At this time in the history of man, a great deal of hatred is being expressed against individuals whose lifestyle is described in the title of this brochure. Much of this hatred is expressed by well-meaning people who are very concerned about the way the world is going. Many of them profess to believe the Bible is the word of God. Many of them claim to be Christians. Many well-meaning people feel that the Bible condones expressions of hatred or acts of violence toward people who live in these ways.
Interestingly enough, most of the feelings expressed are toward those who fall into the category of Homosexual or "Gay" men and Lesbian women. There seems to be a double standard in society when two out of the four lifestyles described cause expressions of hatred and violence and the other two are looked upon as acceptable conduct.
If you think the Bible teaches that God hates homosexuals and lesbians, you are very wrong. On the other hand, if you believe that God condones the conduct of the fornicator and the adulterer, you are wrong.
The God of the Bible loves people of all persuasions, all races and all lifestyles, because, He is love. *1 In fact, the Bible tells us that God loves us so much that even though He doesn't approve of our conduct at times, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for our sins. *2 In fact, the Bible tells us that we are not really responsible for the fact that we have a sinful nature. *3 We inherited it from our grandfather, Adam. Because of that one man's sin, sin entered the world and we all became sinners.
In fact, God loves all sinners, (the proud, the selfish, the covetous, the mean, the hateful, and the immoral) so much that He made it possible for each of us to be forgiven our sins and have a meaningful relationship with Him. The only thing that prevents us from this relationship is not accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. In fact, Jesus Christ is the light that lights every man that comes into the world, *4 he came into this world because he loved us not because he hates us. He said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." *5 He came, "to seek and to save that which was lost." *6
Since God is a loving God, and since the wages of sin is death, *7 disappointment, disillusionment and heartache, God has warned us about lifestyles that, in time, will cause us to be disappointed and disillusioned. In fact, he says there is a way that seems right to men, but the end of that way is a way of death. *8 Being a loving God, it is necessary that He warn us. So God has made it very clear that unfulfilling conduct is defined in the Bible in such a way that we can be warned and turn away from it. One of the clear warnings from the Bible is,
Romans 1:21-32
Professing to be wise, they became fools ... who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions Even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature «lesbian women». Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, «gay men» and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, «fornicators and adulterers» wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evilmindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
The observation might be made that this quotation speaks of hatred for the people guilty of any or all of these sins but this is not the case.
God, because He loves you, gives you this information before it is too late to change your life. In addition, He has made it possible for you to change. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He enables you to have victory over habits and lifestyles that are unfulfilling. The apostle Paul said, he could do all things through Christ Jesus *10 and when one accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior old things pass away and all things become new. *11
God loves all sinners, but He doesn't love sin. Christians should love all people but we should not love or tolerate sin. In fact, Christians are told to have no fellowship with sinful lifestyles but to reprove and warn them. *12
So many times, people seek counseling, they read and they study, trying to find peace of mind or purpose for life, but they fail to realize they were born alienated from God. They need Jesus Christ as their Savior to enable them to fill the void in their life. Without Him they travel many wrong roads. Remember,
John 3:16-19
For God so loved (adulterers, homosexuals, lesbians, fornicators and you) that He gave His only begotten Son, that, (adulterers, homosexuals, lesbians, fornicators and you) if they believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn (adulterers, homosexuals, lesbians, fornicators and you), but that they through Him might be saved. If (adulterers, homosexuals, lesbians, fornicators and you) believe in Him they are not condemned; but if (adulterers, homosexuals, lesbians, fornicators and you) do not believe, they are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
A loving God and Savior warns mankind of unfulfilling lifestyles and died that they might have a fulfilled life and live a lifestyle that will be fulfilling for time and eternity. All you need to do is call out to him for mercy, asking him to be your savior and your sins will be forgiven. You will have the power to change your lifestyle.
A loving God doesn't save you to continue living an unfulfilling lifestyle but he saves you out of, or from, your sins. *14 Your lifestyle will then conform to the conduct God has said will bring peace, joy, happiness, and a glorious anticipation of eternity.
by Robert A. Grove*1 Romans 8:39; 1 John 4:8 *2 Genesis 13:13, 18:20, 19:4-11; Leviticus 20:13; Deuteronomy 23:17; Judges 19:22-24; Romans 5:6; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, 6:11; Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 1:7 *3 Romans 5:6, 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 *4 John 1:8-12; 1 John 3:16, 4:9, 5:2-3 *5 Matthew 11:28-30 *6 Luke 19:10 *7 Romans 6:23 *8 Proverbs 14:12, 16:25 *9 Romans 1:21-32 *10 Philippians 4:13 *11 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 *12 Ephesians 5:11-12 *13 John 3:16-19 (paraphrased by the writer) *14 John 8:11; 1 John 3:3, 5:3-5
(Click on footnote number to return to text.)
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