Why Homosexuality is a Unique Sin Today
Why Homosexuality is a Unique Sin Today
By Dr. David R. Reagan
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 is a very important segment of Scripture – in fact, it is vitally important. The reason is that in these two verses, the Apostle Paul lists a series of sins which can disqualify a person from Heaven:
9) Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10) nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
All the sins listed in these two verses are still prevalent today, and have become even more so in recent years, but only one has been converted by society from a sin to a virtue, and that is homosexuality.
From Shame to Celebration
All the other sins listed – idolatry, adultery, fornication, thievery, greed, drunkenness, reviling and swindling are still frowned upon by society in general, but not homosexuality. It has been transformed from a perversion that was once considered to be illegal to an acceptable and even lauded form of behavior.
The turning point came in 1999 when President Bill Clinton decided to declare the month of June to be “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.” He repeated the proclamation in June of 2000. Nine years later, following the Bush Administration, President Barack Obama resumed the practice but expanded the scope of it by declaring the month to be “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.”
And so, we have descended to the level of moral depravity where our nation is now celebrating sexual perversity! Like the nation of Judah in Old Testament times, we have “forgotten how to blush” (Jer. 6:15).
A Marker of Depravity
There is a second way in which homosexuality is a unique sin. The Bible identifies it as a way in which to gauge a society’s descent into moral depravity.
It was the defining sin that motivated God to pour out His wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-26). And in the book of Romans, Paul identifies it as the sign of a society begging for the wrath of God (Romans 1:18-27, particularly verses 26-27).
There is a myth in Christianity that keeps many people from realizing how terrible the sin of homosexuality is. That myth is the mistaken idea that “all sins are equal in the eyes of God.” This concept is true in only one sense – all sins condemn us and require a Savior to reconcile us to God.
But there are definitely sins that God considers to be worse than others, and for that reason, the Bible teaches that there will be degrees of punishment in Hell (Luke 12:47-48). Sins that are singled out in the Bible as being particularly heinous in God’s eyes are idolatry (Deuteronomy 4:25-31), blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31), pride (Proverbs 16:5) and unforgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15). Sexual immorality is another (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).
The Unscriptural Defense
The defenders of homosexuality and same-sex marriage contend that those involved “were born that way.” And so, they argue, just as Black people have no control over how they are born, we have no more right to discriminate against homosexuals than we do Black people.
That argument sounds good on the surface, but it will not stand up to rigorous examination. First of all, it has never been proved that people are born as homosexuals. Second, there are many former homosexuals, whereas it is impossible to change one’s race.
And most important of all, we need to keep in mind that all of us are born with a sin nature which expresses itself in various ways. In that regard, there are “natural born” thieves, adulterers, murderers, liars and gossips. Does that excuse their behavior? Of course not!
And if you are going to use the lame argument that a person is a “natural born” homosexual, then can’t the same argument be used to excuse the behavior of a pedophile or a zoophile or any other sexual perversion?
Glorious News
The incredible good news is that sexual immorality of any kind, whether it be heterosexual or homosexual, can be overcome and forgiven through repentance and faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Consider this statement from the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:11, presented immediately after his listing of sins that will condemn us before God:
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Praise God for his mercy! But do not think that you can mock God by continuing to willfully participate in these sins after you have placed your faith in Jesus (Hebrews 10:26-31).