Sex
outside of marriage is considered a sexual perversion by God. One of the Ten Commandments states, "Thou
shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14).
Adultery is defined as having sexual intercourse with a person other than
your spouse. It is a "Thou shalt
not." It is so serious, in God's eyes,
that it is the ONLY legitimate cause for dissolving a marriage other than death
(Matthew 19:9). Virginity prior to
marriage was the expected both in the Old Testament and the New. In fact, under the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy
22:13-19), if a man falsely accused his wife of not being a virgin at their
marriage, he was prohibited from EVER divorcing her. Under the same Law (Leviticus 20:10) both
parties guilty were to be put to death, NOT just the woman (John 8:1-11).
Homosexualityis a violation of both natural and revealed law. Many pious homosexuals (mostly lesbians) contend the Bible does not condemn
homosexuality. They claim the context of
the passages (e.g. Romans 1:24-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9; and 1 Timothy 1:8-10)
condemning it, have reference to temple prostitution and that this is what is
condemned rather than a "loving homosexual relationship." The unbiased reader will have difficulty
finding "temple prostitution" in any passage condemning sodomy, etc.. Language betrays their violation of "natural
law." "Pervert" is defined as abnormal
or unacceptable sexual behavior. "Queer"
means strange or odd. It was THE word
applied to homosexuals in the 20th century. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by God
(Genesis 19) symbolizes Jehovah's wrath concerning the practice of sodomy.
The sin of incest has to do with sexual relations between people too closely related to marry each other. In Leviticus 18 we have a rather long list of sexual relationships prohibited by Jehovah, the God of Israel. The list includes father, mother, sister, granddaughter, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, among others. These God-given restrictions were once respected in our culture.
Cursing, or referring to ones parentage, sexual preferences, race, heritage and other curses seem to be acceptable. Jesus points out that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matthew 12:34).
Bestialityis also a sin. God condemns having sex with animals (Leviticus 18:23) and has the audacity of calling this a "perversion." Someone asks, "Why can I not marry my pet poodle? After all we do have a loving relationship." Another heterosexual perversion that was popular among the pagans was sodomy and oral sex. This particular perversion seems to be the staple of the pornographic industry and practiced by at least one president - "after all its just sex." This perversion is condemned by God in Romans one. Paul states, "God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves" (verse 24), and continues, "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: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet" (verse 26-27).
When we reject God's plan for man, we find ourselves on the slippery slope that leads to destruction: for the individual, for the family, and for the nation. God DOES want us - as created in His image - to be happy. But NOT in sin. Our true joy and happiness is walking through this life in the way He has revealed, walking in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7).
Dale I. Royal, Elk City OK
