This Permissive Society
In this dialogue-type article our associate editor lends some helpful background and instruction on the subject of homosexuality in the light of God’s Word.
“In this permissive society, anything goes!”
What a pity to see such a young and vigorous personality so disturbed, and to a certain extend embittered by what he had encountered in his search for learning. He had been brought up according to a high degree of morality, and although he attended no particular church, he did live by the absolutes of a traditional society. This, therefore, is what he expected to find in other students, at least in the majority of them.
“When not in our books studying, our crowd talks too much about sex and how to get rich, how to get rich quickly and easily. I sometimes wonder where all this started, and I am afraid of its final outcome.”
“Personally,” was my reply, “I am convinced that the Bible has much to say in regard to both sex and material wealth.”
“You believe the Bible, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do,” I acknowledged. “Does the Bible really say anything about such moralities?”
He was so earnest that he went on, “Sex is such a power, and it appears in many forms. I have read in the news that it is used in the business world to get sales, and to get promotions.”
“Yes, the Bible condemns fornication, adultery, pre-marital sex, extramarital sex, even the non-marital indulgence. It also condemns homosexuality.”
“Does the Bible literally mention homosexuality? I thought that this was something new?” he questioned.
“Let us see what the Word of God has to say about this dreadful, unnatural sin.”
The Origin
“The Christian is occasionally asked,” I explained, “What is God going to do with the heathen? That actually is not the grave question; the real problem arises out of what the heathen (mankind) did with God. In the Bible the origin of heathenism is clearly indicated.
“‘Because when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like the corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
“‘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 (Lesbianism, sapphism).
“‘And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the women, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly (homosexuality), and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do these things which are not convenient.’
“Three times it is asserted that God gave them up (Rom. 1:21-32). Heathenism is the result of divine abandonment. As mankind abandoned God, God abandoned men, and the result is heathenism. Among the many characteristics of heathenism, lesbianism and homosexuality are prominent.”
The Characteristics
“‘Men burn in their lust one toward another … working that which is unseemly.’ While in our society today, homosexuality is to a minor degree accepted as a way of life, not long ago it was considered an illness or a crime. As an illness we were told, it required the help of both medicine and psychiatry. When considered a crime, it could result in imprisonment.
“This act is so unnatural that it has to be learned. Dr. F A. Tatford, in his article on homosexuality in the September 1979 issue of The Harvester, quotes J. White who writes from a psychiatrist’s point of view: ‘Homosexual behaviour is not in any sense inevitable to someone who engages in it. It may be understandable. But no homosexual has the right to say, I am not responsible for what I do because my homosexual nature makes me do it. E. Wahl says bluntly that homosexuality is a learned disorder and not genetically inherited.’”
The History
“You spoke of homosexuality as being comparatively new. That idea may come from the fact that this practice was legally banded and only in recent years has that restriction been removed. Today we are more aware of this practice than formerly, in great measure also due to the publicity given it by the news media.
“Actually homosexuality spans the centuries. You probably have heard the name Sodomy. In the days of Abraham, the patriarch of the Jewish people, his nephew Lot moved into Sodom: this city was extremely evil and divinely condemned to extinction.
“In order to rescue Lot from imminent destruction God sent two angels in human form to his home. The degraded men of Sodom attempted to rape these holy beings; they attempted to practise their evil Sodomy, or homosexuality. The Lord immediately punished the men of Sodom and in a few hours destroyed the two great cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.”
“I just do not know what to say,” exclaimed my student friend, “I do not like talking about such things, but this has been an eye-opener to me. I admit that the whole matter makes me feel very apprehensive. But thank you anyway. I am glad to have had this little talk together.”
May God place His restraining hand upon human evil. May He preserve the youth of today from the liberties and indulgences so prevalent in the world.