Introduction
With the emergence of the Internet Technology; the ways in which we see things have forever changed. Today, with a good and well-endowed device on one’s palm, he can navigate the world at a fingertip. But despite the availability of information and resources around us, this generation lacks the calibre to discern the truth from error. In the past our parents had to dig thousands of hours in different libraries just to get particular information, they (our parents did not have the opportunities we enjoy today; yet their ingenuity and wealth of knowledge is rivalled to none.
The problem with this generation is not the lack of information, but it is the laziness and apathy to use their mental faculty. They love the illusional and buy into every lies presented without proper investigation and inquiry. They emulate celebrities whose lives and comportment are a total disappointment to God and disgrace humanity. We have celebrities that promote immoral conducts and portray the opposite of what life is in reality. Their counterfeit lifestyles have pushed our younger generation into the abysmal pandemonium of moral decadence.
The treatise of which I am about to undertake, is a delicate and sensitive one, but that something is delicate and sensitive; does not mean untouchable. When a person gets a deep cut, knowing fully how painful and delicate it is, does not stop the doctor from doing his work, if left untreated, will cause more trouble to the injured patient. Therefore something that is amoral and abnormally out of natural order, considered a delicate and sensitive issue does not mean it should not be touched, regardless of whom gets offended. The truth no matter its pungent strikes does not break the eyes but the heart. As we dig carefully with open hearts and unbiased minds-the truth will illuminate our spirits and guide us into all that is good and virtuous.
1. Were Jonathan And David Homosexual Lovers (Taking The Bible Out Of Context)
And it came to pass, when he had finished speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (1 Samuel 18:1)
Some perverted and vicious minds who are devoid of the truth of the sacred writings; have always used this particular biblical passage to ascertain that homosexuality is something that is condoned and acceptable before God. But this biblical passage is in no way saying that Jonathan and David were homosexual lovers. There are three ancient Hebrew words that are at play in the sacred narrative; (i) knit, (ii) soul and (iii) love. I will to the best of my ability with the accepted periphery of oriental language interpretation, explain each word in detail and what they meant when they were written at the time.
(i) Knit-Hebrew- קשׁר (qâshar); a primitive root: to tie, physically (gird, confine, compact) or mentally (in love, league). What the bible is saying in essence is that Jonathan out of respect and benignity became David’s mutual friend and admirer. There is no homosexual love here intended, it is the common human love, feeling and admiration we have towards our fellow man.
(ii) Soul-Hebrew- נפשׁ (nephesh); meaning a living thing that breaths. The person of Jonathan became connected to David, they became best of friends.
(iii) Love-Hebrew- אהב / אהב ('âhab / 'âhêb); it means a person’s love to his fellow being, to God or anything, in the Greek language it is called φιλαδελφία or ἀγάπη (Philadelphia or agapē)- fraternal affection: - brotherly love (kindness), love of the brethren, affection or benevolence.
Therefore the bible is in no way saying that Jonathan and David were male homosexual lovers, if that was the case; the mosaic law of the time demands that they shall be stoned to death. Jonathan and David were mutual friends who naturally loved and respected each other and nothing more; they were never homosexual lovers as some perverted and deluded minds may claim.
Another biblical passage that is totally taken out of context is David’s eulogy to Jonathan; some people interpret it as David’s homosexual relationship with Jonathan. That is another lie from the pit of hell. Let’s see what that place says:
I am grieved for you, my brother Jonathan; you were very lovely to me; your love to me was wonderful beyond the love of women. (2 Samuel 1:26)
Was David saying that he had homosexual love relationship with Jonathan? Absolutely not, if that was the case, the sacred writers would never shy away from exposing David, and he would be immediately executed. David was simply reminiscing the kindness of Jonathan to him when Saul was after his life. Jonathan watched the back of David, defended him before his father and succoured him in the time of need. Such selfless and unattached love is matchless to that of a woman. A woman can abandon and desert a man if the going gets tougher and unpredictable, but a true friend will remain and weather the storm with his friend to the end, such love is greater than the love of a woman, which is romantic and attached. The love that Jonathan had for David was an agape/ Philia (brotherly) love; it is selfless, sacrificial and unattached, which no woman can offer to a man. I repeat; David and Jonathan were not homosexual lovers, they were friends and nothing more. Stop twisting the inerrant word of God for your personal agenda and belief. You are free to believe anything you want to believe, but keep the bible out of it. You are free to live whatever lifestyle you chose, but stop using the bible as a supporting pillar, doing so will only bring about disastrous and destructive consequences.
2. The Bible Stance On Homosexuality.
In order not to beat about the bush and alter the message, I will be forthright; the bible condemns homosexuality with the strongest and severest tone. There is no biblical passage that condones or upholds homosexual practices and tendency. God hates and abhors such detestable practices; they are abominable & repulsive in his eyes.
You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman: it is abomination. (Leviticus 18:22)
Any carnal knowledge or copulation with a fellowman is confusion and a crime against nature. It was for this reason that God wiped out by fire the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah; they were so addicted to this vile practice that their land cried out to God, and when heaven could no longer tolerate their unnatural practices, justice took its course and their cities and memory were forever obliterated. It was from the people of Sodom, that we got the word sodomy, because they were notorious for that.
If a man also lies with a man, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:13)
In the mosaic law, homosexual acts were met with death; but in this dispensation things have changed due to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, such laws are no more applicable to the modern man, except in some strict conservative religious countries where teeth for tat is still practiced. I am not saying that what God said is no more relevant, but what I am saying in essence is that; homosexuality is condemned by God, because it is an attempt to overthrow the natural order and obliterate the human race. Sex should be between the man and his wife, in doing so they are able to procreate and preserve the human race. Those who are supporting homosexuality are enemies to humanity. The anus is not meant for sex but the vagina. Trying to do otherwise is a challenge to God, and such challenge will be met with divine retribution and dire consequences. The story of Sodom & Gomorrah should serve as a great lesson and example to every generation trying to overthrow God’s established natural order. In the New Testament Apostle Paul called them "abusers of themselves with mankind" (1 Corinthians 6:9).
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into 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 shameful, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was fitting. (Romans 1:26-27)
God’s stance on homosexual in the Old Testament, is the same in the New Testament, the only thing is that homosexuals are no more put to death, because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross; even the vilest offender can receive God’s forgiveness.
But we know that the law is good, if a man uses it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For fornicators, for homosexuals, for slave traders, for liars, for perjurers, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (1 Timothy 1:8-11)
Paul is not talking about the mosaic ceremonial laws, but God’s moral code of conduct. Those who are supporting and encouraging homosexual union, are completely devoid of God’s knowledge & love, they hate those who have chosen such perverted and confused lifestyle, by withholding the truth from them. It is better you offend a person with the truth, than to delude & flatter him with lies, only for them to discover at the end that you did misled them from the truth unto destruction. The truth is always hurtful & pungent but salvaging at the end.
3. Does God Love Homosexuals?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
God loves homosexuals and desires their salvation, he is not interested in their death and eternal damnation; that was one of the reasons Jesus came and died. God does not dance and rejoice in heaven over the death of a homosexual, those who preach such message are walking in ignorance and barren of God’s love in their hearts. God hates every act of homosexuality, but he is benign to homosexuals, not desiring that any should perish, he wants them to desist from the practice and abandon their confused and deluded lifestyle and embrace his unwavering love. A homosexual is an empty and confused soul that needs to be pitied than hated. If one has the true love of God in their heart, they will never hate a homosexual or rejoice over his demise; such will see the emptiness and confusion in their life and gently reach out to them in love. It is true that we all make mistakes, but we also need someone to help us. True love does not find faults to condemn, but the root cause, and to heal.
There has never been and there will never be a happy and accomplished sodomite, every practicing sodomite is an empty and muddled soul looking for fulfilment. That is why we should not hate them, but on the contrary should pray and reach out to them in love and gentleness. Many of them want to abandon their lifestyle, but they need someone to come to their help and rescue. In the deepest of the heart of every sodomite; there is this emptiness and frustration, hopelessness and despair.
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord GOD: and not that he should turn from his ways, and live? (Ezekiel 18:21-23)
God is not interested in the death of anyone, God’s desire for man is his wellbeing, those who preach the wrath and fire gospel are missing the point, I am not saying that God does not judge sin & punish sinners; it is their refusal to change that attracts the divine retribution. No parent disciplines their children without a prior warning, no government deals with an individual without reason. Sinners are punished when they refuse to turn from their wicked ways and continual rebellion against God. God is not interested is meting out wrath & judgement against sinners.
But in this let it not escape your notice, beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord does not delay concerning His promise, as some reckon slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)
It is not slackness, remissness, nor want of due dislike at sin, that induced God to prolong the respite of ungodly men; but his long-suffering, his unwillingness that any should perish: and therefore he spared them, that they might have additional offers of grace, and be led to repentance - to deplore their sins, implore God’s mercy, and find redemption through the blood of the Lamb. As God is not willing that any should perish, and as he is willing that all should come to repentance, consequently he has never devised nor decreed the damnation of any man, nor has he rendered it impossible for any soul to be saved, either by necessitating him to do evil, that he might die for it, or refusing him the means of recovery, without which he could not be saved. (Adam Clarke)
I do not want anyone to die," says the Sovereign LORD. "Turn away from your sins and live." (Ezekiel 18:32, Good News Bible)
Therefore can you see that God is not interested in the death of anyone, whether a homosexual, a lesbian, a pervert, etc.? God is not interested in using natural disasters to get his message across to man, nor does he create diseases to show to man how powerful and terrible he is, that is not God but religion and dogmatism. Yes; God punishes and deals with sin, but he is also loving and longsuffering as we have seen in the scripture. God is not a sadist who obtains pleasure from inflicting pain on others; those who preach that God is happy when humanity suffers are liars & charlatans, they are not presenting the true God but a different one, dead and destitute god, miserable and irrelevant. He is not a God who chides at every mistake.
If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? (Psalms 130:3)
Who can survive God’s rebuke for every error he commits, it is quite impossible.
Let’s imagine this together; here is a mighty and terrible giant before you, he speaks to you in a terrible voice, picks you up and started hitting you against stones and rocks, whipping you with rods, giving you real blows with nice beatings; and after sometimes; he smiles at you and says; I love you my child, I just wanted to teach and show you how powerful and terrible I am when provoked. I love you, have a nice day. Tell me; will you ever wish to approach such a God, even if he has everything to give you, I know you will never have anything to do with such a God-right? That is how religion presents God to man, it makes him to see God as despotic and unapproachable, who is ever breathing wrath and threats to anyone who does not obey his rules and regulations. The biblical God is not so and quite different:
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all that are oppressed. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pities his children, so the LORD pities them that fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalms 103:1-6, 8-14)
So can you see that there is a great gulf difference between the biblical God and the one of religion? The biblical God cares for the man he created, while the god of religiosity is antipathetic and unfriendly. God loves homosexuals, but hates homosexuality and abhors its practices, tendency and the approbation of any kind.
4. How Should Christians Relate And Respond To The Gay Community
A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another. (John 13:34-35)
Here comes one of the sublimest statements in the bible, on how Christians are to relate and respond, not only to their fellow Christians, but to all men in general. It is transcendent in tone and majestic in style; it is the summation of the law and an epic expression of divinity. This is the central message of the Christian religion.
Your response and attitude towards a confused and hurting soul will determine his approach and hunger for God and respect for your religion. You cannot hate someone and be hostile to them and then expect results, it impossible. Condemn the act, but love and persuade the straying to abandon their lifestyle, make them see the dire consequences of the lifestyle they have chosen, pray for their salvation, and watch the Holy Spirit do the impossible in their life. We do not change a person by avoiding them; doing that will compound their grief and drive them to despair and frustration. You will be presenting an image of a sadistic and unapproachable god.
Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you? (Matthew 18:33)
How do we treat matters? We are expected to extend the same love which we have received from God to our fellow man. We do not win a person by bashing them; you will only end up creating enemies against yourself and in turn ruin your message. Fire and brimstone message does not produce results; it only instils fear and produces a religious hypocrite-he will appear righteous to men but very dirty in the inside. Love, compassion, persuasion, gentle and godly rebuke, transforms a man and changes a lion into a lamb. That was why the outcasts of Jesus time felt at peace in his presence and relished his every message with love and admiration. He did not come with the message of fire and brimstone condemning them; he gently appealed to their hearts through love and compassion, he showed them the emptiness of their lifestyle through gentle persuasion, and the people responded to his message in masse with clear and sincere heart. You may ask what of John the Baptist. A careful perusal of the scripture will show that John the Baptist was gentle with the common people, but very hard on the religious dogmatists of the time, because he knew they were presenting a false god to the people through their empty and vain traditions.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. (1 John 4:11-13)
It is God’s love which flows from your heart that transforms a person and makes them receiptive. True healing comes from the emanation of love expressed through words, deeds and actions. Now if you continue to disdain a person for their failures; how do you expect him to get up on their feet? Your indifference and contempt towards them will only paralyze God’s intended purpose and discourage them from making any meaningful attempt; they will feel that God has abandoned them. You are God’s channel by which the expression of his sublime love and compassion emanates and flows into the life of a hurting soul; it matters every day of one’s life.
With all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love. (Ephesians 4:2, Amplified Bible)
We express true love (agape) by serving; in serving the hurting you heal the wounds by helping to support them in all the miseries and trials of life. This is our call to duty and action, it is this kind of love that bears fruits and defeats the enemy at face value. God’s love must transcend all our personal interest and preoccupations.
When we relate and respond to the hurting with love and compassion, every resistance, resentment and bitterness in their heart crumbles and gives way to healing and restoration. We are God’s channel through which his love emanates.
