God’s Plan for the Gay Agenda
October 4th, 2006
(By John MacArthur)
If you’ve been watching the headlines over the last couple years, you may have noticed the incredible surge of interest in affirming homosexuality. Whether it’s at the heart of a religious scandal, political corruption, radical legislation, or the redefinition of marriage, homosexual interests have come to characterize America. That’s an indication of the success of the gay agenda. And some Christians, including some national church leaders, have wavered on the issue even recently. But sadly, when people refuse to acknowledge the sinfulness of homosexuality—calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20)—they do so at the expense of many souls.
How should you respond to the success of the gay agenda? Should you accept the recent trend toward tolerance? Or should you side with those who exclude homosexuals with hostility and disdain?
In reality, the Bible calls for a balance between what some people think are two opposing reactions—condemnation and compassion. Really, the two together are essential elements of biblical love, and that’s something the homosexual sinner desperately needs.
Homosexual advocates have been remarkably effective in selling their warped interpretations of passages in Scripture that address homosexuality. When you ask a homosexual what the Bible says about homosexuality—and many of them know—they have digested an interpretation that is not only warped, but also completely irrational. Pro-homosexual arguments from the Bible are nothing but smokescreens—as you come close, you see right through them.
God’s condemnation of homosexuality is abundantly clear—He opposes it in every age.
- In the patriarchs (Genesis 19:1-28)
- In the Law of Moses (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13)
- In the Prophets (Ezekiel 16:46-50)
- In the New Testament (Romans 1:18-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Jude 7-8)
Why does God condemn homosexuality? Because it overturns God’s fundamental design for human relationships—a design that pictures the complementary relationship between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33).
Why, then, have homosexual interpretations of Scripture been so successful at persuading so many? Simple: people want to be convinced. Since the Bible is so clear about the issue, sinners have had to defy reason and embrace error to quiet their accusing consciences (Romans 2:14-16). As Jesus said, “Men loved the darkness rather than the Light, [because] their deeds were evil” (John 3:19-20).
As a Christian, you must not compromise what the Bible says about homosexuality—ever. No matter how much you desire to be compassionate to the homosexual, your first sympathies belong to the Lord and to the exaltation of His righteousness. Homosexuals stand in defiant rebellion against the will of their Creator who from the beginning “made them male and female” (Matthew 19:4).
Don’t allow yourself to be intimidated by homosexual advocates and their futile reasoning—their arguments are without substance. Homosexuals, and those who advocate that sin, are fundamentally committed to overturning the lordship of Christ in this world. But their rebellion is useless, for the Holy Spirit says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; cf. Galatians 5:19-21).
So, what is God’s response to the homosexual agenda?
Certain and final judgment. To claim anything else is to compromise the truth of God and deceive those who are perishing.
As you interact with homosexuals and their sympathizers, you must affirm the Bible’s condemnation. You are not trying to bring damnation on the head of homosexuals, you are trying to bring conviction so that they can turn from that sin and embrace the only hope of salvation for all of us sinners—and that’s through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Homosexuals need salvation. They don’t need healing—homosexuality is not a disease. They don’t need therapy—homosexuality is not a psychological condition. Homosexuals need forgiveness, because homosexuality is a sin.
I don’t know how it happened, but a few decades ago someone branded homosexuals with the worst misnomer—“gay.” Gay used to mean happy, but I can assure you, homosexuals are not happy people. They habitually seek happiness by following after destructive pleasures. There is a reason Romans 1:26 calls homosexual desire a “degrading passion.” It is a lust that destroys the physical body, ruins relationships, and brings perpetual suffering to the soul—and its ultimate end is death (Romans 7:5). Homosexuals are experiencing the judgment of God (Romans 1:24, 26, 28), and thus they are very, very sad.
First Corinthians 6 is very clear about the eternal consequence for those who practice homosexuality—but there’s good news. No matter what the sin is, whether homosexuality or anything else, God has provided forgiveness, salvation, and the hope of eternal life to those who repent and embrace the gospel. Right after identifying homosexuals as those who “will not inherit the kingdom of God,” Paul said, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
God’s plan for many homosexuals is that they come to salvation. There were former homosexuals in the Corinthian church back in Paul’s day, just as there are many former homosexuals today in my church and in faithful churches around the country. With regenerated hearts, they sit in biblical churches throughout the country praising their Savior, along with former fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, coveters, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers. Remember, such were some of you too.
What should be your response to the homosexual agenda? Make it a biblical response—confront it with the truth of Scripture that condemns homosexuality and promises eternal damnation for all who practice it. What should be your response to the homosexual? Make it a gospel response—confront him with the truth of Scripture that condemns him as a sinner, and point him to the hope of salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Stay faithful to the Lord as you respond to homosexuality by honoring His Word, and leave the results to Him.
David Kupelian has an interesting chapter on the gay agenda in his book, ‘The Marketing of Evil.’ It’s well worth the read.
Very good points… Christians should be courageous and remain committed to pleasing God and not man. As you say the Bible is very clear on this issue.
W.H.
Christianity is in a sore state, esp. when denominations are confused about blatant sins not even complex theological issues. What is next!?
The sad thing is that this, along w/ the ecumenical movement,prevents Christians from identifying who really needs the Gospel and might hesistate to share with them the Glorious news of Christ.
Thanks for the outstanding article. In my humble opinion, Christians should put much more emphasis on the hope for individual homosexuals than on opposition to the “gay” agenda.
Yeah. Great post! I especially liked the comment,
“Why, then, have homosexual interpretations of Scripture been so successful at persuading so many? Simple: people want to be convinced.”
One thing I remember from philosophical studies is that both David Hume and Blaise Pascal both commented on how mankind is NOT a rational being; mankind is ruled by emotions and uses reason to service the justification of his desires.
That’s always exceedingly true with people who seek to justify sin…no matter how crazy it is, people can find a biblical argument for it. I once had a counselling session with a guy who pulled out several Bible verses to “support” his desire to participate in orgies involving intravenous drugs…and that fella had a B.A. in Theology. For some reason, he didn’t like what I had to say about that…
Having been involved in heterosexual immorality and having befriended those who claim to be homosexual, I can testify that an identity based mainly upon sexual pursuit/gratification is a very narrow and cruel way to define a human life whether it be homo or heterosexual in nature.
The constant shaping and re-shaping of onesself to meet the ever-changing standard for acceptance only to be rewarded with abusive intimacy is truly a cruel community. Having said that, I have known some who claim homosexuality who are more asexual and their involvement in this culture is more about a brotherhood of victimhood rather than sexual pursuit.
Even though the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah were overtly overcome by their base human nature, Jesus warned that it would be more merciful for these citizens than for those who suffered from being a Pharisee.
If anyone has a witness in their heart to extend the invitation of grace to those who are lost in this lifestyle, I pray you are equipped with a clear perspective of love and compassion to deliver the message.
Sin is living apart from God – it is suffering!!! It requires no further scrutiny or punishment from me. If I am of no influence to soften hearts toward grace, then I add no further burden on those who chose to continue to pursue death.
I feel bad for those of you who believe that people who are homosexuals are not loved by GOD in the same way which hetersexuals are loved…these people must be judged for their thoughts and feeling just as everyone else must and it MUST be done by GOD not man…I know that at one point in time women were considered the property of their husbands but society had to change to allow women to no longer be considered property…then followed that people were not allowed to be married outside of their own ethnicity but once again society had to change and learn to except that which they did not truly understand….I also know then each of these cases that there were scriptures used from the bible to convince people of how wrong these things were…homosexuality is just one more thing that society will have to learn to except…I doubt this ws what you thought that you would find as a comment but this is America and I to have freedom of speech…please do not respond to this message via the email address that I left as it is inccorect and I did that for the reason of being over whelmed with emails due to this article…Destini
Destini,
1. I just reread the whole article, and cannot find anywhere that says that “people who are homosexuals are not loved by GOD in the same way which hetersexuals are loved.” Where did that come from?
2. Your arguments about the days when women were considered property and interracial marriage was condemned simply don’t work. The scriptures used to justify these attitudes were vague and taken way out of context. As this article pointed out, the scripture passages against homosexuality are “abundantly clear”. Just because someone wrongly uses scripture in one case does not mean all scripture is used wrongly in all cases.
Far from being bigoted, this article was compassionate, biblical, and hopeful. I believe that, like you, most of us would also feel bad for those who think “that people who are homosexuals are not loved by GOD in the same way which heterosexuals are loved.” Indeed, God’s love for homosexuals–as with all men–is demonstrated by the fact that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. (Rom. 5:8)
Clarity is needed. Christ himself said, “For God sent NOT his Son into the world TO CONDEMN the world; but that the world thorugh Him might be saved” (Jn 3:17). The sinner brings the condemnation on himself, Christ does not. (vs. 18).
Jesus said, “And if any man, hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47). And at the cross Jesus proclaimed, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). Sadly, just as Esau did, many will throw away the birthright given to them.
Even Christ’s message of homosexuality being sin, it is a message of mercy, not condemnation for the sinner. His message of wrath cannot be a message of condemnation since God is love. Even His wrath is a message of mercy and love.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). It does not say, “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all THE UNGODLY and UNRIGHTEOUS.” God loves the sinner and hates the sin.
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words; hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (Jn 12:48).
Let’s be more articulate instead of our broad scope of condemning those who have sins of commission. That’s an easy target. Many will not be heaven because of the Pharisee type of attitude toward sinners and publicans.
When I was young my life style was disgusting and extremely sinful. It was not the message of condemnation that brought me to the cross as so many preached, but a message of reconciliation which is our great commission (2 Cor. 5:14-21).
John covenant-promise@comcast.net