Today, 7/17/09, Friday morning, I opened the newspaper to see the article named in the title of this essay.
I have seen for a long time, the unfairness of judgment practiced against homosexuality, have just the opposite effect intended by various authors of articles attempting to deal with the subject nonjudgmentally.
It is hard to do. It is harder to do and show love instead of judgment. And it is still harder to do with any degree of compassion shown in the writing of the article because of the nature of the issue.
I love my brothers in Adam, but I love my brothers in Christ much, much more. It is because I wish my brothers in Adam to become my brothers in Christ, I am moved to make this appeal.
Come ye out from among them and be ye separate from the unclean thing.
The Homosexual community has organized itself along religious lines in an alarming fashion, in that, they now make claims the the bible does not condemn Homosexuality. They now ordain Ministers and officers of every type, in most of the denominations, and the churches seem unable to refute their doctrinal claims.
Several Hebrew words should be considered in the discussion; they are numbered in accordance with Strong’s numbering system for your edification, and ease of research, in the event you wish to see for yourself.
Heb 376. eesh; a man; a male person
Heb 120. Ad-dawm; Ruddy; a human being; the race of man; mankind.
Heb 802. eesh-shaw’; fem. of Heb376 or Heb582; a woman (used in the same wide sense as Heb 582): female, wife, woman.
Heb 2145. zakar, zaw-kawr’; a male (of man or animals): him, male, man kind.
Heb 5347. nek-ay-baw’; female (from the sexual form): -female.
The BIBLE begins in the Genesis account, relating man’s sexuality, with reference to God’s plan for him.
In Exo 15:3, God refers to himself as “EESH” [376].
God also speaks of Gabriel as being an EESH in Dan 9:29.
Finally, God accomodates the language to the male and female of every species which entered the ark; EESH AND EESHAW
Gen 7:2 “Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens the male (EESH))376) and his female (EESH-SHAW)(802).
ZAW-KAWR AND NEK-AY-BAW Gen 1:27 So God created man [120](Ad-dawm) in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male [zaw-kawr][2145] and female [nek-ay-baw][5347] created he them.
ORIGIN OF EESH & EESH-SHAW Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man (Ad-dawm)[120], made he a woman (eesh-shaw)[802], and brought her unto the man (Ad-dawm)[120].
Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman (eesh-shaw)[802], because she was taken out of Man (eesh)[376].
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man (eesh)[376] leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife (eesh-shaw)[802]: and they shall be one flesh.
Gen 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife (eesh-shaw)[802]; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man (eesh)[376] from the LORD.
Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind (zaw-kawr)[2145], as with womankind (eesh-shaw)[802]: it is abomination.
Lev 20:13 If a man (eesh)[376] also lie with mankind (zaw-kawr)[2145], as he lieth with a woman (eesh-shaw)[802], both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
God plainly and unequivocally states that a man, male of the species, is to join himself sexually, and in marriage, to a woman, female of the species. He also prohibits male with male sexual cohabitation.
HOMOSEXUAL PREMISE: Deuteronomy 23:17-18 These verses have been applied to homosexual behaviour because of a mistranslation of the Hebrew. The King James Version reads “whore” and “sodomite”. The Hebrew actually uses the same noun in its masculine and feminine forms, the words are best translated “temple (or cult) prostitute”. These verses have nothing directly to do with homosexual behaviour.
Cult prostitution flourished throughout the ancient world and this fact sheds important light on the other passages in this brochure. Fertility cult worship involved sexual activity in the temple, often with a sacred prostitute who was like a priest or priestess. This sacred sexual activity was believed to encourage the god(s) to bestow fertility on the earth and its creatures.
REBUTTAL: Deut 23:17 Forbids such practice, WHATEVER IT WAS, to be found among the sons and daughters of Israel.
1Kings 14:24, the people of the nations which preceded Israel were cast out of the land for such practices.
1 Kings 15:12 the king removed them from the land.
1 kings 22:46, same.
In 2 kings 23:7 the king “broke down their houses” which were adjacent to the house of God. If this was just a religious practice, why did God object to its close proximity to his own dwellingplace? The final use of the word is in Job 36:14, where it is translated “unclean” with reference to the young who were dying in such a state.
HOMOSEXUAL PREMISE: Genesis 19:4-11 The sin of Sodom is clearly explained in Ezekiel 16:49-50. It was not homosexual behaviour, but for its deep and general sinfulness, the men in the story may have intended sexual abuse of the divine visitors (the translation of the verb “know” here is not clear).
The issue is not that the objects may have been homosexual but that it was to be abuse. This was in character with the whole of their uncaring, greedy and Godless lives.
REBUTTAL: The translation of the verb is not clear to whom? “Scholars” who desire to practice such things with impunity? It most certainly was clear to the cities of Sodom and Gommorha; it was clear to the kings of the above references, and it was clear to several thousand years of Jewish “scholars” who did not “correct” this alledged
“misunderstanding.” Whence cometh this knowledge?
HOMOSEXUAL PREMISE: Leviticus 18:22; 20:13-14 These verses are found in the “Holiness Code” which emphasized to the Israelites that they were to be set apart to God. The context is prohibition of practices found in the nearby fertility cult of Molech. “Abomination” is a translation of the Hebrew word which specifically means idolatrous practices (not necessarily sexual). The condemnation here is a reference to the fertility worship which the Israelites were to shun. The seriousness of this idolatry in Hebrew eyes was compounded by the belief that “to lie with a man as with a woman” violated the dignity of the male sex. Women were property but men were the direct image of God. To treat a man the way a woman was treated was to reduce him to property and, thereby, to violate the image of God. The issue was idolatrous activity which failed to acknowledge God’s creation
REBUTTAL: “Not necessarily sexual” certainly does not mean the same thing as “Not sexual at all.” There were times when the idolatrous service included the sexual aspect, but WITH OR WITHOUT the sexual aspect, IT WAS FORBIDDEN. And to say that “the context is prohibition of practices found in the nearby fertility cult of Molech,” is to “play games” with contextual considerations.
Leviticus 18 Verse 6 begins a litany of behaviours which wre prohibitted to Israel; after being told that they were not to emulate the behaviour of the people of Egypt, nor the people of Canaan, into which they were about to enter. Fifteen verses follow; filled with sexual “defilements”, which form the “context” for the verses which contain the passages under consideration.
IN CONTEXT, God continues to pronounce upon Israel, prohibitions of practices which were found in the societies which were being replaced in the land of Canaan.
Verse 22 “Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind…”
Verse 24 “DEFILE not your
selves in any of these things…”
“In all these things the nations are DEFILED”
“WHICH I CAST OUT before you…”
Verse 25 “And the LAND IS DEFILED…”
“THEREFORE I do visit the INIQUITY thereof upon it.”
“And the LAND ITSELF VOMMITETH OUT HER INHABITANTS.”
This whole context shows;
1st that God found the practices rampant in the land;
2nd He cast out the nations thereof BECAUSE OF SUCH PRACTICES.
3rd a follow-up study will show that God also cast out Israel from the same land for doing exactly the same things, and He DID NOT TOLERATE it in them, either.
Let us proceed to examining “The statement” made by the Homosexual community:
HOMOSEXUAL PREMISE: Many people have been taught that the Bible condemns homosexuality. We believe that this is not the truth. We believe that gay and lesbian people are completely loved and accepted by God. How can there be such a difference between parts of the Christian Church over this issue?
Largely because unproven ideas have been taught for centuries about some Scripture passages. In recent times, scholars have finally begun to study these passages in depth, with the support of historical and archaeological information about biblical times.
REBUTTAL: Absurdo Redundum; Who are such brilliant men who can look at the scholarship of centuries, and declare so smugly, “look at how smart we are… we declare your work to be in error. We have formed an opinion, It represents the “new” truth. We have discovered, after several thousand years, what the writers “really” meant. We are so clever.
“Scholarship” in and of itself, is worthless. To obtain a Doctor’s degree, all you have to do, is research in a library, find a specified number of other “scholars” to whom you can appeal, and submit your conclusion for approval. You do not have to be right. There is no truth required. Only “Authority.” You are not required to “test” your conclusion against reality. Only against “what everyone knows.” Degrees attained do not make you right, do not make you smart, nor do they bring you one whit closer to truth.
Ptolemy, one of Scholarship’s greatest “Authorities,” was it’s greatest fraud. There is NO record of his youth! He had NO credentials! He appeared suddenly on the scene, among “learned” men; He attempted to “prove” the Earth to be the center of the universe by multiplying the numerical solutions of his predecessors, by decimal values which tended to verity the general concensus of opinion, (among “learned men).
For fifteen hundred years, his “findings” were accepted as “scientifically accurate,” and therefore “true.” Of course, no one thought to “verify” his work, as he was THE “Authority.” No Credentials, No history, No pedigree, just his own “authority.”
Galileo Galilei, on the other hand, was a very well trained scholar, who had all the credentials of scholarship. He held that the Earth was NOT the center of the Universe. THE RELIGIOUS “Scholars” of the day, stepped into the picture, and convinced the Papal authority to send him to trial by Inquisition, found him guilty of Heresy, placed him under house arrest for life, banned his books, forbidding the
“ignorant masses” to look therein. 213 years later, in 1829, Pope Leo the XII removed them from the purged list.
Do not pretend that a mix of “scholarship” and “religion” has any merit whatsoever. They have only the authority of scripture. And I can read scripture. And when I speak, it will be with full authority of scripture, a “thus saith the Lord.” it will not be the latest mouthings of “scholars” who imagine themselves more clever than their predecessors.
The Homosexual preaching community have suggested that homosexuality is not addressed in the New Testament; but rather, the references in Paul’s writings concern idolatrous cult “temple” prostitution.
Paul addresses the issue as one of historical consequence. He tells what “they” did, and what happened to those persons who did so.
Rom 1:26-27…for even their 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…
Scripture plainly states that a male is not to lie with a male as with a female. To rephrase, a man is not to use a man as he would a woman. There is a natural use, between a man and woman [Rom 1:26-27], and men do NOT replace women in that “natural” arrangement ordained by God.
HOMOSEXUAL PREMISE: There is no factual support for an anti-gay interpretation of Scripture, the facts are only quickly summarized here. Such brief statements cannot do justice to an interpretation of Scripture. There is a continuing and searching endeavour. But this summary is a starting place. It is an assurance that clear authority points to acceptance of gay and lesbian Christians.
RESPONSE: And Liars, Murderers, Fornicators, Adulterers, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, idolaters, shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul says in 1 Cor 6:9-11, “and such were some of you, but you are washed, you are sanctified, you are justified…”
Paul says they “were” such, but then tells of a change. Paul it is who also tells us of “repentance” from “dead works.” And “Godly sorrow leadeth thee to repentance.”
Yes, Christianity is for such people, but NOT IN THEIR SIN. To claim otherwise misrepresents what the scripture teaches, and “scholarship” CANNOT change that. It CANNOT make it go away. And “scholarship” mixed with “religion” will NOT change the sacred writings. They will always stand to testify of the silly little men with their silly little minds who boast such great things.
HOMOSEXUAL PREMISE: 1Corinthians 6:9 and 1Timothy 1:10 – At issue are two words: malakee (found only in 1Corinthians) and Arsenokeeteh, which is in both verses. Tradition assumes a homosexual meaning of the words. Actual study reveals that in its use there, malakee means “morally weak” or, perhaps, “immoral persons”. (The translation “effeminate” in the King James Version was an archaic one and, in any case, did not imply homosexuality in Greek–as it does not today.)
Arsenokeeteh means to refer directly to cult prostitution, again. Such practices were common both in Corinth and Ephesus (where Timothy was). It clearly refers, in this use and later uses in other writings, to prostitutes who engaged in both homosexual and heterosexual cult practice. Neither of these words can possible be translated to mean “homosexual” or any similar distortion of their meaning.
REBUTTAL: Greek (arseen) = male, Found in Matthew 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them MALE and female,
Mark 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them MALE and female.
Luke 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every MALE that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men (Greek = males among males) working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither MALE nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Greek (arsenokoitees) A man who lies with a male, a Sodomite 1cor 6:9 1Tim 1:10
HOMOSEXUAL PREMISE: Romans 1:26-27 This is the only passage in Scripture which, apparently, talks about homosexual behaviour among women as well as men. The dangerous, traditional interpretation comes from failure to relate it to the whole chapter.
Paul talks about idolatrous people who put things or concerns before their devotion to God. As an example, he refers to fertility cult worship prevalent in Rome. The homosexual activity to which he
refers is idolatrous. He implies that all of the cult worshippers engaged in it. (The interpretation that he is writing about homosexual behaviour in general would force this to say that all idolatrous people become homosexual- -an obviously spurious interpretation.)
The final sentence referring to their just reward is a reference to the venereal disease which was epidemic among such cults. This specific reference to fertility cult worship cannot be construed to condemn homosexual behaviour in general.
REBUTTAL: Let us examine the “WHOLE CHAPTER” then, and look for this connection that you stipulate is there.
I don’t see it in the first seven verses.
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I don’t see it in verses 8 thru 12;
Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Still missing in verses 13 thru 15;
Romans 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Paul finally enters a NEW CONTEXT in which he introduces the effect of the power of God, which he calls the Gospel.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
And he introduces the antithesis to the Gospel, the wrath of God.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who HOLD THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
So far, Paul forgoes idolatry and its currupting influences to focus on the real problem, EGO. 21 Because that, when they knew God they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but BECAME VAIN IN THEIR IMAGINATIONS, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 PROFESSING THEMSELVES TO BE WISE, they became fools,
Finally Paul mentions that which RESULTS from the sins of EGO; rather than being the CAUSE, it is the EFFECT. It is Idolatry. 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
And when they continued to pursue their road to depravity, God gave them up. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to DISHONOUR THEIR OWN BODIES BETWEEN THEMSELVES: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.
This “dishonoring” with their bodies, between “men among men” is NOT cult prostitution. It is SOCIETAL ABOMINATION. This does NOT describe a Worship service gone awry, it describes a society become depraved.
Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men (GREEK; MEN AMONG MEN) working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who KNOWING THE JUDGMENT OF GOD, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, NOT ONLY DO THE SAME, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Thus we see that the Homosexual position is based upon a false premise; relying on false information; and resulting in lies for doctrine.
The problem continues to fester, when well meaning preachers and teachers seem to speak against homosexuality while ignoring all other types of abhorent behaviour. But the sinful community should not expect fair treatment of this nature, when the issue is so strongly supported in the religious
community of today. No one says it is all right to steal, or lie, or commit adultry, or any of a number of other things recognized by all as reason to repent. But Homosexuality is being touted as O.K. in an enlightened community of Christians. THAT CALLS FOR A RESOUNDING REBUTTAL, not an open apology for speaking to the issue.
I offer no such apology. I do offer an invitation to my brothers in Adam to join me in Christ. Give up this heinous lustful practice, and turn to him who died to make it possible.
Without Christ, and his blood sacrifice, you die in your sins.
With Christ and his blood sacrifice, you live in hope of eternal life.
