“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” (Leviticus18:22)
“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination…”(Leviticus 20:13)
When confronted with these Biblical commands, the LBGTQ (lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, questioning) community responds as one would expect. They cannot dismiss these commands flatly; the Scriptures speak too clearly to the issue. To legitimize their homosexual lifestyles, they must overcome the obvious meanings of these verses. To deny the application of these Biblical texts to the present day the homosexual community employs several methods. These methods fit into three categories.
Orientation
According to the homosexual community, these verses appeared in an age void of scientific knowledge. The progress of recent science, they say, gives rise to a new classification of humans. Homosexuals cannot help themselves, proponents state. They have a physically inherited condition, called orientation, which causes them to manifest same sex desires. The LBGTQ people describe it this way, “God made me this way,” thus overcoming these verses and legitimizing their homosexual behavior.
Despite continued efforts, however, no legitimate scientific discovery confirms the claims of a “gay gene.” In fact, numerous studies reveal no existence of a “gay gene.” These studies reveal a host of factors that could influence a person to homosexual behavior. However, research has not yet found a “gay gene.” (1)
As we all know, genes direct many physical manifestations in our bodies: eye color, height, color of skin, and a multitude of other features. Further, many gene anomalies cause birth defects, e.g., Toy-Sachs disease, Angelman Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Sickle Cell Anemia, and a long list of other defects. Whether the genes produce normal or abnormal effects, they do not determine ethical behavior. No “gay gene” forces particular sexual behavior. (2)
Even if scientists do discover some physical factor that influences one to experience same sex desires, the force of these verses remains unchanged. Every person on earth experiences the “uncontrollable” urge for sin(s) that plague them. Rapists, murderers, thieves, and adulterers, to name only a few sins, describe their behavior in the same fashion as homosexuals: uncontrollable urges that compel their behaviors.
Simply stated, the LBGTQ community cannot overcome these verses with a physical explanation that science has discovered since the time of the writing of these verses from Leviticus. Furthermore, an uncontrollable urge does not legitimize any behavior. Nor does it prevail over the directions of God’s commands.
Meaning of the texts
In its attempt to overturn these verses in Leviticus, homosexuals reject the meaning of the practices described there as applicable to them. They claim these references depict the behavior of cultic temple prostitutes. Further, they say it includes pederasty. Or, they claim it refers to violent homosexual patterns existent solely in those days. In any event, the LBGTQ people assert these verses do not describe their behavior: loving, consensual same sex relationships.
Contrary to these conclusions, the peoples of the era of Leviticus practiced the same kinds of homosexual practices prevalent today. In fact, research from non-Biblical sources describes the prevalence of homosexuality in that time. Middle Assyrians, Egyptians, Canaanites, Mesopotamians, and inhabitants of the ancient near east indulged in same sex behavior without restrictions.
They had “gay parades” similar to those present in our day, even having cross-dressing males portraying childbirth. Their homosexual practices included loving, consensual, faithful relationships between same sex partners, a preview of same sex marriage in our day. Society of that day included open, free homosexual behavior without legal restraint. Societies of that day accepted it. (3)
Therefore, homosexuals have drawn false conclusions regarding the era of Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13. Sadly, the same sex preferences exhibited by many today mimic the behavior of ancient days. The exclusion of these texts by the homosexual community fails to dismiss the present relevance of the texts. Factual evidence contradicts their conclusions.
Rejection of Archaic laws
In a final attempt to refute the commands of Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13, the LBGTQ community rejects them with the claim that these decrees applied only to a bygone era. They combine this opinion with a previously discredited claim that this early society did not understand same sex behavior as the currently understood sexual orientation. They claim that these laws have no more application presently than do the ancient food and clothing laws required by God of Israel in that era.
The New Testament does not repeat these “silly” laws, so they say that the laws commanded against homosexuality no longer apply. Therefore, as their logic concludes, these laws against homosexuality no longer apply to our day.
To follow this logic, then, the other laws against sexual immorality mentioned in the context of these verses would also disappear. These commands forbid heterosexual immorality of all types, beastiality, and incest. The emphasis upon the legitimacy of homosexuality has encouraged an increase in these awful practices, which rely upon these same arguments.
To make these claims shows a complete misunderstanding of God and his ways with Israel. God as supreme lawgiver did give a multitude of laws. They covered a variety of aspects of Israel’s society at that time. For example, he gave them purity laws, e. g., the so called “silly” laws regarding clean and unclean foods, land and sea creatures, illnesses, others.
At first glance, they do appear foolish. But, God had a reason for requiring them. It taught them that a difference exists between clean and unclean behavior. Additionally, he taught them that, because of his holiness, the Israelites could not approach him in an unclean fashion. He required personal purity from those who desired fellowship with him. In addition, God gave some of these restrictions for health protection.
To direct their worship of him, God established a series of ceremonial laws. These laws governed Israel’s worship of God. God outlined offerings appropriate for various sins. The laws, which governed these offerings, described sacrifices the people could present to God to atone for their sins.
Further laws provided direction on punishments appropriate to the violation of God’s laws. Some of the laws, civil laws, gave guidance to Israel for their society. They promoted justice and equity.
One set of laws applies to the texts from Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13. These commands fit in the moral laws of God, sometimes called the Holiness Code. In Exodus 20, God outlined the moral laws that he demanded of Israel. Subsequently, he revealed further explanation and application of these laws. The commands stated in these texts further amplify parts the moral laws from Exodus 20.
To a certain extent, the homosexual community rightly explains that some of these laws no longer apply. For example, the purity laws, i. e., food, clothing, animals, etc., no longer apply. God no longer defines certain things as unclean. (See God’s vision to Peter recorded in Acts 10.9-16 where God redefined this distinction.)
God provided a means by which sinners can approach him: through his son Jesus Christ. Jesus offered himself as an atoning sacrifice to God on behalf of sinners like you and me. Jesus calls men and women from every society and nation to come to him in faith for cleansing from their sins that his sacrifice provides. Everyone who trusts Christ when he calls them by his Holy Spirit receives his promise. God accepts as clean everyone who comes to him through faith in Jesus, because of what Christ’s sacrifice accomplished on their behalf. The sacrifice of Christ renders the purity laws obsolete.
The societal laws no longer apply. God does not deal solely with Israel as outlined in the Old Testament.
The ceremonial laws’ existence ceased, too. The book of Hebrews as well as parts of the Gospels in the New Testament describe in full detail how Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Testament ceremonial laws in his life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
However, God has not cancelled the holiness code. The New Testament repeats them, some with more complete explanation than revealed in the Old Testament. God still requires that humanity obey them, including the laws stated in Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13. You can find these specific offenses repeated in the Gospels, Romans, Paul’s letters to the Church at Corinth, and other places.
Contrary to the LBGTQ interpretations, the commands issued in Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13 still apply today.
Explanation of Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13
A few words of explanation will help you to understand God’s commands, quoted here again for easy reference.
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” (Leviticus18:22)
“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination…”(Leviticus 20:13)
The first part of each verse states the normal sexual relationship: a man and a woman. But not just any man and woman. From the beginning of the creation of mankind, God created them male and female. He established marriage between a man and a woman, not between same sex people. (4) Same sex intercourse violates God’s created order.
Next, God described abnormal, same sex intercourse. A man shall not perform sexual intercourse with another man as he would with a woman. The description given illustrates unrestrained, unforced, “loving” consensual homosexual behavior. All of the surrounding nations approved unrestrained homosexuality. God rejected it, even though none of the surrounding nations did.
God did not condone in Israel the kind of homosexual practice flaunted today. His law as given to the Israelites became the first such law against homosexuality. Further, he still rejects it as an abomination, which he called it in these texts. (5)
Clearly, the attempts of the LBGTQ society fail to sustain their assertions that these texts, which condemn homosexuality, do not apply today. They do.
Sadly, many professing Christians and non-Christians have accepted the errors of the LBGTQ as true. They have fallen for the lies of the enemy, Satan, who seeks their destruction. (6) The devil bases his strategy upon deceit and distortion of God’s plan and purpose for mankind.
The devil lies when he says that God did not say what he said. He distorts God’s purposes for mankind when he blames God for withholding pleasure from them. Perhaps you can recognize these tactics as the same ones he used in the Garden In Eden upon Eve. She, too, wanted to satisfy her own desires in contradiction to God’s clear command. (7)
God made provision for sinners of all kinds regardless of the sins they have committed. All who come to him, professing believers and non-Christians alike, who turn from their sin and trust Christ’s sacrifice for them, find pardon and forgiveness of sin. Perhaps this describes you today. I urge you to come to Christ and find relief from your sin.
To every believer, God sends his Holy Spirit to indwell him/her. His presence not only confirms God’s promises but also provides the power to overcome the lusts of the flesh. All sin, even homosexuality, begins with lusts of the flesh, which leads, uncontrolled, to sinful practice. (8) However, the indwelling Holy Spirit provides the child of God the power to subdue fleshly lusts and walk in victory over them. (9)
I pray that God by his Holy Spirit will come to you today, granting you new life in Christ by faith. I pray that he will continue his work in your life to bring you victory over the sinful, uncontrollable fleshly lusts that war against your soul.
References
1. Harrub, Brad, Ph. D., Thompson, Bert, Ph. D., and Miller, Dave, Ph. D. “This Is The Way God Made Me,” A Scientific Examination of Homosexuality and the ‘Gay Gene’”. Available at this web site: http://www.trueorigin.org/gaygene01.asp. You can find additional information on this topic at the following site:https://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=7&article=1388.
2. Frame, John. “But God Made Me This Way!.” http://www.frame-poythress.org/but-god-made-me-this-way
3. Wenham, Gordon J. Available at this web site: http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_attitude_wenham.html. Also see Wold, Donald J. Out Of Order: Homosexuality In the Bible and the Ancient Near East. Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI49546; 1998.
4. Genesis 2.18-24
5. Romans 1.24-27;Jude 1.7; 2 Peter 2.6-10 (to name just a few references in the New Testament)
6. 1 Peter 5.8
7. Genesis 2.15-17; 3.1-6
8. James 1.13.-15
9. Galatians 5.17
Photo credit: Ludovic Bertron (CC-By-2.0)