him or his miracles. This is about religious unfaithfulness and unbelief, not homosexuality.

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can know him right now. Don’t be guilty of not believing in Him. Here is what Jesus himself said:

John 3:16-18

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (NIV)

Notice that Jesus said WHOEVER believes in him shall have eternal life. The condemnation is reserved for WHOEVER does not believe in Him. He made no mention of homosexuals in this passage.

If you recognize that you are a sinner and need Jesus to be the Lord of your life then it is a very simple process. Ask God to forgive you of whatever has separated you from Him. That is what sin is. When you ask Him that he will forgive you:

I John 1:9-10

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. (NIV)

According to Romans 10:9,10 all you have to do is: "you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (NIV)

At the end of this article is a simple sample prayer that you can pray. There is also some other information you will want if it is your desire to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

If you have known Jesus as your Lord and Savior but felt you had to walk away because you are gay, come back to Him. He has never left you. Repent of whatever you have done to hurt yourself, others and God. He is just waiting for you with open arms. He understands it was all a misunderstanding. His love never fails.

Psalms 36:10-12

O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise. (KJV)

Psalms 48:9

Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. (NIV)

Give your heart back to Him and tell us about it. At the end of this article is some information for you if you have decided to rededicate your life back to God.

LEVITICUS 18:22

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind, it is abomination." (KJV)

It appears quite clearly stated. Now, let's put this verse in context with the whole Bible. We don't want to pull one verse out of context like the one I used to "prove" that Jesus preached hate in the introduction. This verse is a part of a group of hundreds of rules and regulations called the Law. It is important to note that this group of rules is always referred to in the singular form such as:  the Law of Moses, the Law of the Lord, the Law of God, the Book of the Law or simply the Law. This Law is contained in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  Jesus said: "It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law." (Luke 16:17) These rules were to be taken as one Law. It's all or nothing.

Let's look at some of the rules of the Law found in Leviticus. Chapters 1_7 has rules about the different kinds of offerings and sacrifices that were to be made in preparation for worship. Chapters 8-10 has rules for the priests regarding offerings, sacrifices, and other priestly duties. Chapter 11 has rules about clean and unclean foods. For example you will find that pork and shrimp are abomination but it's OK to eat beetles, locusts and grasshoppers. Chapter 12 has rules about purification of a woman after childbirth and the circumcision of males is a must. Chapters 13-14 has rules related to skin disorders from leprosy to scabby stuff like dandruff, eczema and zits. Chapter 15 has rules about purification of women after their period and for men with seminal discharges. Chapter 16 has more priestly rules Chapter 17 has rules about not consuming blood. Chapter 18 has rules about sex. Chapter 19 has rules about dealing fairly with others, crossbreeding of animals and crops is not allowed (No tangelos allowed and Tropicana twisters are a synthetic sin). Mixed fabrics are a no-no! (no polyester or cotton blends), no cutting of sideburns or trimming of beards, when you plant a tree you are to avoid eating its fruit for three years. Chapter 20 has more rules about sex...if a man has sex with a woman on her period they are both to be cut off from the people and that if a couple commits adultery they are both to be put to death. Chapter 25 has rules about not lending money to a country man with interest, and we are not to sell food at a profit. My favorite law is in Deuteronomy 15:1 "At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts."

We can go on and on. These laws have to do with being clean or unclean and about keeping yourself from being cut off from the people. Clean or unclean for what? Cut off from the congregation? Why?

Exodus 19:1-6 

In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt__ on the very day__ they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." (NIV)

Israel was to be a kingdom of priests. The function of a priest is to lead in worship and offer sacrifices to God on behalf of sinners. So, this was the function of the Israelites. This was the reason they were called by God. They had to be set apart from the other nations or consecrated in order to be purified for worshiping and serving a Holy God. In Leviticus 20:7,8 He said to them, "'Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy." (NIV)

When you read the Law you will find that the only way to really be purified for worship was by the blood of a lamb, sheep, goat or bull. In Hebrews 9:22 we read: "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Once they were purified for worship they worshiped at a special place in the center of their community called the Tabernacle. The heart of the Tabernacle was a room called the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy Place. The heart of the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant. The lid of the Ark of the covenant was the Mercy Seat. The plans for this tabernacle were given by God in great detail.

Exodus 25:8-9

"I want the people of Israel to build me a sacred residence where I can live among them. You must make this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the plans I will show you. (NLT)

They were to follow these details with accuracy. This accuracy was very important because the tabernacle was an earthly copy of the Tabernacle in heaven.

Hebrews 8:5

Their work is connected with a mere earthly model of the real tabernacle in heaven; for when Moses was getting ready to build the tabernacle, God warned him to follow exactly the pattern of the heavenly tabernacle as shown to him on Mount Sinai. (TLB)

The Tabernacle was a model of the throne room of God and the Mercy Seat was His throne! The only person that was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place was the High Priest. All of these laws and all of the ritualistic cleaning and all of the sacrificial blood had a purpose. It was so that the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies where more blood was sprinkled so that God would forgive the people of sin and accept their worship.

To enter the Most Holy Place the High Priest had to go through a curtain or veil. While Jesus was on earth the Law was still in effect. However, the moment he died the Law was fulfilled. Upon His death, the curtain that symbolized the separation between us and God was ripped open from top to bottom.

Matthew 27:50, 51

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. (NIV)

These curtains were over 40 feet high and they were thick. They were torn by God from top to bottom. From that moment on the Holy of Holies, symbolic of God's throne room, was no longer closed off to us. Now, we can approach God with confidence and without fear of being "unclean" because the blood of Jesus was shed for us. No longer do we need the blood of goats, sheep or bulls to be right with God. The blood of Jesus is the only lasting sacrifice required. There is no longer a need for "the Law of Moses" as it has been fulfilled in Jesus. We say that Jesus fulfilled the Law because the purpose of the Law was to gain forgiveness for the people.

Hebrews 10:19-23

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (NIV)

Now, when we believe in this blood of Jesus Christ, we are made clean or righteous by this faith and NOT by observing the Law. If observing the Law made us right with God or righteous, then Jesus would have died for nothing.

Galatians 2:21

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" (NIV)

Since we are righteous or right with God we can freely and with confidence go into His very throne room and He is also free to walk among us.

Ephesians 3:10-12

God's purpose was to show his wisdom in all its rich variety to all the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. They will see this when Jews and Gentiles are joined together in his church. This was his plan from all eternity, and it has now been carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome. (NLT)

Hebrews 4:16

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 6:16

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." (NIV)

Sodom and Gomorrah were not destroyed because of homosexuality and we are no longer under the "Law of sin and death". Accept the grace of God. Accept the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus and let your consciences be cleaned. Allow Him to walk in your life. He wants to do that. And He knows you are gay!

Galatians 3:19-29.

What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (NIV)

You can't believe that Jesus died for you if you are bound by the Law and believe that you are an abomination worthy of death. If you abide by the Law then you are saying that the death of Christ means nothing to you and that is exactly what Satan wants you to believe!!! But we know that "Satan is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44)

Romans 6:14 says that we "are no longer under the law but under grace." The concept of grace is very simple. It has nothing to do with what you did or do or will do. The concept of grace has to do with what God has already done and why He did it! You see, God so loved the world (that's you and me) that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus, so that "whosoever" (you and me, again) shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Now, if someone judges you by the Law, including Leviticus 18:22, show them the following scripture:

James 2:10

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (NIV)

Anyone who judges you by Leviticus 18:22 better stop pointing fingers at you and start making all those sacrifices, worshiping at a tabernacle, and eating beetles and grasshoppers instead of shrimp, pork and lobster. But as for us "Christ is the end of the Law" and the beginning of a great love relationship between God and us!

Romans 10:4

Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

(NIV)

WHAT DID JESUS SAY?

The only place Jesus really addressed or even hinted at sexuality is found in Matthew chapter 19. Here you find Jesus, the disciples and the Pharisees discussing this very topic of marriage between males and females. It is true that God created males and females and instituted marriage. But in Matthew 19 Jesus adds another thing that many ignore or overlook because it doesn't apply to them:

Matthew 19:11-12

Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

Typically a eunuch is defined as a castrated male.  This is incorrect.  Castration means to remove the testicles (that were already there) or emasculate.  If all eunuchs were castrated males then why would Jesus say that "some were born that way?"  A eunuch is a man who has no desire or ability to have sexual relations with a woman. These men were commonly used to protect the harems. Since the Word of God is for everyone we can apply the spiritual concept found in Galatians 3:28 where the Apostle Paul says: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Therefore, a eunuch can be male or female in this passage.

Jesus addressed three types of eunuchs: 

Those born that way. (That’s people like me who are born gay.)

Those made that way by men. (Those castrated or those sexually abused people who choose to be gay as a result of this abuse rather than because it is their natural sexual affinity.)

Those who elect not to have a sexual relationship for the sake of the kingdom. (For example a priest or nun. This group makes the decision on their own.)

So here, our Lord Jesus states that not everyone will marry according to the custom as in male and female. He also said that not everyone can accept this. He says that those that can accept it should accept it. Can you accept what Jesus said? I can.

FALSE GODS OF BIBLICAL TIMES

There is no question that to understand what "detestable practices" the Word refers to in Ezekiel 16, Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians, it is important to know what was involved in the worship of these false gods of Biblical times. Following is some information from Nelson's Bible Dictionary and the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament:

From Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1986 and from the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament:

"The pagan civilizations of Bible times worshiped many gods. They had male and female deities, high and low gods, assemblies of gods, priests and priestesses, and temples and sacrifices. All the forces of nature that could not be controlled or understood were considered supernatural powers to be worshipped and feared. Most of the people of the ancient world worshipped more than one god. These gods were worshiped in the form of representative idols. This practice is called idolatry. The pagan nations made statues or images to represent the powers which they worshiped. Most of these idols were in the form of animals or men. Each civilization and culture had its own mythological structure, but these structures were often quite similar. The names of the gods may have been different, but their functions and actions were often the same. The most prominent myth to cross cultural lines was that of the fertility cycle. Many pagan cultures believed that the god of fertility died each year during the winter but was reborn each year in the spring.

The ancient Babylonian and Assyrian goddess Ishtar symbolized Mother Earth in the natural cycles of fertility on earth. Many myths grew up around this female deity. She was the goddess of love, so the practice of ritual prostitution became widespread in the fertility cult dedicated to her name. Temples to Ishtar had many priests and priestesses, or sacred prostitutes, who symbolically acted out the fertility rites of the cycle of nature. Ishtar has been identified with the Phoenician Astarte, the Semitic Ashtoreth, the Egyptian Isis, the Greek Aphrodite, and the Roman Venus. Ishtar's male fertility counterpart was Tamuz who was closely associated with the Canaanite fertility god, Baal.                

Adremelech was a god worshiped by child sacrifice.  Egyptians gods were figures of men with heads of animal or birds.  The Canaanite god most often referred to is Baal who was thought to provide productive forces of nature.  Baal was worshipped with much sensuality. As with the male shrine prostitutes. Baal and related deities are also portrayed as a mating bull, symbolizing fertility.                                                                                                        

Baal's mistress or lover was Anat. Anat is sometimes identified with the queen of heaven in mentioned in Jeremiah.  Anat was the patroness of sex and passion.  Lewd figurines of this nude goddess, and various objects with exaggerated sexual features have been discovered at various archaeological sites in Palestine."

I went to a museum in Costa Rica that displayed similar artifacts. These displays made the toys behind the counters of  the local "bookstores" look like a picnic.

From Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Molech was the national deity of the Ammonites whose worship was accompanied by the burning of children offered up in sacrifice by their own parents. Chemosh was the national god of the Moabites who was also worshipped with child sacrifices. Ashtoreth was the ancient goddess of the moon, sexuality, sensual love, and fertility and is often associated with the worship of Baal Zeus was the supreme god of the Greeks. According to Greek mythology he was the ruler of heaven and father of the other gods and mortal heroes. Diana also called Artemis was the goddess of the moon, hunting, wild animals, and virginity.  Aphrodite was the goddess of sensual love. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament the people of God were surrounded by pagan gods. The apostle Paul declared to the philosophers of Athens, "I perceive that in all things you are very religious".  In the city of Athens, idols of pagan gods stood on every street corner. The Athenians even erected an altar "to the unknown god". Acts 17:22,23."

In worshiping any god, you must sacrifice something that the god gives. To worship the god of fertility the people had temple prostitution and offered child sacrifices. To worship the sun or the river god, they would have festivals and rituals involving the sun or the river. Now, in light of this information let us look at Paul's writings in Romans and in Corinthians.

ROMANS

Romans 1: 26, 27

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

After having read the section on False Gods of Biblical Times, you have an idea of the cultural and religious setting of Paul's day. Many like to take Romans 1:26, 27 out of the book of Romans and hang it in space. These two verses are set within a passage. To understand what the God-breathed Word of God says, we must read His word in context rather than take a verse out of the Bible and look at it by itself.

This scripture starts with the linking phrase: ‘because of this’. Because of what? Let’s work backward until we get to the beginning of the thought so we can get to the beginning of the passage. In studying Romans chapter 1 one can see that the beginning of this passage starts in Romans 1:16.

Romans 1:16-32

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."  The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities__ his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Though they claimed to be wise, they became and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.  Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised. Amen.  Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.  Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.   They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are     gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.      Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (NIV)

In verses 16 and 17 Paul describes the Gospel: "it is the power of God for salvation of everyone who believes". Then he gives us the reason for that. He says in verse 17 that in the Gospel "a righteousness FROM God is revealed" and that this righteousness comes by FAITH in the Gospel. Righteousness comes from God down. It does not come from humans and offered up to God. Righteousness means being right with God because you have faith in the Gospel (That Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead on the third day.) Righteousness does not come by heterosexuality nor is it prevented by homosexuality. Righteousness is a gift. It is not earned. It is not gained nor lost by your genetic code. ( I firmly believe most of us that are gay are born that way.)

The next thing Paul does is to describe people who have no faith in God. These are people who reject the Creator for a lie. Are you in the process of rejecting God? I don’t think so. The very reason you are reading this is because you are seeking answers from Him.

Interestingly, Paul was speaking of men AND women in verse 18 in the phrase; "godlessness and wickedness of men"-(anthropos) "They" chose to worship and serve created things rather than the Creator. "They" exchanged the glory of God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. This very clearly describes the idols made by the people of ancient times who worshiped the gods of the day as described in the previous section on 'False Gods of Biblical Times.' Here Paul is speaking of the associated temple prostitution. It is very clear that Paul is speaking about both men and women in verses 18-24. In verse 24 he refers to the temple prostitution acts between men and women: "them"- the godless; they were given to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with ONE ANOTHER. Well, based on the fact that this describes heterosexual acts should we condemn heterosexuality also? In verse 26 he links to the "one another" with "Even the women". This refers to temple prostitution between women as part of their worship of false gods In verse 27 he refers to temple prostitution between men and links it to the one another with "ALSO". Paul specifically referred to all sexual acts between people in the context of religious worship of false gods. His main point is NOT homosexuality. His main point is the Gospel of Christ and the condition of people who don’t believe. NOTICE that this description continues!  . Look at verses 28-32:

"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.   They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are     gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.      Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (NIV)

In verse 28, Paul uses the word "furthermore". This means that there’s more. God gave "them" over. He gave up. He allowed them to do "what ought not to be done." Paul describes these things in verses 29-32.

Those things describe a lot of heterosexuals. Some homosexuals also fit that description, however, not all homosexuals do those things just like not all heterosexuals do them. These verses describe nothing about homosexuality. They describe things that violate the three principles God insists upon: loving God, loving your neighbor and loving yourself.

Paul’s thought does not finish there. It continues into the next chapter of Romans.

Most "Christian" gay-bashers don't like to read the next 5 verses. Paul is speaking to the judgmental Christians:

Romans 2:1-5

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

A judgmental Christian is just as without excuse as an unbelieving, false-god worshiper.

As for me, I love and choose to worship Jesus in spirit and in truth.  I live with His Spirit and His Truth within me.   God wants you to know that you can live with His Spirit and Truth also.   The truth is that He loves you no matter what a gay-basher may tell you. I challenge you to give Jesus a chance.  Ask Him into your heart today.  If you have no one to help you with that, email me at Earias777@yahoo.com.

CORINTHIANS

According to Nelson's Bible Dictionary Corinth was ancient Greece's most important trade city. At Corinth the apostle Paul established a flourishing church made up of a cross section of the worldly minded people who had flocked to Corinth to participate in gambling, legalized temple prostitution, business adventures, and amusements available in this first century navy town.  The city soon became a melting pot for the approximately 500,000 people who lived there at the time of Paul's arrival.

Merchants and sailors, anxious to work the docks, migrated to Corinth. Professional gamblers and athletes, betting on the Isthmian games lived there.  Homeless slaves, free or runaway, roamed the streets day and night. Prostitutes (both male and female) were abundant. All of the Mediterranean world relished the lack of standards and the freedom of thought that prevailed in the city. These were the people who eventually made up the Corinthian church. They had to learn how

to live together in harmony, although their national, social, economic, and religious backgrounds were very different.

Near the city's market place were the butcher stalls or meat markets that Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:25. The meat was often dedicated to pagan idols before being sold. This presented a culturoreligious problem for the Christians in Corinth. Rising 1,500 feet above the city and to the south of the acropolis was a fortified hill upon which loomed the infamous Temple of Aphrodite or Venus. This pagan temple and its 1,000 temple prostitutes greatly influenced the city's culture and morals.

Paul wrote two letters to the church in Corinth and both dealt with divisions in the church, as well as immorality and the abuse of Christian freedom. With this in mind let us do a word study of 1 Corinthians 6:9 using a Strong's Greek Dictionary. This dictionary takes each word in the King James Version and gives the Greek definition.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10   

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV)

The phrase we want to look at is: "nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind". According to Strong’s the Greek word translated as effeminate is "#3120, malakos (mal_ak_os'); of uncertain affinity; soft, i.e. fine (clothing); figuratively, a catamite." A catamite, according to Webster’s is a kept boy. In these days it was very common for young males to prostitute themselves to older, wealthy men in exchange for money, education or a place to live. These were not intended to be love relationships. Many of these men were married to women. These boys were simply kept for sexual purposes as live in prostitutes. As I stated in the "Gay Lifestyle" section of this article, I do not defend this type of activity. Unfortunately, today, there is a group of young, male prostitutes that has come about because their parents kicked them out of the house for being gay. These are two different things. Young male prostitutes do not equal homosexuals and homosexuals do not equal young male prostitutes. Prostitution has nothing to do with homosexuality.

The next part of the phrase in question is translated as "abusers of themselves with mankind. According to Strong’s Dictionary there is only one word that is translated as "abusers of themselves with mankind. "# 733 arsenokoites (ar_sen_ok_oy'_tace); from 730 and 2845; a sodomite: The word ‘sodomite’ means male temple prostitute. This word has a Hebrew (or Old Testament) counterpart. In the Strong’s dictionary the Hebrew word is "#6945 qadesh (kaw_dashe'); a (quasi) sacred person, i.e. (technically) a (male) devotee (by prostitution) to licentious idolatry". Although the definition is clear, some versions of the Bible translate this as homosexual while other versions correctly translate it to male temple or shrine prostitute. Notice the following example of one of those scriptures. The New International Version reads:

Deuteronomy 23:17_18

No Israelite man or woman is to become a shrine prostitute. You must not bring the earnings of a female prostitute or of a male prostitute into the house of the LORD your God to pay any vow, because the LORD your God detests them both. (NIV)

Now look at how this scripture is mistranslated in The Living Bible:

Deuteronomy 23:17-18

"No prostitutes are permitted in Israel, either men or women; you must not bring to the Lord any offering from the earnings of a prostitute or a homosexual, for both are detestable to the Lord your God. (TLB)

There may be some homosexual prostitutes, but not all homosexuals are prostitutes. Likewise, there may be female prostitutes, but not all females are prostitutes. Furthermore, under God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, ALL may obtain eternal life.

SALVATION

What does it mean to be saved? It means to be rescued from the power of death. Salvation is also a gift, not something you earn. When a person is saved from a disaster like fire, flood, heart attack, etc. they moved from being in a position of death to a position of life and that is what being saved is all about.

Romans 6:23.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)

John 5:24 (These are the recorded words of Jesus)

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (NIV)

Many people will tell you that the only way you can be saved is to renounce being gay. That is very much against what the Bible says. According to the Bible there is only one requirement for being saved.

John 3:16_18

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (NIV)

Look at the last sentence of John 3:16-18. Condemnation is the state of those who do NOT believe in Jesus Christ. This scripture also it says that "WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" and that includes gay believers.

Anyone who wants to be saved, can be saved if they believe. We just have to make that choice to believe in Jesus.

John 6:47

"I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life." (NIV)

Once a person believes, Jesus promises to never drive them away. This promise is for ALL who believe, whether they are gay or not. Jesus promises that if you come to him, he will NEVER drive you away.

John 6:37_40

"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

(NIV)

What is a person supposed to believe in order to be saved?

Believe that everyone is a sinner including you. Romans 3:23

Repent: The Greek word for repent means: to change one's mind (heart) for the better. So, when you repent you are changing your mind from wanting to live your life without Jesus to living a life with Jesus as your Lord.

Believe the gospel in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.

Romans 10:9-10

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (NIV)

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THE GOSPEL

1 Corinthians 15:3-5

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. (NIV)

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If you are ready to receive Jesus as your Lord repeat this simple prayer from your heart:

"Lord Jesus, I am a sinner and need you to forgive me for living a life without you in it.  I need you.  I believe that you died for my sins and were raised from the dead on the third day. Jesus, come into my heart and be the Lord of my life."

Congratulations! You are now part of the family of God! Find a Bible and read St. Luke chapter 15.  If you need a Bible, E-mail me.

How can you know for certain that you are saved? It is because salvation comes from God by faith in Jesus. It does NOT come from anything we do. It is a gift God gives us if we believe in Jesus. Read the following scriptures.

Romans 3:21-27     

21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished--
26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith.
(NIV)

Romans 5:9-11

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
(NIV)

Ephesians 1:7-8

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. (NIV)

Hebrews 9:14

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (NIV)

1 Peter 1:18-19

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (NIV)

Revelation 1:5-6

and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father__ to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (NIV)

Revelation 5:9-10

And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.  You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." (NIV)

We must now get our focus off of our sexual orientation. Realize that this is not an issue with God.  Lift up your eyes from the position of guilt and shame and place them on JESUS. He is worthy of your praise and adoration.  He wants you to praise Him. Focus your attention on the Word of God for it is filled with life and hope not death and condemnation. Begin to build a solid personal relationship with the Lord who loves you so much that he not only died for you but also now lives for you!  God loves you no matter what they say! Look to Him for yourself!

Lisa Arias

SEARCHING OUT THE SCRIPTURES

THE GAY LIFESTYLE

IS SEX FOR PROCREATION ONLY?

SODOM AND GOMORRAH