Mag: "Why Homosexuality Is Not Like Other Sins"

[n david]

Source Link

Full article at the link above.

At this moment in history, contrary to the other sins listed here, homosexuality is celebrated by our larger society with pioneering excitement. It's seen as a good thing, as the new hallmark of progress.

To be sure, the masses increasingly make no bones about sin in general. Innumerable people are idolaters, not to mention those who are sexually immoral, or who commit adultery, or who steal and are greedy and get wasted and revile neighbors and swindle others.

It happens all the time. And..each..of these unrepentant sins are the..same..in the sense of God's judgment.

They all deserve his wrath. And we're constantly reminded that "such were some of you" (1 Corinthians 6:11).

But as far as I know, none of those sins are applauded so aggressively by whole groups of people who advocate for their normalcy.

Sexual immorality is no longer the tip of the spear for the progressive push. Adultery is still frowned upon by many. Accusations of greed will still smear a candidate's political campaign.

Thievery is still not openly embraced, and there are no official initiatives saying it's..OK to go steal things that don't belong to you. There's no such thing as a drunk agenda yet.

Most aren't proud to choose a beverage over stability, and there aren't any petitions that the government should abolish the driving restrictions of inebriated individuals. Reviling others still isn't seen as the best way to win friends and influence people. Swindling, especially on a corporate level, usually gets someone thrown into jail. In fact, the infrastructure of the American economy depends upon, in some measure, our shared disdain for conniving scammers.

Perhaps excepting fornication, these sins are still seen in a pretty negative light.

But not homosexual practice, not by those who are now speaking loudest and holding positions of prominence.

According to the emerging consensus, homosexuality is different.

As Christians, we believe with deepest sincerity that the embrace of homosexual practice, along with other sins, keeps people out of the kingdom of God.

And if our society celebrates it, we can't both be caring and not say anything. Too much is at stake.

This means it is an oversimplification to say that Christians--or conservative evangelicals--are simply..against homosexuality. We are against any sin that restrains people from everlasting joy in God, and homosexual practice just gets all the press because, at this cultural moment, it's the main sin that is so freshly endorsed in our context by the powers that be.

Let's hope that if there's some new cultural agenda promoting thievery--one that says it's now our right to take whatever we want from others by whatever means--that Christians will speak out against it.

The issue is sin...That's..what we're against.

[Reader]

I especially like the last 3 paragraphs.

[obriencp]

that's a great article.

[Lafon]

Man wants to "classify" sins by types, severity, repugnance, etc, however, this is NOT the manner in which God looks at sin. John the apostle was inspired of God to "define" the manner in which God looks upon sin, writing...

"ALL unrighteousness is sin" (I John 5:17, KJV)

Is homosexuality a "greater" sin than adultery, murder, lying (the list could go on and on)?

No! For the punishment to be imposed upon ALL sinners for every sin they've committed, regardless of type, if not previously remitted by obedience to immersion "in the name of Jesus Christ" for their remission, will, at the coming judgment seat of Christ, will be the same - eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

That which appears to set homosexuality apart from other (types of) sin is vividly described in the following:

"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. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ... Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves ... 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;..." (Romans 1:21-22, 24, 28, KJV).

As should be easily recognized, when God deems one to be reprobate, then ALL hope of recovery is forever gone! Sad, but true according to these words written to the early church at Rome, and still just as applicable today.

[Sean]

There are in the Bible some sins that have a more severe consequence on earth than others.

1 John 5:16-17
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.


I believe that homosexuality is in the category of "sin unto death"...Sodom is an example of it for instance. the Bible also deals with it severely in the Law of Moses.

[n david]

I don't believe the article meant to say homosexuality was more or less a sin than any other. IMO, the article states the reason it's different than other sins is because of the blatant promotion and push for it. We don't see people advocating for adultery or theft. Obama isn't leading legislation to recognize and protect polygamy or incest. This is debatable, though I haven't seen a tv show or movie which glorifies murder or lying.

That's why homosexuality is not like other sins right now. It's the publicity and promotion it's getting, not that it's any worse/better than any other sin. Sin is sin. You won't go to hell any faster sinning one way over another.

[Sean]

No, you can just speed up the process