Frequently Asked Questions
What about Homosexuality? Part 1
by Brad Scott
One of the most controversial and poignant topics of our time is the subject of homosexuality. One might erroneously conclude that this matter would be a divisive issue only between the religious and the secular, but this is not so. This question is not at all agreed upon in the Christian community either. Denominational conventions are held every year in which our nations Christian leaders vote on the inclusion or exclusion of gay clergy. Perhaps you might think that this subject does not concern you, or that there is really nothing else to say; it is a sin, a no brainer, and let's move on. I would like to take the time to dig deeper into this issue and not simply declare it a sin and move to the next subject.
I would like to take the time to investigate a bigger picture of the abomination of homosexuality, mixing, the world, and Babylon. All of these have a theological and linguistic relationship. There are many who believe, based upon the events of Sodom and Gemorrah, that homosexuality is the catalyst for the wrath of ’Elohiym in the last days. While this might very well be true, it is only a symptom of an ancient disease.
Let me begin by prefacing my comments with a not so obvious scriptural truth that will lay some foundation. I have read many of the arguments put forth by so-called science. I have also perused many Christian responses to some of these scientifically based suppositions. There is scientific research that suggests that homosexuals are born that way and that it is therefore genetic. Now, considering the fact that those who believe that statement are not at all interested in quotes from the Scriptures, the average Bible student responds with scripture anyway. We respond with, "No! man is not born homosexual, God created man heterosexual. God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." How many times have I heard that one? It is funny, but it is not true, and the fact that it is not true is very important to the reason why YHVH declares a sodomite an abomination. Man is not created homosexual OR heterosexual. Man was created male and female. Because of choosing to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he has as much a propensity to lie with his own gender as he would with the opposite gender. (For the purposes of avoiding constant repetition, can we assume the women here, as well? Thank you.) The reason that YHVH has given man Torah is because, within Torah, there are rules for male and female behavior. This clearly teaches students of scripture that man can and does behave in any manner that he chooses, hence the reason for the rules. If man was truly born heterosexual, then why the need for instructions concerning who you should and should not lie with? The things we are born with are not a matter of choice. Our hair color, skin pigmentation, and facial features are an example. We cannot choose these things genetically, however we can altar, by choice, AFTER our birth, our hair color and facial features with cosmetics and surgery. Once you have chosen to change those things, you now have to maintain those conditions the rest of your life (just ask Michael Jackson!!).
It is important to see that those things in our lives that involve our behavior are the very things that the Father has given us instructions (Torah) to guide us with. Torah is given to instill principles in His children for the purpose of producing righteous behavior, for we are all born with the seed of disobedience in us.
Romans 5:12,19Wherefore, as by one man, sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned ... For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
We all, by nature, choose to eat from the tree that is in us. With this in mind, YHVH gives us instructions that direct us in what is right and wrong behavior. It is strange to me that because I choose to call homosexuality wrong behavior, that I am dubbed a homophobe. If I believed that theft was wrong, should I be called a kleptophobe? If I believed that the mass murder of a racial group was wrong, should I not be called a genocidephobe? And how about those who are gay who believe my attraction to my wife is wrong. Why are they not called heterophobes? Well, anyway, my point is that we are not born with an attraction to a particular gender. We are born with the ability to choose our behavior, and wrong behavior is determined by the Word of YHVH, period. With that in mind, here are a few examples of what the word of YHVH has to say on the subject. Then we will discuss some deeper and more prophetic aspects of this behavior.
Bere’shiyt (Genesis) 19:4-7But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men who came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethern, do not so wickedly.
Vayiqera (Leviticus) 18:22Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is detestable.
Devariym (Deuteronomy) 23:17-18There shall be no harlot of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the price of a dog, into the house of YHVH thy ’Elohiym for any vow; for even these are detestable unto YHVH thy ’Elohiym.
Melakhiym Alef (1 Kings) 14:24And there were sodomites in the land; and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which YHVH cast out before the children of Israel.
Romans 1:26-27For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did exchange the natural use for that which is against nature; And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was fitting.
The use of the word natural is a reference to the structure and design of the bodies of men and women and not a reference to genetics. A woman's structure is, by design, fitted perfectly for a man, and is therefore the natural use of the two genders. Genetics could not be, especially in those days, a matter of exchange.
1Corinthians 6:9-10Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of ’Elohiym? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of ’Elohiym.
You may notice here that the general description of a sodomite is listed quite equally with idolaters and extortioners (i.e. religious folks who beg for larger contributions at Christmas time). There are many other not so blatant references to the sodomite practices, but these are the scriptures that are usually referred to when dealing with this issue. I have heard several arguments in defense of homosexuality concerning these words of ’Elohiym. The primary argument is that God is only speaking to heterosexual men in these verses and not homosexual men. In other words, to those who were born homosexual, none of this behavior is against their nature. So the commands are only a warning to men who were born heterosexual, for this behavior would be against their nature. Kind of silly, huh? But this is how hasatan has always operated. The idea is to shift the paradigm into a wholly different debate. In advertising, it is called "bait and switch". It begins by introducing new terminology in the guise of summing up what the Scriptures actually say. The whole trinity issue got started that way, as well as the pretribulation rapture, Easter, the Eucharist, Sunday worship, and a host of other Christian practices. So both sides of the issue end up defending terms and concepts that are not even in the Scriptures, and this is precisely how the roots of our faith are left buried in the ground.
So, let's lay the homosexual/heterosexual issue aside for now and deal with the reality of the scriptural context and why YHVH calls this particular sin detestable. We shall go to the beginning. The very first commandments given to man is in Bere’shiyt:
Bere’shiyt 1:28And ’Elohiym blessed them, and ’Elohiym said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Why would this be the first commandment? How about, "Thou shalt love Me!" or 'Hey guys, your first responsibility is to listen to Me." I think that would be the first thing I would say. But the first command is based upon the "principle of the seed". All things begin with the seed, defined by Yeshua‘ in Mattityahu (Matthew) 13. This concept is imperative to grasp and is the main subject of our teaching series called "The Principle of the Seed". The seed is the word, and this seed, placed within Adam and Chavah (Eve), is the seminal means by which all things are still in existence, both physical and spiritual. Mankind was to continue to eat the fruit of this seed (the tree of life) and live eternally in paradise. The very first lie, that mankind can set aside the commandments of God and still live, was the first attempt to exchange the ideal paradigm of eternal life to another seed. That other seed (tree of the knowledge of good and evil), would be the new paradigm or model by which all understanding and behavior would be measured. The true seed, the seed of the woman, was to be multiplied through and by mankind, for only the seed (the Word) can rule righteously. This is why the commandment of multiplying is bound up with dominion and ruling over the earth.
Now we know that the word is from the beginning (Yochanan (John) 1:1). The Word is spiritual and heavenly (Yochanan 6:63). The Messiah told Nicodemus how difficult it was to teach him heavenly things, if he would not trust (obey) the earthly things. The seed (the Word of God) was designed, from the beginning, to be multiplied through men. Stop the earthly seed and you stop the heavenly seed. This is the reason for the age old lie in the beginning, for it is the Word of ’Elohiym that sustains physical life. This is why hasatan is a MURDERER, from the beginning.
Yochanan 10:10The thief cometh not but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The righteous seed is passed down from one generation of faith to another. This can be clearly traced through scripture. This is why only in Yitz'chak (Isaac) shall thy seed be called. The ultimate object of hasatan's plan is to stop the manifestation of the seed, the Messiah, knowing that the Messiah will come through the physical seed of mankind. The Messiah, however, must be the manifestation of both seeds. The seed of man, and the WORD. Hasatan's plan? Destroy the seed.
Next time we will take this context into the sodomites and Babylon in order to see the relationship between this detestable act and modern religious doctrines and traditions.
Shalom Alecheim! ◊