Podcast 3 - Homosexuality and Harding

(You can listen to the audio by clicking the title above)

It's once again time for Biblically Speaking, a podcast taking relevant material from God's Word and making it relevant to those living in the world today. I am your speaker, Jeremy Butt, and I look forward to taking the journey with you from biblical learning to practical living.

Today's text comes from Romans 1:26-27: "For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 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".

Paul describes in the opening of this great book what happens to those who reject God. Among the many things that are detestable to God is homosexuality, and the Bible is loud and clear about the Lord's stance on this matter.

Recently at my alma mater, Harding University, an underground website sprung up that required some swift attention by the university. The following is an excerpt from The Bison, the school's student newspaper in an article written by editor in chief, Sara J. Kyle:

In chapel Thursday morning, President David B. Burks defended Harding University's decision to censor an underground student website, citing his personal feelings and a formal statement by the university. Harding came under scrutiny by several blogs and social media sites Wednesday afternoon after deciding to block the website, HUQueerPress.com. The e-zine, which was also distributed to several students in the dormitories in the form of a pamphlet, detailed the anonymous experiences of gay and lesbian students at Harding. HUQueerPress.com was blocked at about 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. The site included testimonials from current and former students, some of which included explicit sexual detail and offensive language (http://www.christianchronicle.org/blog/2011/03/harding-university-defends-decision-to-block-website/)

As a member of the Lord's church and alumnus of Harding, I am proud of their stance against such ungodly material. The issue of homosexuality is a hot button of conversation in our world today, and taking such a stance against it will bring backlash from the liberals who say we are homophobes and gay-bashers. Dr. Burks made it clear in his chapel remarks that it was not about bashing homosexuals, but rather it was about following the Bible's teaching on proper sexual relationships. According to Dr. Burks this not only includes homosexuality but also premarital sex and extra-marital sexual activity, which we know as adultery.

People in this world who are homosexuals need to understand what God teaches about the heinousness of their so-called lifestyle. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed largely because of their homosexuality (Gen. 19). Paul said that homosexuality is contrary to sound teaching (1 Tim. 1:10). He also told the Corinthians that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

Many people today will claim to have been born this way, but Brother Jimmy Allen cites in his commentary on Romans some information gathered by Neil and Briar Whitehead. They did scientific research for more than eight years on homosexuality, and they would respond to this so-called homosexual gene that people claim to have as being genetic nonsense; it doesn't exist (Allen 75-76).

The liberal media of today's time will seek to devour anyone who opposes homosexuality, claiming that such a person is unloving, intolerant and unaccepting. Television shows have even depicted family members of gays and lesbians who don't accept their sexual choices as being without the love of Jesus. Seriously?

Let us understand that because God loved the world so much He gave His only begotten Son so that we wouldn't have to perish eternally (Jn. 3:16). Jesus said "if you love me you will keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15). Homosexuals and those supporting them often fail to realize what the love of God compels us to do. Jesus died on the cross for all of us, and we in turn are told to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him (Mt. 16:24). Denying ourselves and daily dying to self are not concepts they would promote. If we're tying to please ourselves, then we're not accomplishing the Father's will.

Hell is a real place and those who live contrary to the Word of God will be there. Going back to the statement made by Paul in our text for today, homosexuals abandon the desire for the opposite sex and burn in their desire toward one another (Rom. 1:27). A burning eternity awaits those who choose the homosexual lifestyle. Some of the Corinthians repented of this sin to become Christians. "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:11).

Let us as Christians continue to hold fast to the Word of God so we won't be pressured by the immoral world to abandon truth. Let us like Harding University continue to stand upon the bedrock of truth as God has given us in the Bible. Thank you for listening, and until next time, I hope you have a wonderful week!