Volume 39   Number 1                                                                                     September 1996

In recent issues of some leading newspapers, extensive coverage was given to the plight and problems of a portion of our citizens that label themselves as the "gay community."

The newspapers covered: 1) their life-styles, 2) "be- moaned" their treatment by the "straight society", or normal-living people, 3) gave extensive coverage to the "priest" and "preachers" who are a part of their "community" and 4) tried to give a legitimate status to a religious group that calls its organization a "church" and upholds a wicked way of life.

In the first place, it can be noted, that the newspapers have a right to publish anything its administration and staff want to print. But in giving credence to this segment of the population; the queers, lesbians, bisexuals, so-called transsexuals (all homosexuals), they have opened themselves up to give, publish, and advertise, every fringe group that wants to approach them.

We should understand the word "gay" over the decades has always meant to be happy; to enjoy life; and in no way was applied to a perverted segment of society.

This kind of life-style has always been a curse to mankind, and both the Bible, Bible history, and secular history bear this out.

In the Scriptures, God declared, "Let us make man in our own image... male and female created He them." (Genesis 1:26, 27ff) The Bible says that God created Adam & Eve, not "Adam & Steve." Further, it says "male & female," not male, female, and part-male. This would destroy His divine intentions for mankind. They were joined in marriage and became "one flesh" as male and female.

In the days of Abraham, a description of homosexual activity in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah is plainly portrayed. God destroyed both cities and everyone left in them (four of the five cities of the plain were destroyed; only Zoar was left) and then left us a lesson of a legacy on His attitude toward this way of life (Genesis 19).

In the days of the prophet Moses, God instructed Israel on many things. Among them was the ordinance, "If a man also lie with another man as he would with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination before God, and both shall die." (Leviticus 20:13) Also, "if a man lie with a beast ... if a woman lie with a beast," both (or all) would be put to death. (Leviticus 20:15, 16)

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul describes their way of life as evil and calls them "reprobates." He says those who live and practice this sin, and those that give their approval to them, are "worthy of death" (Romans 1:19-32).

In the Scriptures we see three periods of time, and how God dealt with mankind:

1. The Patriarchal period (from Adam to Moses)
2. The Mosaic dispensation (from Moses to the death of Christ
3. The Dispensation of Grace, or New Covenant (from the death of Christ until His Second Coming).