View: Reinterpreting Article 377? God loves sinners but hates sin

Media excitement saw no bounds as the High Court judgment decriminalizes consensual homosexual relationships. Homosexuality is the manifestation of sexual desire toward a member of one's own sex or the erotic activity with a member of the same sex. (The Greek word homos means the same). A lesbian is a female homosexual. More recently the term "gay" has come into popular use to refer to both sexes who are homosexuals. The word 'gay' that had good meaning has become corrupted with this application. With the Delhi High Court judgment; Two consenting adults of same sex, from now on, can have private sex without any fear of legal harassment. Many so called celebrities said that this was overdue and right step in the direction of progress (!).

Biblical perspective

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was because of the sins of these cities. One of the prominent sins was homosexuality. Lot was willing to give away even his daughters for 'gang rape' rather than allow his guests to be homosexually raped by hooligans. (Genesis 19)

The Mosaic Law forbids this very clearly: 'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable. (Leviticus 18:22) 'If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:13)

Paul also writes very clearly: Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (Romans 1:24) Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. (Romans 1:26-27)

Homosexual marriage?

To call a union of two person of the same sex a 'marriage' is a misnomer. The Bible is clear that marriage is a sacred institution, designed to form a permanent 'one body' union between one man and one woman for one purpose (there are other purposes also) of procreating the human race. This is God's order and law. (Genesis 1:27, 28; 2:24; Matthew 19:5) When there is no possibility to fulfill the primary purpose of marriage, i.e. To procreate, it is a futile exercise.

Moral law Vs. Legal law

The court judgment would give 'freedom' to those who like to continue and celebrate homosexual and lesbian relationships. But, those people would violate the moral law of universe and also God's law.

Call to repent

As John the Baptist called people 'brood of vipers' and called those to repent, the Church today should call the society to repent. Calling people to repent is no intolerance.

Freedom is misinterpreted

The society today reinterprets freedom in a diabolic manner. They forget that freedom has always limitations. For example, a fish is free as long as it is within the water body. The minute it leaves the water, it begins to die. Morality is the freedom area for humanity, when human beings try to defy the boundary; they begin to die morally and spiritually. Then God's wrath and judgment cannot be averted. "So I now proclaim 'freedom' for you, declares the Lord -'freedom' to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth." (Jeremiah 34:17)

God loves sinners but hates sin

The homosexuals also are object of God's love. The death and resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ that provides redemption for humanity includes homosexuals, lesbians and transgender. God disapproves the sinful behavior of homosexuals and demands/expects them to repent and forsake those practices.

Like prostitution that is disapproved by God, so is homosexual practice. Those who indulge in such practices in private cannot be prosecuted. But, bizarre show of their practice in public should attract penal action.

Celebration of Perversion

Unfortunately, there is celebration of perversion. The society that calls itself; 'progressive' and 'modern' or 'civilized' does not know to discern perversion. Instead of condemning perversion, there seems to be celebration.

Church Response

The Church that is bench mark for moral values in society should vociferously state the truth and condemn celebration of this perversion. At the same time, the Church should call the homosexuals to repent. The Church should voice the concerns and oppose any move to legalize homosexual marriage.