John Eckhardt - The Truth About Homosexuality

The Truth about Homosexuality

Part 1

By Apostle John Eckhardt

(Transcribed from a Message Preached at Crusaders Church)

I will be quoting from two books today. The first is Romans 1:21-27 and Leviticus 20:13.

Romansl is the most extensive reference that is found in the New Testament regarding homosexuality and lesbianism.

In verses 21-27 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their own imagination, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lust of their own hearts, to dishonor 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 their natural use for 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 recompense of their error which was meet.

This is a verse that has been looked at by the church regarding men and men and women and women that is condemned by God. The reason it is such an important passage of Scripture is simple because it is found in the New Testament. There are other verses in the Old Testament that condemn this practice. Some however say that we are no longer under the law therefore these verses may not necessarily apply today.

Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Under the Old Testament the punishment for men lying with another man as with a woman was death.

The New American Bible says if a male lies with a male as with a woman both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed, they have forfeited their lives.

The New Living translations says the penalty for homosexual acts is death to both parties. They have committed a detestable act and are guilty of a capitol offense.

The New Century versions says, if a man has sexual relations with another man as does with a woman these two men have done a hateful sin. They must be put to death. They have brought death upon themselves.

The Message Bible says, if a man has sex with a man as one does with a woman, both have done what is abhorrent. They must be put to death. They are responsible for their own deaths.

They have brought about their own death. That was the law given to Israel. Many would claim that we are not under the law therefore it would not apply to us now.

Lets look at some scripture in the New Testament. Well go back to our main scripture in Romans 1. I want you to know what is being taught concerning homosexuality in many of our places of higher education and even in some denominations.

I read a book some years ago by Peter J. Gomes called The Good Book- Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart. Peter J. Gomes has been a minister in the Memorial Church, he was appointed professor of Christian morals at Harvard and is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School. He is an African American professor and a homosexual. In this book he has a chapter called "The Bible and Homosexuality. He attempts to analyze what the Apostle Paul is saying in Romans. He implies that if a homosexual has a loving caring relationship with another homosexual that God will honor that relationship. In other words gay marriage, lesbian marriage as long as it is between two loving partners, God is Love and does not condemn that relationship.

He translates what Paul is saying that men and men and women and women who have intercourse without relationship, that God will condemn that type of homosexual behavior. But God will not condemn two people who are committed to a loving relationship as a man and woman would be as they were husband and wife.

He is saying that what the Apostle Paul is referring to is idolatry. During the old covenant, when they did worship idols, they would go to temples and engage in orgies other sexual conduct. They had male prostitutes in the temples. This behavior was a way for them to worship their idols. They would engage in all kinds of immoral activity, and so that is what Paul is referring to. The author translates that Paul is referring to idolatry this type of idolatry that is condemned not two people who love each other.

However Paul lists what God hates, including idolatry, debauchery, men with men, and women with women, drunkenness, and an abominable lifestyle.

So this is what the whole issue is. Im also going to quote from Barak Obamas new book,

The Audacity of Hope. His new book is a bestseller. Some of the things he has said about this particular passage in scripture (Rom 1). Before I go on to say what he states in his book. Barak Obama is a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, located on 95th Street. What many do not know about the denomination of United Church of Christ is that several years ago they passed a resolution in their national meeting to support gay and lesbian relationships. They church did this. So many of the Churches of Christ support and affirm same sex unions in the church.

The thing that I am dealing with as a preacher is, it is one thing for you to engage in a homosexual lifestyle if that is what you are doing then it is your business. It is another thing to try to have the church affirm this behavior. They try to legitimize this type of behavior according to the Word of God. They try to say that God endorses it. They the church tries to say that if you dont endorse same sex unions or homosexual and lesbian relationships that you are a bigot; you are a judgmental and not progressive; you are not walking in the Love of God because you dont promote and accept gay and lesbian lifestyles.

My problem is, if you want to engage in homosexual activity that is your business, but dont try to bring it to the house of God. Dont try to twist the scriptures to try to make us think that we are wrong if we dont agree with what you are doing. That is what causes me anger, Listen, if you are a fornicator; the same thing applies to you. Just admit its wrong, repent and thats it. Dont try to bring it to the church that we are boyfriend and girlfriend, that we are in love and just because we are not married God honors that relationship and you want us to honor that lifestyle. That is wrong. You are asking leaders and preachers to violate the Scriptures in order to accept what someone is doing. The whole movement today is that if you preach or teach against homosexuality that it is equivalent with a hate crime.

The thing that we have always affirmed in the church is that we dont hate homosexuals. We hate the sin. God loves homosexuals, He loves all people. When you look at the scriptures, 1Cor.6:9-11, this is another New Testament reference to homosexuality. Because again, we have people who say we are not under the law. I was listening to a radio program where homosexuals were calling in to the pastors, saying they belong to the church and that their pastors knew they were gay, and he doesnt bother us. The caller referred to a scripture that when God told His people that they were not to wear clothing that had mixed fabrics. What they were trying to say that things from the Old Testament are outdated.

There is scripture in the New Testament that is plain regarding this issue. Romansl and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 the amplified version says; do you not know that the unrighteous and wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived or misled; neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality.