Introduction:  America has come a long way and has accepted the "most tolerant policy," at least in part. As far back as May 16, 1991, there was a special marriage that was performed on the Phil Donahue television show. There was the couple, the minister, and the usual participants. The couple was joining in what they called "holy matrimony." Following the ceremony, the couple kissed and there was prayer offered. Mr. Donahue and the audience offered their congratulation to the couple. The problem? The couple consisted of two men!

     For years there has been a movement in America to present homosexuality as simply an alternate life style. Americans are inundated with the philosophy that there is no right and wrong and that to attempt to pronounce a matter as wrong is judgmental, uneducated, and un-American.

I. God instituted marriage between a man and a woman

  A. God created man and woman (Gen. 1, 2). After God created Adam he said, "…it is not good that man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him" (Gen. 2: 18). "Help meet" is from a Hebrew word that means a counter-part or compliment. In other words, God intended to provide Adam with a being ideally suited to meet Adam's social, psychological, emotional, and sexual needs. In the following verses of Genesis chapter 2, we read how God made a woman (ishshah, corresponding to man) for Adam. The companion God presented to Adam was "bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh" (Gen. 2: 23). Adam (man) was then commanded to "leave his father and his mother and cleave unto his wife" (vs. 24). "…and they shall be one flesh," we are told (vs. 24).

II. The woman, not man, is ideally suited for man

  A. The apostle Paul also taught regarding man and woman (I Cor. 11). He wrote, "…the woman is the glory of the man" (vs. 7). Moreover, he penned: "Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man" (vs. 9).

  B. As mentioned, the woman is the perfect companion for man, emotionally, socially, and sexually. One purpose of marriage is reproduction (Gen. 1: 28). There is no other relation that can produce children other than the relationship of man and woman.

III. Marriage is to be only between man and woman.

  A. Marriage between man and woman is sanctioned of God (Gen. 1, 2; Heb. 13: 4). Sexual relationships between a man and woman outside of marriage are condemned (Heb. 13: 4).

  B. Conjugal involvement of man with beasts incur the express disapproval of God (Lev. 18: 23). Observe the plainness of this prohibition: "Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith" (Lev. 18: 23). The "neither" is connected to the preceding prohibition, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination" (Lev. 18: 22). To "lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman" under God's theocratic government meant that, "they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them" (Lev. 20: 13).

IV. Rampant homosexuality is an indication of serious degradation in a society

  A. The sin of homosexuality in Sodom and Gomorrah reached the point where God said "their sin is very grievous" and "is waxen great" (Gen. 18: 20, 19: 13). They were so depraved and steeped in homosexuality that any male stranger was in danger (Gen. 19: 5, "may know them" means to know sexually). Jude wrote that "Sodom and Gomorrah…giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 7).

   a. The stench of their wickedness was so great that God destroyed these people with brimstone and fire out of heaven (Gen. 19: 24, notice Jude's statement regarding "eternal fire," Jude 7).

  B. In describing the degenerate state of the Gentile world of Paul's day, he described the sin of homosexuality. "Men with men working that which is unseemly," Paul stated (Rom. 1: 27). "…Even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature," Paul further explained (vs. 26). Paul referred to such homosexual relationships as "vile affections" (vs. 26).

V. Practicing homosexuals will not go to heaven

  A. I listened in amazement a while back as a panel of ministers from several different denominations were questioned regarding homosexuality. Every preacher on the television panel said homosexuality is not even mentioned in the Bible. When pressed, they replied "Jesus did not mention homosexuality" (see I Cor. 14: 37, arraying Jesus against Leviticus 18: 22, etc., is the height of blasphemy). "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God," Paul wrote, "do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals…shall inherit the kingdom of God" (I Cor. 6: 9, 10, NASV).