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Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
(II Timothy 2:15)
Discussion Question Follow-up
Homosexuality in Christian Churches
There are few topics that bring about so much derision and diversion in our society today as homosexuality. One only has to pay attention to the media, the political climate in this country and around the world; in order to fully comprehend how this sordid practice fractures families; and the Lord’s church.
Summary of denominational positions in North America
The following table summarizes various denominational practices concerning members who are currently in a homosexual relationship.
Denomination | Allows as members | Ordains | Blesses unions | Marries |
| Adventist | No[63] | No | No | No |
| African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church/African Methodist Episcopal Church | Varies | No | No | No |
| Anglican | Varies[4][64] | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| American Baptist | Varies[65] | No[6] | ||
| National Baptist Convention[9] | Varies | No | Varies | Varies |
| Southern Baptist Convention[66] | No[67] | No | No | No |
| Calvary Chapel | N/A – CC has no 'church membership' per se, but attendance is permitted | N/A – Does not ordain | No | No |
| Canadian and American Reformed Churches | No | No | No | |
| Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | Yes | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Christian Reformed Church in North America[12] | No | No | No | No |
| Reformed Church in America | Yes | No | No | No |
| Churches of Christ | N/A – Congregations have no 'church membership' per se, but attendance would generally be permitted | N/A – Congregations do not ordain. Ministers are considered the same as lay-persons | No | No |
| Church of the Nazarene[68] | No | No | No | No |
| Eastern Orthodox | Yes (But are denied Holy Sacraments until full repentance) | No | No | No |
| Oriental Orthodox | No | No | No | |
| Episcopal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Jehovah's Witnesses | No | No | No | No |
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) | No | No | No | No |
| Community of Christ | Yes[69] | No[69] | No[26] | No[26] |
| Evangelical Lutheran Church of America | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies |
| Lutheran Church Missouri Synod[70] | No | No | No | No |
| Mennonite | Varies | No | No | No |
| United Methodist Church | Varies[71] | No[72] | ||
| Metropolitan Community Church | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Moravian Church | Yes | No | No | No |
| New Apostolic | Yes | No | No | No |
| Old Order Amish | No | No | No | No |
| Assemblies of God[37] | No | No | No | No |
| Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) | Varies | No | No | No |
| Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)[36] | No | No | No | No |
| Pentecostal | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| United Pentecostal Church International[73] | No | No | No | No |
| Evangelical Presbyterian Church[48] | No | No | No | No |
| Orthodox Presbyterian Church[50] | No | No | No | No |
| Presbyterian Church (USA) | Yes | Yes[74] | Varies | No |
| Presbyterian Church in America | No[75] | No[47] | No[47] | No[47] |
| Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) | Yes | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Roman Catholic Church | Yes (But some Sacraments are denied) | No (men with "deep homosexual tendencies" not to be ordained) | No | No |
| Old Catholic | Yes | Yes | Yes (Europe) in Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland | No |
| Swedenborgian | Yes | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Unification Church | Yes | No | No | No |
| United Church of Canada | Yes | Yes | Not applicable | Yes |
| United Church of Christ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies |
| Unity School of Christianity | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waldensian | Yes | Yes | Varies | No |
| Rosicrucian Fellowship (Esoteric Christians) | Undefined (members are expected to eventually abstain from any sexual practice other than for procreation, performed as a sacramental act)[76][77] | No (the Fellowship does not ordain; however, access to Discipleship requires Generative Purity)[78] | No | No (marriage is seen as a sacrament binding man and woman; the marriage service requires the presence of an ordained Minister of a Christian church)[79] |
- Information provided by Wikipedia.
Homosexuality has existed throughout mankind’s history.
In fact, several of the Roman Emperors were of this persuasion.
By the way, Rome fell…its demise came about from within and not without.
We know history repeats itself. Should America be concerned?
It is not a stretch of one’s imagination to consider this perversion of God’s will was commonly practiced by the peoples prior to Noah’s Flood. For God said,
Genesis 6
5: Then the LORD saw that the (what’s the next word) wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of man of his heart was only evil (how often) continually.
Jesus the Christ said,
Matthew 1519: “For out of the (what) heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders…”
Jesus also said,
Matthew 24
37: “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like (when) the days of Noah.”
Mankind will be in a “carnal” state once again.
I define the word carnal as “without,” in this case.
Without homage to God
Without Truth
Without Light
Without change
Without righteousness
Without love
Without the knowledge of God
Without decency, respect, and compassion
Carnal man will once again be wholly sensual.
“The desires of the mind are overwhelmed and lost in the desires of the flesh.”
Without God, evil shall rule their hearts!
For those of you who are not familiar with the Genesis account of Sodom and its sister city Gomorrah, you’ll find it recorded in chapter 19.
These two ancient cities, founded by the “Son of Canaan,” Read about the curse placed on Noah’s youngest son (Ham) by his father Noah in Genesis 9. These two cities were well known for their sexual misconduct; among other things.
Cush and Nimrod (the founder of a place called BABEL) are descendants of
Noah’s son Ham. These two gentlemen are also responsible for the founding of both Sodom and Gomorrah.
Even after Noah’s Flood, we know the sordid practice of homosexual behavior continued unabated.
After the LORD God redeemed the Israelites from bondage, God had Moses write the book of Leviticus to instruct and to guide the people. This was necessary because they had spent the last four hundred years deeply immersed in the ways, the culture, and the religions of the Egyptians. In Scripture you’ll find that God often uses this nation as an example of the “world” without God. Egypt was wealthy and the most powerful nation on the earth at this time. The newly born nation of Israel was “called out” from its control.
The overall theme of Leviticus is the emphasis on personal holiness (set apart from).
Who were they to be set apart from?
…The gentile race.
Led by the Spirit of God, Moses writes:
22: “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination…
I see no middle ground in this Bible verse; or the privilege of choosing another path.
Even if this command from God was issued directly to the nation of Israel, under the Mosaic Law, the command still stands. God has not changed his mind.
For God does not change.
The simple truth is there are many today who believe the Bible should be interpreted in the light of this age and not as when it was scripted long ago.
In other words, they don’t believe the Bible. They don’t believe God.
They “pick and choose” what they want to accept as true from Scripture.
Therefore, we should not be shocked or surprised to find corruption has invaded every segment of society including the church.
Scripture teaches us to show mercy and compassion to the sinner for everyone sins.
Embrace the sinner; not the sin.
Be on guard for these are perilous times.
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