Previous page: Homosexuality & God
Every form of sin has consequences and homosexual acts are no exception. Just as Satan downplayed and distorted the consequences of sin with Eve (Genesis 3), so he does in tempting people with sexual sin today. Simple lies like “Go ahead, nobody will know,” or “It won’t harm you to experiment a little,” or “This is the thrill you’ve been looking for,” or “If it feels good, it is good.” Such suggestions may be enough to push a person over the edge to act on the temptations.
Pursuing homosexual desires can lead to all sorts of troubles. At first, people may get caught up in the temporary pleasure that the sin brings, but sooner or later the consequences will catch up with them. The scripture passage in Romans 1:21-29 NKJV sheds much light on the possible consequences of homosexual acts.
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Professing to be wise, they became fools,and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
The people Paul was describing in this passage had pursued a progressive path of sin that started with suppressing truth and refusing to acknowledge God and continued into idolatry and homosexual acts. These acts are characterized as the results of corrupted morals, futile thinking and a depraved mindset. Interestingly the path of sin does not stop there – it continues into every other form of sin.
This passage shows what can happen when people engage in homosexual activity. These consequences may not result in every case, however the fact that Paul mentioned them in his letter provides sobering insight into the possible dangers of the activity. Additionally, I have included links to other examples in the scripture of homosexual activity that also illustrate the below consequences.
With that in mind, here are the consequences that appear to have occurred:
Due Penalty: The Apostle Paul mentioned a “penalty” that people received for practicing homosexual acts in verse 27. It is a mystery as to what Paul was referring to as the penalty. It is possible that the penalty could have been a physical ailment such as AIDS, Herpes, Karposi’s Sarcoma (type of cancer) or some other sexually-related illness. Another perhaps less known condition is the “Gay Bowel” Syndrome, which results from repeated anal intercourse. This is where the sphincter muscle in the anus loses its elasticity and can no longer close. See Gay_Sex_Health_Risks (PDF file) for more information on such risks.
Emotional and Spiritual Confusion: Paul linked “futile” thinking, “darkened” hearts and “depraved” minds to homosexual activity in the above passage. Spiritually, the people were embracing idols instead of the true living God and as a result God gave them up to their vile passions and debased minds.
Their rejection of truth opened the door to every form of evil, including greed, envy, murder, strife, malice, gossip, slander, hatred, hatred of God, insolence, arrogance and rebellion (Romans 1:25,29-31).
Consumption by lust (Romans 1:24,26-27, Genesis 19:4-13, Judges 19:22-28): Pursuing homosexual desires provokes God to withdraw his protective hand from a person’s life, so that he or she is given over to indulge in their “vile passions” and “shameful lusts” to their own peril.
Lack of peace: The progression of sin in the Romans passage ends with the people being filled with every form of unrighteousness. Isaiah wrote “There is no peace for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22), and this could describe the final condition of the people, who were apparently inclined to every form of sin in the end. I think it is important to note that homosexual activity, as with any sex sin, can give evil spirits footholds in people’s lives which can result in a person being affected by evil spirits. This can range from a mild external “oppression” to a literal indwelling of evil spirits, whose main objective is to inspire people toward ongoing, active rebellion against God. I suggest that it would difficult, if not impossible for a person to have any peace in that condition.
See Consequences of Sex Sin for more info
With such serious consequences, it’s hard to imagine how anyone might escape the downward spiral of homosexual acts. Yet, the scriptures clearly give people struggling with homosexual desires hope for freedom and recovery through Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 NKJV).
Next Page: Homosexual Recovery