Day 2: Does God Hate Homosexuals?

MAIN SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT) 16 There are six things the Lord hates— no, seven things He hates: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, 18 a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, 19 a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.

DEVOTIONAL:

The question of whether God hates homosexuals is one that can cause strong emotions and requires a thoughtful, compassionate, and biblically grounded response. Our scripture today lists seven things the Lord hates: arrogance, lying, killing, plotting evil, a rush to do bad, lying in court, and stirring up trouble. Notice that homosexuality does not make this list. While the Bible declares that God hates all who do evil (Psalm 5:5), the Bible nowhere singles out homosexuals as objects of God’s hatred.

However, this does not mean that the Bible approves of homosexuality. The Bible consistently tells us that homosexuality is a sin. Leviticus 18:22 (NLT) 22 “Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.

Romans 1:26-27 teaches explicitly that homosexuality is a result of a continual rebellion against God. When people continue in disbelief, the Bible tells us that God “gives them over,” allowing them to experience their sinful desires and the resulting consequences. Also, it’s very important to note that in 1 Corinthians 6:9 we read that that those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, will not inherit the kingdom of God.  As we can see the Bible does not describe homosexuality as a greater sin than any other. All sin is offensive to God. Homosexuality like all other sins is immoral and but most importantly unnatural. It is a disruption of the “natural order” and God’s view of sexuality.

Does God approve of homosexuality? The answer is simply no. Can a person truly be a Christian and at the same time a practicing homosexual? According to 1 Corinthians 6:9, the answer is again no, but this also applies to all who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery. God’s forgiveness is available to all sinners, which is all human beings.