Was Jesus Silent About Homosexuality?
"And He answered and said, 'Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,' 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?'" - Matthew 19:4-5
Some liberal theologians justify the gay lifestyle by saying, "Look, Jesus is our ultimate authority and He never spoke about homosexuality, so there must be a freedom to decide on that issue!" Nice try, but let me explain why there are no direct words from Jesus on the subject. This is because Jesus' ministry was primarily directed to the Jews, and in the first century, homosexuality was just not an issue for them. Sure, it occurred, but it was seen as evil perversion. It was not a part of Jewish contemporary debate.
But Jesus did discuss the many issues related to homosexuality, as He taught us our most basic Christian principals. And Jesus was quite clear that marriage is only for a man and a woman. When we study the Biblical teachings concerning marriage, a man and a woman making a commitment for a lifetime, we also know that sex is a wonderful gift that God has created for a husband and wife to enjoy. But sex outside of marriage is always wrong in God's eyes, be it premarital sex, adultery, or homosexuality. While Jesus never specifically spoke about homosexuality, His Word certainly does. And the Word is absolutely clear: sexual intimacy is God's gift for a man and woman in the context of marriage only.
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20 Comments
If Christ never commented on homosexuality, they why does he speak of marriage as between a man and a woman only? Why is any sexual realtionship outside of marriage wrong? This should settle the question. The truth is, the people that say Jesus was silent about homosexualtiy are just looking for an excuse to do what they want. - jag
This high tension and explosive word "homosexual" may not have been in the vocabulary of the day, 2000 years ago.
A close study of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot, and the two angels, in Genesis 19: 1-29, should scare the bejesus out of anyone considering the practice. - DAVID ROBINETTE
One of the reasons I come to this web forum is that RFTH is no afraid to speak out on the issues that are "radioactive" to the "pc liberals" (Christian or not). What I think is not as important as what God says, and God is pretty clear. But, God also offers forgiveness for those who confess their sins and accect the saving grace offered by His Son. All sin is abhorent to God. My coveting or gossip is just as big a sin as homosexuality or abortion. That's hard to comprehend, but it's true. ALL have sinned and fallen short.... As a church we must reach out to one another in love and encouragement. - Grant
OK - homosexuality has been with us for generations - and to be honest with you - I am not that worked up about it. I've worked with folks who were that way - who were honourable and courageous people. Not every heterosexual practice is endorsed by God - we can't vilify homosexuals while justifying every heterosexual act. One of the most homophobic people I ever met - broke up a marriage and betrayed a friend - it gets it into perspective. But one man and one woman is God's ideal. You can have the rest :) - Roy Grove
And the good news is that there is freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ. Ministries like Exodus are here to reach out with love and compassion to those who are struggling with unwanted same sex attractions. - Debbie
Amen to that! - Jaime
Yes homosexuality is a very awful sin because it will cause a soul to spend eternity in hell. God hates this sin and he even had his men to speak against it in the Bible. No Christ didn't speak about it because people during that day didn't put up with it. People who openly lived this lifestyle was dealt with and not only by the Church or the Jews, most everyone was against it.I have some family members who live this lifestyle and no I do not avoid them but they know my stand on this sin and I don't hide my view. A person who practices this sin need to know that they were not born this way, they chose to do this and they can cease to do it. They also need to know that a person who act this way will not go to heaven until they stop and get forgiveness. I know ministers who will preach on everything under the sun but will not say anything about this sin and then I came to find out they have family members like this. God will judge us Ministers for choosing which sins we want to punish. We as Ministers are charged to preach the whole truth. We are not to use the pulpit for a whipping post to punish those we choose to, we are to love the sinners and pray for them that they will allow the Holy Spirit to clean up their souls and save them. God bless all today - Jerry
I don't think this subject is ground shaking news for Christians, and I like the passage of scripture that is highlighted in the devotion.
While homosexualty is a sin, so is premarrital sex, and drunkeness, and tons of other things I've done in my life. For all of it I have repented. Homosexuals who twist scripture are trying to tell themselves that they have nothing to repent for. That is scary.
Like Grant aludes to above, lets do our best to show love towards gay people, and hatered toward the sin. Win people over by loving them, that's what Jesus did. - Austin
You hit the nail on the head Austin. Jesus came to offer salvation to sinners. He did not come to save the righteous. One of the most powerful messages of His salvation is, "that while we were still sinners, Jesus died for our sins". That theif on the cross that received Grace was me! - Grant
Our pastor just talked this Sunday about how acceptance of the practices of other cultures destroyed Israel in the Old Testament. He had told them not to marry with foreigners because they would lead them astray and into sin. The Kings including David & Solomon all disobeyed God and went ahead and not only married foreigners, but accepted their culture of polygamy, which eventually destroyed their families & led to the destruction of Israel. There are several scriptures including even in Genesis that God describes that a man should leave his parents & marry A wife (as in one) Those scriptures also show that He never intended anything but a man and woman marrying. The problem today is that we as a country are going down the same path as the Israelites by accepting these sins as the norm. Yes, a sin is a sin, but the sin of homosexuality, polygamy, & sex outside of marriage is destroying the very fabric of families and as our families go, so goes our country. - Christ Follower
Some people always try to make God and Jesus in their own image and that is what I see those people doing who say that homosexuality is okay with Jesus. Some one in Sunday School recently related about how a professor at a divinity school who is gay said that God did not tolerate homosexuality in the Old Testament days because He was concerned with populating the earth but once that was accomplished then homosexuality became acceptable to God. So, people will say anything to justify their views and actions. The way I see it, Jesus was there at the beginning and through old and new times amd has not changed His thoughts about this particular form of sin. - Janice
I think we must be very careful about stating "liberal" theologians..we tend to use liberal as a dirty word, both groups have many faults and when speaking of God, Jesus or the Bible.Homosexuality IS wrong..period and God does not condone premarital sex, having sex because he is your "fiancee" or fiance'", or your steady boyfriend...all sex outside of saying "I do" is wrong..try and be open to thinking that maybe the thought is just let God take care of those who are homosexual in his way and time, as in Sodom and Gomorrah lets be very clear on this but let's not let politics get into teaching or pointing the finger or explaining the word of God. - Angel
"Liberal", when applied to theologians, is not a polical term. It is a term widely used to descripe the divide that is occurring in most denominations between those who want to "modernise" the meaning of scripture and those who want to stick to a strict(er) interpretation. If you read articles being printed on both sides of critical issues you will find the term "liberal" in that context. - Grant
This has nothing to do with homosexuality but I don't know how to post a new title and I am begging all of you to please pray for my 14 year old neice that just collapsed and has been life flighted to emory. she was born with a defected heart and has been an angel her whole life. she has an innate purity I have never seen before in anyone. Only see's the good in people, raises her hands in praise to God at church. She is my twin brothers daughter. He is a minister in LaGrange,Ga. Please pray for Jenna Brown, get on your knees now, I beg of you. My brother will never be the same again. Pray, my friends, please pray - jenny
Jenny,
I will certainly pray for your niece, but you might want to post this prayer request on the "prayer request" site that Right From The Heart has. It's on their homepage and I think you can also get there from: www.rightfromtheknees.org It's a site dedicated to making prayer requests and also to pray for others. These devotion comments are cool, but they don't really work like a true "forum" where people will see new comments made on older topics. NYway...I hope (and pray) that your sweet niece is OK!! - Jubal Noel
Thank you Jobal. I did post a prayer and have received several this morning. Thank you for your directions and for your prayer.She is not any better but God is at work - jenny
I can only hope someday science proves there is a 'gay' gene. I honestly don't think people choose to be gay. They are born that way. This means they CANT help it. It's an integral part of them.
God gave us our sexuality. And he knew we'd use it. God has a plan for everything and everyone.
I often wonder if the rise in number of gay folks has anything to do with an already overpopulated world.
And I think gay marriage's are a civil rights issue and the Christian community is up in arms because it's easier to focus on someone elses sin then their own.
Does anyone recall Jesus saying ' let he is without sin cast the first stone ' ?
- Karla Elisa
Thank you Karla. In a time when our country is in two wars, children are going hungry, and the voices of the poor are snuffed out I find it compleatly misguided and offensive that "Christians" would spend so much time worrying about what two men are doing in their own home. If we get to the point where homosexuality is the biggest problem we have I'd say we'll be living in a pretty amazing world, until then try to keep things in prospective. Reguardless of Jesus may or may not have alluded to there is no denying that he spent a lot more time talking about taking care of the poor and loving your enemies then he ever talked about homosexuality. - Jen
Thank you Karla. In a time when our country is in two wars, children are going hungry, and the voices of the poor are snuffed out I find it compleatly misguided and offensive that "Christians" would spend so much time worrying about what two men are doing in their own home. If we get to the point where homosexuality is the biggest problem we have I'd say we'll be living in a pretty amazing world, until then try to keep things in prospective. Reguardless of Jesus may or may not have alluded to there is no denying that he spent a lot more time talking about taking care of the poor and loving your enemies then he ever talked about homosexuality. - Jen
This is a very interesting discussion...one thing I found interesting, though, is that our commentator says, "...and in the first century, homosexuality was just nto an issue for them." True enough. But, Jesus was God incarnate. He knew it would apparently become an issue in this century (due to judgmental Christians?). Still, he said nothing. Jesus knew that his words would have lasting meaning for thousands of years. Yet, he stayed--mostly--silent on an issue that seems to "freak out" a lot of Christians today. I have read, though, interesting interpretations about the Centurion and the servant he begged Jesus to heal. If those interpretations are correct, then Jesus was very accepting of same sex pairings. Or, at least, tolerant. Jesus also mentions "eunuchs" in a passage that has always stood out to me. I don't know. I guess I'm just raising the points. Thanks1 - Sarah