On May 16, 2024, Breitbart News reported the following: “A federal court on Wednesday upheld a Maryland school district policy that does not allow parents to opt their young K-5 children out of curriculum about gender identity and sexuality. In a 2-1 panel decision released by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, federal judges affirmed a lower court decision denying the request of religious parents to block the policy issued by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) board in March of 2023. Judge G. Steven Agee, a President George W. Bush appointee, wrote the majority opinion stating that parents did not present enough evidence to show that the policy violates the free exercise of their religion and their due process right to direct their children’s education.”  Later in the same article, these statements were made concerning one of the books used in the curriculum.  “Book titles integrated into the K-5 curriculum include The Pride Puppy, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, and Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope. The book The Pride Puppy — which is “the sole test expressly approved for use in pre-Kindergarten and Head Start classrooms” — invited “the three and four-year-old audience … to look for items such as “[drag] king,” “leather,” “lip ring,” “[drag] queen,” and “underwear,” the judge’s opinion notes.” Re: https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/05/16/federal-court-parents-maryland-school-district-cannot-opt-k-5-children-lgbtq-curriculum/

The court’s decision interferes with parents’ right to rear their children in a godly manner.  The proper rearing of children should never be left up to a court, a school board, a village or even our Bible class teachers (although they can certainly be of great help).   The apostle Paul wrote the following, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4. The responsibility to properly raise children has always been placed upon the parents.

Sadly, news reports such as this one are becoming more common.  It seems there is no end to the efforts of the LGBQT activists to spread their deplorable ideology.  It is also disturbing to note that many in our government are giving their “stamp of approval” to this behavior. Make no mistake about it, God never has and never will approve of such sinful behavior!

What was once recognized as sin is now considered by many to be an acceptable lifestyle.  The media now recognize the homosexual lifestyle as a valuable contribution to diversity.  Even many of those in the religious world are now recognizing same-sex marriages.  Some even allow homosexuals to serve as clergy. On May 1, 2024, the United Methodist church overturned its forty-year ban on gay clergy. In a 692-51 vote, church leaders passed several rules without debate, including overturning both its ban on gay clergy and the penalties for holding same-sex marriages.  How sad!  The issue of homosexuality should never be put up to a vote!  God decided this issue thousands of years ago and His word has not changed! Man has no right to change the Word of God and will surely and certainly be punished for doing so. 

With all of this in mind, consider what the scriptures have to say about homosexuality.

From the Patriarchal Period, we go to Genesis 19:1-11. “The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.”

While some try to make the men of Sodom guilty of nothing more than inhospitality, the fair and unbiased reader of the Bible is forced to conclude that God destroyed the men of Sodom on account of their sinful practice of homosexuality. The word sodomy can refer to unnatural sexual relations, as between persons of the same sex.  The word sodomy has its origins in the account of Sodom and Gomorrah.

From the Mosaic Period, we look at Leviticus 20:13 “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.”

From the New Testament, consider Romans 1:26-32 “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” (It is noteworthy from verse 32 that those who give their approval to those who practice homosexuality are also guilty before God.)

Also notice 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

We learn from this passage that homosexuals CAN change.  Notice Paul’s words – “And such WERE some of you.  But ye were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God.” This “washing of their sins” undoubtedly takes place when our old man of sin is buried in baptism.  Romans 6:1-7; Acts 22:16. Tremendous power can be found within the blood of Christ! 

In an effort to justify homosexuality, it is said “God made them that way. They were born homosexuals.”  Friends, that’s just not true! Homosexuality is a learned behavior. It is true that someone may have certain dispositions toward homosexual behavior, perhaps as a result of childhood sexual trauma or improper training as a child.  However, that is entirely different from saying someone was born a homosexual. No one is born a homosexual and none of these dispositions change the fact that homosexuality is sinful.

But some may say, “Those who refuse to accept the homosexual lifestyle are unloving and unkind.” Who is more unloving and unkind?  The person who will teach the truth and encourage them to repent and turn back to God, thus saving them from an eternity in hell? “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” Jude 1:20-23.

Or is the unloving person the one who watches and says nothing as homosexuals persist in their sinful lifestyle and travel the road to an eternal punishment in hell?  Notice the following from Ezekiel 3:17-21. “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”

First and foremost, we ought to possess a love for God that will motivate us to always please Him regardless of how men react. The apostle Paul wrote, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10.

Others say we ought to accept the homosexual lifestyle in order that we may be more inclusive.  Yes, God offers salvation to everyone.  Christ died on a cruel cross in order that all men, everyone, may be saved.  He died for everyone. Notice from Hebrews 2:9 – “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” But this does not mean everyone will be saved.  Only those who believe the gospel of Christ, repent of their sin, confess their faith, and are baptized to receive the forgiveness of their sin will be saved.  Mark 16:15-16; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:10 along with Acts 2:38 and I Peter 3:21. God excludes all others from being saved.

While God wants everyone to be saved, it remains a sad fact that the majority will be lost to a never-ending hell.  “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14.  Because He will not tolerate sin, God will not allow everyone to be included in the population of heaven.  God himself is not all inclusive! Why then should we attempt to be something God is not?

As Christians, what should we do about the issue of homosexuality?

First, continue to support the truth. Never give up and never give in. More and more, homosexual activists demand complete and total acceptance of their lifestyle.  If a person refuses to accept the homosexual lifestyle he is often labeled a homophobe, mean spirited, unloving, hateful or bigoted. Yet, I refuse to accept the homosexual lifestyle. We need to remember Jesus’ words from Matthew 5:10-12.  “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” We need courage to speak where the Bible speaks.

Second, reach out to homosexuals with the gospel.   They need to be made welcome to hear what God says about homosexuality.  They need to know that God loves them and has shed His blood for them, just as He shed His blood for everyone else.

The blood of Christ has the power to cleanse man of any and every sin he has committed.  But no one, including the homosexual, can be saved from his sin if he persists in his sin and refuses to repent.