David McWhorter -

Ok, Joe. I need guidance. I believe that the Bible is the word of God and its meaning should not be adapted to fit the wants of society at the time. I always thought that part of the reason God destroyed Sodam was due to Homosexuality. 

1. Is that right?
2. Jesus came and changed many of the rules that the Old Testament established. What did he have to say about the subject?
3. If he said nothing in specific to change the rules, do they remain as they were established in the Old Testament?

I am not asking these to spark a debate. I truly do not know the answers. Any help you can give would be appreciated.

Hi David,

First of all, you listed a number of great convictions concerning the Word of God! I'll try and answer your question in a concise manner that I hope will prove help.

As to your questions:

#1 – You are correct in that homosexuality was part of the reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Apart from the account in Genesis, their other sins can be found in Ez. 16:49-50.

#2 – Jesus didn't address the sin of homosexuality directly, though He did mention fornication (Mt. 15:19 and Mk. 7:21 i.e.) which is the Greek word porneia, where we get our word pornography. Below is the definition of the word porneia:

Strong's #4202 pornei,a porneia {por-ni'-ah}

Meaning: 1) illicit sexual intercourse 1a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc. 1b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18 1c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11,12 2) metaph. the worship of idols 2a) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols

#3 – The apostles did talk about fornication/porneia as well. Plus, homosexuality specifically in a couple of places:

Rom. 1:20-27

20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-- who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.

27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. (NIV)

1 Cor. 6:9-11

9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders

10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (NIV)

God's moral law never changed with the establishment of the New Covenant. That's a long and profitable study in itself, though.

If you have the resources to reference all the verses in the Bible on this subject it could prove to be quite valuable.

Joe