Logic 101: President Obama

To me, it’s not unexpected for President Obama to declare to the nation that he is now pro-gay marriage. What was unexpected was the poor logic and woeful discernment that he used to come to his conclusion. Consider the five following quotes and see if you agree with me. (All the quotes can be found either from President Obama’s interview with ABC or the resulting follow-ups.) 

1. First lady Michelle Obama has also shaped his outlook, Obama said. “This is something that, you know, we’ve talked about over the years and she, you know, she feels the same way, she feels the same way that I do,” Obama said.

So, I guess his logic is that if he can find someone that feels the same way as he does, as in agree with his position, then it must be right. I wonder what would have happened if Michelle disagreed with him. Would that have swayed him to not endorse gay marriage? My observation is that people tend to justify their opinions by finding people who agree with them while they stay away from those who are in opposition to their positions. Really, can’t we all find people that agree with us?  Hold on, does that then make it right?

2. Obama said daughters Malia and Sasha believe discrimination against gay marriage “doesn’t make sense to them and frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective.”

I’m thinking here that a grown man, a parent, a father who is responsible for teaching his children about the commands, principles and will of God (see Dt 6:4-9: 11:18-21) is asking his two Junior High school children (who apparently know little about the Bible) for spiritual discernment… for what reason?  Isn’t he the one who is supposed to, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it (Prv 22:6)?”  Instead, it seems that he himself has never been trained in the Scriptures and so must resort to asking children for answers. This is our President, right?

3. Once an opponent of gay marriage, Obama said he changed his views in part because of the “incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships” he has seen among friends and staff.

It’s this type of logic that moves us from bad to very bad quicker than you think possible. It’s almost like saying, “Well, I know some people who robbed a bank and didn’t get caught, so it must be okay.”  In this case, I wonder what would happen if President Obama was President of Sodom and Gomorrah a few thousand years ago. I can easily see him saying, “Look, gay marriage and homosexual behavior must be okay, it’s been going on for a long time and God doesn’t seem to mind at all – let’s make it legal!”  Really, I think someone should warn Michelle to take hold of Lot’s wife’s hand, start running, and never look back (Gn 19:23-26).

4. “I’m disappointed, not entirely surprised, because he thinks with his heart,” Hunter said. 

This is a quote from the pastor who is apparently President Obama’s spiritual advisor, Rev Joel Hunter. It’s here we finally get to the core of the matter, a man’s heart.  Ever wonder what’s in there? I do. Here’s what the Prophet Jeremiah tells us about the condition of the human heart: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick, who can understand it (Jer 17:9)?” Why in the world would President Obama not look to the absolute truth of the Word of God rather than trust in his emotional, deceptive, and politically sensitive heart?

5. “But, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf,” he added, “but it’s also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated.”

This from a man who in his book, Audacity of Hope, writes:

In our household the Bible, the Koran, and the Bhagavad-Gita sat on the shelf alongside books of Greek and Norse and African mythology. p.203

Nor am I willing to accept a reading of the Bible that considers an obscure line in Romans to be more defining of Christianity then the Sermon on the Mount. p.222

I think the logic (or lack of it) here is that you can play your favorite Bible passages and trump the ones that you don’t agree with. How many times does God have to say something to make it true?  Really, isn’t once enough?  Isn’t all the Bible inspired by God (2 Tm 3:16)? Now, our President seems to infer that there is only one (obscure) verse in the Bible, specifically in the book of Romans, that gives credible evidence to why homosexual behavior is a sin. Reality check: If he would look closely, he would need a calculator to add up all the verses in the Bible that refer to homosexual behavior being a sin.

Well, as the Rev Hunter told a reporter, “It wasn’t something we were able to talk through, or I would have talked him out of it.” I think the reason why President Obama didn’t make that phone call to his spiritual advisor was because he was exhausted from talking to every one else he agreed with in addition to the fact that he didn’t want to be confronted with the truth and/or consequences of the Word of God, something that Jesus says in our President’s favorite passage, the Sermon on the Mount:

“Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”  (Mt 5:19)

a slave to lobster

There are numerous, exaggerated, undocumented, and well, perhaps mythical stories about slave owners in Rhode Island during the 1700’s only being allowed to feed their slaves lobster between two and five times a week. In Maine during the mid-1800’s it is said that prisoners were revolting due to their being fed too much lobster. It seems that lobsters were in such abundance in New England in those years that they literally washed up on the local shores and were even used as fertilizer for local South County farms.

Well, if you believe the folklore, that pretty much describes the take on lobsters in New England in the colonial period: Lobsters, the big bluish ugly oversized bug looking things that crawled out of the ocean and could be found on the beach were a poor man’s food that prisoners and slaves got stuck eating. My question today is this: Is it allowable for Christians to eat them? Huh?

I say this because I recently heard of a Christian couple who (I thought) felt that eating shellfish was against God’s design, rules, and regulations as found in the Bible. I was guessing that their thinking was that since they sincerely desired to please God by following what the Bible said in regards to food, they were being careful to avoid eating shellfish and therefore of course, lobsters. My question is, were they correct in their thinking and practice?

Now, since I actually enjoy both a boiled and baked lobster (with a nice cup of chowder), I thought it right to review the basic diets that God has revealed throughout the history of mankind as found in the Scriptures to see if it was okay for a Christian to eat any shell fish at all.  Follow along as I trace through the major diets of the Bible:

The first diet was given to Adam and Eve on the day that he created them. As it turns out, they had to be vegetarians. Hmm, that means… oh oh, no lobster for them!

Diet #1: The Pre-Fall Vegetarian Diet

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. Gen 1:29-30

The next diet was given to Noah and his descendents after the Great Flood. As it turns out, they were now allowed to eat everything that moved. This means that, assuming a lobster was alive when they caught it, they could eat it. Aha, time for a lobster fest!

 Diet #2: The Post-Flood Everything Diet

Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Gen 9:3-4

The next diet was given to Moses at Mount Sinai. The unique thing about this diet that we need to keep in mind was that it was specifically and only given to the Israelites (not everyone else on the planet). In this diet we find that while they were allowed to eat fish, they were clearly told that anything in the water that didn’t have fins and scales (like a lobster) was off limits. Okay, so no lobster salad sandwiches for them anymore.

 Diet #3: The Sinai Diet

And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth…

But anything in the seas or the rivers that does not have fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. Everything in the waters that does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.

 This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten. Lev 11:1-2, 10-12, 46-47  (See Dt 14:3-21)

The final diet that God reveals to us is when Jesus “declared all foods clean (Mk 7:19).” This diet supersedes all the other diets for mankind. What this means is that those who follow Jesus are not bound by Jewish dietary laws and enjoy the freedom of eating whatever they desire… including lobster.

Diet #4: The Jesus Freedom Diet

And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand:   There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Mk 7:14-23 (See also Rm 14:14 and Acts 10:8-16)

I think the key to all these biblical diets is that God has progressively revealed his will in regards to what we can eat. I guess if I was Jewish and didn’t believe in Jesus (which I do) and didn’t follow his teachings (again, which I do) then I would feel compelled (which I don’t) to follow the rules, regulations, and laws of the Old Testament and never ever eat lobster.  However, I am not Jewish, but having placed my faith for salvation in Jesus Christ, I count myself a Christian, having been saved by grace and therefore freed from having to observe the law of the Old Testament. So, I therefore happily come to the conclusion that, with the blessings of Jesus, I can now enjoy eating a lobster now and then – assuming I can afford it.

immersed in the Word

Last night I was teaching the junior and senior high youth group and something quite  special happened. Now to give some background, in our teaching time for the past few months we’ve been going through a New Testament Survey.  We’ve already covered the four Gospels, the book of Acts, and the Apostle Paul’s Early, Major, and Prison Epistles. This week we were opening up Paul’s Pastoral Epistles. (In case you don’t know, that would be the books of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus.)

The text I used to give an example of Paul’s pastoral advice and counsel to Timothy can be found below:

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Tm 4:12-16 (ESV)

As I was going through the passage, it was clear that the Holy Spirit showed up. I say that because while I was challenging them (as Paul did to Timothy) to “devote themselves” and “immerse” themselves in the reading and teaching of the Scriptures, it seemed that everyone was paying extra close attention and well, becoming… convicted.

In an honest and transparent discussion I heard things like: “I have a hard time reading my Bible,” “I don’t understand what I’m reading,” and the classic, “When I came home from a Christian camp I was always reading my Bible, but then the passion to pursue God through the Scriptures just seemed to fade away.” Before you come to the wrong conclusion, I also heard comments like: “I read a Bible devotion book every night before I go to bed” and “I have a friend who keeps me accountable.”

I think what I discerned was that they all really wanted to devote themselves to and totally get immersed in God’s Word, but they didn’t know exactly how to do that. It was like they were supposed to know, but no one had ever actually showed them how. So, they found themselves struggling and sometimes failing in their pursuit to know more about God through his Word. Overall, not a good place to be.

What impressed me in our open discussion time was their willingness and eagerness to share with one another their struggles of the difficulty of consistent and fruitful Bible reading. It was really quite unusual, a bit awkward, very refreshing, and real. Anyway, before I ended the teaching time I did something not found in my original lesson plan and asked them to raise their hands if they wanted to get involved in a Bible study during the week with their friends. (Note: So here’s what motivates someone (me) to do youth ministry: about three quarters of the teens jumped at the opportunity and raised their hands.)

I’m thrilled that as I opened the Word last night that the Holy Spirit showed up and touched hearts and minds.  Next week the plan is to organize some small group Bible studies that will be sustainable over the summer months. I’m also going to introduce them to something called an “inductive Bible study method” that will help them understand and apply what they read. I can’t wait to see how God is going to work in the lives of these teens as they gather in small groups to go deeper into God’s Word than they have ever done or dared before.

I never got the script

Last week I asked for (and received) a number of thoughtful Bible related questions.  I did my best to answer two of those questions in my most recent blogs. At this point in time, I am reserving the right to answer the remaining questions sometime over the coming months.

Today I want to switch gears and share an account of a drama that I didn’t even know I was in until it was over.

Now, as most stories like this go, you really have to step back and see the amazing grace, love, and providence of God behind the scenes as well as take note of the way that God uses prayer, people, and events to accomplish his will in his perfect timing.

It seems that there was a young girl at church who just wasn’t connecting to God, church, Sunday School or really, anything to do with Jesus at all. No one was exactly sure why, it’s just the way the girl’s  life seemed to be unfolding. Well, her mom, a strong believer, started praying for her daughter to awaken spiritually and receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Understanding the power of prayer and the value of partners in prayer, she even asked a women’s Bible study that she was part of to start praying for her daughter.

Weeks went by with no apparent spiritual movement in the young girl’s life.  And then came an event. In this case it was our church’s sixth annual Maundy Thursday Last Supper Drama. Per usual, this biblically based live reenactment of a Da Vinci style Last Supper was quite moving and touched many hearts. Now, in case you don’t know, tucked into this event was a foot washing and a time for communion. When I asked those in attendance to come forward to have their feet washed by our Elders (and their wives) I noticed an unusual number of young girls getting in line to have their feet washed.  That was a bit of a curious – and delightful – thing to watch.

Now, in God’s providence, the young girl of our story just happened to sit down in a certain chair in front of an Elder’s wife who (clearly by God’s design) was part of her mom’s Bible study. As she was washing the little girl’s feet, this woman felt a strong inclination of the Holy Spirit to silently pray that this young child would soon come to salvation. After that prayer she dried the girl’s feet with a towel and trusted that God’s will would be done in her life.

As the story goes, about thirty minutes later, at the close of the Last Supper drama, I sat in my seat for a while, had a couple of quick conversations, and then went to the pastor’s study to drop off my microphone and get my laptop. I wasn’t in my study for more than a few minutes before I heard a knock on the door; it was the mom and her daughter.  She wanted to know if she was disturbing me. Even though I didn’t have a clue as to what was going on, I still thought to myself, “Are you kidding me? I live for times like this.”

I invited them in and asked what was going on. The mom explained that her daughter understood about what Jesus had done on the cross, but had never prayed a prayer of salvation. She then asked if I would share a bit about what salvation was all about with her daughter. (Did I mention that these are the most favorite times for pastors?)  I started by simply asking the young girl what she thought of Jesus. She gave me a concise and theologically correct assessment of what he had done on the cross.  “He died for our sins.” I asked her if she had ever sinned. A sheepish smile, a blink in the eyes, and then a quick “yes.”  Continuing on, I asked her how she felt when she sinned. “Not good.” Then I let her know that by asking God for forgiveness and trusting that Jesus really did die on the cross for our sins that she could have her sins wiped away as well as receive eternal life. Her eyes lit up at that offer.  I shared with her that God thought she was quite special and that by praying to receive Jesus as her Savior would be a life-changing event in her life.

Now it was time to pray a simple prayer of salvation. I told her I could lead her in a prayer, but only if she really meant every word.  She totally agreed to that. So, of course, the ending is that I led her in a very heartfelt prayer that resulted in her coming into the Kingdom of God that very night.

As I reflect on that night, I understand now that I  was a player in the last scene of one of God’s long, loving, and touching dramas. How cool was it that God would choose to answer a mom’s prayer in this manner, on this evening? Oh, yes, the mom was crying when she left my study. I admit that when I left the church and looked up into the starlit heavens, I also broke into tears.   Wow, we have an amazing and loving God!

Follow up answer to: “Is being gay or lesbian a sin?”

Follow up questions typically reveal a bit more insight and depth of situation of the one who originally asked the question.  Last week a woman named Audrey sent in a question as to whether being gay or lesbian was a sin.  I found that to be a very fair question. However, it has been my experience that quesitons like that are like the outside of an onion – there’s plenty of layers within.

So, it was not to my surprise that her (very legitimate) follow up question took my lengthy biblical answer and focused it on the practical application it might have in regards to a friend of hers. BTW, here is her follow up question:

“I have a very good friend who is questioning her sexuality, she is a proud Baptist Christian who goes to church every Sunday in Boston; will she go to hell? Can she change her sexuality? She does not want to be gay, I’m not sure if she has a choice!”

Okay, so here’s the questions that I think are being asked:

1. Can Christians lose their salvation?
2. Does being a proud Christian (not quite sure that that is actually…) and going to church (especially a Baptist one) on a regular basis somehow give you permission to live in sin?
3. Is sexual orientation a choice or God given?
4. Are people somehow predisposed to sin and therefore have no choice, control, or culpability in the matter?

I would suggest that the quick answers are: No, Christians cannot lose their salvation (and therefore will never experiece God’s wrath or hell); No, living out most of God’s commandments does not give anyone (even those living in Boston) permission to break others; Yes, by “exchanging God’s truth for a lie” (Rm 1:24-25) men and women can fall into homosexual behaviors; and No, believing men and women are not forced, predisposed, or helpless to fall into sin. Everyone has a choice to follow God or not. Everyone is responsible for his or her own actions.

As I mentioned in my answer to the original question, there were men and women in the church at Corinth (not sure of the denomination) who had been living gay or lesbian lifestyles and after finding Christ as Lord and Savior they gave up living in such sins.  Here’s the verse I referenced:

• Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor 6:9-12

So, it seems that the power of God, the blood of Jesus, and the sanctification of the Holy Spirit were (and still are) more than enough to change a person from living an ungodly lifestyle and wash, justify, and literally transform him or her in such a way that God is pleased, honored, and praised.

As Christians we are to strive to live holy lives that are pleasing to God. Here’s three verses for Audrey’s friend to ponder through:

• As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Pt 1:14-16

• Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 1 Pt 4:1-5

• I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Rm 12:1-2

Now as I’ve already mentioned, Christians cannot lose their salvation. (If you want, you can see the biblical argument for eternal security in the “Doctrinal Distinctives” section of our church’s website by clicking the link to the right.)

At this point, someone (including Audrey’s friend) may start thinking, “Hey, if I can’t lose my salvation, I might as cave into my desires and start sinning.” Okay, don’t do that. There are serious consequences for believers (even proud ones who go to church) who chose to sin. Here’s a list of five things that a Christian who is unrepentant and remains in sin should be aware of.

1. Sin displeases God.

I really don’t know of a child that doesn’t want to please his father. In this case, we have a loving Heavenly Father who has sent his only beloved Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins.  It would seem to me that a proper response to that type of amazing love would be to try to please him by being obedient to his commands and arranging our lifestyles, behaviors, and attitudes in accord with his clear and preferred will.

I guess a question that is always fair to ask ourselves is whether we are living our lives in such accord with godly principles that the heavens could open up and we would hear God say, “I am well pleased with you.” The bottom line here is that life is about pleasing God, not ourselves. We should be living our lives not with a mindset of “how does this make me feel?” but rather “how does this make God feel?”

• So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 2 Cor 5:9

• Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 1 Thess 4:1

• …and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Mt 3:17

2. Sin causes our consciences to accuse us.

God has given each of us a conscience to guide us into good decision making as well as to aid us in avoiding temptation or sliding into bad decisions.  While a Christian can have his or her conscience defiled by constant exposure to sin, there is not doubt that even in its weakest state it still accuses us of wrongdoing.

• So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Acts 24:16

• They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them. Rm 2.15

• To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. Titus 1:15

3. Sin brings about conviction by the Holy Spirit.

Everyone who has come to salvation by faith and belief in Jesus Christ is blessed, sealed, and filled with the Holy Spirit upon conversion.  Aside from guiding, teaching, reminding, and comforting us, the Spirit also convicts us when we sin. When that happens, the only right response is confession and repentance.

• And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. Jn 16:8-11

4. God disciplines those who sin.

While a Christian will not experience the wrath or anger of God because of his or her sin, it’s quite clear that God is so immensely concerned with his name, honor, and glory that he disciplines those believers who arrogantly break his commands and principles.

• “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
 nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
 and chastises every son whom he receives.” Heb 12:5-6

• But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 1 Cor 11:32

• Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Rev 3:19

5. God’s judgment awaits those who sin.

Although we often times don’t like to admit it, God indeed judges his people. One example of that would be Ananias and Sapphira who lied to God and fell down dead (Acts 5:1-11).  The other is found in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians where he mentions that some believers have brought judgment upon themselves by sinning and then explains, “That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. (1 Cor 11:27-32). While we relish in God’s love and patience, never forget that God is righteous and therefore out of that very love judges his children.

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, why in the world would we willingly stray into sin and test God’s patience? When we stand before him, is anyone really going to have the audacity to use the excuse, “But it’s all your fault, you made me this way!”

• For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Pt 4:17

*** I know it’s not Boston, but I would like to invite Audrey and her friend to West Kingston to our Easter Worship Service this Sunday morning at 10:00am. (Click on the West Kingston Baptist Church link to get directions.) 

A biblical response to the question: “Is being gay or lesbian a sin?”

Last week I invited anyone who had a question about God, the Bible, Christianity, or religion in general to send me his or her question through the “comment” section of my blog.   I must say that I was totally impressed with the quality of the questions I received. The first one that I’ll address was written by a women named Audrey.  Among other things, she asked: “Is being gay or lesbian a sin?”

Now, that very short question deserves a very long answer. It also deserves a biblical answer, not a random opinion. As it so happens, I wrote a small seven page booklet on that topic last year. However, there’s no way I can squish the whole thing into a blog post.  So, I’ve decided to put a link to that booklet (see my “Links” section to the right) so that those who really want to can see my full biblical reasoning and read it in its entirety.

For those of you who simply want a sample of what I wrote, I’ve taken a page from my booklet and pasted it below. For those of you who want a very short answer to her question, the biblical answer is that yes, homosexual behaviors are sin.

Okay, so here’s a page from my booklet on the subject of homosexuality:

We all have certain and sometimes very different takes on homosexual behavior. Really, everyone seems to have some sort of opinion on the matter. Some say it’s normal, natural, and therefore acceptable while others just call it flat out sin. Some preach tolerance and love, others counter with repulsion and judgment. Ever wonder what God’s take is on this subject? Wouldn’t that be good to know? For a start, let’s look at how God describes homosexual behavior in his Word so we can get a feel for what his view really is. Listed below are nine different descriptions of the acts of homosexuality found in the Bible.

1. An act of wickedness

And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Gn 19:5-7

2. An abomination

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. Lev 18:22 

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. Lev 20:13

3. A vile thing

As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.” And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing. Jgs 19:22-23

4. A dishonorable passion

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Rom 1:26a

5. Contrary to nature

For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. Rom 1:26b-27

6. An unnatural desire

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. Jude 7

7. A shameless act

…men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. Rom 1:27

8. Contrary to sound doctrine

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. 1 Tm 1:8-11

9. Greatly distressing

If by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard). 2 Pt 2:6-8 

bible answer man

Every once in a while I open up an email and find that someone in our church has a question about the Bible, Christianity, God, the church, or religion in general.  In the midst of the crazy number of emails that I receive, the ones with questions of this type are far and away my most favorite. I guess I like being the “Bible Answer Man” every now and then.

I thought that this week I would extend an invitation for everyone or anyone who reads my blog to write in a Bible question.  This is not a “stump the pastor” competition (play nice!) but rather a genuine opportunity to get a real answer to a question that you just can’t find the answer.

So, if you are one who has a Bible question, then please respond back in the “comment” section of this blog and leave your question.  In next week’s blog I’ll attempt to answer a few questions… maybe one of them will be yours.