Back to first principles on same-sex marriage

This post is nothing new or profound; in fact it's an amalgamation of comments I've posted to other fora from time to time. But in light of the direction which Canadian society is now inevitably heading, the reminder is timely.)

First principles: Homosexuality and creation

Beginning with the proper starting point, we can see that God's normative design for human sexuality has its origins in the very beginning of creation: "male and female created he them" (Gen. 1:27). God created not male and male, nor female and female, but male and female.

God told them to "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth" (Gen. 1:28). God designed man and woman so that when they come together, the natural result is procreation. Man and man cannot procreate; neither can woman and woman.

"Therefore," the Word of God says, that "shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Gen. 2:24). The creation account culminates in this statement. The covenant of marriage is between a man and a woman, because that covenant reflects the divinely ordained, natural order. There can be no marriage covenant between man and man, or woman and woman. It is "the man and his wife" that were "naked . . . and were not ashamed" (Gen. 2:25).

The sexual union of two members of the same sex goes against the created design. It is "vile [i.e. unnatural]" (Rom. 1:26). This twisted caricature of creation is the result of, and one evidence of, a deliberate rejection of the sovereign Creator (Rom. 1:18-32).

The issue of homosexuality is not merely one of culture. Culture is mercurial because it is the product of ever-changing human opinion. This issue goes right back to first principles.

Homosexuality and the New Covenant

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10, emphasis added

The word translated "abusers of themselves with mankind" in 1 Cor. 6:9 is arsenokoites - a compound word derived from arsen, male, and koite, sexual intercourse. The meaning of the word is plain: an arsenokoites is a practicer of homosexuality, one who lies with a man as with a woman.

The Septuagint translation uses the same words, arsen and koite in Lev. 20:13, which in English reads:

If a man also lie with [koimethe] mankind [arsenos], as he lieth with [koiten] a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Neither the Old Testament (Lev. 20:13) nor the new (1 Cor. 6:9-10) makes any allowance for "married" homosexuals. It is a contradiction in terms, notwithstanding the attempts of activists and social engineers to redefine the word; by definition a marriage is between a man and a woman. Man who lies with man has committed an abomination; he is damned.

Nonetheless, Paul does go on to say:

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:11, emphasis added)

The proper duty of the homosexual practitioner is not to transform society to accomodate his sins; rather, he is bound to turn from his wicked practices. Even abomination is not beyond the grace of God and the blood of Christ.