In order to have the right perspective, we must understand God’s perspective. In Matthew 19:3-6 we find Jesus teaching on the subject of marriage, and when He is asked a question He directs His audience back to the creation. In Genesis 1:27-28 we read that God created “them” both “male and female.” God gives them a blessing, but it is paired with a command to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.” God gives His blessing to those men and women who honor His command. In Genesis 2:18-24 we see the reason for God creating both man and woman and the way in which man is to honor this command. Woman was created as the only suitable companion and helper for man and thus “a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This is the ONLY approved pattern.
In order to understand the seriousness of rejecting this pattern, let us remember Sodom and Gomorrah. In Genesis 19 we read of two cities infested with sin, including that of homosexuality. What happened to these cities?
“Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. And He overthrew those great cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.” (Genesis 19:24-25 ESV)
Some might think this cruel, wondering how anyone could serve a God that destroyed people for their “life choices.” Who created man and gave him the ability to choose? (Genesis 1:26-27) Not only did God create man, but He created man in His own image and His desire is for us to be holy as He is holy. (1 Peter 1:14-16) Paul reminds us that man’s disregard for God is how homosexuality (among other sins) began being practiced in the first place, and the consequences of such disregard. (Romans 1:18-32) Can any person choose something contrary to God’s will for man and still reflect His holiness? Can anyone failing to reflect God’s holiness have a relationship with Him? (Isaiah 59:1-2; 1 John 1:5-6) What will happen to those who have no relationship with God? (Revelation 20:11-15) We know that God does not desire destruction for any man or woman (2 Peter 3:9) but all must repent of sin and have their sins washed by the blood of Christ in baptism if they are to have fellowship with a holy God.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation and adopting God’s perspective as our own is essential to acknowledging this sin for what it is. Let us remember, though, what God did for those enslaved to sin. (Romans 5:6-11) With every effort we make to hate the sin that festers in every corner of this dark world, we must out of love for God and the souls He created share with those souls the gospel message that can save them. There is a temptation, as those who have been redeemed from the bondage of sin, to look down with contempt upon those still practicing sin and suffering for it. Is this the kind of attitude we should have? Is this not the attitude that leads to violence, both verbal and physical, against sinners practicing homosexuality and other sins? What if God had looked down at us, in all our sin, and destroyed us for the many sins we were practicing? With God there is no partiality. (Romans 2:6-11) The way we can have the right attitude is to remember and be thankful for the grace God has extended to us, in forgiving us of our sins, as we grow in godly character. (2 Peter 1:3-9) Let us remember that vengeance belongs to God and that we are to demonstrate His love towards our enemies, just as He did to us when we were enemies. (Romans 12:17-21) Let us also remember that genuine love abhors what is evil and holds fast what is good. (Romans 12:9) If we love the way that God loves, we will see sin for what it is and respond with God’s gospel answer for the problem of sin.