EarlyChurchHomosexuality

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Did the early church accept homosexuals?

The book of James (Jacob) was written approximately 45 CE, which places it well after Christ’s death and resurrection. This is important because when James spoke about behavior which violates God’s laws and commandments, he knew that Christ’s sacrifice did not do away with either (Jas. 2:10-11).

James stated that if someone breaks one of God’s commandments, he has broken the whole law. Consequently, God puts no difference between one law breaker or another (Jas. 2:9).

The apostle Paul stated that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard (Rom. 3:23). However, it is God’s will that we all become perfect (Eph.4:13). So there is no excuse to accept that we cannot change (Mt.19:26; Mk.10:27).

This means that a homosexual or lesbian is no better or worse than any other sinner, and they can change the way they are living. Otherwise, they are denying the power of God to transform their lives (Rom. 12:2).

God does not accept a person as they are. Instead, everyone is required to repent (Acts 2:38; 17:30; 2Pet. 3:9) of living in sin, which is defined as breaking God’s laws and commandments (1Jn. 3:4). Repentance means changing from being a transgressor to someone who wants to live a new life in harmony with God’s law and will (Rom.6:4; 7:6).

Paul knew that God had not changed his law regarding homosexual or lesbian behavior (Rom. 1:26-28), and his statement was in complete agreement with other scriptures on this subject (Lev. 18:22; 20:13). So it is clear that the Early Church did not accept individuals who persisted in living contrary to God’s laws, which included not only homosexuals and lesbians, but anyone who committed acts of sexual perversion (1Cor. 5:1-5; 9).

The book of Jude, verse 7, shows that sexual immorality, if allowed, will eventually lead to the complete breakdown of a society. In contrast, the marriage between a man and a woman pictures the relationship, and authority, of Christ with his Church (Eph. 5:22-32).

Those who work to alter this God ordained structure, deny God’ authority to determine how society is to function (Ti. 1:16).

God allows mankind the freedom to choose (Deut. 30:1-16) between His way of living and the way the god of this world influences people to live (2Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:1-3). By choosing to live contrary to God’s laws and commandments, mankind is following another god (Deut. 30:17-20), and once this influence is widespread it leads to a complete breakdown of society (Rom. 1:28-32).

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