SOME THOUGHTS ON ROM. 1 V 18-32 AND THEIR RELEVANCE TO HOMOSEXUALITY.

INTRODUCTION.

Two events are the reason behind this paper. First there is the resolution in the Uniting Church to permit (officially now) the ordination of homosexuals. Though there was an endeavour to exclude approval for same-sex marriages, this will undoubtedly come.

The second is the obvious push within member churches of the LWF to approve the ordination of women. As surely as night follows day, the next step will be to push for the ordination of homosexuals. To state otherwise, is to blow into the teeth of a storm.

The intention of this paper is not so much to go into deep studies, even though the Greek has been studied as a basis and foundation. Rather, it is intended to help lay people as well to understand what Paul and ultimately the Holy Spirits is saying, not just on homosexuality, but on a whole range of sins in the world and why those sins are occurring. I am fully convinced that discussion on the Confessional Lutherans forum in recent times, shows the relevance of this study to today’s issues.

THE CONTEXT.

In the two preceding verses, 16 and 17, Paul declares that he is not ashamed of the Gospel in the face of the culture of a godless society. He is not ashamed because the Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. So clearly he proclaims that salvation and faith are factors in the Gospel, and in not being ashamed of it. While it is open to all, clearly also the absence of faith means that there is absence of salvation while unbelief exists. He shows in the verses which follow, just why faith does not exist.

This salvation is in this time frame: Jew first, then Gentile. The same rule applies to both: salvation through faith alone. What happens is that in the Gospel, God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, i.e. through the proclamation of those already saved through faith to those who will come to believe the same righteousness in the Gospel. This is exactly what was said in Hab. 2v4: The righteous will live by faith. He intends to speak more of this righteousness meant and how it is obtained later in the letter to the Romans.

AN OVERVIEW.

Evidently the wrath of God is being revealed. Paul moves through from the Creation, and what it reveals about God. This is something clearly seen, but suppressed. Though this is so, it still leaves those who suppress this truth with no excuse. (v. 18-20).

As a result, though they knew God, through creation, they did not treat Him as such or give Him the glory He is entitled to. This had an immediate effect on their whole lives: their thinking, their claims, and resulted in idolatry. (v.21-23)

At this point, the consequences are evident. Idolatry leads to sexual immorality of all kinds. They had exchanged the truth known about God in creation for a lie, and worshipped everything except God, the Creator to be praised forever. (v.24-25)

Further consequences are now homosexuality. Women first, and then men are mentioned. Their actions lead to the due penalty for their perversion. (v.26-27)

More consequences. Now Paul provides a total list of evils which adequately describe, not just the world where Paul lived, but our world as well. It all stems back to not giving God the glory, so God punishes them by just letting the barriers down to every kind of evil. Not only do they live that way, but they approve others who also do them even though they know the consequences. (v.28-32).

NOW IN SOME DETAIL.

I. Section l. (v.18-20)

1. We live in a world where the catchcry is “love”, without necessarily defining what is meant by that term. It is a term which has found favour also within the theology of churches, where it is unpopular to speak of sin, judgment and anger of God.

2. Paul is specific in speaking of the wrath of God. This is what stands opposed to human disobedience, hardness of sin and this wrath shows itself also in actively punishing this sin.

3. It is being revealed by God as the active agent in such a way that it is clearly obvious to all to see whether, Christian or not. It is being revealed still today from heaven where God is and it comes down upon two things in particular.

4. It is total, in that it includes all, or every kind of godlessness and unrighteousness of human beings.

5. Godlessness is a total lack of reverence towards God, acting as if God either does not exist, or if He does, cannot or is unwilling, to do anything about human action. Can we say: God is simply irrelevant?

6. Unrighteousness is something of the heart and life. It is any deed with violates the law and justice of God, i.e. the righteousness of God.

7. The particular godlessness and unrighteousness is then defined: these human beings are actually restraining, hindering, suppressing the truth by means of their wickedness. Note how Paul twice used this word in this verse.

8. The conclusion we draw then is that something is known about God which is being suppressed because human beings consider God irrelevant and having no business in their lives.

9. This suppression is stated as being obvious. NIV. says: since. We could also say: on this account, because.

10. It means the same thing whether we say: what can be known about God, or the knowledge of God. This is sometimes referred to as “the natural knowledge of God”. We are born with it.

11. This knowledge of God is plain, evident, apparent, to them i.e. those who are wicked and suppress the truth. You cannot suppress what is not known to you. It is known says God.

12. Why is it known? Because God has made it known, has revealed it, made it evident, obvious.

13. Now Paul introduces the creation itself. Again he says: because, for. These things are known and can be seen obviously from the creation of the universe, the cosmos. Always, from the very point of the creation, God had built in the evidence.

14. Where is it located? In the things made, the works of God as Creator. These things can be perceived with the mind, and understood by human beings, the very ones who also suppress this truth with their godlessness, and wickedness. It is so obvious, that only by suppressing the truth, can it be pushed aside. In fact, these things can be clearly seen.

15. Two things can be perceived, which by their very nature cannot be seen. They are His eternal power and on the other hand his divine nature, His divinity.

16. The end result? The consequence: so that they (the same people again) are without defense, or excuse.

17. It is very evident, that we cannot play around with the story of creation in anyway, because if we do, we are at the very least in danger of doing precisely what Paul says here: suppressing the truth. The creation, in six days, is God’s public evidence of His eternal power and divine nature, for all to see. It is godless and wicked to do anything else but accept this.

II. Section II. (v.21-23).

1. Paul uses the same word again that he used in v. 19. On this account, because. He now wants to explain why there can be no excuse.

2. They knew God not just: there is “a” God or god. They have come to know Him from the created world. They have become acquainted with God i.e. as the one true God.

3. But there is a big gap. First of all they did not praise, extol, magnify, give honour to God as the Creator.

4. Add to that also they did not give thanks to Him i.e. as the Creator. These two things are absolutely required due to the knowledge freely and readily available to all human beings.

5. Because they have suppressed this truth, and chosen the path of godlessness and wickedness, two things happened. God made them empty, vain, foolish in the one spot where they should have had recognition of Him: in their thoughts, their inward reasoning where they measured up what they saw.

6. In addition, God also made their foolish hearts to be covered with darkness, darkened. What was darkened was their hearts that were therefore unintelligent, without understanding. This was a consequence of the darkness as well as of not giving honour and praise to God.

7. In fact, it becomes even more ludicrous because while there is only darkness and foolishness in their hearts, they are affirming, alleging, pretending and professing to being skilled, expert, wise, learned. Note for example people like David Attenborough, who while recording on video some magnificent scenery, could still speak of the millions of years required to make it all “evolve”.

8. In fact, once again, this claim is revealed for what it is: God made them foolish.

9. Now Paul says what it is that made them foolish. They exchanged two things, reversing what really cannot be reversed. On the one hand there is the glory, the majesty of God, the immortal God. They did not glorify Him. (v.19). He is the imperishable one, not at all liable to corruption or decay. He created the world, remember. On the other hand are the images, figures, likeness, icons made in the image of human beings. In fact, these human beings, created in the image of God, turn it right round to make God in their own image. That is the ultimate in darkness, foolishness. In fact, these images of human beings are like their makers, mortal, perishable human beings. They see death of human beings everywhere, but don’t understand the nonsense of making a god in their own likeness.

10. Adding birds, animals, and reptiles only adds to the foolishness and the darkness.

11. Obvious conclusions are drawn here again. Any dabbling with creation in favour of the so-called assured results of science, or any form of evolution whether atheistic or theistic is an act of rebellion against the obvious: the glory and majesty of the Creator, and the consequent foolishness, darkness, and idolatry which is inevitable, with the death which will follow.

III. Section III (v. 24-25).

1. Therefore, on which account, as a direct consequence of the above. We are to note the steady downward progression as the wrath of God takes hold.

2. Therefore God handed them over to the power of something else. He simply withdrew any benefits there might have been with Him. It is the same ones who were guilty of suppressing the truth and exchanging immortal for mortal, life for death.

3. The same word for handing over is what Jesus says in Mark 9 v 31 of Himself being handed over to sinners for crucifixion. God now hands people over to the desires, craving, longing, for what is forbidden, lusts. These are in their hearts. Remember, Jesus says: Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts etc.

4. The hearts desires lead to moral uncleanness, to lustful, luxurious, profligate living. The end result is that they dishonour, insult and treat their very bodies with contempt. And they are doing this with one another. Paul reminds us that out of all the commandments, the sixth commandment alone is a sin directly involving our own bodies.

5. In a kind of summary of this section so far, Paul now repeats the reasons for this. They exchanged the truth of God i.e. that which is quite evident in creation, for a lie. Now it is not just suppressing the truth, but also exchanging a lie for the truth. We recall the temptation of the devil: Did God really say etc? The devil is a liar and the father of lies.

6. Also there is the exchange of worship i.e. to honour religiously and to serve, give religious service or homage to the things created instead of the Creator. NIV has: rather than. Paul uses a word which speaks of what can be alongside, beside, beyond the Creator. In other words, people fondly imagine that by worshipping the alternatives, they are in reality still worshipping God, the true God. Only the name might be different, or the way it is done, but it is all the same God. We are all going to heaven even if by a different road.

7. No wonder Paul ends this section with a doxology, which is entirely exclusive, by the way: who is to be praised eternally. Amen. Paul does not use the word: alone, but it is clearly to be understood.

8. We note that even though sexual impurity is mentioned, there still has been no specific mention of homosexuality. It is only at this point that we come to this particular sin, together with a whole range of others.

IV. Section IV. ( v.26-27).

1. The progression goes on, as one consequence of God’s wrath after another is outlined. For this reason, because of this God further gave them over. The same word again as in v. 24.

2. God gave them over to lusts. These are feelings which the mind suffers, emotions, passions, passionate desires. The Greek word is the one from which we get our English word: pathos. Here Paul intends us to understand evil passions. There are good emotions too, but not here. These are shameful, dishonourable, disgraceful, vile passions.

3. NIV: even. The Greek: because. Paul wants it understand why these are shameful and disgraceful.

4. First of all, it is their females. Paul does not used the standard term for woman but the general term: female. He will also do the same thing in a moment with males, not men. Their females have exchanged (same word as before) that which is agreeable to nature. Note well the Creation theme once again. Male and female He created them. They have exchanged the natural use, relations, as females for that which is contrary to the plan of nature i.e. God- given. Again, like trying to make worship of images of equal value with worship of God, to be practised alongside, we have here unnatural practices to be used alongside and equally the God-given use of the female. Clearly this is the lesbian practice.

5. In a kind of way, even a male going to a prostitute is actually doing something which is not contrary to nature. This does not make it right, but at least it is the natural way.

6. Note also the return to the Creation again and the intention of the Creator, not just for human beings but for all created things. To be fruitful and multiply can not happen without male and female.

7. Equally, in the same way also the males. Not men but males. This balances: females. The males have abandoned, departed from the natural use. Same thing as said above about the females. They have abandoned the natural use of the female and now burn with passion, are inflamed with desire, lust, appetite towards one another. Paul is even more specific here by saying that they are performing indecent acts, man with man, in their nakedness and shame sexually.

8. The consequences are plain: they are receiving from one another what is due or promised in this wrong way of acting. There may or may not be a reference here to HIV/AIDS, but it is possible.

9. We need only note the continuous propaganda that seeks to make homosexuality quite normal, and the so-called rights of gays and lesbians, to note that this is nothing new. The fact that same-sex relationships cannot possible produce any children, sees the unnatural and ludicrous endeavours to gain approval for access to IVF and adoption agencies. There is also the stuff being force-fed into schools and on the media that same-sex relationships are normal and acceptable as an alternative, depending upon one’s sexual preferences.

10. We see also some of the reasoning in the resolution of the UCA in which such same-sex relationships are called even a “loving” relationship, thereby attempting to make them acceptable. God calls it a judgment upon their shameful actions. At the same time, Paul makes it plain that one is not born with this but it is in actual fact, a judgment of the wrath of God upon an apostate race. Harsh words, yes, but true.

V Section V (v.28-32)

1. The consequences continue into a still wider catalogue of sins which come as a result of denying the truth: furthermore, since….

2. They did not think it worthwhile. They had examined the evidence, weighed it in the balance, considered its value, and arrived at a conclusion: it is not worth considering. The verb used is the one by which the genuineness of metals is determined.

3. What was thus weighed out was : to retain the knowledge of God. The knowledge is precise and accurate knowledge. This is significant because it is saying the natural knowledge of God is precise and accurate to determine what could be known about God. This is not to be confused with the saving knowledge of God which is possible only by divine revelation. Yet, it leaves people with no excuse for rejecting it as valueless.

4. For the third time, Paul says that God handed them over, these people that Paul is talking about. Actually Paul uses the term: God, twice here for emphasis. He did not just say: He did.

5. The handing over placed them over into a depraved mind, the kind that is entirely what it ought not to be. After all they can see God clearly in His power and might.

6. This leads clearly into actions, deeds which conform to the depravity of their minds. This activity is such which is abominable and detestable i.e. in God’s sight.

7. First came the question of homosexuality and its perversion which leads inevitably into the catalogue of sins outlined.

8. Such people have been filled, because of their perversion with all kinds of wickedness, or unrighteousness. The same word was used twice already in v. 18. We could say every kind of unrighteousness as well as the total: all. There is therefore no form of depravity which is not included.

9. Now comes the detail of what they have been filled with:

a. depravity, vicious disposition, iniquity, evil purposes.

b. Greed, covetousness, desire to have more, in a wrong sense.

c. Evil, which is the active exercise of the depravity mentioned above.

d. They are filled with this, i.e. their minds are filled with nothing else than thoughts, emotions, which are bad.

e. They are also filled with: envy, murder, contention.

f. A further pair are mentioned: craft = deceit = guile and malicious craftiness, the deliberate intention to deceive.

g. Another pair: slanderers in secret i.e. gossips and publicly speaking evil.

h. Now it turns towards those who are God-haters, exceptionally impious and wicked towards God.

i. Three words then follow: insolent, i.e. uplifted in pride, either heaping insulting language upon others or doing some shameful wrong to them. Then arrogant i.e. an overweaning estimate of one’s means or merits, despising others or even treating them with contempt. Then boastful i.e. an empty pretender, like the frog that inflates itself in order to frighten others.

j. Those who are inventors of evil.

k. Disobedient to parents, non-compliant to authority in general also.

l. Finally a couplet of 4 which are absolutely devastating: senseless i.e. unintelligent, without understanding in a moral sense, not a mental sense, so having no mind for the things of salvation. Then: faithless, I,.e. breaking covenant with God. Then heartless i.e. without natural affection. And finally ruthless, merciless.

m. That is truly a devastating commentary of the culture of the time, which so much resembles where we are today. One only has to look for example at the so-called gay and lesbian mardi gras for commentary.

10. Such people (NIV: they) actually know (by conscience and natural knowledge of God from the creation) the righteous decree ( what has been established and ordained by law, by ordinance) of God.

11. What they know also includes that the ones practising (the Greek word is the basis for so-called pragmatism today) the things of this sort (the catalogue of sins and the prior sin of homosexuality) deserve the death penalty. The Greek word for deserve speaks of being weighed on the scales of justice, like Belshassar (you have been weighed in the balance and found wanting).

12. In the face of such knowledge and quite ignoring it, they do two things: not only are the doing them (see 11 above) i.e. actively engaged in doing so deliberately in the face of better knowledge but also approve (are pleased together with) the ones who do so.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS.

1. The final verse comes with devastating force against all claims that homosexuality has come about because a person is born that way. It is actually a judgment of God.

2. It is devastating also against the idea that it is as normal as heterosexuality when God labels it perversion and contrary to nature.

3. It destroys the idea that the culture of Paul’s time condemned homosexuality and therefore it was unacceptable whereas today’s culture says it is okay. It is the same culture.

4. It is blasphemous to suggest that a practising homosexual can still speak of the love of Christ to others in the office of the ministry.

5. It is blasphemous to suggest that a so-called “same sex” relationship being a loving one becomes therefore as acceptable to God as a loving heterosexual relationship.

6. It is important to state, however, that no sinner, including homosexuals, is forever rejected by God with no hope of repentance. Our ministry includes all as possible candidates for eternal salvation.

7. However, while it is true that Jesus did associate with prostitutes and tax-collectors and welcomed them, it was always on this basis alone: Go and sin no more. It was never: It’s okay. Go for your life. You are in a loving relationship.

8. The idea of a homosexual, whether male or female, ordained in the service of God, is totally repugnant to God and therefore also to those who bear His name.

I trust these thoughts may help in the discussion which is yet to come.

Geoff Noller

Ararat 25/09/03