Pastoral Position Paper - Tim Tucker

Many people today, even Christians, are confused about how homosexuality, or sodomy (to give it its Biblical name) should be viewed. The Scriptures are quite clear on the issue, so beginning with Creation, we need to see what they say.

Genesis 1:27-28: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Genesis 2:21-24: And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

These two simple passages make it clear that God created and intends the male/female relationship (not male/male or female/female). The creation order is clear here, as is the mandate to "be fruitful and multiply" which is impossible to fulfill in the sodomite relationship. Then the Books of the Law make God's view of such perversion very clear: Leviticus 18:22: Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Deuteronomy 23:17: There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

Taking it one step further, we find the maximum penalty for sodomy was: 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.

However, the Israelites did not obey the Lord at this point any better than they did at any other: I Kings 14:24: And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

During Asa's reign, there was great reform, and part of it was the exiling of the sodomites. I Kings 15:12: And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

Note that in the preceding verse it is declared that "Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord." This is why I said above that the death penalty is the maximum penalty for sodomy. Asa applied a lesser sentence and it was still right in God's eyes. I wonder if that might not be what would need to be done if there was true reformation in our land.

The most significant text in the New Testament on this issue is in Romans 1: Romans 1:19-27 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 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: 27 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.

I've included the longer passage here because is shows what causes sodomy, and in the context, I think it would be appropriate to say that this shows what causes the rise of sodomy in a society or nation: the refusal to give glory to God! It certainly fits our nation.

Another passage that relates directly is I Corinthians 6: I Corinthians 6:9-10: 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, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

The word "effeminate" in verse 9 is "soft" in the Greek and relates to an effeminate man, or a man who plays the female role in a sodomite.

So I conclude: 1) sodomy is a sin, which can be repented of, turned from and forgiven, 2) it is a crime as well as a sin and it's maximum penalty in a truly godly society would be the death penalty, and 3) those who go on practicing it will not inherit the Kingdom of God.