Genesis 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
When I was a little child the thought of being interested in the opposite sex made me blush. As I became older and interested in the opposite sex it was just natural for a man and woman to be affectionately interested in each other. Never did I have any desire to be with someone of the same sex.
I have an older cousin who’s been a homosexual for as long as I can remember. The entire family has long ago accepted his lifestyle I did also before being saved. Afterwards, I realised it was wrong and took a stance against it, not because I hate my cousin or anyone else; but I had to tell the truth in love. And that’s what this post is about speaking the truth and siding with God even if it’s unpopular to do.
In the old days, marriage was always accepted as being between 1 man and 1 woman. The family unit has always consisted of that truth, 1 father, 1 mother and children. God created this foundation from the beginning (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 5:2, Matthew 19:4, Mark 10:6) without this structure society as we know it collapses. The time came when ungodly men/woman in their God-ordained authoritative role turned their backs on God’s Law and order of creation.
The Ruling
On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, legalized it in all fifty states, and required states to honor out-of-state same-sex marriage licenses in the case Obergefell v. Hodges.
We’re told in God’s word to submit ourselves to those in authority, to uphold the law of the land (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13-25). While people in these positions of authority are putting these laws now into place, they contradict the commandments of the LORD, and we as believers are to obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
The Adverse effects of Homosexuality
First, let me say it’s with love that we reach out to people in the LGBT community. As followers of Jesus Christ He gave us the two greatest commandments, we are to love God and we are to love our neighbour as ourselves (Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27). And that’s what this message is, a warning to those involved in the LGBT community out of love for where they will spend all of eternity.
When the Gospel is preached to the LGBT community a lot of the time it’s met with hostility and anger. We hear people say “God is love” and we as Christians say amen! God is love (1 John 4:8, 16), but we can’t ignore the fact that God is also Holy (Leviticus 11:44-47, Leviticus 19:2, 1 Samuel 2:2, Psalms 103:1-22, Isaiah 6:3, Isaiah 57:15, 1 Peter 1:15-16,) and must punish all sin. Most argue that the Bible has nothing to say about homosexuality but that’s incorrect, the Bible has much to say about homosexuality.
The Old Testament God commands that a man should not sleep with another man as he would with a woman (Leviticus 18:22). We also read that God sees homosexuality as an abomination (Leviticus 20:13), and anyone guilty of committing such is worthy of death. All sin is offensive to God but the act of homosexuality is looked at in disgust in the eyes of God. The definition of the word abomination according to Webster’s dictionary.
abom·i·na·tion | \ ə-ˌbä-mə-ˈnā-shən 1: something regarded with disgust or hatred: something abominable considered war an abomination. 2: extreme disgust and hatred: LOATHING a crime regarded with abomination.
Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Homosexuality is harmful to communities in that it confuses children, promotes lust things such as pride parades are not good. Children should’nt be exposed to naked people and lewdness. This is why children are confused and don’t know what gender they are.
The story of Sodom and upon Gomorrah
In the book of Genesis, we come across the account of a Canaanite city located by the Dead Sea called Sodom and Gomorrah. Both of these cites were riddled with evil, the people of these two cites practised sexual immorality. Abram and Lot were leading the people through the land of Canaan but the LORD had increased the people in abundance, and the land was not able to sustain them and strife broke out among the people. Therefore, Abram and Lot decided it was best to separate the people (Genesis 13:5-7).
Abram gave Lot first choice he told him “if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left”. Lot looked upon the land and chose the land which “was well watered” (Genesis 13:9-11), seems as if Lot just as Eve was tempted in the Garden when she looked upon the fruit of the tree she desired it (Genesis 3:6) Lot also “desired” the watered plains and lived in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 13:8-12).
The name Sodom and Gomorrah mean, Sodom = “burning”, Gomorrah = “submersion”. As the word of God says that “the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly”. The Lord and two angels came to Abraham telling him that Sodom and Gomorrah would be destroyed, Abraham pleaded with the LORD not to destroy the wicked with the righteous. As the LORD and Abraham spoke it was agreed that if the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah had 50 righteous men dwelling there God would not destroy it, Abraham pleading all the way down to 10 righteous men. The LORD agreed saying “Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake”. Leaving and sending his two angels to the cities (Genesis 18:22-33).
The two angels arrive at Sodom and Gomorrah and stayed with Lot in his house. But the men of the city wanted to have sex with the two men (Genesis 18:22). The word of God says “the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter”. The men were very sinful as Lot closed the door to his home the men called out to them from the street saying “Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them”.
They wanted to have homosexual intercourse with the angels even trying to breakdown his door but the angels blinded them (Genesis 19:3-11). That was enough evidence that Sodom and Gomorrah were to rightly be destroyed.
Genesis 19:12-13 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
God brought judgement upon them because of their sinful ways, but the proof is there that God calls homosexuality extremely sinful worthy of judgement. Sodom and Gomorrah met it’s fate as the LORD rained down fire and brimstone upon the cities.
Genesis 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Where else does the Bible speak about Homosexuality?
God’s word never contradicts itself, Jesus Christ Himself defined what constitutes a marriage in the sight of God. He said “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female” (Mark 10:6), a marriage in the eyes of God is between a man and a woman nothing else.
In the book of Romans we read “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet” (Romans 1:26-27).
God calls the act “vile affections” and that it’s against nature. All of those people who advocate for the LGBT stating people are born that way are wrong, homosexuality is learned and sinful. God says that they who commit such things deserve death “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:32).
In the epistle to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul writes “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” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). The word of God says “effeminate or abusers of themselves with mankind” this speaks to same sex couples, will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In the epistle to Timothy Paul writes “For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”. The word of God calls it “defiling to sleep with the same sex”. In other words it’s unholy to practice homosexuality.
In the epistle of Jude we have a reference back to the Old Testament about Sodom and Gomorrah “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 1:7). The Bible says the people of those cities went after “strange flesh” and that they “suffered vengeance of eternal fire”.
The apostle Peter in one of his epistles writes also of the consequence of Sodom and Gomorrah saying: “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;” (2 Peter 2:6). As we can see the Bible never condones homosexuality, bisexuals , lesbianism, transgenderism or same sex marriages God calls it all an abomination.
Homosexuality Today
After the same sex law was passed by the supreme court which now forces same sex marriages upon all. Christians are now faced with the issue of the LGBT community targeting believers. Bakery owner Jack Phillips in Colorado has been sued 3 times because he refused to make LGBT cakes for same sex or transgender’s couples. Thus far Mr. Phillips has won the court cases.
Peter and Hazelmary Bull, who reside in the United Kingdom, was running a bed and breakfast since 1986. Their Christian policy is to only allow heterosexual married couples to stay at their B&B. Their website states…
“Here at Chymorvah we have few rules, but please note that as Christians we have a deep regard for marriage (being the union of one man to one woman for life to the exclusion of all others). Therefore, although we extend to all a warm welcome to our home, our double bedded accommodation is not available to unmarried couples. Thank you.”
Steven Preddy and Martyn Hall, a male homosexual couple, brought a lawsuit against Peter and Hazel for not allowing them a room. The Bulls were fined approximately $6000 and are now appealing to the United Kingdom Supreme Court. As the case was publicized, they received death threats as well as their bed and breakfast being vandalized.
A 74-year-old Christian florist in Washington is fighting for her religious freedom by asking the Supreme Court to once again take up her case. Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene’s Flowers, told a long-time gay customer that she could not arrange flowers for his wedding because of her religious convictions. Several weeks later, the Attorney General with the ACLU sued Stutzman for refusing services.
The pressure is not only towards business owners, now children in school are also facing pressure from the LGBT agenda. As children in public schools are being forced to learn about same sex marriage through textbooks etc. Even Christian children are being targeted, a 10 year old girl and boy were suspended after asking to be excused from an LGBT lesson.
Kaysey and a classmate Farrell, studying at a school in South London, both asked to be excluded from a school lesson that promoted LGBT pride month.
The teacher, Susan Papas, told the two students that the lesson was part of the curriculum and refusing to participate was not an option. The two children courageously stood up for their beliefs. Kaysey and Farrell were told they were being homophobic and were accused of making anti-LGBT comments in class. The teacher even accused them of wanting to kill LGBT people. Both of the young children say they never said that, and they had rejected the statement when the teacher demanded, “Do you want them to die?”.
Christians are being pressured into excepting the LGBT agenda, but faithful believers are not complying to a lifestyle which promotes sin. Peter and John when they stood before the council after preaching Jesus Christ were asked.
Acts 5:28 …Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
Peter and the other apostles answered them saying.
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
We too need to give the same answer, We ought to obey God rather than men.
To the LGBT community
We do not hate you, we want you to be saved and know the God who made you. The same God who made all that you see in the sky, mountains and seas want to have a relationship with you. God must punish all sin if He’s Righteous and Just, all who have broken His Law are criminals. If we as mankind have place criminals in jail when they break the law, then how much more so with God?!
Currently, if you’re a practising member of the LGBT community you must understand that you’re under God’s wrath and condemnation. The Bible says.
Romans 3:10-18 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Because you’ve sinned against a Holy God He must pay you what you deserve, the same way you get paid at your job for the work you do; the same is true here. What is that payment?
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;…
God will pay you death which is hell, it’s eternal death in the lake of fire. God doesn’t wish this for you, therefore, He made a way for you to escape the wrath of God. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to take the punishment you deserve. Because God requires you to live a perfect life in order to make it to heaven you fail. One sin is enough to send you to hell and in your case anything associated with the LGBT community is sin. In addition, we all are guilty of lying and cheating and stealing. Therefore, there’s a judgment upon us because we have broken the Law of God.
God loves us so much that He sent the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. He was crucified on the cross and physically rose from the dead three days later. Proving that His sacrifice was acceptable to God the Father. Therefore, if you want to receive the free gift of salvation which will remove the wrath of God the Father, then you must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour by accepting His sacrifice by faith. If you want forgiveness for your sins.
The full verse of Romans 6:23 says
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Salvation is a free gift offered to all, by trusting in Jesus Christ you will be forgiven of all your sins and be given eternal life by God. There’s no better news in all the world!
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
God wants to save you, He loves you and died for you on the cross so that you can be with Him in heaven when the time comes for you to pass into eternity.
John 3:16 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.
