Romans 1:26
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
God has made Himself known to all people, yet most still reject Him and exchange the truth of God for the lie of Satan. “For this reason”, at some point God turns people over to their sinful desires. He stops restraining them and gives their passions complete control of their lives. The end result is a shameful lifestyle.
God made people to worship and serve Him in righteousness. The lifestyle that naturally fits us is one of godliness. Any other use of our lives and bodies is shameful and unnatural.
Ungodliness is so normal now that it seems like a natural use of our bodies. Lesbianism is used in this verse to illustrate how unnatural our sinful desires are. Homosexuality is a lifestyle that is obviously not natural to the human body, which is clearly designed for heterosexual relationships.
When God removes His restraining influence from a person or nation the result will always be an unnatural use of the bodies He created to worship and serve Him forever.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
So are you defining sin as anything that you believe isn’t “natural” to the human body? How about circumcision? Removing unneeded organs? Sunglasses or sunblock? Earrings?
This argument is pathetic. Sin should be be defined as an act that causes harm or evil to one’s self or others. Homosexuality does not fall into this category and is by no means “shameful”. Homosexuals can worship and love god as much as anyone. Also, people who reject the christian god as the “one god to rule them all” can live lives very free from evil acts.
It’s sad that a church that is supposed to be modeled after the life of Jesus would be spewing such bigotry and intolerance.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
FreeThinkBham Sam,
I am not defining sin “as anything that [I] believe isn’t ‘natural’ to the human body.” Rather, I am stating that sin itself is unnatural because God created us for righteousness.
I would define sin as any act or attitude that is contrary to God, His nature, and His character. All such acts and attitudes are shameful whether they be heterosexual, homosexual, or have nothing to do with sex at all.
Every person, regardless of what sins they have committed, can worship and love God. In fact, He desires that every person do just that.
Granted, people who reject the “christian god” can and do live exemplary moral lives. The Pharisees of Jesus’ time lived such lives, yet Jesus utterly rejected them. The most harsh words He had were for these moral people. On the other hand, His mercy was most evident in His words and actions toward the most sinful people in society at the time. The bottom line issue is whether or not a person accepts Jesus as the only way to the Father.
Indeed, it is sad that there is much bigotry and intolerance in religion. I am convinced that Jesus would reject many that churches think highly of. I am just as convinced that if Jesus were living in Birmingham today, He would be found among people that most churches shun.
Yet, it must be acknowledged that Jesus would tell those who came to Him to “go and sin no more.” He is full of mercy, grace, and love to each and every one of us who are willing to repent of our sin, follow, and obey Him. Every one of us are sinners and Jesus is the only way for us to become acceptable to God.
September 15th, 2009 at 10:08 am
While I totally agree that Jesus’ harshest words were for the Pharisees, I think you’re interpretation of them is a little off. They weren’t just “moral people” who weren’t living “godly” lives, they were pious people of the faith that spent their days pretending to have the upmost reverence for god but strictly so other people would view them as high and mighty. These Pharisees would probably be the first to point to someone and say “look at how YOU’RE living, thats sinful and contrary to god” whereas Jesus was building relationships with the sinners through love and acceptance. And when I say sinners, I mean people who were stealing and robbing, not people who had loving relationships with someone of the same sex.
I find it sad that no matter what, you’re going to view homosexuality as a sin and as something that needs to be “fixed”. It’s completely relative. What if you were born into a religion where everyone was gay? Would you need to fix your own heterosexuality? Wouldn’t you find it a little absurd that someone was judging you for being who you are, while simultaneously speaking negatively of Pharisees?
September 16th, 2009 at 6:57 am
FreeThinkBham Sam,
I agree with your analysis of the Pharisees.
Building relationships was an important part of Jesus’ ministry but He also publicly taught about sin and righteousness. He did not shy away from speaking the truth in love.
It is true that individuals and societies have moral convictions that are relative to their own experience and perspectives. Yet, I believe there is an absolute standard of morality that stands outside these relative moralities and is the standard by which they are measured. God is that absolute standard and He has revealed it to us through the scriptures. Therefore, I believe that homosexuality is a sin based on God’s standard as revealed in the bible.
September 29th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Gays deserve the respect and rights that are afforded to everyone. Even if you don’t agree with their lifestyle, you shouldn’t pass judgement. Only God can judge.
October 3rd, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Odell,
Indeed, every citizen should be afforded the civil rights provided to them by their government, regardless.
God is the one who judged this lifestyle. He revealed that judgement to us in the scriptures, including the verse being explained in this post.