If a bunch of men showed up at your door demanding that you turn over your male guests for sex...?

Question

Would you call the police because a mob was threatening rape?

Or, would you call the police because a mob was threatening homosexuality?

This basically is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. The story also includes Lott’s willingness to offer his two virgin daughters to appease the mob. (I’ll refrain from comment on that.) I really don’t see anything in this story that’s taking issue with two same sex people in a committed relationship.

And for those who will refer to Romans… pretty clearly seems to be talking about rampant promiscuity and prostitution which includes homosexual acts. Again, this scripture isn’t talking about two loving same sex people in a committed relationship. How do Christians get to homosexuality as abomination based on these scriptures???

If you disagree, please provide a Bible reference that specifically calls two homosexuals in a committed relationship the sin.

(FYI, I did post this early today but am interested in evening crowd responses, too.)

David S - Yes, I am a good person.

papeche - you most definitely are reaching to justify what you know in your heart is just plain wrong. No decent father would offer his virgin daughters to save anyone.

Answer 1

"Classical Jewish texts do not specifically indicate that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because the inhabitants were homosexual. Rather, they were destroyed because the inhabitants were generally depraved and uncompromisingly greedy. Rabbinic writings affirm that the primary crimes of the Sodomites were terrible and repeated economic crimes, both against each other and outsiders.

A rabbinic tradition, described in the Mishnah, postulates that the sin of Sodom was related to property: Sodomites believed that "what is mine is mine, and what is yours is yours" (Abot), which is interpreted as a lack of compassion. Another rabbinic tradition is that these two wealthy cities treated visitors in a sadistic fashion. One example is the story of the "bed" that guests to Sodom were forced to sleep in: if they were too short they were stretched to fit it, and if they were too tall, they were cut up.(compare Procrustes)

The Talmud also recounts the incident of a young girl (some sources say it was a daughter of Lot) who gave some bread to a poor man who had entered the city. When the townspeople discovered her act of kindness, they smeared her body with honey and hung her from the city wall until she was stung to death by bees. (Sanhedrin 109a) It is this gruesome event (and her scream, in particular), the Talmud concludes, that are alluded to in the verse that heralds the city’s destruction: "So Hashem said, ‘Because the outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah has become great, and because their sin has been very grave, I will descend and see…" (Genesis 18:20-21)"

Answer 2

Ummm, no, Romans very clearly talks specifically about homosexuality being an abomination that is the result of our sinful nature. In Matthew, "a man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh." Not joined to his husband, joined to his wife. Marriage was created by God as a symbol of Jesus's relationship with the church, and is specifically meant to be between a man and a woman-- just read Ephesians 5. You don't have to believe the Bible's truths, but don't try to pretend that it isn't clear about homosexuality and marriage.

EDIT: Yes, and search4truth has two great references where the Bible specifically speaks against homosexuality.

Answer 3

The ancient world was quite a bit different from the world of today. Calling the police would depend on the amount of help I could rely upon from them, wouldn't it? Of course I would want to protect my family from mobs, homosexual or otherwise. Keep in mind, too, that Lot recognized the importance of his angelic guests, and was willing to give up his daughters as an act of faith.

Don't try to wrap your head around something like that. Those men's relationship with God was something very very real to them, and very different from what you or I would understand today.

Here's your bible references:
Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9, Romans 1:26-27

As the Old Testament was a history of the Jewish peoples, and the Law as handed down to them by God, we get the idea from Genesis and Leviticus that homosexuality is something abhorrent to God. The stoning law was to eliminate the practice from the nation of Israel.

The New Testament authors, although no longer under the law of Moses (thanks to Jesus, who ended the Law) reiterated that the practice was an abomination in the eyes of God. Did God expressly forbid it as He did in the Old Testament? No. However, we can read that it remains forbidden to Christians as it is unnatural and an obscene twisting of God's creation. It is an unnatural relationship.

As to your Romans reference: That entire passage refers to people who give themselves up to "vile affections", "men with men working that which is unseemly", "women who change the use of....that which is against nature", "men....leaving the natural use of the woman...burned in their lust toward one another..." It seems pretty clear to me that "free love" and "do it if it feels good" isnt' a Godly way of life. It ALSO indicates that same sex sexuality is NOT GOD'S WAY.

Look, I don't want to beat you over the head with the Bible, you seem like a smart individual who did us the courtesy of asking a direct and intelligent question. It may refresh you to know that homosexuality is not a "black mark" on your soul. It's an indication of an UNGODLY way of life, one that will end in death, and God's judgement.

I highly suggest you reexamine the scriptures in the context they were intended. Find some Christian friends who will help you study and understand. We're not all Bible-Nazis.

'Trying to be constructive. Good luck.

Answer 4

The 2 "men" that were in Lots house were angels of God.
He was willing to give up his daughters so as not to defile the purity of the angels.
The Angels ended up smiting the assailants with blindness.
Not only Christians believe homosexuality is wrong...many other religions and atheists also believe it's morally wrong.
I don't understand why people specifically target Christians as being homophobes.
I personally don't care what a persons sexual preference is...but what I don't agree with is the flaunting of it.do I need to know your gay when introduced to you..no i don't,..it's your business....let's sit down and have a beer or two...there are a million other things we can talk about besides what we do behind closed doors.
as for your Q....
it would be because of rape...
I don't fear homosexuals...
I may not agree with them but that doesn't mean I can't get along with them
as long as their not making sexual advances towards me I'm fine.
I don't need to put up with it just as a woman doesn't need to put up with sexual harassment.

Answer 5

I find it absolutely astonishing that anyone can seriously fool themselves into thinking that Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed, by fire and brimstone...for any reason other than sexual perversion, including homosexuality, which is again denounced in Romans 1. It is a testament to the times we are in, and the prophecy come true, that people not only are calling evil good, but are encouraging others to condone it as well.

Answer 6

What an outpouring. And virtually all of the answerers want to help you resolve your dilemma. You should feel encouraged to post another question.
On the other hand, all of the biblical references speak of male homosexuality being an abomination subject to death and damnation. There do not seem to be any express references to female homosexuality.

Answer 7

I would call the police about a mob threatening rape.

Plus back in the day, it was not uncommon for large groups of guys busting down doors of brothels as well as other homes and gang-raping the people that were there......and getting away with it.

Answer 8

Stacia, you are missing the point. Those men were angel, and Lot wanted to protect them, even if he had to offer his daughters for their protection. Sacrifice is mentioned in the Bible and the Quran as a major deed to show how much a person would do in the serves of their God. There were no police to call. It was Lot family, the Men/the angels, and the people outside of his home, demanding to get the men to know them.

Ibrahim was just about to cut his sons throat because he thought that was what God wanted him to do, until he was stopped! How would that story translate to you, in your views. would you consider him as an abuser father, a faithful father, a fool, or a man who would do anything to please his God!

Sacrfice that is both for are they!

"It is a wonder how each person's eyes that see the same view, will see it differently according to the glasses they wear!"
think about it.

Answer 9

the visitors were angels for a start and the sin of sodomy is in the new testament and the old, in the old the person would be stoned to death for their sin if they were an Israelite.
God made Adam and took of his rib and made a women just right for him. This is God's plan and design, to go outside that is the opposite of what God intended and is fatal. Homosexuals have a far shorter life span than heterosexuals
you have the scriptures already you said you read them, the act of sodomy is sin but the person is precious to God and He loves all the same. As a Christian i want to do what God says is right for me because if i do i will have an abundant life.

Answer 10

Homosexuality is wrong, but rape is much worse. I see your point about the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, and how it basically implied that raping a woman isn't so bad. To me, the Bible needs to be read in the right way. It contains a lot of moral lessons and parables that are useful in life, but some it doesn't apply at all. For example, it obviously isn't a good idea to stone someone to death for eating shellfish.