Christians and Homosexuality 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 Hebrews 4:12). In current news is the debate over same sex marriages. In order for a Christian to respond to such a question, first you must ascertain if homosexuality is right or wrong, a choice or a sin. The basic answer to the debate lies in the Truth. Is homosexuality a sin, and, if so, how are Christians supposed to respond? According to the Bible, homosexuality is a sexual immorality and, in that, a sin. In the world’s (non-Christian’s) view, not only is homosexuality acceptable, but it is quickly becoming the latest fad. Everything from music, to films, to news glorifies and defends homosexuality and bisexuality. According to the Gallup poll, In 1999, a plurality (50%) considered homosexuality an acceptable lifestyle, compared to 46% who felt it was unacceptable. The trend continued such that, by May of 2003, 54% considered homosexuality an acceptable lifestyle, compared to 43% who regarded it as unacceptable (Herek). Not only does the world find homosexuality increasingly acceptable, but they deny that it is a sin. One argument is that there was no term for homosexuality in the Bible and in those times they didn’t know what it was, as if homosexuality is a new development. “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (RSV Ecclesiastes 1:9). The word for homosexuality used in the New Testament means “‘Them that defile themselves with mankind’ coming from the word Greek word arsenokoite, meaning ‘homosexual’” (Dallas). Clearly, the Bible does have a word for homosexuality that does not refer only to prostitution or idol worship. The World’s main argument to Christians is that the verses in the Bible are only in the Old Testament, and therefore outdated. In the World’s eyes, the verses on homosexuality should no more be acknowledged than the law of stoning disobedient children. Not only is this assumption wrong, but it is a terrible thought, to ignore all the laws in the Old Testament. That would rule out, “Thou shalt not kill”(KJV Exodus 20:13), “Thou shalt not steal”(KJV Exodus 20:15), and “Thou shalt not give false testimony”(KJV Exodus 20:16), three of the major laws that America was built on! While I agree that all the laws in the Old Testament do not need to be followed in this day and age, it is not because they are outdated, but rather because we have been washed clean and no longer need all those rules to keep us pure. After Christ died on the cross for our sins, we live in a world of grace, not law. This is shown in Ephesians, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God-- not because of works, lest any man should boast” (NAS 2:8-9). Works, or following the law, cannot save us, it is only by grace are we saved. In fact, most of the statements against homosexuality are in the New Testament. The Bible blatantly condemns homosexuality, both in the Old and New Testament. They [humans] 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 (“Online” Romans 1:25-27). This verse clearly disapproves of homosexual relations, in any form, and plainly identifies what homosexuality is, “shameful lusts”. Because people “exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator” they were given over to these “lusts” and felt sexually attracted to persons of the same sex. In other words, God said, “Fine. You want to worship other gods and do what ‘feels good’, go ahead. But when you hurt yourselves, don’t blame me!” (Not Biblical) Some Christians may argue that even though the Bible condemns homosexuality, we should not speak out against it because Jesus spoke frequently on our need to be a witness to others, to love others and not to judge others…Your paper was brought up in one of my classes and it was dismissed as “That Christian Paper”. What you are calling “truth” is actually a huge stumbling block in my being able to witness to my classmates. We were not called to judge others, we were called to be a witness (Anderson). While we are not supposed to judge, there is a difference between judging and correcting. Correcting a brother (fellow Christian) is one of the responsibilities Christians have. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom” (NIV Colossians 3:16). This means that it is our responsibility to teach and correct our brethren when God reveals something to us through his word. We are supposed to admonish our fellow Christians when they turn from God’s word. If you saw a person from your church worshipping an idol, you would approach the person and tell him that one of God’s commandments was “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (KJV Exodus 20:3), you would not ignore it, or accept it. It is not judging, it is correcting! Once you correct the person, telling them that they need to repent, and IN LOVE, showing them where in God’s word it rebukes their sin, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent”(ANT Revelation 3:19). “Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt”(NIV Leviticus 19:17). If they do not repent of their sin, and STOP doing it, do not associate with them. I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you” (LNT 1 Corinthians 5:9-13). You are not to judge or confront those who are not Christians, but to preach the Word and let God’s Word rebuke and bring them to the Truth. Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry (NIV 2 Timothy 4:2-5). Once you have shown unbelievers God’s love, and told them of the Word, do not condone their actions by being with them while they are committing their sins. This may sound harsh, but I am not telling you to be rude or ignore them, I only mean, Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ... What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God (“Online” 2 Corinthians 6:14-16). We are judged by who our friends are. If, instead of ministering to them, we hang out with homosexuals, adulterers, or idol worshipers, etc., people see us in the same light. Not only is this a bad ministry, but the believer can be infected by the sins surrounding him. “Don't you know that a little yeast [sin] works through the whole batch of dough [body]?”(NIV 1 Corinthians 5:6) Indeed, the Bible warns against associating with unbelievers, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret” (NIV Ephesians 5:11-12). Because we are a separate people, alive in Christ, we must be aware of the traps the World sets for us, “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 Colossians 2:8). Never take the truth for granted, “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil”(“Online” 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). God knows exactly how perverted people are capable of becoming and warns us to watch out for those that suppress the Truth with wickedness. 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. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 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 (NIV Romans 1:18-25). Sometimes even after showing people the love of God, they refuse to leave the sins that they feel give them pleasure. Most Americans have been exposed to the Word of God at least once in their lifetimes, yet they refused to listen. 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 Romans 1:28-32). That is how things have gotten to the point of even Christians doubting that homosexuality is a sin. If everyone approves and condones something, can it be a sin? Certainly. Even though the World’s eyes have been shut to the sins around them, God can open the eyes of the Christian and allow us to realize how far we have let things go. “With the love Christ showed while weeping over Jerusalem, and the anger He displayed when clearing the Temple, the Church must respond”(Dallas). If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother (NIV 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). Works Cited Anderson, Kay. VR a Stumbling Block. Feb. 2004. Veritas Review. 03 March 2004 . Dallas, Joe. Responding to Pro-Gay Theology. 13 July 2002. Leadership U. 19 March 2004 . Herek, Gregory M. Prevalence of Sexual Prejudice. 2004. Sexual Orientation: Science, Education, and Policy. 03 March 2004 . The Holy Bible: Amplified New Testament (ANT). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970. The Holy Bible: King James Version (KJV). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970. The Holy Bible: Living New Testament (LNT). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970. The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version (RSV). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970. The New International Version Online Bible. International Bible Society. New York: IBS, 1978. Gospelcom.net. 2004. 15 March 2004 . The New Student Bible: New International Version (NIV). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan a Publishing House, 1992. The Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard (NAS). Chi