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#17 The Facts on Homosexuality
17. What does Romans 1 teach about the
homosexual lifestyle?
Romans 1:26,27 is the major New Testament text on
homosexuality; it also condemns lesbianism. Although its meaning is clear on the
surface, homosexuals still argue that Paul was not condemning homosexuality per
se but merely the Greek practice of pederasty (sodomy with a boy) or the
"unnatural" practice of heterosexuals turning to homosexuality. Thus, when Paul
argued homosexuality was "against nature," he was arguing only that it was
against the "nature" of heterosexuals. Homosexuals, far from acting "against
nature," are actually acting in harmony "with nature"- e. i., with their true
homosexual/biological nature. The practice becomes sinful only when
heterosexuals engage in homosexual activities because, for them., it is
unnatural. (This is like arguing that rape is moral and natural for rapists, but
immoral for non-rapists.) Supposedly, because homosexuals are "born that way"
homosexual practice is normal for them. But for those born heterosexual, it is a
sin to practice homosexual acts. (If this is so, then what can homosexuals say
about their proselytizing activities directed at heterosexual boys and
men)?
In addition, homosexuals contend that Paul and the other biblical
writers were ignorant of the more "enlightened" scientific/theological view of
homosexuality that distinguishes between the homosexual act and the homosexual
condition, the latter being something for which homosexuals have no
responsibility. But if they aren't responsible for what they are, how
can they be responsible for what their basic nature leads them to do?
If such arguments have any validity whatever, one wonders why a man
so erudite and discerning as the apostle Paul never made the fine
distinctions cited by homosexuals. Not once does he mention pederasty, nor does
he imply that he is referring only to heterosexuals who practice homosexuality.
Neither does he distinguish the supposed homosexual act/condition. Paul is
plainly condemning homosexuality itself. The dictionary definitions of
the words Paul uses-pathe aschemosune, etc-clearly refer to sexual
activity.
The kinds of homosexual sins listed in Romans are themselves said to be
the consequences of an earlier apostasy as well as divine judgment. Paul teaches
a logical trend downward: 1) Men refuse to accept the intuitive knowledge which
God has placed within them concerning Himself ( Romans vv. 18-22); 2) this
results in rebellion against God manifested in idolatry (putting something else
in God's place in our lives, whether self or various idols, v. 23); 3) God
begins a process of initial judgment or "giving over" to sin (Romans vv. 24,25);
4) this produces, in part, unnatural lusts and perversions (Romans 26.27); and
5) results in a wide variety of additional vices and evils (Romans vv. 28-32)-as
homosexual literature and lifestyle demonstrate. As Bahnsen observes, "In
response, God gives them over to impure lusts and the dishonoring of their
bodies-specifically, to homosexuality, which in turn stimulates further
depravities." According to Colossians 3:5, greed of any type, including sexual
greed, is a form of idolatry. As Dr. Davis comments in an important observation:
It is also significant that in the Pauline analysis
homosexual practices derive ultimately not from the social environment, but from
the human heart or inner disposition, which is turned away from God, its
ultimate good, and turned toward the mutable goods of creation, including the
self. The inward and invisible apostasy of the heart eventually becomes visible
in false religions and immoral, anti-social behavior. "Idolatry," notes Ernst
Kasemann, "open the floodgates for vices which destroy society and turn creation
back into terrible chaos."
The specific descriptions by the apostle Paul are
also noteworthy. The book of Romans speaks of homosexuals burning in their own
lust toward one another. The NASB states, "burned in their desire": the NIV
reads, "were inflamed with lust," and the Amplified translates, "were set ablaze
(burned out, consumed) with lust."
Even if these verses referred only to pederasty, they would still
condemn many homosexuals today because their lust can be so consuming it often
leads to child molestation even when that is not the original intent. Consider
the following dialogue of the Late Roger Montgomery, a former homosexual turned
heterosexual, and Dr. John Ankerberg on "The John Ankerberg Show" in late 1989.
As Roger explained, many, perhaps a majority, of homosexuals today were molested
by an older homosexual as a child or teenager:
Montgomery: I recruited younger people, but it
didn't matter to me. All that mattered to me was my sexual thrill. And it didn't
matter to me how it would affect anyone else's life. And knowing other
homosexuals I believed the same thing is true for them. They don't care how it
affects that young person's life at all...It's like an addiction. That's why
most homosexuals disagree or they would violently say, "We're not recruiters"
because they don't intend to. But that doesn't negate their responsibility at
all because they didn't intend to. They are still molesting our children.
Ankerberg: What does that say then in our society about the
homosexuals trying to pass laws to teach children in the schools or camps or at
Sunday schools without and infringement?
Montgomery: They are recruiters. And they're after your children and
my children. And if they are allowed to continue they will achieve their goal.
Sexual addictions of any type can not only be
extremely powerful but also extremely corrupting. Because many homosexuals are
literally controlled by insatiable lusts, this leads them into routine child
molestation even when they never initially intended it.
But as we noted, the book of Romans also teaches that homosexuality can
be a consequence of idolatry-forsaking the true God for another (false) god
(Colossians 3:5). The idolatry from which the sin of homosexuality and other
sins can originate is seen in homosexual literature, especially of militant
lesbian feminism and gay theology. For example, consider the following statement
by Sally Gearhart in an article titled "The Miracle of Lesbianism."
We have been teased, cajoled, flattered, humiliated
and even threatened-not to say actually physically coerced-into believing in the
eternal, external and exclusive existence of the great father-god, and in the
man-made theological fabrications that surround his name. In serving the
external god, we have neglected...the woman-god, however she is named, who
speaks not from outside but from inside...
Gearhart also refers to the Christian concept of God
as something evil and calls for a return to the feminine goddess of witchcraft:
Having suppressed the truth in unrighteousness, having abandoned the innate
knowledge that God has placed within them, the homosexual or lesbian has been
"given over" to his or her sin. This is the process described in Romans.
But worse, the apostle further teaches that homosexuals are "without
excuse" because they intuitively realize such acts are wrong and are
worthy of death (Romans 1:32). Yet they deliberately suppress such knowledge
(Romans 1:18). They not only suppress this knowledge, but in spite of all they
continue their practices and even encourage others to do so, giving their hearty
approval (Romans 1:28-32).
Homosexuality involves a willful violation of the fundamental moral law of
God, which is known instinctively by humanity in all cultures because God has
placed such knowledge in the hearts of men and women. God has been their teacher
as to the knowledge of Him, and so there is no possibility of failure here. This
is undoubtedly the reason why every culture has condemned homosexuality and why
such knowledge must be suppressed in order to be justified.
Taken from The Facts On Homosexuality by John Ankerberg and
John Weldon, Published by Harvest House Publishers.
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