For us, a public discussion of the sin of Sodom is a delicate matter. However, it is a subject that is paraded openly before our families in schools, on television, by famous people, in politics, by religious leaders and even in children's books. Therefore, the sin of Sodom (homosexuality) must be addressed both in the pulpit and in the classroom.

Homosexuality is something about which God speaks in the Bible—in both testaments. God considers this conduct not only sinful, but further belonging to a sub-category of sin called "an abomination." Therefore, it is important for us to examine what God says about this topic. Homosexuality cannot be ignored! It adversely affects our nation and often results in death. It also leads to spiritual death for impenitent souls. Homosexuality affects men, women and children. Sometimes, even Christians are involved in the sin of Sodom.

Genesis 19:1-29 introduces the sin of Sodom and the subsequent destruction of this and surrounding cities by God. Genesis 13:13 identifies the men of Sodom as exceedingly wicked sinners. Genesis 18:20 says that the sin of Sodom is "very grievous." Genesis 18:23 adds emphasis to the portrayal of the inhabitants of Sodom as "wicked." Genesis 18:24-33 shows that God could not find even 10 righteous souls in Sodom.

Genesis 19:5 (especially in the NKJV) identifies the specific sin by which the city of Sodom defiled itself. This sin is commonly known to us as homosexuality or sodomy. So, under Patriarchy, God's first system of religion given to man, God condemned homosexuality.

Next, under Judaism, God also condemned homosexuality. Leviticus 18:22 reads, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." The seriousness of this sin to God is apparent from 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."

God mandated capital punishment under Patriarchy and Judaism for homosexuality. Though God especially warned men and women in Israel against this sin (Deuteronomy 23:17), the sin of Sodom is one of the sins that Israel learned from the nations around them (1 Kings 14:24; 15:12; 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7).

The New Testament likewise condemns homosexuality. Three passages refer to the biblical record of the sin of Sodom found in Genesis 19. "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly" (2 Peter 2:6). Jude adds that the sin of Sodom also results in the punishment of "eternal fire." "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." See also Luke 17:29.

Additionally, homosexuality is elsewhere condemned in the New Testament. Romans 1:26-32 addresses this sin. "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" (Romans 1:26-27).

Also, two lists of sins further warn against the sin of homosexuality. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NKJV) the words "homosexuals" and "sodomites" appear among other sins cited. The apostle Paul by inspiration named "sodomites" again as sinners, among others, in 1 Timothy 1:9-11 (NKJV).

The sins of homosexuality and adultery are forms of "fornication." Several passages condemn "fornication" irrespective of the form in which it appears (Jude 7; Matthew 5:32; 19:9; 1 Corinthians 5:9; Galatians 5:19-21).

The world says that genetics may be responsible for "sexual orientation." We are told that God made homosexuals. Many religious people therefore claim to practice homosexuality with God's approval. These people are unaware of or ignore the preceding Old and New Testament passages that clearly condemn homosexuality.

According to God, sins in general, including "fornication," are only acted out after they are conceived in the heart or mind (Matthew 15:19). One's uncontrolled "lust" leads to sin and spiritual death (James 1:14-15). Though certainly outside influences may contribute to temptation, sin can be resisted (James 4:7). Further, God will not allow anyone to be tempted beyond his ability to resist (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Happily, even homosexuals can repent or change. The apostle Paul acknowledged that some of the Corinthians were formerly homosexuals (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). God will forgive any sin for which a sinner will repent (1 John 1:5-10). God also forgets the sins that he forgives (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17).

Though it is distasteful to the child of God, Christians must learn what God says about homosexuality and sodomy. Godly parents must guide their children in God's Word in this matter as well as others. Every citizen must give special attention to politics, school boards, libraries and television programming since each of these is a vehicle through which the homosexual message is promoted. Christians ought to voice their objections to the homosexual movement. Some ways this may be done are through votes, phone calls and letters. Our families and our nation are at risk!

Contrary to popular assertions, the Bible amply condemns homosexuality (Genesis 19:1-29; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Deuteronomy 23:17; 1 Kings 14:24; 15:12; 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7; Luke 17:29; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7; Romans 1:26-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, NKJV; 1 Timothy 1:9-11, NKJV). About half the states also have laws against both homosexual and heterosexual sodomy. However, an aggressive and militant homosexual movement has come out of its proverbial closet with disdain for the laws of God and man. Homosexuals and their supporters are trying to force people with moral values into the "closet."

Homosexuals and some unscientific surveys have for years claimed that 10% of Americans are homosexual. Concerned about such a large, single-issue voting block, politicians have catered to the homosexual movement. A 1994 University of Chicago poll, though, using modern, random polling methods, discovered that less than 3% of Americans are homosexual. Therefore, political concessions to homosexuals are unnecessary. Besides that, God still condemns homosexuality irrespective of the number of homosexuals or a plank in a political platform.

Nevertheless, homosexuals adamantly intend to convert American into a homosexual nation. Anyone who imagines that homosexuality is a passive activity that does not affect non-homosexuals is seriously mistaken. The following quotation of Michael Swift from the Gay Community News, February 1987 will dispel that notion.

"We shall sodomize your sons, emblems of your feeble masculinity, of your shallow dreams and vulgar lies. We shall seduce them in your schools, in your dormitories, in your gymnasiums, in your locker rooms, in your sports arenas, in your seminaries, in your youth groups, in your movie theater bathrooms, in your army bunkhouses, in your truck stops, in your all-male clubs, in your houses of Congress, wherever men are with men together. Your sons shall become our minions and do our bidding. They will be recast in our image. They will come to crave and adore us. . . . All churches who condemn us will be closed. Our only gods are handsome young men. . . . The exquisite society to emerge will be governed by an elite comprised of gay poets. One of the major requirements for a position of power in the new society of homoeroticism will be indulgence in the Greek passion. Any man contaminated with heterosexual lust will be automatically barred from a position of influence. All males who insist on remaining stupidly heterosexual will be tried in homosexual courts of justice and will become invisible men. . . . We shall be victorious because we are fueled with the ferocious bitterness of the oppressed who have been forced to play seemingly bit parts in your dumb, heterosexual shows throughout the ages. We too are capable of firing guns and manning the barricades of the ultimate revolution."

Additionally, homosexuals are a major force behind the attempt to place compulsory sex education in every school in America. Proposals include teaching the acceptability of homosexuality and numerous other perversions to children as young as five. Even words like "abstinence" have been re-defined to give parents a false sense of security while still promoting other forms of fornication.

Further, proposed or newly enacted laws and judicial decisions favorably affect homosexual demands for child custody rights, marital status (sometimes called "domestic partnership"), adoption rights, tax exemption for homosexual rights groups, foster care providers, etc. The FCC already forbids programming which speaks against homosexuality and requires that any group doing so pay for air time for homosexuals to present their message. Another danger is that efforts to revise the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include homosexuals will someday succeed. If this were to occur, homosexuals would be legally protected from discrimination in every facet of American life (i.e., housing, employment, etc.).

The homosexual agenda has succeeded frequently so far in having an impact on our society. Mayors of major U.S. cities have declared "gay pride" weeks and homosexuals and lesbians march in "gay pride" parades. The American family is bombarded regularly with the homosexual message through popular television programs (e.g., Quantum Leap, Coach, Sisters, LA Law, etc.), advice columnists ("Abby" and "Ann") and "gay" children's books in libraries. Even companies are publicly declaring themselves friends (e.g., Disney) or opponents (e.g., Cracker Barrel) of homosexuality. There are over 300 homosexual religious congregations in 47 states besides homosexual membership in traditional churches.

Numerous additional incidents of homosexual encroachments throughout American could be listed. These cited, though, are sufficient to underscore the grave threat to our families and the nation. Presently, God can still find "ten righteous souls" (Genesis 18:24-33). However, unless we address this great evil from the pulpit, in the classroom, in our journals, in our homes and before our countrymen, our families and the nation will defile themselves with the sin of Sodom.