An Unnatural Lifestyle

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural.
—Romans 1:26

There’s a significant explosion that has weakened the infrastructure of our nation, making our collapse inevitable. It’s the 2003 Supreme Court decision “Lawrence v. the State of Texas.”

You may not be familiar with this case, but its consequences are just as far-reaching as “Roe v. Wade” or “Engel v. Vitale.” In Houston, two men were arrested inside a private residence when they were caught having homosexual relations, in violation of the Texas anti-sodomy law. In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court declared the Texas anti-sodomy law was unconstitutional. Justice Anthony Kennedy said, “The two men’s right to liberty under the due process clause gives them the full right to engage in their conduct without any intervention of the government.”

Even a lot of conservatives have a hard time getting worked up about this. After all, do we really want the government barging into our bedrooms regulating our private sex lives? Justice Clarence Thomas said, “Texas has the right to have those laws, but they are silly laws.” However, what we call silly, God calls serious. For example, consider what the Bible says about homosexual activity. God says, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22). Or, “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” (Leviticus 20:13).

Some people say, “That’s the Old Testament. It doesn’t apply today.” But the New Testament also speaks out against homosexuality. In Romans 1:26-27, Paul writes, “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.”

Now, there are a number of reasons that God has included “silly laws” in His word. One stated rationale for prohibiting homosexuality is that it is “unnatural” (Romans 1:26). Do you know what the word “unnatural” means? It means to go against nature. Homosexuality goes against nature. It would stand to reason if it is against nature, then there ought to be some serious physical ramifications from misusing your sexual organs. And in fact there are. The link between homosexual activity and sexually transmitted diseases as well as other physical maladies is well documented. There are natural physical consequences to homosexual behavior. And that’s why God says don’t engage in it. You are going to harm your bodies in doing so.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “When a Nation Implodes” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2011.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.