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What the Bible Says about Sodomy

Forward by the Webmaster

I removed the article "Doom of the Sodomites" because it was deemed offensive by both gay people and even some Christians. It was a narration, not written by David Berg, but by one of his staff, a person who may not be a member of the Family International any longer.

However, I think it is important to know what the Bible does have to say. Too many people today seem to be willing to accept so called "politically correct" attitudes while willfully ignoring what God's Word has to say about the issue.

What exactly is "sodomy"? According to Webster's dictionary,

Carnal copulation in a manner against nature; buggery. -- Gen. xix. 5. [1913 Webster]

According to this meaning, sodomy can therefore be performed between a man and a woman, anal intercourse, something that David Berg called an unhealthy practice. But he also said we are to love the sinner, just hate the sin. He did not condemn people who have certain weaknesses of the flesh. He encouraged us to love them and pray for them.

What does the Bible say?

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 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." -- Lev.18:22, 20:13.

"There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a Sodomite of the sons of Israel." -- Deut.23:17

"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. 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 (AIDS and a multitude of sexual diseases). 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; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." -- Rom.1:24-32

"Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind ("homosexuals" in other translations of the Bible), for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine." -- 1Tim.1:9-10.

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate ("male prostitutes" in modern versions of the Bible), nor abusers of themselves with mankind ("homosexual offenders"), nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." -- 1Cor.6:9-10.

"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." -- 2Pet.2:6.

"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 forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit." -- Jude 1:7,8,17-19.

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