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By Frances Swaggart
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet” (Rom. 1:26-27).
After reading a vast variety of emails, articles, news clips, etc., I feel strongly impressed by the Holy Spirit to address the very delicate and controversial issue of homosexuality, not only homosexuality as society knows it to be, but God’s Biblical standard concerning it. I do not wish to speak from standards of my own making here nor the ethical standards of our modern culture, but from the standards of a Holy God who has asked me to reach out to all who will hear Him concerning this very critical issue of our time. I hope to make it clear to you how the Lord feels about homosexuality and, as well, His Solution for this terrible sin.
I once heard a wise man say that while God is the greatest embodiment of Love which has ever existed or will ever exist, it is not love that makes Him God. God is God because of His Power! He is God because of His Authority! He is All-Powerful, All-Mighty, and All-Knowing. Yes, God is Love, but love is not God. The Love of God is Holy. This presents a problem for a fallen, sinful creation. Mankind cannot receive the Love of God without willingly submitting to His Order and Authority by the Way of the Cross. The Sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, for the Redemption of our sins was God’s way of showing us that within His great Power was also great Love. But, the conditions inherent in this Way of the Cross must be met for a man to receive the Love of God on a personal basis — to receive Salvation. We must make Jesus both our Savior and our Lord. Therefore, the Way of the Cross requires a man to surrender lordship of his own life to God, and he must also agree with God that it is His Standards alone which constitute Holiness. Therefore, if God deems anything to be sin, man must agree. It is not man’s right to make the distinction between right and wrong; that is His right as Lord. His Spirit is, in fact, speaking continually to the hearts of men: “I am the Lord.” We are without excuse. “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shall you say unto the Children of Israel, I AM has sent me unto you” (Ex. 3:14).
THE WORD “HOMOSEXUALITY”
Many today would try to argue that we can’t be sure how the Lord views homosexuality, because the specific word, “homosexuality,” is not found in Scripture. However, this argument is completely foolish, because the Bible does use plenty of other words and phrases which mean precisely the same thing. Besides, the word, “homosexuality,” did not even enter the English vocabulary until the early Twentieth Century. It is, in fact, for this peculiar sin that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, giving the word “sodomy” its Biblical origin. In Ecclestical Latin, “sodomy” is translated “pecatum Sodomiticum,” or the “sin of Sodom.” “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly” (Gen. 13:13). “Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground” (Gen. 19:24-25). “There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel” (Deut. 23:17). “And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the Children of Israel” (I Ki. 14:24). “And he broke down the houses of the sodomites, who were by the House of the LORD . . .” (II Ki. 23:7).
THE MEANING OF HOMOSEXUALITY
Also, referring specifically to homosexual acts, Leviticus 18:22 says: “You shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” Leviticus 20:13 says: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” And perhaps, the most obvious evidence that the Lord opposes homosexuality is that it is simply unnatural. It clearly goes against His intention as Creator because it goes against the natural sexual expression of human beings. It also tears down the Spiritual Type the Lord intended for marriage to display. God created marriage, as a covenant relationship between a man and woman, as a picture of the covenant relationship a Believer enters into with the Lord when he is Born-Again. A Christian becomes one with Christ as a husband and wife become one. The family unit then becomes a means of protection, security, and love, which demonstrates the very provision the Lord provides for His Children. “And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:22-24). I Corinthians 6:9, uses the word “effeminate,” which is a Greek word specifically meaning “sodomite” or “male homosexual prostitute.” It does not merely refer to a man with feminine qualities like we use it today. I Timothy 1:10 uses the phrase, “. . . them that defile themselves with mankind. . . .” The Greek word used in this verse is “arsenokoitais,” and means “male homosexuals.” Referring back to I Corinthians 6:9, this same Greek word was also originally used in place of the phrase, “. . . abusers of themselves with mankind.” Therefore, “arsenokoites,” more specifically refers to “abusers,” or “to be guilty of unnatural offenses; a sodomite; a homosexual; a sex pervert.” The Holy Spirit, here, likens homosexuality to predatorial abuse, even the abuse of oneself.
THE GREATEST SIN?
Yet, today, in city after city, there are entire areas given over to the homosexual lifestyle. The acceptance of this practice in modern society has been gradually building for sometime now, but in the last several years we have seen an explosion in its growth, as the minds of reprobate men fail to understand its far-reaching consequences. With this delusion has also come the “demand” for the approval, inclusion, and support of homosexual “rights.” The demand is harsh and determined, and it is not only coming from homosexuals, but from our very own government. They press on, despite the fact that, historically-speaking, every time a city was inflicted with this vice and left to run its natural course, the city became so shaken that it crumbled and fell. Homosexual practice is, in fact, widely recognized as one of the causes for the downfall of the Roman Empire. They destroyed themselves by their own perversion, similar to ancient civilizations that literally sacrificed themselves out of existence. This is exactly what we are facing today in the United States! From this point on, every decision we make concerning the issue of homosexuality will have lasting effects on our survival, not only as a nation, but as a human race. In times past, it was only particular segments of the world which were permeated with this vile sin and destroyed. Today, because it is embraced worldwide, the entire global community stands to be judged. This is absolutely one of the greatest signs of the times before us! Get ready, saints, for our “Redemption draweth nigh!”
THE TRUTH!
It is evident that intolerance and outrage is already coming from both sides of the fence in America. The battle cry has been sounded, the fight has been started, and the stones have been thrown. Indeed, the nation is once-again divided, and the war for the soul of America has begun! So, how should a Christian fight? Certainly not with hate, because it is not the sinner which God hates; rather, it is his sin. It is homosexuality that we are against, not the homosexual. A true Christian will do everything possible to show a homosexual the Love of God and the Way of the Cross, for he realizes that he was also once lost in his sin. We would also welcome any homosexual to come to Family Worship Center as long as you conduct yourself properly and do not disrupt the Service in any way (which is the same requirements we have for everyone who attends our Services). We look at our church like a hospital; it is there so the sick may receive Healing. Just understand, though, that we will preach the Truth regarding sin. A true Christian can never fail to tell the homosexual the truth about his sin, no matter how much others may misinterpret the attitude of his heart. Love does not lie. The Apostle Paul once asked, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16).
SEXUAL PREFERENCE
Under a distorted version of what some homosexual activists are calling “freedom,” there is a movement taking place today which is designed to convince the American people that homosexuality is normal and that the homosexual’s perverse practices are only a matter of “sexual preference,” something to be seen as perfectly natural and non-threatening. But, if everyone practiced this lifestyle, we would quickly see the extinction of the human race! How can we simply call any so-called “preference,” which puts man on the endangered species list, normal or natural? It doesn’t even adhere to America’s Declaration of Independence which was written to guarantee us “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” How can we have life without procreation? On a spiritual level, the reality is that Satan despises the fact that man has been favored by God. The Devil’s wish is to destroy His highest Creation. Homosexuality is his most conscientious effort to eliminate the human race. It not only stops procreation, but destroys the family unit. Already, more than one spouse has been abandoned due to unnatural lust, and more than one marriage was forsaken before it ever took place at all. Homosexuality is, thereby, demonic in nature as unclean spirits aid Satan’s goal to “steal, kill, and destroy” (Jn. 10:10).
THE LAW!
Of course, laws cannot put a person in right standing with God, because the problem is more than ethical, it is spiritual, but laws help guide society as a whole. This is why it is important for Christians to vote in the right laws for our country and speak out as much as possible. However, this is also why homosexual advocates are pressuring the Christian community, as well as the heterosexual community in general, to cater to the homosexual agenda in every way possible. In the mean time, our minds are being desensitized by the media. Every time we turn around we find that a homosexual character in a story is also the hero of the story. Or, another one of our favorite celebrities unashamedly announces his homosexuality. We laugh at their jokes and admire their talents, but what we forget is that the homosexual community will not stop until it becomes a crime in America for anyone to call a homosexual act a sin. In fact, we just recently saw another major step in this direction. Bill HR 2015 (a.k.a. the Employment Non-Discrimination Act), which prevents employers from refusing to hire someone based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, just passed the House. Most of the time America’s citizens are denied the chance to speak out against the homosexual agenda, and those who try are quickly labeled as homophobic, narrow-minded, and ignorant. But, may we not force our moral and spiritual conscience to take a back seat because we fear our peers and the labels they may give us. If homosexuals can “come out of the closet,” so must we. Christians claim to be people of Faith, but remember that James said it well, “. . . Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).
THE RIGHT SPIRIT
Also, contrary to popular opinion, it is possible for a person to speak out against homosexuality and vote against homosexual agendas without hating the homosexual or treating him harshly in any way. Anyone who does such is not dealing with the issue with a correct spirit or attitude. And, so-called “Christians” who do such are actually hurting the cause of Christ. Yet, organizations are being formed today, which wish to label anyone who will clearly speak the Truth according to the Bible, as a “religious bigot.” For example, one organization called, Faith In America, is actively holding educational campaigns across America. They state on their website (www.faithinamerica.com): “The fundamental mission of Faith In America is to end bigotry disguised as religious truth and in doing so, ensure full and equal civil rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in America.” These organizations try to put homosexuality in the same category as race or gender. But, the two are not comparable, because the Bible does not label race or gender as sin like it does homosexuality. Actually, Christians cannot accurately be called “bigots,” because the definition of a “bigot” includes prejudice. Prejudice cannot exist in the proper understanding that the ground is level at the foot of the Cross. The only thing the true Christian is against, is sin.
Frances Swaggart
Dear Sister Frances and others:
NOTE: CONGRATULATIONS times a billion for your Ministry success, class & faithfulness to our Savior! I say this in all sincerity. This is all written in respect & Christian solidarity. Also, my prayers are with thee loving mom who struggles under the weight of her son's deception.
Thank you so much for your wisdom & compassion. I agree that homosexuality is, indeed, an abomination as outlined in thee perfect scriptures. Please review Romans 1 and Jude 1:7. I thank God Almighty that people in the media are starting to see thee light. Please refer to the News info. on Ted and Gayle Haggard. Also, many Christians rallied around Brit Hume (online and otherwise) in encouraging support when he spoke up for Jesus Christ in an effort to evangelize Mr. Tiger Woods & bring thee superb athlete into thee Kingdom of God. Praise Jesus! Glory! GLORY!
Sister Frances, I never intend to offend. Please forgive my bluntness here, however, I endeavor to make valid points to honor our Creator. As you know, the sin of [sodomy] is directly correlated with homosexuality. Sorry if this appears to be a crass subject that I bring up. I am only trying to help. I say all this to point out that Tiger Woods & others have been "conditioned" in their sexual orientation by early childhood abuse & adult perpetrations that violated their boundaries. From a pure scientific standpoint alone, it is obvious to anyone that [sodomy] & homosexual practices are completely opposed to thee design & construction of thee human body [which is a temple of thee Holy Spirit]. We, humans, were created by God as His Crowning Jewels of ALL of Creation!!! [Simply put, the nether-regions were designed for "waste management" alone]. Period. End of story. >Love isn't supposed to hurt. Thoughts?
I, myself, am a devout Christian. Bless God! My husband & I are fully heterosexual & proud of it. We don't even struggle with homosexual issues due to Jesus shed blood. The good Lord has put us together as soulmates in a 'sacred marital bond' that will last throughout all of eternity. I am so grateful that words cannot express my joy & contentment, Sister! My testimony is a Miracle by God's grace and mercy! May this uplift and inspire your amazing Soul! :-)
Now about this precious, beloved sister (who wrote here in your blog) who is a mom of a "homosexual" son & typed extensively of her immense heartbreak. Totally my heart goes out to her because I have a son-in-law who struggles & has had almost the same identical background as her son has had. I do think that thee 'Love Won Out' Conferences that "Focus on the Family Ministry" has is beneficial. Don't you? Please pray about all of this as thee Lord leads & be encouraged by my words & sharing.
In addition, I know that we are to trust in thee Cross of Christ alone. Of course! I was 'born-again' by the age of 8 & I had thee privilege of thoroughly understanding, processing & internalizing thee message of thee Cross at that very young age. Glory be to God! Now as a mature Christian, I soooo crave the "meat" of the Word! Please be gracious, patient & open-minded in a godly context to thee following disclosure. For me, sanctification has included groups like A/C. Please 'google' AlcoholicsforChrist.com to better see where I'm coming from. Many Christians bash thee 12-steps, however, do they actually try working thee Recovery Program & do they actually make Living AMENDS to their spouses and children? Don't get me wrong, dear Sister. I fully am aware of the drawbacks & dangers of getting "sucked" into religious cults & the like. For example, please 'google' Psychiatry: an Industry of Death Museum. This place is in California and is sponsored by Scientologists (think Tom Cruise) *LOL* unfortunately. Albeit, I'm sure you get my point about how psychiatry can be devastating even if I personally don't believe in scientology. Ok? To summarize my thinking, I just wanted to highlight thee fact that deviant sexual practices of all kinds (especially, sodomy) destroy marriages. It's not acceptable if it (sodomy) is hidden in private in the secret bedroom of so-called Christians. Also, any pornography ruins healthy communication between a husband & a wife. The devil uses ALL these tools for his wicked ends. I'm sure that you don't support alcohol, drug addiction, sex addiction, pedophilia, beastiality, codependency, etc... Many individuals who were once bound by drugs & toxic addictions have been greatly helped by thee 12-steps. Where would all these addicts be today without AA, 12-steps, sponsors, counselors, etc? Rehab. programs can be a springboard for thee church to help get these precious souls saved. Just so you are fully informed, thee 12-steps were derived from (thee Sermon on the Mount in thee) Holy Bible. Many Pastors create their sermons by using a '7 point' outline. How about some of thee Pastors using a '12-step' outline for their sermons in addition to thee message of thee Cross? Have you ever prayed thee Serenity Prayer as advocated by Recovery? Please don't be so quick to judge in that thee 12-steps is often used as a method that thee Holy Spirit uses in many Rehabilitation programs & Crises-Arresting Groups. Many of us consider our Higher Power to be Jesus Christ. When it comes to thee medical field of Psychiatry, I recommend that you adhere to thee ADAGE: "Take thee Best and Leave thee Rest!" Just as you cannot say that all Medical Doctors are evil, likewise...you cannot say that all Psychiatrists are corrupt. Have you watched any of Dr. Drew's work on Vh.1? I don't know if he is a Believer in Jesus Christ yet. All I know is that I pray that he get saved & that thee good Lord send Dr. Drew evangelists who will be there for him when his heart is softened by the Power of thee Holy Spirit enough to receive thee Good News of the Gospel. Aman?! Much unconditional love sent to you, your family, church & friends as we labor together in Thee Great Commission. God bless you & keep you!+ + + + + + +
Thank you for this article--well written and coming through with wisdom and great compassion. As a mother of a 28 year old son who was raised in a single parent home I made many mistakes raising this precious child--one of which was rejection him in the womb (from amniocentesis findings) as he was the product of: an abusive husband--I had been beaten down for years emotionally, physically, financially by him that I had no backbone to stand up to him), and lack of trust of pastoral care--in our frequent moves, I had reached out to pastors but they seemed untrained how to minister to violence in the home--they could not comprehend how a likable fellow like my husband could be abusive. My pregnancy gave me backbone to leave (I had to hide for several months but eventually we met so my daughter could be eventually spending time with her dad--although we never lived together again, my son was conceived during a time of my deep depression).
So this son now represented the male, in particular, his father. Although I did learn to love my son when I took him home from the hospital, he had me (a 39 year old mom), a 12 year old sister, an absentee father who showed up hit and miss with anti-Christian, proCatholic views--this plus being raised in an Asy. of God church and church school from first grade until sixth grade, two years home school, three years high school in an interdenominational school, senior year secular--where he began to meet homosexuals I later found out. At age 6 he was molested by a 12 year old girl in an Asy. of God women's event one evening in a nearby town--he was the only child in the nursery that night as I attended an event where a friend was ministering. I never pursued counseling for him, I did not want to raise an issue with that church as the mom was the leader of the women's ministry there.
He told me much later in life he also, around age six, had been "playing around" with two sisters near his age two doors down from our four plex who had been molested by their dad. He had a friend who went to the Christian school (this boy was raised with a dad and his second wife and step-brother) that became sexually involved with my son in jr. high years--I also learned after my son "came out." He went on school related mission trips to San Francisco and Mexico, a three week Youth for Christ trip No. Ireland, as well as local ministries; he hung around Christians--mostly girls, but also boys. Like most homosexuals, my son is sensitive and is gifted in the arts--music (composing, singing), drama, writing, art, etc. He also has a great wit and is caring about others.
He gave his heart to the Lord at age 4 3/4 as I put him to bed with a Christian pre-school booklet which that night was on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross--my son did respond to that "preaching" and said he wanted to receive Jesus. After his prayer, I explained a little of how Jesus now lived in his heart; I kissed him goodnight, left the room and a few minutes later I heard some singing down the hallway. I came back to his room and found him singing out to the world with his window open that he wanted everyone to have what he had--all they had to do was "open their hearts to Him." In the first grade he wanted to propose to a girl in class and wrote her a "letter" he posted in our mail box (I later retrieved it for safekeeping) asking her to marry him. He had crushes on girls at school but got in trouble chasing them; he had a mix of boy and girl friends and activities--but other than swimming, he did not like to try out for sports until his sophmore year when he asked to be on the Christian HS basketball team--he made it by sheer determination and faithful attendance at all practices and got to play when the team was many points ahead (the Christian parents and students were very encouraging to him); he also went for the spring events of running, jumping and relay races. He seemed to be well rounded, but had been diagnosed with ADD in 6th grade through his 5-6th grade teacher's observation and taking me to a meeting on the subject. He was on Ritalin for several years after that (off on weekends and summer vacation, etc.) until his 16th year. I began to have some uneasiness about him in his late high school years but it wasn't until after his first year at a local college when he quit to work fulltime, that he asked a former youth pastor to mentor him like he had been doing with a few of his friends--he had seen what he considered good results and wanted this 40 year old man's attention to help him be changed to the point he could ask the girl he most admired and liked (she was the epitome of a wholesome Christian girl--fairly attractive, but had an obvious Christian demeanor, wholesome, modest, friendly, loved the Lord, had a compassionate heart--he had taken her to their JrSr banquet) to give him a year to change and then he would ask her to marry him. This man took several months to respond to my son's phone calls and messages he left with the man's ministry (which had gone local first, then nationwide, even appearing on 700 Club, and having connections with some national ministries--my son had spent a lot of time volunteering at this man's youth oriented organization and they knew each other fairly well); finally, I prayed the Lord would impress upon this man to have the courtesy to respond to my son's efforts to reach him. He called right after that prayer, and within a week or two finally met with my son--I didn't know that my son actually revealed his homosexual struggles to the man; this leader told my son to contact the girl's father [who financially supported that ministry and was an advisor as well], then get back with him. My son followed those instructions--it turned out with the man saying "no" he would not mentor him. After this my son soon began to smoke, drink, curse, in his bitterness; but as it turned out, the man himself was accused a few years later of not just mentoring young men, but having inappropriately related to them sexually. My son found out about this and we both recognized why he had been rejected--the man already had a problem himself!! From that point on, my son began a downward spiral into the weird, sad, deadly, ugly, scene of the homosexual lifestyle. Besides that choice, he became an alcoholic with vodka as a favorite, and high on meth, attempting suicide twice, with the typical break-ups with several men. I began a deadly spiral into despair from my own contribution to his choice--I realized I had not been the Christian Mom I shoulda/could/woulda been if I had been more dedicated, consecrated and dying to self, living for Jesus rather than the self-life. He is responsible for his sins, but I am responsible for making it easy for Satan to steal, kill and destroy. My son now has attended AA meetings, has a mentor, a mental therapist and a series of boyfriends. He has broken off with me, with their mutual agreement that he do so, as he wants me to acknowledge he is homo-sexual, that is, that he was born that way and I should finally accept him as that--and not continue to cling to the idea that he became that way, which would mean that he could change and be reoriented to the maleness God made him to be. I thank God for ministries to homosexuals--there are many wonderful testimonies of God's grace and mercy in restoring men and women to their God given gift of male or femaleness!! This encourages mom's like me!
Never stop praying for your son, for I am living proof that prayer works for deliverance of the "homosexual lifesyle". I, a female, at the young age of 15, I was introduced to it. I too, went through anger, rejection, hurt, pain, disappointments etc... when I was about 19 yrs old, I came "OUT" fully to everyone! For the next 14 yrs, I found myself totally engulfed in the lifestyle. I know NoW that even then God NEVER left me alone. FINALLY...I repented and asked God to change me. I have now been delivered for 10 years!! It took me WANTING to change. After all, I CHOSE to enter into that sin, so.. I ALSO , had to CHOOSE to REPENT and TURN AWAY. Keep praying for your son's WILL to line up with GOD'S WILL ....God Always lets US Chose...
Sister,
I have to say this article was wonderfully written and the subject matter presented in a very intelligent manner...
It seems this sin is on the rise dramatically as the end nears...
My precious grand daughter 26 years old is in their ranks..It is heartbreaking for us her grandparents and also for her mother. But we have hope in the Lord Jesus Christ and His ability to change lives..We pray for her to turn her life over to the Lord.
She knows we love her and nothing she does will ever change that..She also knows we don't view her 'choice' as a viable one in order to live a happy life or one that is pleasing to God.
You are so correct when you said we must show them love and at the same time not love or accept their life style..She is always welcome home..and when she brings her friend's..she knows that there is to be no display of that life style inside our door's...She honor's that as do the 'friend's'. We just try to live so Jesus is seen in our treatment of them...
Thank you for the article. A few years ago, I had given up on ever being free from homosexual tendencies...until I woke up one morning at 4 am (MST)and heard brother Swaggart teaching on the Revelation of the Cross on the television. I remember hanging my head with tears streaming down my face and saying aloud "Finaly I have heard the gospel!" I had listened to differant minsters teach on how to get the victory, but victory never came. I know it was the Lord Who woke me up that morning. When I feel the tempations coming, I say to myself " I look to the Cross, for if I look to the Cross, I shall live." (from Numbers 21:9)
T.
You know , i have been following your husband minstry for my years in fact he & i are the same age,i like you, believe that homosexuality is of the devil ,i was a member of the R.A.N (Royal australian navy) i saw young men conned by predators & actually (MADE) into using the term of today (GAY)
men.THe Poor young fellows never had a chance , at the age of 17 years they had to do what they were told, i was in the position to report them and their predators to our commanding officer , who turned out to be one of them!! and my report was dismissed. Just recently , my sisters daughter, was conned the same way by another predator on the internet , she convinced, her that she had homsexual tendicies, and she walked out on her husband of 17 years for this predator, GOd has said love the sinner & hate the sin, so as Christian we have to do God's will, prayer is the only answer, the way & the truth, to defeat this predator .