(Gen.19:5-8,23-25; Rom.1:24,26-28,32)
SANTIAGO B.SAMEON II, B.Th., Ed.D.
I am pursuing this treatise with sincerity and love, devoid of hate, in discussing this extremely controversial and contentious issue. I know through visual media of the furor that recently erupted, on account of an unpopular religious affair that transpired in our much beloved city of Baguio. In treating this I am appealing to everyone that may all of us respect and honor the Word of God, our standard of faith, to enlighten us and settle the issue.
Let me proceed by giving the meaning of terms involved in the discussion. What is Sodomy? It is defined: (n) an anal or oral copulation (all underscorings in this article are mine) of the member of the same sex. (Webster’s Universal College Dictionary, p.747). What is a homosexual? It is defined: (adj.) attracted sexually to members of one’s own sex; of or pertaining to homosexuality; (n) a homosexual person. (Webster’s Universal College Dictionary, p.389). From these definitions we can conclude that the meaning of the terms are quite similar.
The term “sodomy” is derived from the biblical name of a city that is engaged in an abnormal sexual practice in which man copulates by anus or mouth with another man. In Ecclesiastical Latin, this is peccatum Sodomiticum, or sin of Sodom. The succeeding texts that follows, will shed us light about sodomy or the sin of Sodom.
Gen.19:1-8 states, (1) “Now the two Angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. (2) And he said, ‘Here now my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.’ ‘No’, but we will spend the night in the open square’. (3) But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. (4) 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. (5) And they called Lot and said to him, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them to us that we may know them carnally’. (In the Bible, the term “know” or “knew” is an euphemism of sexual intercourse as used in Gen.4:1, “Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain…”). (6) So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him. (7) And said, ‘Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly!’ (8) ‘See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please let me bring them out to you, that you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to this men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.’“
The above narration tells us of the wicked intentions of the sodomites, but they were prevented from doing that night, because they were blinded by the Angels in Gen.19:11. However, the earlier account tells us , in Gen.18:20 “And the Lord said, ‘Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah Is great, and because their sin is very grievous,…”, is a strong indication that they had been engaged in homosexuality and sodomy, so much so that God rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah in Gen.19:24 and grossly annihilated them!. Even the cities of Admah and Zeboiim – Deut.29:23, were also destroyed by fire evidently on account of the same widespread immoral sexual sin! (Jude 7).
In Judges 19:22,23, the sin of sodomy, was almost committed by the men of Gibeah but they were prevented from the wicked deed, so they vented their sexual desire to a married woman, who died because of extreme sexual abuse throughout the night, that resulted in a civil war, which almost annihilated the tribe of Benjamin in Judges chapter twenty.
Likewise, the Law of Moses In the Old Testament, is strongly against homosexuality and explicitly forbids it, being horrible. Also in Lev.18:22 where it states, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” Further on, the law against homosexuality emphatically emphasized that whoever commits the ungodly act was meted the death penalty in Lev.20:13 that expressed, “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.”
The sin of sodomy or homosexuality also is stressingly condemned in the New Testament as expressed in Rom.1: 24, 26, 27, 32, (24) “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves .” (26) “For this reason God gave them up to vile passion. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. (27) Likewise also men leaving the natural use of women, burned in their lust for another men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. (32) “who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
(It is leaving the natural use, when men with men engage in sexual acts to each other and women with women likewise engage in the sexual act, is billed shameful, so much so, that God gave them up to vile passions which is sinful! and worthy of death!) The bitter verdict on homosexuality is pronounced in 1 Cor.6:9,10, (9) “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, (10) nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” Finally, a declaration of fiery judgment is pronounced in Jude 7, “as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering vengeance of eternal fire.” (additional references: Isa. 1:3, 10; Isa.3:9; Isa. 13:19; Jer.49:18; Jer.50:40; Deut.32:32; Jer.23:14; Lam.4:6; Am.4:11; Zep.2:9; Matt.10:15; Matt.11:24; Mark 6:11; Lk. 10:12; Lk.17:29; Rom.9:29; 2 Pet.2:6.)
What is God’s approved pattern in marriage? Jesus in replying the Pharisees on marriage, said in Matt.19:4,5 (4) “And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female.(5) and said, ‘For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife , and the two shall become one flesh.’” God intended in marriage that it must be between male and female and not male with male or he could have created two Adams. But God created one Adam for one Eve. He did not also make two Eves to marry each other. God’s pattern in marriage has always been between a man and a woman. Not a woman with a woman as that would be unnatural and shameful. Let us honor and respect God’s pattern of marriage and not deviate from its original design! “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtain favor from the Lord.”-Prov.18:22. (SBSII, B.Th.,A.B.,MaEd,Ed.D./7.8.2011-Fri.)