UNIBAM takes alternative lifestyle to Court
Dean Barrow
In February of this year we told you about a law suit concerning sexual orientation that was brought against the Attorney General’s office. This lawsuit, which is a first of its kind for Belize, was filed by the United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM) challenging section fifty-three of the Criminal Code which states, “Every person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any person, or animal shall be liable to imprisonment for the years.” Caleb Orozco, Executive President UNIBAM, told us that the code criminalizes consensual physical relationships between gays and lesbians. Today, Prime Minister Dean Barrow was asked to comment on it, here’s what he said.
Dean Barrow
“Well I would have preferred that it had not happened, I remember a year and a half ago I spoke at a U.B. graduation and one of the things that we have to be grateful for in this country is the culture wars we see in the United States have not been imported into Belize. Well obviously this is the start of exactly such a phenomenon, I would limit myself to saying that the Government as a government has taken the position that it needs to argue for the constitutionality for the law that’s in place that’s being challenged and so uh I would not go beyond that official position.”
UNIBAM is using sections three, six and fourteen of the constitution as a basis for their arguments to support the human rights needs of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) population.
LEAVE THE LAW AS IS. WE WILL HAVE A BUNCH OF FOREIGN GAYS IN OUR COUNTRY, ONE MORE THING TO DISGRACE US WITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sexuality and sexual identity is not a “lifestyle” it is what you are, not a way of life. Heterosexuals are not identified by a “heterosexual lifestyle” any more than blacks are identified by a “black lifestyle” or whites are identified by a “white lifestyle”. So why are homosexuals always referred to as participants in a “homosexual lifestyle”? This sort of language dehumanizes people.
Think back to the civil rights movement in the USA in the 1960s. Did Dr. King march to promote a “black lifestyle”? Or did he march to have black Americans recognized as full citizens with EQUAL rights as white Americans?
That is a very good stance that the PM has taken. He response seem neutral and he seems to be remaining neutral. There are laws in place let UNIBAM utilize their rights to challenge the law and take it up with the proper authority. A lot of Belizeans tend to travel to America and come back feeling like they are all of a sudden enlightened and conscious of more things which is for the most part true. But if we evaluate closely all the liberty citizens of America are experiencing each one comes with its own challenges. I have no problems with any sexual orientation but what I do not like is people tend to use man’s law a lot to challenge God’s law. My take on sexuality would be that anything is legal as long as it is between two consenting adults and as long as it is kept behind close doors. We have kids who are yet to discover their true selves coming up in our society and I believe they deserve the chance/time necessary. Of course the same arguments can be made for television. But shows on television can always categorized as ‘how things are done in other countries’. In that way our children get the necessary exposure to all walks of life from a distance where they can freely choose a path for themselves without directly being physically/verbally/psychologically influenced. And of course we can go back and forth on this. But as I said before challenging God’s supreme command and also the impact on our youths are my issues with it.
THIS NOW…………………Whats next? People who believe in inter species sex challenge the law that forbids humans to have sex with horses, dogs etc etc?
To the gay guys out there, you guys are always squirmish when you touch something nasty, ………………………
Isaiah 3:9 (NKJV)
“The look on their countenance witnesses against them, And they declare their sin as Sodom; They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves.”
For those who take God lightly, be supportive of Sodomy! When God’s wrath come upon men, every living creature will tremble before Him, and everyone will give account to Him.
Respect their right to do as they choose however we don’t have to share their belief or endorse their belief that the laws of the country should change for their convenience whatever they do behind close doors is their own business and since obviously these people do not believe in a supreme being the following does not apply to them:
Romans 1:26-27:
26 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:
27 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 recompence of their error which was meet.
Remember, My Legacy B 4 My People.
Personally. I do believe in the rights of gays and lesbians and some of my best friends are gays and a family member and this group has a right to love, and live in peace with their sexual orientation. To have a law that prohibits their utmost human feeling in the year 2011 really speaks of how backwards our culture and some laws are. In many parts of the world they can live and have civil unions and adopt children. Now I do not think we in belize are ready to go that far yet BUT to have their basic right to freely express consensus to their basic sexual need and to love is wrong. It does not put us as a third world country but a fourth world country mentality. To see the Prime Minister have a cynical grin on the subject just shows his level of culture in this field is backwards. He would be surprise of how many voters fall in this category in this day and age… And for those who like to mention the bible about this subject.. The bible also said that whichever women was unfaithful to their husbands or wear mens clothing (like jean pants for example) they will be stoned to death. By now do you know how many women would fall under this. Or that men have a right to have more thaan one wife and many more examples… People and society changes and laws changes for all of us to live in peace and respect each others rights as human beings…
lol. what next? free vegetalbes in the female section ofthe prison?
Well, here we go again. Adapting all the USA does. Why are we such a copycat? No mo whipping for kids. Going against the Holy Bible with a broad face. Cant we see what is happening to the USA because of outrightly rejecting God? They took the ten commandments outta school n public places etc., prayers outta school. Homosexualism n lesbianism all in perfect order with them. Allowed all ova d place. N the amount of disasters heaping up on them with the recent ones being a wave of tornadoes. And yes its not over with them either cause the mississipi is now a big headache to them. Now we want to follow suit. How mad we are? I will not be surprised that this sadistic act will be striked off our books here in Belize too. Sodom and gomorrah in Belize. Hellooooo. We getting there and so will be the curse on us. Disasters and the rest of it. The hope is that we are more sure now that the coming of our saviour is soon to happen and adios to all this madness. Mansions are awaiting us over there. Will you want to join us? Or will you take this sarcastically and criticize. Its up to you.
Dean, I am not sure i understood your answer. I think what Mr Orozco is asking is that he & other homosexuals not be prosecuted & sent to jail for doing what heterosexual couples do, have sex. There are a lot of heterosexuals performing the same acts & we are not subject to prosecution unless it is against our will.
With our people becoming better educated & their constant exposure to the outside world, we should have expected them to challenge the status quo. Law abiding gays & lesbians are a threat to no one, the young men with their pants hanging off their behinds who are now calling each other ni%%as are the biggest threat to our “culture”.
I am not a lesbian or a gay but i can see their point in this law. To me it is profiling.
we as Belizeans chose to adopt the negative life styles that is condone in the US?There is no need to tolerate this kind of behavior in our Jewel.Do we even have medical coverage to deal with the STDS and viruses that might be spread as a result of these kind of behavior?There are more positive things that can be adopted from the US than this BS.
I live in the United States,everyday our Constitution is being destroyed(amended useless),DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOUR CONSTITUTION!,I loved Belize the very fist time I got to see this Country on the internet ,I have been following it’s growth for nearly twenty years now ,When I first found you, all of you were a happy people,then I began to see not so happy,same here in the United States,right now there is a communist attempt to take us over through the Government,I feel they are also using H.A.A.R.P. ,a U.N.,weapon designed to create all kinds of weather changes,including earthquakes!,Organizations such as the humane society,gay’s rights are the ones of many who are stripping our Constitution useless,YOU THE PEOPLE OF BELIZE CAN STOP THIS MADNESS FROM HAPPENING IN YOUR COUNTRY,you stand as one without hesitation,I have watched you do so and you made me PROUD,I wish I were able to come to Belize to just visit,maybe I would never come back to the States,But this is my Country and there is a war in the making,one that must be won!Just be ready and stand firm for your Belize and your Country,don’t forget those smiles.
Sophia, I second that notion…
I am not gay, lesbian, trans gender or homosexual. I am a a heterosexual male to the bone and no pun intended! This is not about anything else but basic human rights! The right to live free and be happy! The homophobes need to take a look at themselves! It is time to review that law and let us step into the 21st Century. When these laws were written there was no foresight that the culture would change in this manner! But it is what it is and pretending that it does not matter does nothing to alleviate the problem. I have no problem living around gay people as I am secure in my sexuality and orientation! We should all be! Whether we are gay, homosexual, heterosexual, etc!
??????any body heard of bat buai goin to jail 4doing nasty in Bze…………. however I have heard of a Salvador man going to jail for working the neighbors dog.
Lord how far will our bedromms be opened???????????????????????????i condemn this open display of sexuakl preferences but the aids epidemic will take care of all perverted
Please Lord take away these nasty people of our society and hope that they will burn in hell. I know you did not make them that way but they are of the devil. Everything u made is perfect Lord so please dont let them have theie ways. To all the ….. gays and liz…….. I hope not to be the place where you all are gonna go……. the devil will welcome you home….
Everyone keeps forgetting about the most important book of life “The Bible” they dismiss it altogether. In that book we read God made everything male and female and he brought together a male and female and when Noah was to gather the animals in the ark he order a pair of each (male and female) . That book is the SUPREME…
They can go to court to change man’s law – but they can’t change the law God.
They can go to court to change man’s law – but they can’t change the Law of God. Give them a bible to read.
i’m glad that you realize it and quote” i would have prefered it had not happen”now they will have that opportunity they were given the last time to voice what they call their right now it will be hard to stop it and God knows it will be worse, soon they’ll be asking for marriage rights then we’ll be saying why did we let it go to this point. just watch and realize how this evolve as a right to a problem for the country.
Matthew 7: 13-14 Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.
God gives you a choice. He allows you to decide certain things for yourself.
We need to be investing in the kingdom, laying up eternal treasures in heaven instead of temporary treasures on earth.
Jesus gives us choices: Where are you going?
Who are your guides? and
What will you change?
WE HAVE TWO CHOICE IN LIFE: One of them works and the other one doesn’t.
One of them feels right and the other one doesn’t.
One of them is popular and the other one isn’t.
Travel on the wide road and it will be wide and easy. There’s ample room to accommodate everyone and all their baggage.
The narrow gate, don’t expect to fit in, to be popular.
In today’s world everyone wants the easy way out. They want to live their lives the way they want to and expect no repercussions. Life is not easy people. Anything that your get easily was not obtained with God’s grace. Everything that you want to do is not necessarily right. ITS NOT ABOUT PLEASING EVERYONE.
Let us Never forget God and His teachings. The devil is using us in so many ways. The devil will find our weakness and use it to glorify himself. But remember GOD IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END and its important to remain with him. DON’T FALL, DON’T BE WEAK. i YOU FALL GET UP. REPENT. ITS NOT ALL ABOUT THE LIFE NOW. THIS LIFE IS BUT A SEASON. REMEMBER ETERNITY.
All you Bible beaters start thinking before you speak.
This is not the only topic the Bible speaks out against! The Bible also speaks out vehimently against “bearing false witness” lying for those that do not know what this means, it speaks out against leaders who cause suffering on the population due to lack of vision, it speaks out against fathers who do not take care and support their children (worse than an infidel)…So before all you get too crazy and make this one bit of nonsense your religion try think of what you are guilty of and as Michael Jackson start making changes with the man you see in the mirror.
By the way my fellow Belizeans the rest of the world has already dealt with this and there are ideas that you can read to educate yourself. I am straight and too wish the rest of the world would be but it is not and we need to learn to live together or we will die like fools! Do not let the politicians refocus your attention from what the real problems of Belize are. Mr Barrow let us see you solve the crime problems and quit playing church: we will all live better, happier and more peaceful.
CEO is ashame to reveal (his/her) identity!!! Whoever is supportive of the UNIBAM movement is…. (name it yourself)
well personally i dont have any animosity towards homosexuality nor do i condone it. but wat we need to understand is that for some one to get charged for sodomy their must be a complainant and if one is enjoying another mans n vice versa who will press charges? furthermore the law is for the protection of men equally as rape is for women (eventho one can be charged for sodomizin a woman). so this heinous act wont just mount up to harm that will get u a slap on the wrist. enjoys each others if u like but leave the law as is. it protects those persons who are taken advantage. its a waste of time to even bring this law into question.
THis the times we live in! Belize got to decide now to criminalize these people or to pass a new law protecting them. In a world with instant communications such as cell phones, cable tv, and the internet, these ideas get exchanged more freely. I don’t think it opens any doors for sex with animals. That is a crazy! I don’t think new laws are needed involving sex other than tougher rape and molestation jail terms.
NEXT THING WE WILL HEAR THESE PEOPLE WILL WANT TO CHANGE THE LAWS TO MARRY A DOG, SO THEY FREELY HAVE SEX WITH THE DOGS, AIAIAIAI, BELIEVE ME ONLY THAT LEFT,
PM YOU LEAVE THE LAWS LIKE IS IT OK NO CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS.
all i want to say is …go ahead…….the amount of energy people are putting in to stop this should be on crime……no matter what anybody says to say that their wrong doesn’t change that they want freedom………their 100% right for fighting for their rights 🙂 power and love to them integrity and peace to everyone
AND WHILE YOU SAINTS ARE ON THE TOPIC OF QUOTING SCRIPTURES AND APPOINTING YOURSELVES P.R. OFFICERS OF HEAVEN, CHEW ON THIS…”HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN…LET HIM CAST THE FIRST STONE!” “YE HYPOCRITES AND BROOD OF VIPERS, WHY SEEK TO TAKE THE SPECK OUT OF YOUR BROTHER’S EYE WHEN YOU HAVE A PLANK IN YOUR OWN!” “WITH THE SAME MEASURE YE METE OUT JUDGEMENT, IT WILL BE METED OUT TO YOU!” And I could go on and on and on…Instead of worrying about who or what other people are, pray that your children will not become!!!
God help us. Jesus came to save sinners. Pray for them not condemn. Stand up for the truth in love.
it is obvious that nobody else want them to have their rights that is why they are fighting for it in court!! THEY HAVE ALL THE RIGHT TO FIGHT!!! just because you think something is bad or immoral doesn’t make it immoral! that’s just opinions and your own beliefs, they should truly win and prevail, this is good.
why is everybody even saying that homosexuality is a bad thing? in what way does it do bad to you? homosexuality is not bad, i love my friend, God loves them that way too, people just try to twist things they don’t understand >:(
I SEE NO NEED TO CHANGE THE LAW, WHAT EVER!! IF DEM BWAY WANT OT TAKE …….. THAT’S THEIR PROBLEM LET BE AS LONG AS THEY KEEP IT IN THE CLOSET AND KEEP FAR AWAY FROM OUR LITTLE SONS, CAUSE YOU KNOW HOW MANY MEN LIKE TAKE THEM WIFE “………” SO IT IS HAPPENING OK AT THE END OF THE DAY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US WILL GIVE ACCOUNT TO GOD OF WHAT WE DID AND SAID.
NO NEED TO CHANGE THE LAWS LEAVE LIKE IS IT.
Section 53 of the criminal code does not mention sodomy nor does it mention homosexuality. The exact wording is: “Every person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature
with any person or animal shall be liable to imprisonment for ten years.”
“Against the oder of nature”…. nature intends for us to reproduce as a result of carnal knowledge. So EVERYONE, regardless if they are gay or straight, who engages in carnal knowledge without the intent or opportunity to reproduce is going against the order of nature. That includes people who use birth control, and people who engage any non-procreative form of sexual intimacy with members of the opposite sex. Section 53 is a violation of everyone’s basic human rights.
I want to marry my cat……..she is so beautiful and sweet………but…………
MARRIAGE SHOULD BE BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN……..mainly FOR THE SECURITY OF THE CHILDREN.
GAYS SHOULD HAVE A PROTECTED RELATIONSHIP BUT MARRIAGE IS NOT THE ANSWER….because they dilute the SANCTITY OF THE HOLY MATRIMONY.
AND…….IT IS WRITTEN, in The Bible…………………….
THAT A MAN SHALL NOT LIE WITH ANOTHER MAN AS HE LIES WITH A WOMAN.
I cannot believe the bigots, BT I don’t need to add anything to your statements. Well said.
@Earl Grey, this issue has nothing to do with marriage. This is about decriminalizing sexual activity between consenting HUMAN adults. If you notice it’s only the homophobes who bring up bestiality in the argument?
Have you EVER, I MEAN EVER, heard a supporter of equal rights for all PERSONS regardless of sexual orientation suggest that bestiality be decriminalized? No of course not. But people of your mindset love to suggest that accepting homosexuals as human beings somehow opens the door to a society where people openly engage in sexual relationships with animals. That is a shameful attempt at demonizing people.
Likewise, even the way Chapter 53 was written to include “or animal” was prejudicial and intended to lump homosexuals together with sexual deviants. Bestiality should be an offense but it should stand alone in the criminal code. No rational minded person would ever condone sexual relations or marriage with an animal, so get over that asinine argument.
Good Day all:
Let me say that i am happy to see that fear-mongering is alive and well in a supposedly literate society. It is clear as individuals that as a people, we are selective in what rights would upheld and what rights will be dismissed. As a people we forget that all human being are created equal in dignity and rights. I will not call anyone a bigot, I will challenge all the bible thumping individuals to remember we live in a secular society with a constitution. I am challenging every bible thumping individuals, if it was you under attack being abused and treated with fear. What would you do? Hate comes from the heart easily, but knowledge comes from the mind. As we struggle conveniently with the bible, rights and science lets not forget the heart in all this. If is love, lets see love and leave the judgment to God. Fair treatment folks, not fearful treatment.
To all you Bible thumpers..and opponents.. one of the ten commandments is THOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTRY, yet most of you do, you bunch of hypocrytes.
Hello, religious zealous nuts against anything they don’t understand! You would do well to realize that your religion is not the only religion in the world. But of course, your God has no sense of understanding that such a religion was created long after that of Pagan religions, Norse religions, Roman and Greek Gods, Buddhism, Hinduism and was created around the same time as Islam (in case you’re uneducated, one who practices the Islamic religion is called a Muslim).
In the case of homosexuality, you are not fighting “for the kids”, you are fighting for your own fear of your own hateful God.
I am in no way saying that the Christian God is hateful. In this, I am saying that the Christian God is adaptable to what the individual Christian human wants him to be (apparently). It is only convenient for you for him to be hateful towards gays and not towards other sins that you likely do.
This convenient adaptation of the Christian God, along with the same ideation of the Islamic “Allah”, is the largest cause of war and human-inflicted human suffering throughout the history of the world.
In terms of legality, Section 53 condemns CARNAL intercourse. Now, if you want a literal interpretation of that line, anyone who has sexual intercourse for any physical pleasure and not PURELY for reproductive reasons ONLY is GUILTY under this law, whether it is between man and woman or not.
But of course, any adulterer would never admit any such flaws in their actions, thought processes, or condemnations of others.
STOP USING GOD AS A CONVENIENCE and STOP the double-standard of the written code. You are disgusting and vile individuals for being so hateful and causing such pain and suffering to a fellow human being. If you truly believe homosexual acts are wrong, LET GOD JUDGE THE HOMOSEXUALS. You have no right to do so, lest you be judged yourself for trying to be God.
If the church wishes to make political decisions they need to accrue the political costs of such and start paying taxes. If God has issues with the LGBT people then let God deal with them. I think God might handle the LGBT situation the same way he handles his financial situations in the church.
@Earl Grey – The bible has 6 admonishments to gays in the Bible, but 362 for straight people. If we look at the world realistically, the str8 people keep on having the gay babies, bringing God into this will not solve the issue, just as it has not solved the issues of hunger, poverty and crime that plague our beautiful country. Have you ever stopped to think about where God is when that 12 year old girl is being molested by her father, or uncle, or cousin? Where God is when that drunk 22 year old comes home and beats his girlfriend and kids? God matters when people want him to matter. In all my years, I have never heard God say anything. As a church going man and as a bipedal, carbon based life form with “human intelligence” you should realize that the Bible does not say, it is read. The bible is read an interpreted just as our constitution and our laws.
Your statement about the cat is not a plausible one, because your cat is not capable human thinking or communication, it is of a different species and I’m sure your cat would prefer someone with better reasoning.
I will start a war in Belize surely for this is insane and our leaders need to be strong and principled so that they say what in their opinion is right and not stall with maybe or I do not know or no comments. Leaders should lead either to win or to lose. Indecision is poor leadership. All those in favour of gays and lesbians should take themselves to the country where they learnt this disgusting attitude. This discussion should be terminated. Educators educate in right things. Things that are morally correct. Godamn all even the thought.
Since you guys are discussing your inputs and belief on Homosexuality whether if it is a sin or not, here is my tid bits on the whole area of sexuality. I believe that a monogamous relationship between a husband and a wife is the way to go. I believe that sexual immorality is a sin. Whether it be polygamist heterosexual relationships or committing adultery, premarital sex- sex before marriage or a lifestyle of people living together while having sexual relations before marriage, homosexual or lesbian relationships-whether it be after marriage lesbians or homosexual relationships, premarital homosexual or lesbian relationships, monogamous lesbian or homosexual relationships, polygamist lesbian or homosexual relationships, bisexual relationships, incest, prostitution or pornography….all are sexual immorality in the eyes of God. Here are some scriptures from the Old and New Testament about the various types of sexual immorality that was mentioned above.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 says “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God”
Matthew 5:28 says “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Hebrews 13:4 says “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
Ephesians 5:5 says “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
Colossians 3:5 says “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
1 Corinthians 6:13-20 says “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. …”
Leviticus 18:22 says “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”
Matthew 5:27-28 says “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
2 Timothy 2:22 says “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 “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, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. 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
Mark 7:20-23 says “And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Other sins were mentioned in these scriptures such as stealing, lying, murdering, sorcery-witch craft, orgies, jealousy, envy, idolatry, enmity, rivalries, fits of anger etc…other than sin of sexual immorality…
The point I am trying to make is that all of us has sinned and had fallen short of the glory of God or have fallen short of God’s standards of what is right, and we are all guilty of wrongdoing. The last scripture in Mark explains it… “from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Therefore none of us are deserving in inheriting the Kingdom of God or to spend eternity with him because of the sinful nature that we have inherited from the first man Adam. Therefore we are separated from God and are under His judgment. We simply do not deserve Him. In other words, we cannot live a lifestyle of reaching up to God’s standards on our own. Since we have all sinned we cannot be with God because God simply does not accept sin. No matter what it is. If it is white, black, gray… no matter what…sin is sin in God’s eyes. So to save us from sin, Jesus came and took our place and gave up him self for us. He was and is righteous. We are not righteous in our own selves. Through Jesus’ death, the door is open for us to be connected with God. When we accept that we are sinners and accept Jesus in our hearts and lives we are now free over the power of darkness in this world that is from Satan himself. Through Jesus’ death all the debts we owed have been paid. All our past has been cleared by the blood of Jesus. Our sins have been washed away by the blood of the lamb. So therefore we are now seen as “accepted” and “righteous” in the eyes of God because we have believe in the power of Jesus’ crucifixion and how He saved us.
Now that we are saved from the power of darkness-sin, that does not mean that we will not be tempted to do sin. We will be tempted. And it is Satan who tempt us to sin and not God. He tempts us by playing with our desires. James 1:14. When we cherish in our hearts evil or ungodly desires, we give him a weapon to use against us. He uses the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life to tempt us. 1 John 2:15-17. Satan tempts us because he does not want us to serve God or to be connected with Him. He wants to break our relationship with God and keep us under his bondage. Remember sin separates us from God. But God does allow temptations to come our way because it helps us to grow, to be discipline and teachable and makes us stronger in our faith…but God will never allow Satan to tempt us beyond our ability to endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13. But we can overcome temptation. We can overcome Satan the enemy with using the Word of God-the Bible. This was the way Jesus dealt with the devil when He was tempted. Matthew 4:1-11. We must also resist the devil and his plans and not give in to temptation. James 4:7. And we must also put on our spiritual armor which are God’s truth, God’s righteousness, the Gospel of peace, the Shield of faith, the Helmet of salvation, the Sword of the spirit and prayer. Ephesians 6:10-18. Temptation though is not sin. The sin happens when we yield to the temptation. Remember Jesus was tempted but he overcame all of them by standing on God’s Word. Matthew 4:1-11. We need to obey God’s word and be overcomers as well. What is important to know is that Satan operates from the soulish realm; that is he operates through our mind, will and emotions. That is why it is important for us to bring our mind under the subjection of Christ. 2 Corinthians 1 1:3; 1 Corinthians 10:13. James 1:12.
We will fail in yielding to temptation sometimes. ” When we do yield to temptation, our sin and weaknesses are revealed, but we should realize that our failure is not the end of everything. We should move on with life.
1. Ask God’s forgiveness and correct mistakes. 1 John 1:9.
2. We must not listen to Satan’s accusations and condemnation. He will always try to convince us to give up; he will try to hold us back.
* We must draw near to God (James.4:8.)We must keep our focus on Jesus, allow Him to cleanse our heart and mind. This will make us eager and enthusiastic about living a life filled with good deeds. Hebrews 9:14; Titus 2:14.” Source: Foundation Teachings from Elijah Centre.
The point is, is that whenever we fall, we must get back up and press forward, we must not stay in our sins but repent and make adjustments in our lives so that we don’t continue to live in sin. God wants complete repentance.
So if we know that we are in sin, have not committed our selves to the Lord Jesus Christ to be redeemed, or have accepted Christ but somehow along the way had fallen short and stay in sin, the best thing to do is to turn back to Jesus Christ and “stay” in Him on a consistent basis, so that we don’t get deceive by the enemy or to be under his bondage.
So my take on Homosexuality, is it wrong in the eyes of God? Yes. And so are all the other sexual immoral activities mentioned above, and the other sins, stealing, lying, murdering, idolatry, enmity, strife, rivalries, etc….
As mentioned before all of us has somehow or somewhere had missed the mark or fallen short and need to turn to Jesus and stay in Jesus in order to inherit the Kingdom of God. Being in sin…no matter what kind of sin…because sin is sin in God’s eyes will not allow us to be connected with Him or spend eternity with Him, because sin separates us from God.
I don’t have any take on the topic based on scientific findings but only on the biblical stand point. But I know that I will not be deceived by the enemy Satan, because he has created systems in the world that are totally in contrary to the precepts, requirements and standards of God…and he is using those systems to keep people in bondage and in sin because he does not want them to be with God or to be connected with Him. God loves everyone and wants everyone to turn to Him…but they have to make a choice to do so…Jesus already died on the cross for us…we need to do our part and accept Him…all of who He is and all of what He stands for and represents…We must not be blinded by the devil, Satan…he is the enemy.
People might say that I am single mined or narrow minded because of only using the Bible stand point…but that is what God stands for and I choose to stand with God and be on His side…and not to be blinded and deceived by the enemy Satan.
@For His Glory
If you want to bring God into this, I suggest that you take his stand on forgiveness. How about we eliminate prisons all together and forgive all the murderers and rapists and child molesters and thieves and robbers. Why can’t we all just live in Peace and forgive one another? Because that would be something that Jesus would do.
Have you ever stopped to think that God just doesn’t give a damn? You all have a problem with 2 people loving one another but I do not see you all working to stop divorces and working to stop extra marital and pre-marital sex.
Mahatma Ghandi was right in saying that Christians are nothing like their Christ. If Christians practiced what they preached the world would be a better place. Jesus preached nothing about Homosexuals and if indeed you want to take about homosexuality in the Bible, then I suggest that you look at King David.
David and Jonathan
Passages in 1 Samuel & 2 Samuel describe, among other events, an extremely close bond between David and Jonathan. Jonathan was the son of King Saul, and next in line for the throne. But Samuel anointed David to be the next king. This produced a strong conflict in the mind of Saul.
Below are important verses which describe the relationship that is relevant to most homosexual’s relationships today:
1 Samuel 18:1
“…Jonathan became one in spirit with David and he loved him as himself.” (NIV)
“…the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (KJV)
Most translations use the term “soul” rather than “spirit” to describe the bond. They speak of an “immediate bond of love”, their souls being “in unison,” their souls being “knit” etc. Genesis 2:7, as written in the original Hebrew, describes how God blew the spirit into the body of Adam that God had formed from earth, so that Adam became a living soul. This means that “soul”, in the ancient Israelite times, represents a combination of body and spirit. Thus the two men appear to have loved each other both physically and emotionally.
1 Samuel 18:2
“From that day, Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.” (NIV)
David left his parent’s home and moved to Saul’s where he would be with Jonathan. This is a strong indication that the relationship was extremely close. It echoes the passage marriage passage in Genesis 2:24: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
1 Samuel 18:3-4
“And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.” (NIV)
Since people in those days did not wear underwear, Jonathan stripped himself naked in front of David. That would be considered extremely unusual behavior (then and now) unless their relationship was sexual in nature.
1 Samuel 18:20-21
“Now Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.’I will give her to him’, he thought, ‘so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him’. Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law” (NIV)
In the King James Version, the end of Verse 21 reads:
“Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law, in the one of the twain.” (KJV)
Saul’s belief was that David would be so distracted by a wife that he would not be an effective fighter and would be killed by the Philistines. He offered first his daughter Merab, but that was rejected, presumably by her. Then he offered Michal. There is an interesting phrase used at the end of verse 21. In both the NIV and KJV, it would seem that David’s first opportunity to be a son-in-law was with the older daughter Merab, and his second was with the younger daughter Michal. The KJV preserves the original text in its clearest form; it implies that David would become Saul’s son-in-law through “one of the twain.” “Twain” means “two”, so the verse seems to refer to one of Saul’s two daughters. Unfortunately, this is a mistranslation. The underlined phrase “the one of” does not exist in the Hebrew original. The words are shown in italics in the King James Version; this is an admission by the translators that they made the words up. Thus, if the KJV translators had been truly honest, they would have written:
“Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law, in the twain.”
In modern English, this might be written: “Today, you are son-in-law with two of my children” That would refer to both his son Jonathan and his daughter Michal. The Hebrew original would appear to recognize David and Jonathan’s homosexual relationship as equivalent to David and Michal’s heterosexual marriage. Saul may have approved or disapproved of the same-sex relationship; but at least he appears to have recognized it. The KJV highlights their re-writing of the Hebrew original by placing the three words in italics; the NIV translation is clearly deceptive.
1 Samuel 20:41
“After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with is face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together – but David wept the most.” (NIV)
Other translations have a different ending to the verse:
“…and they kissed one another and wept with one another, until David exceeded.” (KJV)
“…and they kissed one another and wept with one another until David got control of himself.” (Amplified Bible)
“And they sadly shook hands, tears running down their cheeks until David could weep no more.” (Living Bible)
“They kissed each other and wept together until David got control of himself.” (Modern Language)
“They kissed each other and wept aloud together.” (New American Bible)
“Then David and Jonathan kissed each other. They cried together, but David cried the most.” (New Century Version)
“Then they kissed one another and shed tears together, until David’s grief was even greater than Jonathan’s.” (Revised English Bible)
“…and they kissed one another and wept with one another until David recovered himself.” (Revised Standard Version)
The translators of the Living Bible apparently could not handle the thought of two adult men kissing, so they mistranslated the passage by saying that the two men shook hands! This is somewhat less than honest. The original Hebrew text says that they kissed each other and wept together until David became great. The word which means “great” in this passage is “gadal” in the original Hebrew. The same word is used elsewhere in the Hebrew Scriptures to refer to King Solomon being greater than all other kings. Some theologians interpret “gadal” in this verse as indicating that David had an erection. However, the thoughts of David becoming sexually aroused after kissing Jonathan may have been too threatening for Bible translators. They either deleted the ending entirely or created one of their own.
2 Samuel 1:26
“I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.”
In the society of ancient Israel, it was not considered proper for a man and woman to have a platonic relationship. Men and women rarely spoke to each other in public. Since David’s only relationships with women would have been sexual in nature, then he must be referring to sexual love here. It would not make sense in this verse to compare platonic love for a man with sexual love for a woman; they are two completely different phenomena. It would appear that David is referring to his sexual love for Jonathan.
@Micheal, Woe to you! Hater of Good, pervert child, uneducated critter! God will hold you accountable for what you have against Him!
The plague of mankind is the fear and rejection of diversity: monotheism, monarchy, monogamy and, in our age, monomedicine. The belief that there is only one right way to live, only one right way to regulate religious, political, sexual, medical affairs is the root cause of the greatest threat to man: members of his own species, bent on ensuring his salvation, security, and sanity. ~Thomas Szasz
@ Pride Belize
You are taking the scriptures out of context with Johnathan and David for your own self rigtheous justification to feel good about what you belive. Sexual immorality is sexual immorality and homosexuality is sexual immorality, and sexual immorality is sin. Johnathan and Davids relationship was a close bond that they shared together and not having a sexual realtionship with each other. As I said, you are taking the scripture out of context to justify your beliefs about what God standards is on Homosexulaity. Look at Sodom and Ghomorah. Why did God destroy the place even when Abraham was pleading with God if he could at least spare the place if he finds at least 10 rigtheous men or people. But God did not find at least 10 rigthoeus men so he destroyed the place because of the sexual immoral sin that was happening in the place and homosexual activity was apart of what the men were doing there.
Go read Genesis again and see what Gods standards is on Homosexulity. Two scriptures below also demonstrate what Gods standrads is on Homosexulity.
1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 “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, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. 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
Leviticus 18:22 says “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”
At the crux of this issue is whether or not some people were born homosexuals. If they were, then we cannot say that they are an abomination, because they too, were naturally created. I’m afraid that all the research from many disciplines show this: Even though large segments of the homosexual community DO have a choice in the matter, a small percentage were BORN with biological tendencies that would make it next to impossible for them to have natural attraction to the opposite sex. In other words, some of them were born that way. There is also an even smaller population for whom the categorization of “male” or “female” does not apply. By definition, they can be seen as BOTH, or a NEITHER. When we make laws that ignore such people’s existence, we partake in OPPRESSION. I refuse to oppress people, despite my respect for the Bible.