Genesis 19:4-5,24 (NKJV) Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”…Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens.
The church must not succumb to populism, especially when it comes to the issue of homosexualism. Instead, she should stand firm against values that violate God’s moral laws and values, lest she loses her testimony of being the light and the salt of this world.
The first sign of homosexuality was found in Sodom. When God sent the angels to deliver Lot and his family from Sodom before it was to be destroyed due to their exceedingly grave sins, we saw a glimpse of the sins in the city when the men of the city came to Lot’s house demanding to have sex with the angels, which shows there were homosexual activities in Sodom.
Leviticus 18:22 (NKJV) You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
Leviticus 20:13 (NKJV) If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They must surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.
The corruption in the world through lust has to do with homosexuality, bisexuality as well as natural sexual sins. Homosexuality is an abomination in the eyes of God and punishable by death in the Old Testament.
Because God is holy, righteous and just, He detests sin and must judge sin. Also, God had not sent His Son to redeem mankind from sin in this passage yet. Therefore, He had to judge sin by destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. Homosexuality is clearly wrong in God’s eyes, and He does not condone it.
However, we live in the New Testament because Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law and the penalty of sin. He has made known His love for us by forgiving our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. The Gospel has been made known to us and the whole of creation testifies of the existence of God. Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save all is us through His blood, including the LGBTQ community. God extended His love to all sinners.
Therefore, while we should make a stand as a church that homosexuality is not an alternative lifestyle because it is unnatural and wrong, we should always love those concerned even though we may not condone their sinful acts or lifestyles. They have a need and may be thirsting for genuine care and concern. We should be open to befriend them, love them, and minister to them. Jesus can heal their souls and save them, but He also needs us to minister to them and to share the Gospel with them.
Sermon Series: Natural or Unnatural (Part 2- Homosexuality)
神对同性恋的看法
创世纪19:4-5,24 他们还没有躺下，所多玛城里各处的人，连老带少，都来围住那房子， 5 呼叫罗得说：“今日晚上到你这里来的人在哪里呢？把他们带出来，任我们所为。” … 24当时，耶和华将硫磺与火从天上耶和华那里降与所多玛和蛾摩拉。
教会绝不能屈服于民粹主义，尤其是在同性恋问题上。相反，她应该坚决反对违背上帝道德律法和价值观的价值观，以免失去其在世上作盐作光的见证。
同性恋的第一个迹象出现在所多玛。在罪大恶极的所多玛被毁灭之前，神派天使拯救罗得及其家人，于是我们得以一窥这城中的罪：这城里的男人来到罗得家，要求与天使发生性关系，这表明所多玛城中有同性恋行为。
利未记18:22 不可与男人苟合，像与女人一样；这本是可憎恶的。
利未记20:13人若与男人苟合，像与女人一样，他们二人行了可憎的事，总要把他们治死，罪要归到他们身上。
世界藉着情欲而产生的败坏皆关乎同性恋、双性恋，当然也包括自然的性犯罪。在神眼中，同性恋是可憎的事，在旧约中是死罪。
因为神是圣洁、公义、公正的，神憎恶罪，必须审判罪。而且，在这段经文中，神还没有差遣祂的儿子把人类从罪中救赎出来。因此，祂必须藉着毁灭所多玛和蛾摩拉来施行对罪的审判。在神的眼中，同性恋是毋庸置疑的邪恶，祂决不纵容。
然而，对于我们这些生活在新约里的人来说，情况就不同了，因为耶稣已经把我们从律法的咒诅和罪的惩罚中救赎了出来。祂藉着耶稣基督的宝血赦免了我们的罪，向我们显明了祂对我们的爱。福音已经传与我们，一切受造之物都见证着神的存在。耶稣来不是要定世人的罪，而是要藉着祂的宝血来拯救我们所有人，包括LGBTQ群体。神把祂的爱泽及到所有的罪人。
因此，作为一个教会，我们应该表明立场，同性恋不是一种可以选择的生活方式，因为它不自然且不道德，但我们应该永远爱那些人，即使我们或许不能容忍他们罪恶的行为或生活方式。他们有需要，可能渴望得到真正的关心和关怀。我们应该敞开心扉与他们成为朋友，爱他们，服事他们。耶稣可以医治他们的灵魂并拯救他们，但他也需要我们服事他们，与他们分享福音。
讲章系列:自然或非自然?(第二部分 同性恋)