Week 3 - Saturday

Sin is Degrading

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. (Romans 1:26-27)

Because of man's rejection of God, God gave them over to degrading passions. Degrading is from the Greek word atimia which means disgrace, shame or dishonor. Paul uses homosexuality as a example of how degrading sin can become. It isn't that homosexuality is the worst possible sin, but it may be one of the most degrading ones. When Paul says it is unnatural, he means it is contrary to God's created order for nature. It doesn't occur at all among other species of mammals. One of the reasons why homosexuals might be so active in trying to get society to accept them, is that they are attempting to remove their feelings of guilt. Former homosexuals have described the terrible feelings of guilt and low self-esteem they experienced as homosexuals. Still there are a lot of people who think homosexuality is okay because they don't think it harms anyone else. I have known parents who were heartbroken, when they found out their child had become a homosexual. I have known people who contracted aids and died because of their homosexual activity. Maybe if homosexuality had not been presented to them as just an alternative lifestyle, they would still be alive today. Maybe if more kids were taught that it was wrong, their parents wouldn't have to be heartbroken. But regardless of what any of us thinks, God says it is wrong. The Bible prohibits homosexuality and gives harsh consequences for it. God's disapproval of this sin can also seen in the physical diseases that are transmitted by it. It appears as if the homosexuals of Paul's time may have suffered from diseases that were passed along by their indecent acts, just as homosexuals do today.

Homosexuality is a sin. However all people are sinners. Some of us are tempted by homosexuality and others are tempted by different sins. Because people are different they are tempted by different sins. If you are not a homosexual, you have no reason to think you are better than someone who is. You have your own sins to deal with. Thank God that you don't have to struggle with this one too. If you are a homosexual, you don't have to be. You might think that you can't change, but it's not true. Homosexuals can and do change. Some people say that homosexuals are born that way, that it's genetic. Whether that's true or not doesn't matter. They say there are genetic similarities among alcoholics too. There may also be genetic similarities among child molesters and rapists. It only shows all the more, that different people are tempted by different sins. What you need to do is confess your sin. God loves you and Jesus died for your sins. Come to Jesus now, ask Him to forgive you and to cleanse you. He will change your life for you if you let Him, just as He will do for any sinner.

Readings for today: Lev. 18:22, 20:13; 1 Tim. 1:9-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:17