A BIBLICAL EXAMINATION OF HOMOSEXUALITY AND SAME SEX UNIONS - PART I

It’s a day of reckoning for 21^st Century Christianity. We are confronted by a constant flow of humanism with its anti-Biblical ideology, ranging from relative morality to an intense drive for personal peace and affluence.  In its dust it leaves the memory of a time when Christian values were prominently held in our culture.

Today we are faced with the issue of gay unions and the desire of some to legalize these unions in order to place upon them an indelible stamp of approval. Unfortunately there are some who claim Christ as their Savior that are willing to go along with this in order to appear open and tolerant of those who have an ‘alternative lifestyle.’ These have broken ranks with the true Church of Jesus Christ, compromising true doctrine in order to ‘keep up with the times.’ What they are saying and doing may appear to the world at large to be good, compassionate and tolerant. But it is simply a compromised position of Biblical truth and a direct affront to the Creator. 

There is no way of knowing how long we have to stand at this crossroad. But it seems imperative that if Christianity is to move forward and have a positive impact in the world, it must do so with a united front behind the only objective truth at our disposal: the Bible, the Word of God.

A practical Christian response to this issue will be presented in 3 parts:

PART 1: THE DESIGN OF THE CREATOR

PART 2: THE ALTERNATE LIFESTYLE

PART 3: THE BIBLICAL RESPONSE

PART 1: THE DESIGN OF THE CREATOR

In The Beginning

“Male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27

On the sixth day of creation, God determined to make man in His own image and likeness. But notice that in Genesis 1:27, even prior to His creating Eve, Scripture states, “in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (emphasis added).” In the mind of the Creator there was a distinction made for the sex of mankind, male and female. And the reason for this is shown in verse 28. For here it states that “God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” It should be obvious for anyone to see that in order to be fruitful and to multiply that it necessitates a male and a female to reproduce.  This is true for the lower order of creation as well as for mankind, the higher order of creation. The major difference is that man was created with the image and likeness of the Creator for a more noble purpose: to multiply and have dominion over God’s creation.  

Eve

“It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Genesis 2:18

   Again on the sixth day of creation, God recognizes that man must have a like companion. But before He creates Eve, notice in verse 19 that God brings the lower order of creation to Adam in order for him to give them names. This served two purposes, to present Adam with dominion over the lower creation, and to demonstrate the uniqueness of man. Adam found no helper comparable [i.e., a helping being, in which, as soon as he sees it, he may recognize himself (Delitzsch)] to him among the lower order of creation, and rightfully so, for man bears the image of his Creator and is more noble than the animals.

   Next, God creates the woman from the rib of Adam. And again, as God did with the animals, He brings the woman to the man. This presenting of the woman to man demonstrates two things. First, that there is a purpose for the sexes. In the mind of the Creator, there is a design for mankind to reproduce and to be fruitful and to multiply. And secondly, this exhibits in a clear and unmistakable manner that there is order in God’s creation. And He gave this His divine stamp of approval: “God blessed them…” (Genesis 1:28).

The Divine Plan for Marriage

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”  Genesis 2:24

At the institution of marriage, God specifically states that the relationship is to be between a man and his wife, a male and a female. Notice also that the man comes from a father and a mother. There is no reference to an ‘alternate life style’ between members of the same sex. Jesus restates God’s original intent as it is recorded in Matthew 19:4-6. Paul supports this also in Ephesians 5:31. In fact, when the New Testament writers speak of marriage, they always refer to a husband and a wife (Eph. 5:22ff; 1 Peter 3:1ff). It is intellectually dishonest to try to redefine these terms (husband/wife) to mean anything other than a male and a female. A wife is never a male. A husband is never a female. And God never intended for His creatures to sanction or participate in same sex unions.