Moral Controversies That Have No Right to Exist
Sexual sins: Homosexuality, effeminacy and pedophilia/child pornography.
The Bible teaches us that homosexuality is sin (though it is an infrequent topic of the Scriptures).
Gen 19.1-13
While they were celebrating, behold, the men of the city, certain worthless fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house that we may have relations with him.”
[This is the account of the angels sent to Lot’s house to rescue him and his family prior to the destruction of Sodom. The degenerates of Sodom wanted to have homosexual relations with them.]
Lev 18.22
You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.
Lev 20.13
If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.
Rom 1.26
For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
[At the very least this is a clear reference to female homosexuality (Lesbianism).]
Rom 1.27
and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
[At the very least this is a clear reference to male homosexuality.]
1 Cor 6.9-10
Or 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 effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Tim 1.8-10
But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,
Genesis 19 is the account of when the LORD sent two angels to Abraham’s nephew, Lot, to rescue him and his family prior to the destruction of Sodom. The men of Sodom saw them arrive at Lot’s house and demanded that Lot bring them out for the purpose of sex with the men of the city.
[This is the etymology of the term Sodomy. It is also the reason for the destruction of the ancient cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim.]
The two texts in Leviticus do not use the term “homosexual”, but the description is unambiguous. Male homosexuality is an abomination before the LORD.
Rom 1.26 is the only explicit mention of Lesbianism in the Bible, making it clear that female homosexuality is as grievous a sin as male homosexuality. Note also that the explicit mention of male homosexuality (in the next verse) depends upon this understanding of v26 as homosexuality (“and in the same way …”).
Rom 1.27 is explicitly descriptive of male homosexuality: “men with men committing indecent acts”. One of the interesting elements of this verse is the next phrase: “receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.” It is very reasonable to see STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) referred to in this text, specifically those which typically afflict homosexual males (like AIDS).
1 Cor 6.9-10 and 1 Tim 1.8-10 use an interesting word for “homosexual”: ἀρσενοκοίτης. Literally, ἀρσενοκοίτης is translated as “male coitus” (an explicit description of the activity of male homosexuals). Note carefully the many other sins with which this term is associated:
- fornicators
- idolaters
- adulterers
- effeminate
- thieves
- covetous
- drunkards
- revilers
- swindlers
- lawless
- rebellious
- ungodly and sinners
- unholy and profane
- those who kill their fathers or mothers
- murderers
- immoral men
- kidnappers
- liars
- perjurers
- whatever else is contrary to sound teaching
This is quite a list! This is the "company of sin" which clearly shows us that homosexuality is not a harmless activity "between consenting adults". It is sin which rates up there with murder and lawlessness!
The LORD will hold all male and female homosexuals responsible for their sin. They will be judged and condemned.
The word used in 1 Cor 6.9, effeminate, is an adjective; it is found only 3 times in the NT:
Mat 11.8 [Luk 7.25]
But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces!
[This is the first definition of μαλακός: soft, soft to the touch. It is the perfect descriptor for the effeminate male; he is one who is “soft”, the opposite of a masculine male.]
1 Cor 6.9
Or 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 effeminate, nor homosexuals,
It should be no surprise that in male homosexual “unions”, it is common that one of the partners is more masculine and one more feminine. In these cases, it is a morally misguided attempt at mimicking the union between a man and a woman.
Note that effeminacy is also part of the list of sins above and not merely a “social construct” to be exercised by a male simply because he believes that he is a female!
It is difficult to determine whether pedophilia is a crime in the US; internet scans shows that there are very disturbing trends in some states which permit marriages between an adult male and a girl of 10+ YO.
Child pornography still appears to be largely illegal.
The question is not, though, whether implicitly or explicitly sexual behavior or imagery with or using a minor is legal: the argument is “is it acceptable in the eyes of the LORD”. The answer to that question is NO!
In the section on pornography, I based the prohibition of pornography on the Scripture’s use of the phrase “do not look upon a person’s nakedness”. While adults are certainly implied in those texts, there is every reason maintain the prohibition of child pornography/pedophilia for the same reason.
There is another reason that child pornography/pedophilia is more damnable than the same behavior with/between adults: the innocence of the child. While we expect (at least to some extent!) an adult to have a functioning conscience and an awareness that such behavior is wrong, a child can’t be expected to possess the same moral awareness. Child pornography/pedophilia is sexual exploitation raised to its highest, debauched level.
[We all read the news items of the life-long psychological damage incurred within a child by the sexual abuse endured at the hands of an adult. It appears that sometimes the child-now-adult never overcomes that shame and guilt.]
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