Several months ago mega-church minister of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia Bishop Eddie Long was accused of coercing four male congregation members in sexual acts while they were teenagers. Sources said that Bishop Long used lavish trips, automobiles, and jewelry in exchange for sexual relations from the four teenagers. Since these allegations surfaced all parties have reached a settlement out of court. But while reflecting on this situation, I asked the question: Should homosexuals be allowed in church?
Especially since one of its biggest critics have now been exposed, so the question still remains. The Bible touches on homosexuality in several places, but it is more noticeable in Leviticus, First Corinthians, and Romans.
Leviticus 18:22 says, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”
It continues in chapter 20 verse 13, “If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltness is upon them.”
First Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Romans chapter 1 verses 26 through 28 says, “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.
“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.”
Evidently homosexuality is a sin and damning just as fornication before marriage and the indulgence of alcohol is.
Surprisingly enough you can find all three on college campuses. Is one sin greater than the other? Should homosexuals not be allowed in church because of their sexual orientation?
Is homosexuality a greater taboo or sin because in the eyes of many it is “morally” and “ethically” incorrect?
According to the 2009 Census there are more than 150,000 same-sex couples reported to be married. In addition, avert.org reported that as of 2011 there are 595,000 homosexual relationships in America.
In 2008 more than 70 percent of California residents voted “yes” on Proposition 8, which defines marriage in the California constitution to exclude same-sex couples.
Homosexuality is completely up to the individual.
One shall not be condemned, judged, governmentally or religiously mandated who they can and cannot seek relations with.
As human beings we tend to throw the Bible at what we consider to be immoral in our eyes, when in fact some of the things that many students do on the daily basis are immoral in Gods. So who are we to judge?
Justin Madden is a junior mass communication major from Los Angeles.