Baqash : To Seek

Homosexuality is an incredibly controversial topic with a lot of deep implications for society, law, and religion. I will not spend time trying to convince you, the reader, based off of any source but the Bible. I will only take the time to show that the Bible does indeed condemn homosexuality as a sin, just as it condemns adultery, lust, and all types of sexual immortality. Many people like to say that the standards of the Bible no longer apply to us, or that the translations of certain texts are not accurate to support their belief that homosexuality is not against the Law of God, but hopefully I will show that at the very least the Bible disagrees with that stance.

Most of Christianity claims the Bible as being the undeniable Word of God, and the authority in which we should all live our lives.

If you are curious to find evidence for the validity and truth of the Bible, I suggest the book “Evidence that Demands a Verdict” by Josh McDowell. Get it on Amazon here for an affordable price, or for free with an Audible membership. If you are not a fan of Amazon, go here for another place of purchase.

The rainbow

One of the biggest issues I see with the homosexual identity as it has spread within the United States and the world is the overtaking of the rainbow as the symbol of the Homosexual lifestyle/identity. The rainbow itself was previously attributed to the God of the Bible, and Jesus’ second coming and has now been attached to something contrary to the desires of God.

The wickedness of man was such in the time of Noah that God regretted His decision to make man. Genesis 6:5-7: “⁵ The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. ⁶ The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. ⁷ So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them….Genesis 6:11-14: “¹¹ Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. ¹² God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. ¹³ So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. ¹⁴ So make yourself an ark of cypress wood“

After the flood, God makes a promise. “¹³ By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. Genesis 8:13…The Lord says in verse 21 “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done...Chapter 9:1: “Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.”

The command to be fruitful and multiply, just the same command that was given to Adam and Eve…And God reaffirms His promise Genesis 9:7-11: “ ⁷ As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.” ⁸ Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: ⁹ “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you ¹⁰ and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. ¹¹ I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

The first rainbow is a sign from God: “¹² And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: ¹³ I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. ¹⁶ Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” Genesis 9:12-16

Ezekiel is a book many point to when describing “Biblical” angels, and is subject to many AI art pieces today. A very descriptive account of Ezekiel’s encounter with God (Typically regarded as an encounter with Christ before His incarnation as a man) mentions the rainbow as well.

Ezekiel 1: 24-28: ²⁴ When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. ²⁵ Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. ²⁶ Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. ²⁷ I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. ²⁸ Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.

The book of Revelation, or the Apocalypse, sometimes referred to as the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” uses the rainbow as a sign of Gods presence, power, and majesty. We see here that the rainbow was claimed by the Bible from ancient human history.

Revelation 4:1-4: “ After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” ² At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. ³ And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. ⁴ Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.“

We see that the rainbow is not only a sign from God between the people of the earth, but also a sign of His majesty. An important thing to note is that the rainbow is regarded as having seven colors. Likely this is because seven is the number of completion or creation. Genesis 2:2-3: “² And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. ³ Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.“

The significance of the number seven can be seen especially with a list of references: https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/seven

At the bottom of this article (and here)I have provided a link to something speaking on the significance of the number seven as it relates to the rainbow.

There is such a thing as Immoral Sexuality

This particular set of texts is not a specific addressing of homosexuality itself, but to establish that sexual immorality does exist contrary to the belief of many people in todays generation.

1 Corinthians 6:13-20: “The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴ And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. ¹⁵ Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶ Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” ¹⁷ But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. ¹⁸ Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. ¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.“

Jude 1:7-8: “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.⁸ Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.“

Homosexuality in the Bible

1 Corinthians 6:9-11: “⁹ 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, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ 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.“

The apostle Paul (though discarded by many more progressive Christian groups) here in his letter to the Corinthian church speaks about real people in the church that were once grave sinners such as thieves, drunkards, idolaters, and those who practice homosexuality who since accepting Jesus Christ as their savior have changed their activities. Those people were cleansed, purified, and empowered by their faith in Christ. This is an important point saying that a person can indeed change their behavior and go from drunkards, to those of sober mind. Proverbs 20:1: “A drunkard is obnoxious, loud, and argumentative; you’re a fool to get intoxicated with strong drink“. We also know from real world examples of alcoholics who feel as though it is a natural part of their identity to drink, and that they are “more normal when they are drunk” to quote a friend of mine…and those people are and often do turn from their drunkenness and become sober.

Leviticus 18:22: “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable“ This particular text doesn’t appear in random context whatsoever, but are given to the people of Israel, the ones called to be set apart and a light to the nations calling all nations to live like them. Israel was called by God to be an example for the nations around them, including in Egypt and Canaan. In addition, this text is taken from the context of a long list of sexual immoral acts that God is commanding His people not to partake in. Some will suggest that this text does not apply to consensual loving relationships, but if you read the text as it is without personal eisegesis you see it simply says “Men, do not have sexual relationships with a man .”

This command was repeated again two chapters later. Leviticus 20:12: “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination“ What this particular command shows is that this is a willing interaction as both men have committed an abomination. One cannot sin unless they are a willing party in the sexual act. I point this out to the reader specifically because some will claim that this command was only valid in the time of Ancient Israel because of the non-consensual male on male acts committed by surrounding nations within the context of slavery or conquest.

1 Timothy 1:10-11: “…the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, ¹¹ in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.“ In the context of condemning false teachers who come to preach a gospel and idea different from that of Christ, the writer of 1 Timothy puts those who lie, enslave, are sexually immoral, and practice homosexuality in the same category, as false teachers and apostates.

Within the book of Romans in the first chapter, Paul the Apostle is speaking to Gentile believers about how God after a time gives the wicked up to their lusts and desires which He declares as “Godlessness and Wickedness”. He says that even those outside of the nation of Israel knew God through nature and that His “Eternal power” is clearly seen by even those who do not hear the word from messengers. Because of their rejection to acknowledge God for who is Is, they turned to idolatrous practices. He specifically mentions the practice of homosexuality in the same breath as murder, deceit, the arrogant, and God-Haters.

The practice of homosexuality here is clearly associated and on the same level as many things declared as sinful. For full context, read Romans 1 here. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness… For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen…so that people are without excuse…²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened… they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images…²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised...²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error...God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil…³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.“

Within this text, Paul is very explicitly saying that there is a natural creation and order within the world. His use of the word “unnatural” shows that He believes there is a natural order and that at least very clearly men should not be abandoning the natural sexual act with women to have sexual relations with other men. Some will say this text is not addressing consensual relationships, but it at least is saying that men rejecting their natural (non-sinful) relations with women and turning to other men in a consensual sexual act (Lust for one another, meaning it is reciprocal) is on par with wicked and God-hating men.

It wouldn’t be a Biblical reflection of homosexuality if I did not mention Sodom and Gomorrah, but truly I have no desire to open the can of worms that is that text. I will provide a summary of the events that happened purely with textural quotes, and will allow the reader to study the topic on their own. My only tip: Usually, if people have to say “well the translation there isn’t exactly correct, and it means something completely different to what every current main translation says”…they’re bringing their own bias into the translation process.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is found in Genesis chapter 19. “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… they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.…the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. ⁵ And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them. [Key word: know. וְנֵדְעָ֖ה or have relations/sexual intercourse. The bible uses the term “know” in some translations as a way to say “have sex”. Genesis 4:1 “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived“.]…⁶ Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, ⁷ and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. ⁸ Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man...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. ¹⁰ But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. ¹¹ And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house [The Angels who came to Lots home saved him from being dealt with “worse than them” {the angels} which were the target of the forced sexual conduct the men of Sodom wanted to commit.]

That is the story in a nutshell, in which Lot living in Sodom is threatened with violent sexual assault (Worse even than that the men planned to do to the Angels) and God nukes the city for it was filled with people just like those men. I discovered a fantastic Catholic study on this chapter that describes the juxtaposition between this story and that of Abraham and Sarah. Here is the link for this interview with Catholic Biblical Scholar Mary Healy.

Conclusion

Certainly my stance on the issue can be seen throughout the text, but I do hope the reader can see an objective point being made on the topic from a primarily biblical lens. Though I am not an expert on language, I have provided some sources down at the bottom to engage with that have some of that information, as well as extra nuggets.

Common questions:

If God doesn’t approve of my sexuality so much, then why did He make me this way, and aren’t I made in the image of God? The best answer I have to this is that you technically are not made in the image of God. Adam was, but due to his sin his son Seth was made in the image of Adam, with Seth’s son being made in the image of Seth. Sin is something that is passed down, along with trauma and experiences that literally change genetic code. Here are three sources for that scientific understanding. One. Two. Three. Sins of our parents are passed to us through our genetic code as traumatic events taking us further and further from the Image of God as He had intended. Though people will point to King David praising the Lord with “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”, I do not see it a contradiction and as an ode to the creative power and Love of God.

Why does it matter what I do if I am not hurting anyone? Colossians 3:5 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” All sexual immorality is equal to idolatry. Engaging in any practice other than what God condones is the worship of something other than Him, whether it be your desires, or more likely yourself. Any time you reject Gods commands and instead give into your desires, you are putting yourself as a higher authority than He. In 1 Corinthians Paul says the sexually immoral sins upon their own body, not only upon God in an idolatrous manner.

If this is so bad, why does it feel so natural? Romans 7:10-25: “¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” “¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish...Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.“ Galatians 5:17,20-21. The flesh is easy to give into especially when you consistently give into your own desires.

How can I change my ways? I pray all the time but I feel alone and helpless to this desire and identity. Has God rejected me? Here is an article specifically addressing the issue of feeling abandoned through prayer. Here is another on the salvific process (How to be saved).

Will I go to Hell if I continue practicing homosexuality, or any other sexual sin? (Sex outside of wedlock, Watching Porn, Adultery, etc) Well, the text does say that you must turn from sin and flee sexual immorality. The text is clear that idolaters, homosexuals, thieves, etc will not enter the Kingdom of God. If you aren’t going to the Kingdom of God, there is only one other place you are going. However, if your next question is on what exactly hell is…I will provide another article of mine describing different views of hell and what I personally lean towards here.

For Questions on Translation: Source 1. Source 2. Source 3.

https://bibleportal.com/topic/rainbow

https://bibleproject.com/podcast/significance-7

https://t.co/iC39HkE5TT

7 colors in the rainbow

— Baqashblogs (@baqashblog) February 15, 2024