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!

Strange Flesh

What was the biggest reason God destroyed Sodom and Gommorah? Looking at the Scriptures, we can't help but notice some of the following observations: their sin was exceedingly grave, they were wicked, their outcry was great before the Lord and they went after strange flesh. Let's see if we can narrow this down.

The labels of grave sin, wickedness and great outcries seem very generic, as they don't point to anything specific. All of these were charges brought against them by God in Genesis chapters 18 & 19. To be much more specific, we see the men of Sodom surrounding Lot's house commanding him to send out the two visitors so they may have sexual relations with them. The two visitors were angels of the Lord, according to 19:1, and they struck the men of Sodom with blindness to allow Lot and his family to escape the impending destruction. What sin was so great that God sent brimstone and fire from heaven to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah according to 19:24?

Jude says in verse seven "these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh..."
This was no doubt the sin of homosexuality. Paul described this as exchanging what is natural for that which is unnatural (Rom. 1:26-27). My question with all of this in mind is are we showing signs of Sodom and Gomorrah today?

It is a sad fact that homosexuality is rampant in America today. Though studies and statistics will always give different numbers, the truth is we don't know exactly how many homosexuals there are. In my book, one is one too many. It's so prevalent now that they are on television shows, cartoons, movies, etc. Yes, they are even targeted in a new series of Hallmark greeting cards. Why is this happening?

In my opinion, America is getting so politically correct that we want to make everything acceptable without criticizing anyone. At what expense are we protecting certain individuals and giving them more rights than the rest of us? I'm afraid that America is showing too many similarities to Sodom and Gomorrah. If we continue to pursue this course of elevating and promoting the positions of those going after strange flesh, where will we be in God's eyes?

Today is election day. Homosexuality is one of the issues at stake. Have you done your homework to find out which candidate is supportive of sinful practices such as this? I know I have. Yes, the economy is very important, but in my book I'm going to put moral issues up front and center to decide for whom I will vote for President.