4. HOLY INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE UNDER ATTACK

The Christian church should not tolerate the sin of homosexuality! Whatever is an abomination to God should be an abomination to the body of Christ (Leviticus 18:22).

When the two angels came from God to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, they exhorted Lot to grab his whole family and quickly get out of the city (Genesis 19:12-17). Even though the angels urgently warned Lord, he continued to procrastinate. Verse 16 says: "And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city."

The question we have to ask ourselves is this: was Lot tolerating homosexuality? The only logical answer is yes. Although he did not accept this lifestyle himself, he tolerated it. After Lot separated himself from his uncle Abraham, he "pitched his tent toward Sodom." He actually faced his tent toward Sodom even though "the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly " (Genesis 13:12, 13). If Lot was standing against homosexuality, he would have stayed away from Sodom.

If you don't take a stand against something, you eventually get sucked into it. We read in the next chapter that Lot eventually moved into the city itself. Genesis 14:12 tells us about Lot "who dwelt in Sodom."

Sadly, Lot becomes more and more entrenched. Where was Lot when the two angels came to rescue him from the city? He now sat in the gate of Sodom (Genesis 19:1). In ancient times the gate was the place of government and eldership. Although not involved in the sin itself, Lot was now more tolerant and accepting than when he pitched his tent toward Sodom. If you don't turn away, but put your face toward Sodom, it reveals you are attracted to it.

2 Peter 2:6-9 (ESV) tells us that the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah was an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly: "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world . . . if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard . . . "

Even though our laws, both federal and now in 36 states of our union make this sin lawful, God says that it is unlawful. What God says is unlawful is indeed unlawful.

When the angels helped Lot and his family (not all wanted to escape judgment), they said, "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed" (Genesis 19:17). But Lot's wife looked back from behind Lot and she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).

Lot's wife revealed her tolerating lifestyle, but God showed throughout all history and to us today that He does not respect tolerance of sin.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell