Expert: Marvin Howard - 8/10/2003

Question
Do you really think homosexuals are condemed?  Or does a loving God accept a Gay Christian?

Answer
Hi!

Pam, what I think, or what I like are not important. Let's look at what God says.

Romans 6:19-23, "I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Quite simply put, "the wages of sin is death." The question then becomes, "Is homosexuality sin?"

I Corinthians 6:9-11, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

The Greek word for "effiminate is, "malakos" {mal-ak-os'} Which means:

1) soft, soft to the touch

2) metaph. in a bad sense

a) effeminate

1) of a catamite

2) of a boy kept for homosexual relations with a man

3) of a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness

4) of a male prostitute

The Greek word for "abusers of themselves with mankind" is "arsenokoites" {ar-sen-ok-oy'-tace} and means:

1) one who lies with a male as with a female, sodomite, homosexual

Whether you are the passive or agressive partner, both are covered here. Notice Paul says some of the Corinthians were homosexual. They were able to change, so this "science falsely so called" which says a man (or woman) is born that way and cannot help it is incorrect. Also, please note that the Corinthians which were at one time homosexual were now saved. But, they were not saved the way they were, for their past conduct is contrasted with the present conduct of others. Neither the effiminate, nor the abusers of themselves with mankind shall inherit the kingdom of God. This is directly from God's Word. A Christian is a follower of Christ. A Homosexual is a follower of the world, and therefore not a Christian, however he/she can change and become a Christian. The terms Christian and homosexual are therefore mutually exclusive; both cannot be used in the present tense to describe the same person.

So, how does one change to become a Christian (be saved or justified)?

My friend, there are many different and confusing teachings (doctrines) out there. Some say, "Faith only saves you." I invite you to look at James 2:24, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and NOT by faith only." (emph mine, MRH)

The Bible mentions six different things we must "DO" to be saved. Proving any one of them in no way disproves another. I will list them here, and ask you to check them whether they are so.

1. You must first hear in order to be saved: Romans 10:17

2. You must believe Jesus is the Son of God in order to be saved: Romans 10:17 Luke 8:13 John 1:12 John 8:24 John 20:31

3. You must repent in order to be saved: Luke 13:3,5 Acts 3:19

4. You must confess that Jesus is Christ in order to be saved: Luke 12:8 Romans 10:9 I John 4:15 Acts 8:37

5. You must be baptized (not rhontized) in order to be saved: John 3:5 Mark 16:16 Acts 2:38 I Peter 3:21 Galatians 3:27

6. You must remain faithful unto death in order to be saved: Revelation 2:10 I Timothy 4:16 I John 2:24,25.

If a person believes, they are not saved without the rest, or since the devils believe, they will be saved, too, and I wouldn't want to spend eternity with them. The next step is repentance. The homosexual must change his/her heart and life, leaving the sin behind. Those who are still homosexual have not even completed the third step, let alone all six, to become a Christian.

As I said, what I wish or think isn't important. God does love these people. Yet, while He is infinite Love, He is also infinite Justice. Just as God forsook Jesus on the cross for carrying the sins of those who would accept Him, so will He forsake those who do not, for God cannot behold sin. I fail to see how the world believes God is going to call the sins to heaven where He will look at them every day for eternity.

In Answer to your question, a homosexual is not condemned UNLESS he/she remains a homosexual till he/she dies.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard
preacherman_1962@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/preacherman_1962