Expert: Brenda Martin - 1/3/2007

Question
"Hello, I just accepted Christ recently as my Lord and Saviour. I would like to
ask if homosexuality is only defined by the actions or both the desires and
actions. I mean, guys can fantasize about other guys and masturbate on it but is
that still a sin? Or is it only called a sin when a guy carries out homosexual
acts with another man?"


Answer
I JUST ACCEPTED CHRIST RECENTLY AS MY LORD AND SAVIOUR.

Interesting; just what does it mean to “accept Jesus”-- The Bible book of Revelation contains messages from Jesus, transmitted through John to seven early Christian congregations. (Revelation 1:1, 4) Did Jesus say that since the people in these congregations had already “accepted” him, that was sufficient? No. He praised their deeds, their labor and their endurance and spoke of their love, faith, and ministry. But he said that the Devil would put them to the test and that they would be rewarded “individually according to [their] deeds.”—Revelation 2:2, 10, 19, 23.

Jesus described a far greater commitment than most people have understood when they were told that their salvation was a “finished work” as soon as they “accepted” him at a religious meeting. Jesus said: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and continually follow me. For whoever wants to save his soul will lose it; but whoever loses his soul for my sake will find it.”—Matthew 16:24, 25.

Disown ourselves? Follow Jesus continually? That would require effort. It would change our lives. Jesus also said that some of us might even have to ‘lose our souls’—to die for him; that kind of faith comes only with knowledge of the magnificent things you can learn from studying God’s Word.

HOMOSEXUALITY DEFINED BY THE ACTIONS OR BOTH THE DESIRES AND ACTIONS.

Both--The Scriptures condemn not only the wrong action itself but also the wrong thinking that leads to wrong conduct.—Exodus 20:14 (20:17,); Leviticus 19:17; Psalm 14:1-5; Job 31:1, 9.

GUYS CAN FANTASIZE ABOUT OTHER GUYS AND MASTURBATE ON IT BUT IS THAT STILL A SIN?

Yes definitely-- masturbation is an unclean habit.—Ephesians 4:19.

“Deaden, therefore, your body members,” urges the Bible, “as respects . . . sexual appetite.” (Colossians 3:5)

When you masturbate, you dwell mentally on wrong desires, and all that does is increase your appetite for them.” Often an immoral fantasy is used to increase the sexual pleasure. (Matthew 5:27, 28)

All the best
Brenda