Sodomy is a rite

By Dan Popp

The term "gay Christian" is either an oxymoron, like "sunshiny night," or a non sequitur, like "spicy arithmetic." If the assertion is that someone can pursue sin while turning away from sin (which is the first requirement of the gospel; repentance), that's nothing but nonsense.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 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 Corinthians 6:9-11, NAS95)

But if, instead, "gay" means "a person with a certain predisposition (without regard to his actions)," then "gay Christian" is a phrase like "frugal basement," with no inherent meaning. The manual for Christians, the Bible, recognizes that certain people have tendencies toward certain sins, but it does not hold those people to a different, lower standard of behavior.

I don't know of any scientific evidence to support the view that some people are by nature attracted to those of their own sex. I do know that this view has no basis in the Christian religion, or in any of the major religions around us today. But if we look back very long ago, we'll find that there were religions that exalted homosexual acts. These were all the rage back in the Bronze Age. (And why do "progressive" ideas invariably turn out to be failed relics?)

There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. (Deuteronomy 23:17, KJV) And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. (1 Kings 14:24, KJV) Other translations render this word "male temple prostitutes" and variations. It's the word qadesh, from a root that means to sanctify or dedicate. (See Smith's Bible Dictionary, entry for "sodomites.") The worship of Baal and Ashtoreth included ritual homosexual acts, just as the fidelity of one man to one woman for life is an expression of faith in the one true God.

The first chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans shows the connection between paganism and homosexuality.

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

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. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.... (Romans 1:21-28 NAS95)

The Holy Spirit here says that homosexual acts, and acceptance of homosexual acts, are obvious features of God's judgment on a group of people. They're proof of the heathens' rejection of God, and His rejection of them.

Whether "gay" is made to refer to acts or attraction, it does not belong with the word "Christian." Yes, there's plenty of room in the Christian church for those who recognize that they are prone to evil. That would describe almost everyone in it. But the Lord will show Himself distressingly "intolerant" of those who call evil "good" and "right."

If you want a god that celebrates sodomy, try Baal. I'm sure he'd appreciate the attention after all these millennia.

© Dan Popp