Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 9/3/2006

Question
Hi there,

According to your knowledge and beliefs what is your stance about fornication today? Do you still consider it a horrible sin or is it not an issue anymore since today we have better use of contraceptives, and we have genetic tests to prove whose kid is whos etc....
i can understand its problem in the older days, but not today. I think times have changed too greatly so it is surprising that most followers of the world's religions whether jewish, chrisian, muslim, hindu,etc..insist on how sinful it is (whether they do it or not) and do not really question whether such a rule still applies today or not (which may be called blind faith if one doesnt question)...i would like to know your views and beliefs and perhaps learn something from you

ps: if u have something to say about homosexuality id love to hear about it too...i know homosexuals and that its for a fact that it isnt in their hands who they are attracted to..so it just doesnt feel right when religious ppl say they are damned to hell for following their heart.."

Answer
Hi Doudi,

Thanks for this great question.  I believe that the Bible is our standard for faith and practice.  It does not change, and therefore even if society sinks into the depths of depravity, true morality does not move...it is what God said it is.  In your last paragraph you talked about something "feeling right".  If you are using your heart as a barometer of truth, you could be drastically misled according to scriptures.

Jeremiah 17:9
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

So since the heart is deceitful, we must look to what the Bible says about these things.

Romans 1:24-27
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

God condemns both heterosexual and homosexual sex.  The only sex that is holy is that which is within marriage.

Hebrews 13:4
4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

You asked me what I think... what I think is irrelevant.. what matters is what God's WOrd still says.  God has not changed and neither has His standards.

I hope that I have helped you.

In Christ
Pastor Don