“What does the Bible say about gay marriage / same sex marriage?”

Answer: While the Bible does address homosexuality, it does not explicitly mention gay marriage/same-sex marriage. It is clear, however, that the Bible condemns homosexuality as an immoral and unnatural sin. Leviticus 18:22 identifies homosexual sex as an abomination, a detestable sin. Romans 1:26-27 declares homosexual desires and actions to be shameful, unnatural, lustful, and indecent. First Corinthians 6:9 states that homosexuals are unrighteous and will not inherit the kingdom of God. Since both homosexual desires and actions are condemned in the Bible, it is clear that homosexuals “marrying” is not God’s will, and would be, in fact, sinful.

Whenever the Bible mentions marriage, it is between a male and a female. The first mention of marriage, Genesis 2:24, describes it as a man leaving his parents and being united to his wife. In passages that contain instructions regarding marriage, such as 1 Corinthians 7:2-16 and Ephesians 5:23-33, the Bible clearly identifies marriage as being between a man and a woman. Biblically speaking, marriage is the lifetime union of a man and a woman, primarily for the purpose of building a family and providing a stable environment for that family.

The Bible alone, however, does not have to be used to demonstrate this understanding of marriage. The biblical viewpoint of marriage has been the universal understanding of marriage in every human civilization in world history. History argues against gay marriage. Modern secular psychology recognizes that men and women are psychologically and emotionally designed to complement one another. In regard to the family, psychologists contend that a union between a man and woman in which both spouses serve as good gender role models is the best environment in which to raise well-adjusted children. Psychology argues against gay marriage. In nature/physicality, clearly, men and women were designed to “fit” together sexually. With the “natural” purpose of sexual intercourse being procreation, clearly only a sexual relationship between a man and a woman can fulfill this purpose. Nature argues against gay marriage.

So, if the Bible, history, psychology, and nature all argue for marriage being between a man and a woman—why is there such a controversy today? Why are those who are opposed to gay marriage/same-sex marriage labeled as hateful, intolerant bigots, no matter how respectfully the opposition is presented? Why is the gay rights movement so aggressively pushing for gay marriage/same-sex marriage when most people, religious and non-religious, are supportive of—or at least far less opposed to—gay couples having all the same legal rights as married couples with some form of civil union?

The answer, according to the Bible, is that everyone inherently knows that homosexuality is immoral and unnatural, and the only way to suppress this inherent knowledge is by normalizing homosexuality and attacking any and all opposition to it. The best way to normalize homosexuality is by placing gay marriage/same-sex marriage on an equal plane with traditional opposite-gender marriage. Romans 1:18-32 illustrates this. The truth is known because God has made it plain. The truth is rejected and replaced with a lie. The lie is then promoted and the truth suppressed and attacked. The vehemence and anger expressed by many in the gay rights movement to any who oppose them is, in fact, an indication that they know their position is indefensible. Trying to overcome a weak position by raising your voice is the oldest trick in the debating book. There is perhaps no more accurate description of the modern gay rights agenda than Romans 1:31, “they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.”

To give sanction to gay marriage/same-sex marriage would be to give approval to the homosexual lifestyle, which the Bible clearly and consistently condemns as sinful. Christians should stand firmly against the idea of gay marriage/same-sex marriage. Further, there are strong and logical arguments against gay marriage/same-sex marriage from contexts completely separated from the Bible. One does not have to be an evangelical Christian to recognize that marriage is between a man and a woman.

According to the Bible, marriage is ordained by God to be between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:21-24; Matthew 19:4-6). Gay marriage/same-sex marriage is a perversion of the institution of marriage and an offense to the God who created marriage. As Christians, we are not to condone or ignore sin. Rather, we are to share the love of God and the forgiveness of sins that is available to all, including homosexuals, through Jesus Christ. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and contend for truth with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). As Christians, when we make a stand for truth and the result is personal attacks, insults, and persecution, we should remember the words of Jesus: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).

http://www.gotquestions.org/gay-marriage.html

Discussion closed on this topic.

Daniel gave you the actual biblical quote that gave the reason for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha-surprise surprise,

“What was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah?”

Answer: The biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah is recorded in Genesis chapters 18-19. Genesis chapter 18 records the Lord and two angels coming to speak with Abraham. The Lord informed Abraham that “the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous.” Verses 22-33 record Abraham pleading with the Lord to have mercy on Sodom and Gomorrah because Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family lived in Sodom.

Genesis chapter 19 records the two angels, disguised as human men, visiting Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot met the angels in the city square and urged them to stay at his house. The angels agreed. The Bible then informs us, “Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom — both young and old — surrounded the house. They called to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.'” The angels then proceed to blind all the men of Sodom and Gomorrah and urge Lot and his family to flee from the cities to escape the wrath that God was about to deliver. Lot and his family flee the city, and then “the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah — from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities…”

In light of the passage, the most common response to the question “What was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah?” is that it was homosexuality. That is how the term “sodomy” came to be used to refer to anal sex between two men, whether consensual or forced. Clearly, homosexuality was part of why God destroyed the two cities. The men of Sodom and Gomorrah wanted to perform homosexual gang rape on the two angels (who were disguised as men). At the same time, it is not biblical to say that homosexuality was the exclusive reason why God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were definitely not exclusive in terms of the sins in which they indulged.

Ezekiel 16:49-50 declares, “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me…” The Hebrew word translated “detestable” refers to something that is morally disgusting and is the exact same word used in Leviticus 18:22 that refers to homosexuality as an “abomination.” Similarly, Jude 7 declares, “…Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion.” So, again, while homosexuality was not the only sin in which the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah indulged, it does appear to be the primary reason for the destruction of the cities.

Those who attempt to explain away the biblical condemnations of homosexuality claim that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was inhospitality. The men of Sodom and Gomorrah were certainly being inhospitable. There is probably nothing more inhospitable than homosexual gang rape. But to say God completely destroyed two cities and all their inhabitants for being inhospitable clearly misses the point. While Sodom and Gomorrah were guilty of many other horrendous sins, homosexuality was the reason God poured fiery sulfur on the cities, completely destroying them and all of their inhabitants. To this day, the area where Sodom and Gomorrah were located remains a desolate wasteland. Sodom and Gomorrah serve as a powerful example of how God feels about sin in general, and homosexuality specifically.
http://www.gotquestions.org/Sodom-and-Gomorrah.html

Daniel gave you the actual biblical quote that gave the reason for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha-surprise surprise, it was what was in their hearts, not what they were doing with their naughty bits. actually, what has always horrified me about that passage was that Lot was considered a righteous man-and how did he back down the horde of oversexed rabblerousers? why, by offering his virgin daughters, young and untouched…nice of God to intervene, but you’d think he could have commented on the offering up of the children to be raped, don’t you?
well, no. because back then that didn’t matter, virgin daughters were their father’s property. in Lot’s culture giving up the guests was a heinous sin, giving up his daughters a sacrifice he had the right to make.
God looketh on the heart. as repulsed as I personally am by what Lot was willing to do, God saw his heart. Only God can do this.
therefore, knowing as you do now if you did not before the FACT that the very mention of homosexuality in the NT dates from the 1940s, and everything else daniel mentioned-his facts and his scripture are all accurate-how dare you PRESUME to say he can’t be a Christian because he is committing what in your subculture is a sin?
Lot was a righteous man, and was more than willing to allow his two young daughters to be gang-raped-THAT’S Biblical morality. his righteousness was what was in his heart. you don’t know, can’t know, what’s in someone else’s heart. so stop trying to usurp God’s place. you’re not equipped.
and as not usurping God is pretty much the focus of this article, i feel i’ve been fairly on-topic.
be well, all.

Daniel

I have no idea what bible you are reading, but one thing is for sure is that it’s been twisted by yourself into something perverted.

This discussion is over.

Deuteronomy 22 mentions a circumstance under which rape is acceptable, but we know that RAPE IS WRONG under ANY circumstance. If a woman is a virgin, committing adultery, or unmarried, it makes no difference. We all agree here, I hope, that no means no.

Similarly, with sex between human and animal or parent and child, I would assume that human decency prevails regardless of any such mention of such sex in the New Testament.

Just because the Bible isn’t explicit about moral issues that confront us today, doesn’t mean that we can’t use Scripture to come to conclusions. We must always question those conclusions, however, I think, because the Bible isn’t explicit. I submit that this is the truly humble approach to the Word of God, and a good strategy for avoiding eisegesis.

With regards to Romans 13:1-4, how does this Scripture tie into Mark 12:17?

Were the Scriptural motivations for Dietrich Bonhoeffer choice to resist his government valid? You might know this already, but Bonhoeffer was an evangelical Christian who was executed in WWII Germany for the attempted assassination of the leader of that country at that time. He was an evangelical in the same vein as John Newtown, who found in the Word of God a reason to stand with the oppressed and fight against the laws of his time.

I think we need more brave evangelicals like Bonhoeffer and Newtown to come forth and stand for what they believe is right.

In Him, there is no distinction between man or women, jew nor gentile, in bondage or free, only Jesus. Same goes for gay and straight.

And murderer and murdered? How do you determine that it is wrong of the government to murder gays?

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
(Romans 13:1-4)

The Bible says:

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
(Leviticus 18:22)

You say love makes it okay. The next verse says:

And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.
(Leviticus 18:23)

I love my dog. Should I not be allowed to marry my dog? What about my mother or my father? Would Temple prostitution done lovingly in service to the Lord be a sin?

*sigh*