Frequently Asked Questions

Homosexuality - Part 2

by Brad Scott

It is my contention that lying with a man, a woman, or any other creature is a matter of choice. This is established by the commandment in Torah for a man to refrain from lying with a man, for it is detestable. This is what the Scriptures teach, and is the basis for Torah. For man since Adam, by nature, does what is right in his own eyes and will always settle quite comfortably in his own ways. It will also be my contention in this article that the whole gay issue is only one symptom of an entire culture (Sodom, Babylon) which has separated itself from YHVH. This will be the pattern of the pagan nations throughout history, and will be the eventual fate of a faithless Israel, as well.

The source of a scriptural comprehension of homosexuality does not come from this word, but rather stems from the behavior of the men of Sodom in B^ere’shiyt (Genesis) chapter 19. Two major biblical cities, Sodom and Babylon, will be the foundation and pattern for all wicked and destestable behavior. Before the story of Lot and his wife, we are told in B^ere’shiyt 13 that there is strife between Avraham and his nephew Lot. Both were wealthy and renowned men. We are told that the decision to separate is based upon contention between the herdsmen of Lot and the herdsmen of Avraham. Apparantly Lot chooses to leave the land that YHVH had called faithful Avraham to, and dwell in Sodom and Gomorrah.

B^ere’shiyt 13:10-13And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before YHVH destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of YHVH, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Avram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before YHVH exceedingly.

One cannot help but notice that Lot chose this place himself. Lot apparantly acclimates himself very well to the city as we are told in B^ere’shiyt 19:1 that he "sat at the gate" of Sodom. This is an indication that he was well respected and most likely one of the cities elders. As we read the account of the men who desire to know Lot's two guests, I think it is appropriate to pause and take some common sense into account. Is it historically logical that a good portion of the population of this city suddenly, one day, woke up to find themselves sexually interested in their own genders? Or would it be reasonable to conclude that perhaps this kind of behavior is part of a process of moral decay? Could this story be the prototype for all civilizations that choose to live their lives their own way?

I am going to propose that Lot represents the professed people of YHVH who move away from Torah and choose to live their lives based upon what seems to be right in their own eyes. They become part of a social system and culture that, while still professing the Creator as God, have no standard of measurement by which to discern what is ultimately right or wrong, good or evil. And that after time this kind of theology soon becomes the standard for the philosophy of the entire society, and eventually becomes tolerated, though not altogether accepted behavior. Lot, having left behind his Creator's commandments to dwell elsewhere, has no foundation for moral judgment. He realizes, based upon the seat of his pants (the knowledge of good and evil), that the desires of the men of Sodom are not good, so he skirts around the matter by offering his daughters instead. A man of God would have defended his guests AND his daughters. A man of God would have searched for a sword to drive through each man standing outside his door. It is my opinion that the man who was supposed to be a light in a dark place, did not know up from down. It is also my opinion that the several references in Scripture to Sodom and the sodomites is pointing out the depravity of an entire culture and not just homosexuals.

It is interesting to note that the Hebrew behind the word Sodom is not the same word as the word for sodomite. The name of the city itself and its meaning is covered in our "Word of the Week" section of our website. It might behoove you to read the short background of the word Sodom from which we get our word sodium. The word sodomite however is entirely different, and is probably a word used only to describe the inhabitants of Sodom. The word for sodomite is kadesh! Does that word look familiar? It should, for many times we as children of YHVH call upon the ruach haKODESH. It is the Hebrew word translated as holy or sanctified in our English bibles. However, the word simply means to separate, and can be understood as separation from the world unto YHVH or to separate yourself FROM YHVH.

So, with this background in mind, let's talk about the commandment concerning lying with one's own gender.

Vayiq^era (Leviticus) 18:19-23Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness. Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbor's wife, to defile thyself with her. And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy ’Elohiym: I am YHVH. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is detestable. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

The first part of this commandment is in our face and the context is clear. These words are spoken to the man, as this is made clear by reading the three verses before it and the verse following it. In the King James Version, the word abominable is used here. The Hebrew word behind this is not the usual word translated as abominable. This entire chapter lists the instructions of YHVH concerning unlawful sexual relationships. The commandment concerning man lying with man as he does a woman is the only one that has the word confusion attached to it. The word used here is tevel. This word shares as it's root several other words that are all directly associated with the traditions, teachings, and behavior of the Gentiles or nations. The words to mix, to mingle, world, confusion, Babylon, and detestable all share the Hebrew root balal. The word balal means to mix, and is the foundation for all those other words. They all share a common meaning. That is the basis for hasatan's plan to destroy the seed'. This is expressed in numerous ways throughout Scripture, not the least of which is D^evariym (Deuteronomy):

D^evariym 22:9Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with various seeds, lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.

What YHVH is saying here is that when you mix diverse seeds, then the fruit of BOTH become defiled, i.e. bad company corrupts good morals. The word balal is used quite extensively in the story of the tower of Babel in B^ere’shiyt chapter 11. The Scriptures concerning the last days refer to Sodom and Babylon many times. It is my contention that the pervasive presence of lying with ones own gender as a distinctive sign of the end, is only the tail end of a slippery slide into moral decay. Lot represents the impotent presence of a Torahless' religion in the midst of a declining nation, with homosexuality being the demonstrative expression of the enemy's attempt to destroy the seed of the woman. Next time we will continue to explore Sodom, Babylon, and homosexuality.

Shalom Alecheim! ◊