DON'T SAY "GAY"
Many who call themselves Christians are adopting the vocabulary of the world instead of sticking to the terminology of inspired Scripture. For example, things that the Bible calls “sin” are now called “sicknesses”. Stealing is “kleptomania.” Drunkenness is said to be a sickness instead of a sin. And much of the world now calls homosexuals "gays," and the word "gay" means "happy." Some versions of Scripture translate the word "blessed" as "happy." Why would a Christian say “Happy are those who sin"? And since it happy means blessed, are we now supposed to say, "Blessed are the homosexuals"?
God's Word exhorts Christians thus: "Hold fast the form of sound words..." (2 Timothy 1:13). The unsaved talk however they want, but true Christians should allow God to govern their speech, yes, even their vocabulary. In the Old Testament we read the word “sodomites” (1 Ki. 14:24; 15:12; 22:46; 2 Ki. 23:7), being derived from the sinful homosexual behavior of Sodom. 2 Peter 2:6 describes the divine judgment of Sodom and Gomorrha. “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample [example] unto those that after should live ungodly.” Their behavior was "condemned" and their cities were "overthrown." Theirs was an unhappy ending, and God meant their punishment to be an example, a warning to all who would practice that or any other “ungodly” behavior. In Romans 1:22-28 we learn how He describes homosexual behavior, along with other sins. These verses come in the middle of chapter 1 where the history of the descent of the human race into sin, foolishness and condemnation is described. Read the whole chapter for a more complete understanding. But for the moment, consider verses 22-28.
"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 fourfooted 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 for ever. 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: 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. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient".
There is nothing "gay," happy or blessed about any of the behavior described here. Verse 22 gives the sad truth that mankind became a race of fools and began changing things to its own liking. What is the origin of these sins in the following verses? Verse 24 says, "uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts." There’s nothing genetic or predetermined there. Instead, choices were being made by those who were turning away from God. It goes on to say what their heart desired, to "dishonor their own bodies between themselves." So far, in verse 24 alone, we have "uncleanness," "lusts," and "dishonor," and there’s nothing happy about about any of that.
Moving down to verse 26 we read, "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." "God gave them up," a phrase repeated in Romans 1, means simply that God let them do what they wanted, He let go of the reins, and what was the result? Happiness and blessing? Far from it! "Vile affections" is how God describes the behavior of lesbians, that is, "women did change the natural use into that which is against nature." Their behavior was simply a wrong choice. Nature didn't change them, they changed themselves. And what they did was "against nature," or unnatural. Scripture is divinely inspired, so the choice of words is God's.
Then verse 27 describes how men began to practice homosexual behavior. "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." This is the language that God uses to describe and teach us how to evaluate homosexual behavior. Such men left "the natural use of the woman," so they also, like lesbians, have gone against not only God but also nature itself. How long would the human race survive if homosexuality were practiced everywhere? One generation! Next God says that these men "burned in their lust toward one another." Their desires are described as "lust" and burning, meaning passionate, strong desire, but not "blessed." A. T. Robertson, Greek scholar, points out that the word "burned" is the old verb ekkiao, meaning to burn out, set on fire, to inflame with anger or lust. The fact that someone has strong desires does not mean he is right. God is describing sin in this passage, and sin comes from strong desire in the fallen, sinful nature of men and women. James 1:14 says "every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed," and the next verse says the end of that process is sin and death. There is nothing "gay" or "happy" about that.
But we are not done with Romans 1:27 yet. It goes on to say, "men with men working that which is unseemly," applying the word "unseemly" to their behavior. Robertson comments that this word is from the Greek word aschemon which means "deformed." Verse 27 ends by saying that such men will receive in their bodies the "recompense" (payment) of their "error." Homosexual behavior is an error, it is against nature, it is deformed, and harms those who practice it both physically and emotionally. They punish their bodies with their error and will suffer the consequences, but the gravest consequences are described later in the chapter and at the beginning of chapter 2. This is not happy news for homosexuals, but it is the truth, and the first step toward help and recovery is to accept God's diagnosis of the problem. Denial will only aggravate the problem.
Finally, verse 28 says, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." Those who practice homosexual behavior have an attitude problem, they do not like "to retain God in their knowledge." Meaning, of course, the God of the Bible, the God who speaks in Romans 1 so clearly against their sin and warns them of the temporal and eternal consequences. Some become open God-haters and anti-Christian. These are sins or crimes of hate; hating those who tell them the truth. Others invent themselves another version of "god," fashioned by them to be "accepting" of their sinful, erroneous, unnatural behavior. But even these are guilty of not liking to retain God in their knowledge.
So God "gave them over," that is, He let go of the reins and let them think whatever they want, and their minds are reprobate, which means "tested and rejected." Homosexual behavior is "not convenient" according to this verse. A. T. Robertson comments on this verse:
"They rejected God and God rejected their mental attitude and gave them over (verses 24,26,28). See this adjective already in 1 Co 9:27; 2 Co 13:5-7. Like an old abandoned building, the home of bats and snakes, left "to do those things which are not fitting" (poiein ta mê kathêkonta), like the night clubs of modern cities, the dives and dens of the underworld, without God and in the darkness of unrestrained animal impulses."
Make no mistake about it. The life of sinners is not "gay," "happy" or "blessed." And the list of sins goes way beyond homosexuality. In verses 29-32 we are given a catalog of all kinds of sins of thought, word and deed that are equally detestable to God and will certainly be judged by Him. Verse 32 announces the coming judgment of God, and Chapter 2 continues to develop this thought. There is no happy ending for sinners of any kind, unless they repent (turn) and obey the Gospel, trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive and cleanse them. The good news of the Gospel is for those who repent and trust the Lord. The bad (unhappy) news is for those who deny their sin and continue in it. Scripture treats homosexuality the same as every other item in that catalog in Romans 1. They are all sins, and sin can be repented of and forgiven. God hates all sin, but offers forgiveness and cleansing to those who turn from it and trust Him. There is deliverance in the Lord Jesus Christ, but there is none outside of Him. It is a choice to be made, with consequences. Just as sinning is a choice, and the consequence is judgment and perdition, repenting and trusting Christ is a choice, and the consequence is forgiveness, cleansing, a new life and happy fellowship with God. To repent and believe the Gospel is the only choice with a happy ending.
Carl Knott
God's Word exhorts Christians thus: "Hold fast the form of sound words..." (2 Timothy 1:13). The unsaved talk however they want, but true Christians should allow God to govern their speech, yes, even their vocabulary. In the Old Testament we read the word “sodomites” (1 Ki. 14:24; 15:12; 22:46; 2 Ki. 23:7), being derived from the sinful homosexual behavior of Sodom. 2 Peter 2:6 describes the divine judgment of Sodom and Gomorrha. “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample [example] unto those that after should live ungodly.” Their behavior was "condemned" and their cities were "overthrown." Theirs was an unhappy ending, and God meant their punishment to be an example, a warning to all who would practice that or any other “ungodly” behavior. In Romans 1:22-28 we learn how He describes homosexual behavior, along with other sins. These verses come in the middle of chapter 1 where the history of the descent of the human race into sin, foolishness and condemnation is described. Read the whole chapter for a more complete understanding. But for the moment, consider verses 22-28.
"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 fourfooted 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 for ever. 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: 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. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient".
There is nothing "gay," happy or blessed about any of the behavior described here. Verse 22 gives the sad truth that mankind became a race of fools and began changing things to its own liking. What is the origin of these sins in the following verses? Verse 24 says, "uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts." There’s nothing genetic or predetermined there. Instead, choices were being made by those who were turning away from God. It goes on to say what their heart desired, to "dishonor their own bodies between themselves." So far, in verse 24 alone, we have "uncleanness," "lusts," and "dishonor," and there’s nothing happy about about any of that.
Moving down to verse 26 we read, "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." "God gave them up," a phrase repeated in Romans 1, means simply that God let them do what they wanted, He let go of the reins, and what was the result? Happiness and blessing? Far from it! "Vile affections" is how God describes the behavior of lesbians, that is, "women did change the natural use into that which is against nature." Their behavior was simply a wrong choice. Nature didn't change them, they changed themselves. And what they did was "against nature," or unnatural. Scripture is divinely inspired, so the choice of words is God's.
Then verse 27 describes how men began to practice homosexual behavior. "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." This is the language that God uses to describe and teach us how to evaluate homosexual behavior. Such men left "the natural use of the woman," so they also, like lesbians, have gone against not only God but also nature itself. How long would the human race survive if homosexuality were practiced everywhere? One generation! Next God says that these men "burned in their lust toward one another." Their desires are described as "lust" and burning, meaning passionate, strong desire, but not "blessed." A. T. Robertson, Greek scholar, points out that the word "burned" is the old verb ekkiao, meaning to burn out, set on fire, to inflame with anger or lust. The fact that someone has strong desires does not mean he is right. God is describing sin in this passage, and sin comes from strong desire in the fallen, sinful nature of men and women. James 1:14 says "every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed," and the next verse says the end of that process is sin and death. There is nothing "gay" or "happy" about that.
But we are not done with Romans 1:27 yet. It goes on to say, "men with men working that which is unseemly," applying the word "unseemly" to their behavior. Robertson comments that this word is from the Greek word aschemon which means "deformed." Verse 27 ends by saying that such men will receive in their bodies the "recompense" (payment) of their "error." Homosexual behavior is an error, it is against nature, it is deformed, and harms those who practice it both physically and emotionally. They punish their bodies with their error and will suffer the consequences, but the gravest consequences are described later in the chapter and at the beginning of chapter 2. This is not happy news for homosexuals, but it is the truth, and the first step toward help and recovery is to accept God's diagnosis of the problem. Denial will only aggravate the problem.
Finally, verse 28 says, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." Those who practice homosexual behavior have an attitude problem, they do not like "to retain God in their knowledge." Meaning, of course, the God of the Bible, the God who speaks in Romans 1 so clearly against their sin and warns them of the temporal and eternal consequences. Some become open God-haters and anti-Christian. These are sins or crimes of hate; hating those who tell them the truth. Others invent themselves another version of "god," fashioned by them to be "accepting" of their sinful, erroneous, unnatural behavior. But even these are guilty of not liking to retain God in their knowledge.
So God "gave them over," that is, He let go of the reins and let them think whatever they want, and their minds are reprobate, which means "tested and rejected." Homosexual behavior is "not convenient" according to this verse. A. T. Robertson comments on this verse:
"They rejected God and God rejected their mental attitude and gave them over (verses 24,26,28). See this adjective already in 1 Co 9:27; 2 Co 13:5-7. Like an old abandoned building, the home of bats and snakes, left "to do those things which are not fitting" (poiein ta mê kathêkonta), like the night clubs of modern cities, the dives and dens of the underworld, without God and in the darkness of unrestrained animal impulses."
Make no mistake about it. The life of sinners is not "gay," "happy" or "blessed." And the list of sins goes way beyond homosexuality. In verses 29-32 we are given a catalog of all kinds of sins of thought, word and deed that are equally detestable to God and will certainly be judged by Him. Verse 32 announces the coming judgment of God, and Chapter 2 continues to develop this thought. There is no happy ending for sinners of any kind, unless they repent (turn) and obey the Gospel, trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive and cleanse them. The good news of the Gospel is for those who repent and trust the Lord. The bad (unhappy) news is for those who deny their sin and continue in it. Scripture treats homosexuality the same as every other item in that catalog in Romans 1. They are all sins, and sin can be repented of and forgiven. God hates all sin, but offers forgiveness and cleansing to those who turn from it and trust Him. There is deliverance in the Lord Jesus Christ, but there is none outside of Him. It is a choice to be made, with consequences. Just as sinning is a choice, and the consequence is judgment and perdition, repenting and trusting Christ is a choice, and the consequence is forgiveness, cleansing, a new life and happy fellowship with God. To repent and believe the Gospel is the only choice with a happy ending.
Carl Knott
