In Romans 1 Paul is addressing the Roman Church and he is clearly speaking to them about idolatry (you know IDOLATRY mentioned about 4 times in the list of Sodom's sins) [Part 2 of this series]
Here Paul is speaking of the people who "knew" God and had turned away from Him to glorify idols. (v.21-23)
He then goes on to say that due to this wickedness, the idolatrous worship of these other gods, they were given over (without conviction) to worship them. These "vile affections" were, of course, the feelings and actions of the one's worshipping these gods and goddesses. Of course it was "vile" it was as if Christ's people were having an affair; they were giving themselves completely to a false god.
These verses are not condemning homosexuality, they are condemning idolatry (the REAL sin of Sodom).
Paul doesn't stop there, he goes on to make a complete list of the sins that resulted from their idolatry.
*(Strong's definition)
- Filled with unrighteousness (injustice)
- Fornication (illicit sexual intercourse, worship of idols)
- wickedness (depravity, evil desires and purposes)
- covetousness (greedy desire to have more)
- maliciousness (desire to injure)
- envy
- murder
- debate (strife)
- deceit (craft, guile)
- malignity (bad character, depravity of heart and life,malicious craftiness)
- whisperers (secret slanderer, detractor)
- backbiters (defamer, evil speaker, [gossip-added by me])
- haters of God (hateful to God, exceptionally impious and wicked)
- despiteful (one who, uplifted with pride, either heaps insulting language upon others or does them some shameful act of wrong)
- proud (showing one's self above others, overtopping, conspicuous above others, pre-eminent
with an overweening estimate of one's means or merits, despising others or even treating them with contempt, haughty) - boasters (an empty pretender)
- inventors of evil things (a mode of thinking, wicked, troublesome)
- disobedient to parents
- without understanding (unintelligent, stupid)
- covenant breakers (faithless)
- without natural affection (unloving)
- implacable (non-committal)
- unmerciful
Now, here in lies the problem--Because you have wrongly been taught that this chapter is about homosexuality you attach ALL 23 sins to ALL gay people. The truth of the matter is, most of the gay people I know are the most loving, loyal, committed, intelligent, merciful, satisfied with their lives, honest people I know... Oh and they haven't killed anyone....So let's see...that eliminates sin # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12....YEAH most of them.
I believe that these verses are the source of homophobic Christians, the stigma that is attached to homosexuality, and the misconceptions of the gay community. It's amazing to me how Christians immediately shout ROMANS ONE! and they stop there....
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Romans 2:1-3
To be honest we have ALL been guilty of one or two or seven of the sins mentioned in Romans 1....
So the message in Romans 1 is about Idolatry and it's consequences, and Romans 2 is about you being guilty of the things in Romans 1.... so DO NOT JUDGE, the previous chapter is really about you and me anyway. GRACE--MERCY--LOVE--FORGIVENESS is the big picture of Romans 1 and 2...NOT homosexuality
Just Bb
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