Can someone enlighten me on why we have taken sexual sins and
made them acceptable in society?
In the book
of Leviticus chapter 18 there are instructions on how to conduct ourselves
sexually. When the LORD instructed Moses
to list the sexual acts that would not be acceptable it was for the moral
integrity of the people and the security of the nation of Israel. The downfall of Egypt and the nations in the
Land of Canaan fell because of the sexual permissiveness of the people. What
the LORD was doing was establishing a code of moral conduct for civilized
people.
Moses instructed Israel concerning unlawful practices
linked to sex these included: incest, adultery, child sacrifice, homosexuality
and bestiality. Israel's neighbors were much less restrained in their sexual
attitudes and behaviors. They permitted closer intermarriage than God allowed.
They also allowed homosexuality. Some forms of bestiality were acceptable as
well.
As
an orthodox Bible believing Christian, I accept the authority of the LORD in my
life. That means the commandments in the
WORD of God are there for my personal and spiritual protection.
The
fundamental principles of Biblical sexuality are set out in Genesis 1-2. The
creation of one man partnered with one woman set the normative pattern for all
to follow in sexual relationships. As for male-female unions, this set of laws
presupposed that an Israelite would normally marry another Israelite. However
unions between relatives of the first degree (brother-sister, father-daughter)
and the second degree (father-granddaughter, nephew-aunt) were prohibited.
Although the text directly speaks to men who might engage in improper unions,
it implicitly prohibits women from engaging in such relationships as well. In marriage,
husband and wife become one flesh so that each becomes part of the spouse's
family. For this reason, unions to close to family members of one’s spouse were
forbidden just as were unions to one's own close family members.
I
have heard individuals tell how their life has been impacted by inappropriate
sexual acts by family members. There can
be a lot of different effects from the sin of incest. Notice, I said sin not
some mental disorder—sin. I do not know
of any mother or father who truly loves their children would want them exposed
to this sin. The effects of this sin are
many: feeling
of confusion, depression, and low self-esteem. It’s hard for children to
understand what is happening, and even more difficult for them to understand
that someone that they love would do anything bad to them. It is even more
difficult to get a child to voice what is happening to them because they don't
want to "tell" on someone. The
LORD gave this commandment to protect the children from this sinful evil.
Most societies have
laws governing the sin of incest, not necessarily because of what the Bible
teaches, but on account of the effects of such unions on the health of
families. Too much inbreeding leads to genetic problems, as is well known from
the blood disorders that have afflicted members of Europe's royal families.
Here are just a few of the emotional damages children
suffer from incest: depression, eating disorders, sleep disturbances,
nightmares, physical complaints, school problems, withdrawal from family,
friends, or usual activities, excessive bathing or poor hygiene, anxiety,
self-destructive behavior, hostility or aggression, drug or alcohol problems,
sexual activity or pregnancy at an early age, promiscuity, and suicide attempts
just to name a few of the evil that come upon children who have been exposed to
this sin.
The sin of incest is devastating to children. Yet, there are those who argue that “love” is
the foundation of approval for acts of sin.
How does that argument work for incest? Where are the Christians who
justify other sexual sin based on “love”?
Do they support incest? How does this argument, “Who has the right to
tell someone who they can or cannot “love” work for the sin of incest? Or, how
about, “Who has the right to judge the actions of someone who commits the sin
of incest?”
Again,
let me say the reason there are sexual acts that are prohibited is for physical
and spiritual protection of the individual and the nation. The LORD has Moses repeatedly asserting the
authoritative source of the instructions. When it comes to evaluating the
social mores commanded by the Bible, it is tempting to rely on secular sources
of authority that complement the Biblical standards.
I
read comments from individual who like making social science studies with their
graphs and statistics a compelling argument.
They then add a few anecdotal stories, to persuade us the Bible is
outdated. The Bible does not rely on
such external data or on the polling of public opinion. Our passage declares
that these commandments have their source in the ultimate authority of God. The
phrase "the LORD your God" is short for the most important core
teaching in all of Scripture. "Your" God declares that the Lord has
redeemed a people for himself. If you call yourself a Christian then this is
“Your” God. Jesus said, “If you love me,
you will keep my commandments.”
One
sexual sin that is committed both in and out of the church is the sin of
adultery. Sexual intercourse with someone other than one's spouse is an attack
upon the marriage relationship appointed by God's ordinance of exclusive love
in the marriage bond. This sin is a
direct assault on the security of the family structure and the destruction of
the nation. Adultery has at least two
major impacts on the lives of the children of the adulterous parent: cheats the
children of their sense of security and complicates the child's future and
creates lifelong scars.
Research
indicates children grow apprehensive and insecure as a result of behaviors
demonstrated by adulterous parents. It is
interesting to note that the characteristics demonstrated by the child of an
adulterous parent are extremely similar to those of a sexually abused child.
Children
who grow up with a parent who had an adulterous relationship are less likely to
be able to maintain adult monogamous relationships. They are also more likely
to have higher divorce rates than the rest of the population. These children
are more likely to become teen parents and are more likely to have difficulty
at school. Added to this, they are more likely to have behavioral and
psychological problems.
How does
the argument of “love” play out in adultery?
Where are the protester waving banners and demanding the right to “love”
someone who is not the one they made a covenant to love until death? If it were
your spouse that was carrying on an adulterous affair would you approve their
actions based on “love”? Where are those
who say no one has the right to question what two consenting adults do? When was the last time you saw married couple
marching in the streets demanding the right to have sexual relationships with those
other than their spouse? Most people
would shy away from individuals who advocated adultery. Although, it is become acceptable in some
segments of our society.
There are
those who feel if permission is given by the other spouse to commit adultery it
is acceptable. With or without
permission any Christians justifying
the sin of adultery is in a partnership with Satan. There are consequences for sin. For
certain, your marriage will eventually be affected. Its foundation will crumble
under the strain of sin. Its consequences are generational, as is borne out by
King David and Bathsheba. Perhaps the greatest effect will be your relationship
with Christ. No one is saying adultery is
acceptable, even though it is practiced on a regular basis in the Church. Every
one committing adultery tries to hide their sin.
Another sin
that the LORD warned about was the sacrificing of children unto the Ammonite
god Molech. This was an expression of
their devotion to him. When Israel fell into idolatry one of the gods they
worshiped was Molech. They offered up
their sons and daughters as human sacrifices to it. Such a practice is an utter
abomination unto the Lord, as children are a gift from the Lord (Ps. 127:3),
and especially when God has blessed Christian families with children. So,
sacrificing their children to Molech, besides breaking the first and second
commandments, is a violation of the sixth commandment against murder (Ex.
20:13). Second, it is taking God's good gifts and offering those gifts of God
up as sacrifices to worthless, lifeless idols. For children given to Christians
there is a greater responsibility, this is taking away what rightfully belongs
to God (which is theft), especially if he is the firstborn son (Ex. 22:29; Num.
18:15). Molech worship is so detested by God that he warned Israel very sternly
against it.
I can hear
Christians saying, “Well, I don’t worship Molech, in fact I have never heard of
Molech. So, what is the Molech worship
which is present in our day? Surely there is nobody performing human
sacrifices, and especially child sacrifices, now? Such a barbaric practice
surely can't exist in our civilized world, can it?
The modern
day Molech worship that we so-called civilized people are guilty of is the
sacrificing of children. In place of a
physical idol of Molech, so-called Christians worship at the Molechs of choice,
convenience and of pleasure. As a culture, evil has progressed at the altars of
humanism, in putting ourselves as the final determination of what is correct or
wrong. To this 'Molech', we sacrifice our children, for our own selfish
interest. So how is this happening
today? The modern form of Molech worship
is through abortion. It is just as abominable and detestable to the Lord. This
is especially so for Christians, since those who abort are aborting their
children given to them by the LORD to raise for His glory. Because of all this,
the wrath of God is being stored up (Rom. 2:5) against us and our culture, because
we practice such an abomination. America rightly deserve the wrath of God to
break upon us in terrible and righteous judgments for the abominable and
detestable things we are doing in the sight of God.
The Church
is split on the issue of abortion. The
number of Christian woman having abortions is equal to those who have no
religious connection. There are those who feel it is the choice of the woman to
decide if the unborn child lives or dies.
Sacrificing our children to the gods of this world is sin. The Church has gone down the road of
convenience and self-fulfillment rather than serving the LORD. Killing the children is in effect destroying
the family and nation. Since 1973, over
55 million babies have died at the hands of those who have no regards for human
life. Yes, under government sanctioned
murder, a woman can have her unborn child’s life taken at her discretion. Today, there are unrestricted abortions,
which are legal throughout America right up to the very moment of birth. Individuals who value human life in all of it
forms find the number of unborn babies aborted each year a moral travesty of
civilized humanity.
Where are
the rights of the unborn? How can
Christians justify murder of children?
The next sin
list is one that changed the very culture of America. Moses listed in the 22nd verse
reference to having sexual relations with the same sex: homosexuality and
lesbianism. I started in the ministry at the age of nineteen. To date, that is 48 years in the
ministry. Thirty of those 48 years have
been at one church. During these 48
years I have seen the progression of evil within our nation. I have had a front row seat in the changing
of America. I have watched as the
orthodox teachings of the church changed the meaning of sin. The belief system of the church has been
hijacked by so-called Christians. Today,
it is amazing that we can accept Christ but still continue in sin, one would
think that no matter what you do, if it is done in love, God will smile on it
because-- God is love.
I have been
seeing and hearing the term love used
by those who support same sex marriage.
I as a Christian must show love towards
the LGBT community. I must support their
right to love whoever they choose to love.
If I were a loving Christian, I would not speak out against same-sex
marriage. Before the LGBT supporters
start quoting scripture and trying to defend their position with the Bible
--make up your mind about the Bible, is it true or is it no longer relevant to
our culture? The LGBT supporters need to
make up their mind about what is a Christian?
Don’t call yourself a Christian when you cannot accept the commandments
of Christ. Jesus said, “If you love me
you will keep my commandments.”
As far as
love is concerned, I try to love my neighbor as myself. Loving my neighbor as
myself means I accept who I am. I do not
go around trying to prove to people that I am something I am not. I am
comfortable with my social status, my family heritage, my religion, and my
sexual orientation. I do not go about
trying to make people accept me. I am,
who I am, and have no problem loving myself in the context of the
scripture. If this scripture applies to
me as a Christian it applies to the LGBT individuals who call themselves
Christians. Those who quote scripture to support their position in Christ need
to apply the same interruption to themselves.
I believe all scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of
God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim 3:16-17
I do not
have nor have I ever had a problem with loving those who have violated the
commandments of the LORD. I have the
same feeling that Paul had when speaking about the spiritual condition of his
people, “ Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that
they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a
zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being
ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own
righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. Romans 10:1-4
When the
Bible commands me to love, it does not require me to unconditionally condone
the actions of those who perform acts the scriptures identifies as sin. The love Paul talked about was a divine love—agape love.
This love is patient and kind, does not envy or boast, does not
rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. This love bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things. ICor. 13:4-7
While I have
never stooped to call any LGBT individual a bigot, a hater, a narrow-minded,
unloving and unkind person, I on the other hand have been called all these
things and some I cannot print. I might
add this was from LGBT individuals and supporters who called themselves
Christian. I have never advocated
violence against any LGBT individual, I have never tried to get them fired from
their job, I have never boycotted the business of an LGBT individual, those I know,
I have treated them with respect. I only
asked for the same. Jesus said to his
disciples because he was hated they would also be hated. John 15:18-15
If I oppose your sin it does not mean I hate you.
Why is it
that I am so wrong in believing the Bible as the moral guide for my life, yet
the LGBT supporters want to use the same Bible to judge me as an unloving,
unkind, hateful bigot that is clinging to an outdated book written 4000 years
ago? I stand on the Bible as my personal
spiritual guidebook. When the Bible says, marriage is between a man and a woman and that homosexual practice
is sin. to what am I to remain faithful to—the world or Christ?
Any
Christian who really believes the Bible must believe all of the Bible. You can’t quote
what Jesus says about loving your neighbor and disregard the LORD’s
commandments in Leviticus 18 and 20. You can’t get excited about the
transformer power of Romans 8, if Romans 1 has condemned your life-style as
evil. Either the Bible is God’s Word or it is not.
Several
years ago I was pushed to the point I had to make a stand against the
leadership in our denomination over the authority of the scripture and same-sex
marriage. It was the LGBT community that
pushed the issue for everyone to accept same-sex marriage—even though it was
unlawful in our state for two people of the same sex to marry. The line was drawn and sides were taken and
for several years the battle played out each year until enough was enough. In 2005 our church became independent
believing that the same-sex issue was behind us. Ten years later, here we are again faced with
the entire nation being forced to accept a group of individuals who have not
learned to love themselves. They seek
affirmation of their life-style by those who are not in agreement with
them. Forcing us to say to them, they
are OK in doing what we believe, based on the Bible is sin.
This is an
issue of biblical authority. Either you accept what the scripture has to say or
you don’t. I thought ten years ago I would not have to talk about homosexuality
any more. But that is not the case. If it is not a Christian business being
targeted by the LGBT community, it is lawsuits, protest, school curriculum, or
some other issue revolving around a group of people that have become militant
in their action against those who believe the Bible to be the authority on
which we govern our lives. Regardless
what our courts or legislative bodies rule, homosexuality is a sin. It is not an affliction, it is not a
disease-- it is a sin. This is not my
definition it comes from the Bible. We
either accept this or reject it.
You must not have sexual
intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman; it is a
detestable act. Lev. 18:22
This
straightforward law prohibits all homosexual acts. It makes no distinctions as
to whether or not they were consensual. It is listed in a section of laws
related to sexual relationships. All of the items in the 18th
chapter listed are said to “defile” and are called “abominations”. Moses includes homosexuality in a list of
sins, it is not singled out from the rest of the sexual sins, but is included
with the rest. Also, those who break any
of these laws are to be “cut off from the midst of their people”. These various sexual activities are ones which brought about the
punishment of God upon the previous inhabitants of the land. So in the law
homosexuality was an offense against God. It, along with the other sexual sins,
was not to exist in Israel at all.
Why is this
important to the orthodox Christian to follow this Old Testament command? The
beginning of chapter 18 of Leviticus tells us why it is important. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to the children of
Israel, and say to them: I am the Lord your God. 3 After
the practices of the land of Egypt, from where you lived, you shall not follow,
and after the practices of the land of Canaan, to where I will bring you, you
shall not follow; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. 4 You
shall follow My decrees and keep My ordinances to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. 5 You shall therefore keep My statutes
and My judgments, which if a man does them, then he shall live by them: I am
the Lord. Lev. 18
29 For whoever
shall commit any of these abominations, those persons who commit them shall be
cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore you shall keep My
ordinances, that you do not commit any one of these abominable customs which
were committed before you, so that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am
the Lord your God.
Lev.18
The LORD
list the sin of homosexuality as an abomination. Why if homosexuality is based on “love” would
God class it as a detestable sin? Maybe we need to look behind the rainbow and
see the evil it hides.
The
LGBT activists attempt to portray their lifestyle as normal and healthy, and
insist that their relationships are the equivalent in every way to their
heterosexual counterparts. The media relentlessly propagate the image of the
fit, healthy, and well-adjusted homosexual. The reality is quite opposite to
this caricature which was shared by the homosexual newspaper New York Blade
News:
Reports
at a national conference about sexually transmitted diseases indicate that gay
men are in the highest risk group for several of the most serious diseases. . .
. Scientists believe that the increased number of sexually transmitted diseases
(STD) cases is the result of an increase in risky sexual practices by a growing
number of gay men who believe HIV is no longer a life-threatening illness.
With the government accepting same-sex
marriage for the entire nation there may be some stability in the relationships
of homosexuals but it is doubtful. Even
in those homosexual relationships in which the partners consider themselves to
be in a committed relationship, the meaning of "committed" typically
means something radically different from marriage. In some research the average male homosexual
live-in relationship lasts between two and three years. With the change in the law maybe this will
change.
The physical influence of this
life-style is devastating. The diseases
range from AIDS, HPV, HIV, Hepatitis, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Gay Bowel Syndrome,
and Anal Cancer. Doesn’t sound like a great life to live?
Many
Lesbians also have had sex with men indicating the Bisexual activities they are
engaged in. Lesbians have more male sex partners than their heterosexual
counterparts. A study of sexually transmitted disease among lesbians reviewed
in The Washington Blade notes: "Behavioral research also demonstrates
that a woman's sexual identity is not an accurate predictor of behavior, with a
large proportion of 'lesbian' women reporting sex with (often high risk)
men." The study found that "the median number of lifetime male sexual
partners was significantly greater for WSW (women who have sex with women). WSW
were significantly more likely to report more than fifty lifetime male sexual
partners."
The
assumption that lesbians involved in exclusive sexual relationships are at
reduced risk for sexual disease is false. The physical impact on lesbians is just as
devastating as it is among gay men.
Studies on lesbian health suggest that certain cancer risk factors occur
with greater frequency in this population. These factors include higher rates
of smoking, alcohol use, poor diet, and being overweight.
The
image that the LGBT community is well adjusted is false. Lesbians are three times more likely to abuse
alcohol and to suffer from other compulsive behaviors: Like most problem
drinkers, they have abused other drugs as well as alcohol, and many have compulsive
difficulties with food, codependency, sex, and money.
In
addition to the false image portrayed by TV and movies there is a high rate of
violence in the gay and lesbian relationships.
Researchers have found 90 percent of the lesbians survey have been
abused by their intimate partners. The
incidence of domestic violence among gay men is nearly double that in the
heterosexual population. Homosexual and lesbian relationships are
far more violent than are traditional married households. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (U.S.
Department of Justice) reports that married women in traditional families
experience the lowest rate of violence compared with women in other types of
relationships.
Not
only is there a physical impact there is a mental health issue as well. Over 75 percent of 2000 lesbians who
responded to a survey by the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology had
psychological counseling of some kind, many for treatment of long-term
depression or sadness. There was a distressingly high prevalence of life events
and behaviors related to mental health problems. Thirty-seven percent had been
physically abused and 32 percent had been raped or sexually attacked. Nineteen
percent had been involved in incestuous relationships while growing up. Almost
one-third used tobacco on a daily basis and about 30 percent drank alcohol more
than once a week; 6 percent drank daily. One in five smoked marijuana more than
once a month. Twenty-one percent of the sample had thoughts about suicide
sometimes or often and 18 percent had actually tried to kill themselves. . . .
More than half had felt too nervous to accomplish ordinary activities at some
time during the past year and over one-third had been depressed.
The
Archives of General Psychiatry,
found that homosexuals with same-sex partners were at greater risk for overall
mental health problems, and were 6.5 times more likely to attempted suicide.
The higher rate was not attributable to mental health or substance abuse
disorders. The greatest impact is the
reduced life expectancy.
Those
who advocate full acceptance of homosexual behavior choose to downplay the
growing and incontrovertible evidence regarding the serious, life-threatening
health effects associated with the homosexual lifestyle. Homosexual advocacy
groups have a moral duty to disseminate medical information that might dissuade
individuals from entering or continuing in an inherently unhealthy and
dangerous lifestyle. Education officials in particular have a duty to provide
information regarding the negative health effects of homosexuality to students
in their charge, whose very lives are put at risk by engaging in such behavior.
Above all, the Church has a responsibility to expose the true nature of the
LGBT life-style.
The LORD
listed this as a sin, not a life-style, not an affliction, not a disease
indicating it is a choice. It is a choice
that will eventually destroy their lives.
Can anyone explain to me why a nation would encourage this life-style?
Sexual
relations with an animal - is mentioned. Copulation with an animal may have
been a fertility cult rite, since it was common in Canaan. The practice is
condemned because it did not fulfill the command to multiply and replenish the
earth. It was not part of the
propagation of the family or nation and violated the “one flesh” design of man
and woman.
In
every one of these sins there are physical, emotional and spiritual issues that
destroy the person, the family and the nation. The numerous forms of illicit
sexual behavior defile the land. Uncleanness and sin were contagious, infecting
everything that came into contact with them, including the sanctuary and the
land. The term "vomited" is a personification of the land
underscoring the poisonous contagion of uncleanness and sin.
These
laws were for the Israelite people and those that dwelt among them. Proper sexual behavior is required of both
native and sojourner. Obviously, two different sets of moral standards in
regard to sexual behavior would lead to chaos. Sexual freedom from the Hebraic
law among the pagan residents would be too alluring and tempting to the Hebrews
and they so easily fell into such sin.
Although
the laws in Leviticus 18 set forth moral/ceremonial principles, the sexual
prohibitions listed are still in effect today. The New Testament echoes the
teaching of Leviticus 18, for it also prohibits incest (Mark
6:17-29; 1
Cor 5:1-5), adultery (Rom
13:9; 1
Cor 6:9; Heb
13:4), and homosexuality (Rom
1:27; 1
Cor 6:9-11; 1
Tim 1:10). Furthermore, the principle that
relationships outside of marriage are illicit are the foundational truths of
Leviticus. This truth also seems to be
the foundation of Jesus' teaching on divorce that a man should not divorce his
wife and be joined to another since by marriage the two had become one flesh (Gen
2:24 with Matt
19:3-6). As C. S. Lewis has stated:
"Chastity is the most unpopular of the Christian virtues. There is no
getting away from it: the old Christian rule is, 'Either marriage, with
complete faithfulness to your partner, or else total abstinence.'" Sex
outside of marriage detracts from what God intended sex to be. Thus, sexual
infidelity inevitably disrupts the "one flesh" relationship (Gen
2:24; 1
Cor 6:16-17). Moreover, it is
devastating to the entire family. As Kellogg noted: "Where there is incest
or adultery, we may truly say the family is murdered; what murder is to the individual
that, precisely, are crimes of this class to the family." Marriage is not
just a civil arrangement; it is a divine institution!
Within
the Old Testament itself Israel's rebellion was described by the metaphor of
marital or sexual unfaithfulness. This is due in no small part to the fact that
Israel was considered to be married to the Lord (Ezek 16). Like the Old
Testament, the New Testament uses adultery as a figure for infidelity to God (Matt
12:39; 16:4; Mark 8:38).
In
every sin listed there are people today who claim they have the right to “love”
others according to their life-style.
From pedophiles, LGBT, fornicators, adulteress, and those who would
marry their pets, the world has gone crazy with lust and perversion, when will
it stop?
