Homosexuality Was Not Sodom’s Only Sin, But It Was Most Definitely The Tipping Point
I came across (another) post today declaring that homosexuality was not why Sodom was destroyed (although the blogger concedes that it was most definitely one of the many sins that contributed to their destruction). Let me say off the bat — any and all sin will lead to destruction, that’s the way of the LORD. HE IS Holy and those that seek HIM must also live holy. But let’s keep it real, Sodom was ultimately destroyed because of their sexual sin and perversion — that was the tipping point.
In Ezekiel 16 we read:
49Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.
We’ve just read that the people of Sodom practiced numerous sins, including “abomination” and what is this abomination? Based on supporting passages, we know that this “abomination” was sexual sin. Out of all the sexual sins GOD gives to Moses in Leviticus, homosexuality is the only one the LORD calls an abomination. And it is the only explicit example given of Sodom’s wickedness in the Holy Bible. What else are we to believe if the very last thing that happens before Sodom’s destruction is the men of the whole city attempting to get their hands on Lot’s angelic visitors (who are male)?
GOD didn’t have Moses record examples of their pride, gluttony, prosperous ease, lack of love for the poor and needy nor their haughtiness. For some reason, GOD thought it best to have Moses record what happened in that city just before they were destroyed — which was wishing to fulfill their sexual desires by violence on members of HIS angelic hosts.
That says a lot.
Of course, however, any and all sin is a problem, no matter how “little” or “big” we think they are. And thank the LORD that HE is more than willing and able to forgive us all of any sin that may be keeping us in bondage.
But let us not downplay the sexual sin of Sodom when we have such a glaring testimony on the eve of their destruction.
Notice the very first mention of GODs displeasure with Sodom in Gen. 13:13But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly (which is why GOD overthrew them into Abram’s hand).
It doesn’t say the people of Sodom. It says the men. If you use a concordance this term (‘enowsh) explicitly refers to the men of Sodom, and is not being used in general term for “people,” which we see in the passage concerning the LORD’s angels.
Genesis 19:4But before they lay down (Lot and his guests), the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
How can one downplay this occurrence when all the people from every quarter including the men of Sodom surrounded the house, desiring to know the angelic guests carnally? We see here that it wasn’t just the men of Sodom, as the term for “people” in this passage refers to the general populace. Sodom’s glaring sin was sexual immorality — fornication and homosexuality. If this is how they wanted to treat Lot’s angelic guests, how did they treat other visitors to their cities?
We read in Jude 1:7Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Sodom was a sexual cesspool, in which fornication and homosexuality were glorified.
And some in this nation are concerned that America, too, is becoming a sexual cesspool. But homosexuality is not the beginning nor the end of it — this nation is wracked by all kinds of sexual immorality and sin in general. And what is a Christian’s sole mission while walking in this dark world?
Matthew 28:18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
We are to confront sin with the Good News, declaring unto men that sin does not please GOD and will surely lead to destruction. GOD didn’t send anyone into Sodom to declare this TRUTH (as HE did with Jonah and the city of Ninevah) — HE simply judged them. So while we’re busy clothing and feeding the poor (who Christ Jesus said will be with us always), let us not forget to let them know that GOD IS love and HE hates all sin (Romans 2:11).
Related posts:
- Video: Police Harass Christian For Allegedly Preaching Publicly That Homosexuality Is A Sin
- Presbyterians To Study Place Homosexuality Should Have In Christianity
- We Must Judge Or Risk Being Counted As Guilty With The Offenders
- ‘Abortion And Homosexuality Proposed To Stop AIDS’ At U.N.
- That Which The LORD Had Taken From Man HE Made Into A Woman
LaVrai… this is a brilliant write up. You have done well in breaking this down as to why God destroyed this city. I tip my hat to you
I have just pointed to this article in my more recent post. I have found some other information in regards to archaeological finds at this biblical site. Very interesting indeed.
Virginia Snape´s last blog ..Sodom – Why was it really destroyed?
Thanks, Vee. I was moved to write this piece on Sodom’s destruction after reading another Christian’s blog post insinuating that homosexuality wasn’t such a big deal because it wasn’t the only sin that led to their destruction. She gave the list found in Ezekiel, but there was an overwhelming sense that she was trying to downplay the last sin given, homosexuality… while the Holy Spirit makes Sodom’s sexual immorality a focal point in the Scriptures.
[...] We’ve just read that the people of Sodom practiced numerous sins, including “abomination” [source] [...]
Why is it that folks can’t seem to see the difference between two very different concepts. The men of Sodom weren’t engaging in homosexual love. Their sin was not “homosexuality.” The blogger here makes this point clear: “wishing to fulfill their sexual desires by violence on members of HIS angelic hosts.”
That is NOT homosexuality. That is rape. Big difference.
Hi, Anon. You didn’t seem to catch your own point. In Genesis 19, the men of Sodom’s “sexual desire” was homosexuality and they were ready to force themselves on GOD’s angels. When the men of Sodom first approached Lot’s door, they weren’t violent; they simply asked him to bring out his guest so they could have sex with them (apparently fornication and perhaps group sex were the norm for Sodom). It is when Lot refuses, that they get upset and threaten violence (even also against Lot). In the same passage that Lot offered the men his daughters — but they didn’t want the women; they wanted the men. Rape yes, and homosexual desire also. GOD didn’t have Moses put this into the account for no reason — we see a distinction here.
Also, as stated above, we read in Jude 1:7 – “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Fornication and “strange flesh” doesn’t mean rape… this alludes to homosexuality.
And if anyone is still unsure about the sin of homosexuality:
1 Corinthians 6:
9. Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10. nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Some folks refuse to believe what the Holy Bible says and will actually argue with GOD and try to make the text mean something else… that’s very difficult, when GOD says it more than once.
There’s nothing GOD can’t do — HE can truly free us from any sin.