The Gospel
Spotlight
(Electronic Edition)
(Romans 1:16)
April
The Gospel Spotlight is a
publication of
the
Editor and Evangelist
Don McClain - donmccla@msn.com
Previous issues of the "Gospel Spotlight" can be
viewed on our Web-Site - http://www.w65stchurchofchrist.org/My_Homepage.html
Contents
Homosexuality - Author unknown (Taken
from http://sermons.11net.com/
)
Comparing Homosexuality To Incest,
Adultery, and "Racism"? By Don McClain
Reactions To Rebuke - By Joe R.
Price
Comparing
Homosexuality To Incest, Adultery, and
"Racism"?
By Don McClain
The push has been on for a number of years to make
homosexuality an accepted lifestyle within our society. In advancing their
agenda, "Gay Rights Advocates" have tried to depict those who oppose
homosexuality as being judgmental, insensitive, and intolerant . . . (Things
haven’t changed much, read Genesis 19:9).
Angry reactions from gay groups to published comments by
Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum this past Tuesday illustrates their tactics.
Politicians, presidential candidates and Democratic Party leaders and the media
attacked the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the third-highest
post in the GOP leadership, after the lawmaker compared homosexuality to
bigamy, polygamy, incest and adultery. . . . "He seemed to put gay
people on the same moral and legal plane as someone who would commit incest,"
said David Smith, senior strategist with Human Rights Campaign, the largest
gay-advocacy group in
Two Democratic presidential candidates, Massachusetts Sen.
John Kerry and former Gov. Howard Dean of
The following comments by Senator Santorum were part of a
discussion about the pending Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of
state sodomy laws.
SANTORUM: "We have laws in states, like the one at the
Supreme Court right now, that has sodomy laws and they were there for a
purpose. Because, again, I would argue, they undermine the basic tenets of our
society and the family. And if the Supreme Court says that you have the right
to consensual sex within your home, then you have the
right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest,
you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything. Does that
undermine the fabric of our society? I would argue yes, it does . . . You say,
well, it’s my individual freedom. Yes, but it destroys the basic unit of our
society because it condones behavior that’s antithetical to strong, healthy
families. Whether it’s polygamy, whether it’s adultery, where it’s sodomy, all
of those things, are antithetical to a healthy, stable, traditional family.
Every society in the history of man has upheld the
institution of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. Why? Because
society is based on one thing: that society is based on the future of the
society. And that’s what? Children. Monogamous
relationships. In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever
to my knowledge included homosexuality."
Ken Connor of the conservative Family Research Council
explained, "What Sen. Santorum has rightly said, is that if we throw out
this notion that the state has any legitimate interest in regulating sexual
behavior or protecting marriage, then the door is thrown wide open to all
manner of associations and sexual liaisons."
What is wrong with what Senator Santorum said? As far as
what these people are complaining about - Nothing! Homosexuality is wrong and
so is insest polygamy, and adultery! In fact, I would
argue that if you read the entire interview, Mr. Santorum actually isn’t strong
enough in his stance against homosexuality. We need leaders who refuse to bend
to the pressures of a degenerate minority and stand firm for God’s standards of
morality.
Most of our readers know full well that homosexuality is not
an "acceptable alternate lifestyle," but rather sinful and repulsive
in the sight of God and all those who respect Him - Romans
1:18-32. (See Article within this edition of the Gospel Spotlight). It
amazes me that there are those in politics and the media that have tried to
compare Senator Santorum’s statements to those of Senator Trent Lot’s as being
racist . . .
"This type of quote would be inexcusable if
Santorum was referring to almost any other minority group," John
Marble, spokesman for the NSD, told the Gay.com/PlanetOut.com Network. "The
White House was right, though tardy, to call Lott’s comments ‘offensive.’
However, they should recognize (Santorum’s) comments are insulting as well."
The reality is that one "cannot" control his race
and nationality, but he can control his "thoughts" and
"actions." People choose to engage in the homosexual lifestyle and
they can choose not to! (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
This is not a political editorial, but rather an observance
of the moral ramifications of that which is taking place within the political
arena. A Senator is being condemned by the media and asked to resign because he
stated something that is in agreement with God’s word. Who’s next?
Chris Matthews, the host of "Hardball" said this
past Wednesday night, that "we are about to find out where we are in our
ongoing culture war." Mr. Matthews is right at least to some degree.
Homosexuality
A
Christian Perspective
What The Bible Says About Homosexuality
Author unknown - (Taken from http://sermons.11net.com/ )
Assuming that one accepts the Bible to be the Word of God,
and as such the final authority on issues it discusses, what then does it have
to say about the subject of homosexuality? Consider the following...
Homosexual Conduct Was "A Grievous Sin" In The Days Of The Patriarchs
In Gen 19:24-28, the destruction of the cities of
Why was
What was their "sin" that was "very
grievous?" I have heard homosexual theologians try to explain that the sin
was their lack of hospitality. Is such the case? Well, consider the text...
"...the men of the city, the men of
Note first of all that "all the people" from the
city are seeking to participate in whatever the "sin" is... "And
they called to
The word "carnally" is not in the actual Hebrew
text, but is supplied by the translators because the word "know" as
used here is often a euphemism for sexual relations (e.g., Gen 4:1,17).
The next statement by
The crowd’s response to
Their reaction is somewhat similar to many today who say to
those who would dare point out sinful conduct, "Who are you to
judge?" People haven’t really changed much, have they? What such people
fail to realize, is that when you point out what the Word of God says about
certain conduct, YOU are not judging them, it is the
WORD OF GOD that is judging them. In return, they themselves are trying to
avoid the condemnation of the MESSAGE of God by condemning the MESSENGER!
That homosexuality was the "grievous sin" to
which the Lord referred to in Gen
Notice that Jude describes the sin of
Homosexual Conduct Was
"A Capital Crime" Under The Law Of Moses
I am grateful that we are no longer under the Law of Moses,
with its extremely harsh punishments (though under the New Covenant much
harsher punishments for similar crimes unrepented of
are simply delayed till the Day of Judgment, cf. He 10:26-31). But as Paul
wrote to the Romans: "Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy
and just and good." (Ro 7:12)
He also wrote later that it was "written for our
learning" (Ro 15:4). So what can we learn from the Law about God’s view of
homosexual conduct? In Leviticus, we read: "You shall not lie with a male
as with a woman. It is an abomination." (Lev
Can it be any clearer? Homosexual conduct is "an
abomination" to the Lord! Together with "bestiality" (Lev 18:23)
it was one of the sins that justified God in giving the land of Canaan to the
Israelites, for the previous occupants were guilty of such sins (Lev 18:24-25).
Also, the Israelites were warned that if they engaged in the same kind of sins,
they too would be "vomited out" of the land (Lev
More is said later in the book of Leviticus... "If a
man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an
abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon
them." (Lev
Again, I stress that according to the New Testament we are
not under the Law of Moses; but what we learn here is that while the Law was in
effect, without question homosexuality was clearly a grave offense, even worthy
of death! But what about the New Testament? What does
it say?
The New Testament Is Clear
In Its Condemnation Of Homosexual Conduct
To the
In this passage, Paul uses two terms that are translated
above as "homosexuals" and "sodomites." The first term,
translated "homosexuals" ("effeminate" in the KJV) is
"malakos", and is defined as:
"effeminate, of a catamite, a male who submits his body to unnatural
lewdness" (THAYER)
The word translated as "sodomites" ("abusers
of themselves with mankind" in the KJV) is arsenokoitai,
and is defined as: "one who lies with a male as with a female, a
sodomite" (THAYER).
Paul’s warning not to be deceived is very appropriate even
today, for some homosexual theologians would have us believe that Paul was only
condemning male prostitution. Whereas the first word (malakos)
does properly speak of a male prostitute, the second word (arsenokoitai)
describes any sort of homosexual conduct. Despite such efforts to twist the
Scriptures and deceive many, the Word of God is clear: those who continue to
engage in homosexuality will not inherit the
Paul also uses the word "arsenokoitai"
(the generic term for homosexual conduct) as an example of that which is:
"...contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the
blessed God which was committed to my trust." (1 Ti 1:10-11)
Since the "sound doctrine" of the gospel of
Christ condemns even sexual relations between unmarried heterosexuals, it
should not be hard to understand that sex between unmarried homosexuals is
wrong as well! As for "married" homosexuals, the institution of
marriage which was begun and defined by God only allows for sex between a man
and a woman (cf. Gen
The "classic" passage which deals with the sin of
homosexual conduct is that of Ro 1:18-28. In this passage, Paul discusses the
wrath of God which is directed toward those who do not honor God: "For the
wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, "because
what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For
since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and
Godhead, so that they are without excuse, "because, although they knew
God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in
their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. "Professing to be
wise, they became fools, "and changed the glory of the incorruptible God
into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed beasts and
creeping things." (Ro 1:18-23)
The righteous indignation of God is directed toward those
who reject the clear evidence of God’s existence and power as revealed in nature,
and if religious at all, make God over into an image of their own choosing.
Whereas today we are too "sophisticated" to fall for thinking that
God is like a graven image, there is ever the tendency to "recreate God in
our own image," so that He thinks like us, and acts like us (one would do
well to read Isa 55:8,9).
How does God express His righteous indignation, short of
bringing about the Judgment Day? Paul tells us as he continues: "Therefore
God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor
their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and
worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed
forever. Amen." (Ro 1:24-25)
Rather than bringing about the Judgment Day, or striking
them down with a bolt out of the sky, God has expressed His righteous
indignation by "giving them up" to moral uncleanness. In other words,
those who are not willing to honor God as God are simply allowed to degenerate
into moral decay!
To illustrate, Paul continues... "For this reason God
gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use
for what is against nature." (Ro 1:26)
Here is a strong allusion to lesbianism, where women cease
to appreciate that their bodies are naturally designed physically for sex with
men and for procreation, and who think of "our bodies, ourselves"
solely as instruments of "vile passions" for one another.
In regards to men whom God has "given up" to
uncleanness, Paul writes: "Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use
of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing
what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which
was due." (Ro 1:27)
In similar fashion, many of those men who have been
"given up" by God to uncleanness eventually leave the "natural
use of the woman" and turn to other men to fulfill their lustful desires.
As Paul reiterates in the next verse: "And even as they did not like to
retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do
those things which are not fitting;" (Ro
Three times in this section we find the expression
"God gave them up (over)" (Ro
And what is the consequence of such behavior? The apostle
Paul referred to such people as: "...receiving in themselves the penalty
of their error which was due." (Ro 1:27). An illusion to
sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS? We cannot say for certain,
but none can dispute that those who are willing to follow God’s Word as to
sexual conduct have less to fear about STD’s than those who choose to disregard
Him!
Conclusion
God’s basic principles of righteousness have remained constant
through out the different periods of Bible history. For example, adultery has
always been condemned by God. Likewise, we have seen that homosexuality has
been identified as:
* A "grievous sin" in the times of the Patriarchs
* An "abomination" in the Law of Moses
* "Shameful," indicative of "a debased
mind," and "contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious
gospel" of Jesus Christ
I can understand that those who do not believe in God or
who do not accept the Bible as the Word of God would strongly disagree with
such an evaluation of homosexuality. But I fear that only those with
"hardened hearts" would profess to believe the Bible to be God’s Word
and still approve of homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle that has God’s
blessings.
May those who profess to accept the Bible as the last word
never hesitate to accept what it says, no matter how "politically
incorrect" our society might say it is.
Reactions To Rebuke - By
Joe R. Price
Rebuke means
"to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely.to admonish or charge sharply" (Thayer, 245). The instrument of any wise and
justifiable rebuke is the word of God (2 Tim. 4:2). To rebuke another on the
basis of human wisdom is to "mind the things of men" and thereby
serve the bidding of Satan (cf. Matt.
Rebuke from the word of God is a
blessing both to the one who receives it and to the one who gives it. To the
one whose sin and error is rebuked by truth, the blessing is clear: by heeding
the rebuke given the sinner will repent, be forgiven and blessed in Christ. To
the one who gives the rebuke there is the blessing of turning a sinner from
error and death: "But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, And a good blessing will come upon them" (Prov. 24:25; cf.
Jesus teaches us to use rebuke to save
the lost. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive
him" (Lk. 17:3). But, some have no stomach for
either giving or receiving needed rebuke from the word of God. Like the blind
watchmen of ancient
Neither is there virtue in improperly
rebuking the sinner. The censuring of sin must be wisely spoken to benefit the
recipient as well as the giver. "A word fitly spoken" can do great
good: "Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear" (Prov.
25:11-12). But, we render rebuke powerless when we speak it rashly, angrily or
self-righteously. A brother overtaken in a trespass is more likely to be
restored by rebuke which is clothed with "a spirit of gentleness"
instead of wrapped in a harsh spirit of superiority (Gal. 6:1).
The person overtaken by sin will react
one of two ways when rebuked with God 's word:
"Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he
will love you" (Prov. 9:8). The person who is
intent on continuing in sin will not listen to rebuke, but will instead despise
both the rebuke and the rebuker (Prov.
13:1;
May we ever be wise in both the giving
and the receiving of divine rebuke, for by it we shall "discern
knowledge" and "get understanding" (Prov.
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