According to a Gallup® poll, opponents of legalizing same-sex marriage continue to outnumber supporters in the United States, by 53 percent to 44 percent. When Gallup first asked about the legality of gay marriage in a 1996 poll, 68 percent of Americans were opposed and 27 percent in favor. Those who say religion is "very important" in their lives oppose legal same-sex marriage, 70 percent to 27 percent. In contrast, Americans who say religion is not important support gay marriage by just as wide a margin. [Gallup.com]
Homosexuality continues to be a defining issue in this new millennium and I believe that it's being driven, in large part, by the media. Hollywood understands that the more they present homosexuality as being a societal norm, the more it will be accepted by the masses. (The above statistics seem to bear this out as gay marriage continues to gain favor with many Americans.) Our children are being indoctrinated with an amoral message that is being used to shape their views on homosexuality. It is through the media that our kids are regularly hearing the philosophy espoused that aberrant sexual behavior isn't aberrant at all. For an increasing number of people, homosexuality is just an alternate way to love and it is viewed by many as being equal to heterosexual marriage relationships.
This departure from morality is further advanced because we live in a society that continues to divest itself of moral values and restraints. Humanism reigns in America and man is acting as his own deity. But, if you accept the Bible as the final authority and the infallible Word of God, then you can reach no other conclusion than that homosexuality is wrong, just as God says. The "scripture twisting" methods that some use to justify their behavior belie the simple reading of God's Word.
Homosexuality continues to be a defining issue in this new millennium and I believe that it's being driven, in large part, by the media. Hollywood understands that the more they present homosexuality as being a societal norm, the more it will be accepted by the masses. (The above statistics seem to bear this out as gay marriage continues to gain favor with many Americans.) Our children are being indoctrinated with an amoral message that is being used to shape their views on homosexuality. It is through the media that our kids are regularly hearing the philosophy espoused that aberrant sexual behavior isn't aberrant at all. For an increasing number of people, homosexuality is just an alternate way to love and it is viewed by many as being equal to heterosexual marriage relationships.
This departure from morality is further advanced because we live in a society that continues to divest itself of moral values and restraints. Humanism reigns in America and man is acting as his own deity. But, if you accept the Bible as the final authority and the infallible Word of God, then you can reach no other conclusion than that homosexuality is wrong, just as God says. The "scripture twisting" methods that some use to justify their behavior belie the simple reading of God's Word.
“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” (Romans 1:26-27)
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
“And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment.” (Jude 6-7)
There is no biblical way around the fact that God says homosexuality is sin. There are even more scriptures that could be mentioned, if you take into account the Old Testament Law. But, what the above references show is that God opposes homosexuality as a lifestyle practice. God made them “male and female” from the beginning and that is the only acceptable marriage relationship sanctioned by God.
Having said all this, it is also unacceptable for Christians to address this issue with less than the attitude of Christ. It has always impressed me how Jesus treated the most sinful people of His day with compassion and consideration. He never excused their conduct, but neither did He seek to unnecessarily offend them, either. We can't win homosexuals by yelling at them, calling them names, being harsh/hateful, threatening them, etc. We win them when we show them how “the truth shall make [them] free” (John 8:32), while demonstrating the spirit of Christ.
As parents, we must be more vigilant than ever to teach our children about homosexuality, while showing them the proper responses to those who've been entrapped in its deceitfulness. We must also be on guard against their indoctrination by the media and music industry. No matter how hard our world tries to make right wrong and wrong right, God is still the final authority on all things moral. If our children buy into the secular, godless philosophy of our age, then they will be accepting a lie that may eventually entrap them in their own sexual sins.
Having said all this, it is also unacceptable for Christians to address this issue with less than the attitude of Christ. It has always impressed me how Jesus treated the most sinful people of His day with compassion and consideration. He never excused their conduct, but neither did He seek to unnecessarily offend them, either. We can't win homosexuals by yelling at them, calling them names, being harsh/hateful, threatening them, etc. We win them when we show them how “the truth shall make [them] free” (John 8:32), while demonstrating the spirit of Christ.
As parents, we must be more vigilant than ever to teach our children about homosexuality, while showing them the proper responses to those who've been entrapped in its deceitfulness. We must also be on guard against their indoctrination by the media and music industry. No matter how hard our world tries to make right wrong and wrong right, God is still the final authority on all things moral. If our children buy into the secular, godless philosophy of our age, then they will be accepting a lie that may eventually entrap them in their own sexual sins.
