God has called His people to live pure, holy lives in conformity with His divine plan for males and females. Regardless of the growing cultural, political, and religious acceptance of homosexuality and transgender practices, the Word of God identifies these as ungodly and sinful.
Standard of Truth
Truth does not change however deviant and permissive society becomes. The mindset of the world is one in which there is no absolute moral truth, and everything is relative. The Bible is God’s inspired Word (2 Timothy 3:16) and contains the only truth that will lead to Heaven. The truth of God’s Word will make people truly free to be at peace with God and with themselves. The prophet Isaiah pronounced a woe upon them that “call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20). This is the condition of our world, and it is incumbent upon God’s people to stand not only in love but in truth. The clear teaching of the Word should be held as the ultimate standard; and the influences and agendas of the world should not be allowed to hold sway as they relate to the LGBTQ+ community and lifestyle.
The gay and lesbian lobby is strong; it is tearing at the very fabric of society and challenging the God-ordained family structure. Homosexual and transgender practices are being normalized through the media and entertainment. Even if not personally embraced, there is a general permissiveness and acceptance by too many. Homosexuality, transgender, and bestiality are condemned by the Word of God. While it is not popular to name things out, LGBTQ+ practices are sinful.
Old Testament Condemns Homosexuality and Bestiality
The Old Testament condemned homosexuality. “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith… it is confusion. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you” (Leviticus 18:22-24). The law required that those who committed homosexual acts be put to death (Leviticus 20:13-16).
New Testament Teaching
While we no longer live under the judgments of the Mosaic law, the New Testament also clearly teaches that homosexuality is sinful. Because mankind began to worship themselves more than the Creator through lust, God gave them up unto vile affections. “Women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly” (Romans 1:24-28).
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 lists people that will not inherit the kingdom of God. Among them were “abusers of themselves with mankind.” This is homosexuality. Those that “defile themselves with mankind” are listed as lawless, disobedient, and ungodly in 1 Timothy 1:9-10.
Sexual Immorality Is Sin
All forms of sexual immorality are sins, whether it be fornication or adultery with any gender. Colossians 3:5-6 instructs people to “mortify therefore your members…fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection.” Paul advised to “Flee fornication…. He that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). Those that commit adultery, fornication, uncleanness, etc. will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). Physical intimacy belongs only in marriage between a man and a woman.
Marriage Is Between a Man and a Woman
Marriage has been misconstrued and redefined in our culture; but from the beginning, God created a man and a woman, Adam and Eve, to dwell together in marriage as one flesh (Genesis 2:18, 21-24). God did not create two men or two women for that most intimate of all relationships. Biblical marriage was and always will be between one man and one woman.
Jesus Himself reiterated this truth in Matthew 19:5-6: “For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Any other practice or acceptance of marriage between two men or two women is a perversion of God’s plan.
Gender Identity
Homosexuality is not new and has existed for thousands of years. However, in our modern world, as it became more accepted, it has led to an even greater evil in the last few years. Now not only are people choosing their sexual orientation by preference and lust, but they are also beginning to choose their gender, not based upon biology but upon preference. People are changing their gender identity where men are acting like women, women are acting like men, and even worse, some are choosing to act like animals. How far the world has fallen to accept and encourage this kind of deviant behavior!
Genesis 1:27 teaches that “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Only two gender categories are identified in scripture: male and female. Gender is not a choice but a biologically and genetically determined outcome. Crossing these boundaries through dress, surgical, or hormonal treatments defies the natural God-given gift bestowed by the Creator. Anomalies of chromosomal variance that may cause an ambiguous gender are less than 0.05% and should never be used to define normalcy. It is sad that children are born with genetic defects of any kind, but it is a reality in our world. Genetic defects are not the foundation upon which to transgress God’s plan and make gender identity a choice.
Transgender practices are sinful and forbidden by God. Cross-dressing is condemned in Deuteronomy 22:5 “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” While this passage forbids women from wearing men’s apparel, especially armor, it also states that a man should not wear women’s clothing. 1 Corinthians 6:9 speaks of the ‘effeminate.’ This refers to those wearing soft, luxurious clothes, also encapsulating sensual and corrupt indulgences. Would not a man putting on the dress and airs of a woman be in this category? One’s biological sex is to be accepted and no attempt should be made to change, alter, or act differently.
Divine Judgment
The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is once more reaching heaven. Fire and brimstone were poured out in judgment against these cities for their gross sinfulness as it relates to this topic (Genesis 19:1-14). Jude 1:7 warns: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
The Spirit of the World
With sexual perversions and ideologies surrounding us in this age, it is so important not to imbibe the spirit of the world (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). “Be not conformed to this world: but…prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).
God Loves LGBTQ+ Individuals
While the judgments of God are sure against evil and sexual deviance of this generation, God loves every individual (John 3:16). God hates sin but loves the sinner. Jesus died for all sinners, and all of us were in that number. Regardless of the lifestyle and sin that someone has committed, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). God can take the vilest sinners and make them clean. Jesus did not come to condemn but to save people from their sins. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Salvation for All People
Let us not be discouraged but stay strong in the truth of God’s Word. Pray for those who have been drawn into the lustful traps of the enemy. All is not lost, for there is still power in Jesus Christ to transform lives. ■
