The first question we must ask is:

Does the Bible address the issue of homosexuality?

If it does, then the historic Christian position is that we must pay heed to it because we believe it to be the inspired word of God (see 2 Timothy 3:16).

Question: Where is the first mention of Homosexuality?

Answer: Genesis 18:16-19:29 The story of Lot and his daughters being rescued from a sexually perverse group in the streets is idiomatic in western civilization. It represents the first and most ancient condemnation of a group of people who, among other things, had allowed their society to become a place where a mob could demand sexual use of strangers openly in the streets outside the door of one of their citizens.

Question: Wasn't the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah inhospitality and NOT homosexuality?

Answer: Some people will try and argue this point based upon what is said in Ezekiel 16:49: "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy." They will argue that the real sin was callousness toward the needs of others. This is a case where "either/or" reasoning is employed arbitrarily when a "both/and" approach is more appropriate. Sodomites were certainly guilty of callous indifference towards their fellow man and the resultant inhospitality, but this does not wipe out the sin she is historically known for i.e. sodomy or homosexuality. In fact indifference towards the ultimate good of your fellow man (as God defines what is good) would most surely lead to the misuse and abuse of others sexually. Thus the Ezekiel passage spotlights the lost spiritual condition that gave rise to the rampant "in the streets" homosexuality of Sodom.

Question: Did the Mosaic Law mention Homosexual Practice?

Answer: Yes! Homosexuality is mentioned in Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13.

Question: Does the New Testament Mention Homosexuality?

Answer: Yes! (Romans 1:17-2:3). This passage tells us something about the fallen condition of all mankind and the dire consequences of that fall. One of these consequences is the burning or lusting after those of the same sex. All of these sins hearken back to the Law of God given to Moses that reveals God's nature and opinions of man's behaviour. All are seen to be guilty enough to deserve death. There were 18 capital offenses in the Law of Moses and Homosexuality is one of them.

Question: Are we to seek the implementation of Mosaic Law as the law of the land?

Answer: No! This misunderstands the idea of covenant. The Gentile world is under the Noahic Covenant that had only one capital offense which was murder. The Jews have the Mosaic Covenant that has 613 laws connected to it. The individual Christian has enterred into the Messianic Covenant through Jesus. Each covenant has its own requirements before God.

Question: Does Jesus require the death penalty in the present age for those who have broken God's law in the Mosaic covenant?

Answer: Read Matthew 13:24-30, which gives theThe Parable of the Good Seed and The Bad Seed. The execution of Judgement will be at the "harvest" or end of time as we know it. (see below). We are to let the tares grow alongside the wheat. None of the death penalty Scriptures should be demanded on a theological basis except for that which comes from the Noahic Covenant which is for murderous violence.

Question: Does God Require All Sinners To Be Put To Death?

Answer: Yes in Christ! Galatians 2:19-21.

Question: If we executed all who are guilty of the eighteen Mosaic capital offenses under the New Covenant would we stop the possibility of adding them to the Body of Believers?

Answer: Yes, the Apostle Paul mentions many of them (including homosexuals) in his list of things deserving of death that current church members used to be. Had they been killed at the time of their offense they may never have come to Christ.

All Christians Have Been Executed As Far As God Is Concerned

All Christians are considered or reckoned to have been executed, or put to death, for their capital crimes (sins) against their Creator. Once you trust Jesus (Yeshua) to have died for you you are considered punished in Him by God. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life I which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 Matthewn 13: 25-20 tells the parable of the wheat and the tares and Jesus forbids pulling up the tares (executing the unbelievers or those false prophets that would be executed under Mosaic law) because they will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment seat and there collected by the angels to be executed then. False prophets are executed now in the same way all repentant siners are at the cross of Christ!

We are living in the Age of Grace.(1 Corinthians 6:9-17). It has been said that if God doesn't judge America and the World, he owes Sodom and Gomorrah an apology. Jesus said that "to whom much is given much shall be required." He had this to say to the town of Capernaum: Matthew 11:23-11:24. Continuing in the same vein, Jesus said in Luke 10:10-12, ""But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you...it will,be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that city." God's temporal judgment may yet fall on America.

Question: What Should The Christian Response Be?

Answer: Jesus said we must love even our enemies: Luke 6:26-28. We must act in love, hating the sin while loving the sinner. (Jude 1:21-23). This means doing unto them as we would want them to do unto us. Most sane individuals want to be corrected when found in errors but do not want to be hurt for them. In treating others as we would want to be treated we must warn them of impending eternal punishment if they are not right with God through Jesus while protecting them from physical harm. The same laws that prosecute those who would do violence to individual Christians must be equally enforced to all other categories of individuals including homosexuals.

Question: Is speaking of what the Bible says a "hate crime."

Answer: Of course not! If the Bible is properly exposited it becomes a source for the ultimate good in the lives of all of us who are fallen and in need of changing by our Creator. Only Jesus can give a new heart that will want to conform to what He has revealed in His word. We can't want to be different until we trust Him to make us so. His gospel of change and forgiveness is free but we must trust Him and His work on the cross on our personal behalf before we have access to all of His tranforming power. Those who are at enmity with God hate Him and what He stands for. All of mankind has been guilty of this -the ultimate hate crime!

As far as the correctness of talking about things that some people will not want to hear the Apostle Paul said it best: "Have I become your enemy for telling you the truth?" Galatians 4:16

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