"There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the wages of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God” (Deuteronomy 23:17-18; ASV). The description here is undoubtedly describing the cultic prostitution of those who worshipped the various gods and goddesses, especially the ancient goddess of fertility, Astarte. Such worship and the very practices themselves were described by God through Moses as "an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.” A parallel statement is made in the Book of Revelation "Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie” (Revelation 22:14-15).

God, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament has always treated the sexually immoral, both those who sleep around and the homosexual (male or female) as an abomination. God intends for a man and a woman to marry, be faithful to each other until the death of one. It is painful for those who believe the Bible to know that there are those who attempt to justify both activities by the Bible! In Romans 1:26-32 the Bible describes those who do this are acting against "nature” and depraved. There are many today who simply are determined to gratify any impulse, especially the sensual. Whatever feels good, is exciting, is different, will be allowed in their activities! 

Sexual relations between a husband and wife is perhaps one of the highest expressions of love in their relationship. It is not something that is to be practised indiscriminately however, with anyone, of any gender! But it is to be confined to the marriage relationship. To do otherwise is to cheapen the act, and to bring disapproval from Jehovah God! The apostle Paul declares plainly that those who do such things (along with other sins) shall not "inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). There are two words or phrases in verse nine that utterly condemn any type of homosexual act! It reads, "Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men…shall inherit the kingdom of God.” The word "effeminate” comes from a Greek word which means "effeminate, of a catamite, a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). It is well known that many of the well to do Greeks and Romans of the period just before and after the time of Christ used young boys or men for their homosexual activities. Some of these were even castrated to keep them even more effeminate. Many of these were in long-term relationships. The usual argument by moderns is that the Bible doesn’t condemn "loving long-term homosexual relationships.” That is absolutely false! In fact, the next phrase makes it clear that NO homosexual activity is approved of God when Paul wrote of those who are "abusers of themselves with men.” Neither God nor the Christian ought to hate any individual, but sinful actions are always wrong. In addition to the fact that one who engages in homosexual sex or simply going on to multiple sexual partners is several times more apt to contract the HIV virus and AIDS. Monogamous marriage is right, homosexuality is always wrong!

The fact is that God has always approved some things. Loving expressions in Biblical marriage is right and approved. However, the same act outside of Biblical marriage is sin. On the other hand, certain things are wrong under any circumstances, and sexual activity between two males or two females is one of those sins. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in the Old Testament (Genesis 19) and will utterly condemn those who practice such things in the New Testament period (Romans 1:24-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). They are an ABOMINATION UNTO GOD!  

Ed Rodgers, Muskogee, OK.