Must God Apologise To Sodom & Gomorrah?

Perversion is an intoxicating drug. It affects the whole place of sanity and thought.

With apologies to Dickens, perhaps, this is the craziest of times as the dissolute pus seeps through the sagging integument of Christian consciousness; and in all honesty, our noses have not only been turned—there is a slithering process of moral asphyxiation from the effused miasma of convoluted reasoning.

In this article, I shall attempt to exercise bearable restraint and practical care in discussing an issue that has become almost scary, slippery, and frightening to discuss in certain countries. Over there, any slight attempt to refuse to pander to the zeitgeist interpretations of commonsensical wisdom sustained by one's obstinacy in failing to dance to the rancid tunes of levity and frivolity—by holding firmly to the traditions handed down the generation—results in serious legal repercussions.

Sadly, in most such countries, people of conscience are being swept under the carpet and confined to the narrow walls of their residence to express their true opinions and feelings. Yes, many are trembling and tremulous to ventilate their true feelings. In fact, any attempt to stick one's head above the parapet attracts public censure and communal animadversion.

To state it bluntly: I am no homophobic person. As a Christian striving to follow the high standards set by Jesus Christ, I love everybody.

However, loving people must not be confused with loving acts perpetrated by those one loves. Moreover, just because I am not swayed by a certain position does not make me antagonistic towards those who have been persuaded by such. It is important to state such truths clearly as intellectual discourse must afford us the opportunity to agree and disagree in a spirit of fragrant cordiality and respectful dialogue. It is such a premise that allows me to even discuss such matters.

It is also worth dismissing any charge that by even discussing such a matter, I am some form of bigot (or many other names that those who are fearless enough to broach the subject receive as labels). That some people want to legalise a certain way of life, and do as they please is solely within their prerogative; neither must I also be coerced into subscribing to their way of life.

For my considered disagreement, I sincerely hope that critics do not refer to me as a narrow-minded or mean person. After all, a person must have a right to live by his or her conscience—this is what I believe, and this resolute belief will guide whatever I do.

'Special treatment'

Equal rights to do as one pleases must not be confused with special treatment. In fact, many practising a certain lifestyle should not hide behind the cloak to demand something more than they make it out to be. If they want special treatment, then they must ask for such.

Considering the seriousness of discussing such matters, and noting that the whole atmosphere has been stained with flakes of trepidation, I will carefully segment my audience. My core audience is not those who live only by the laws of a land. In truth, I hope to address those who fraternise with our cherished and beloved faith—Christianity.

Christians in general have a duty to show the benefits of the alternative. Yes, we must live as true examples. Apostle Paul encourages us to "be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15 KJV; see also Matthew 5:13-16).

'Vox populi, vox Dei'

On 22 May 2015, The Republic of Ireland through a plebiscite legalised homosexual marriages. 62.07% (over 1.2m) of the voter turnout (1,949,725) backed the decision. Thinking about the fanfare and excitement that many people expressed; amid them celebrating, I found myself cerebrating on the question, "Must God Apologise to Sodom & Gomorrah?"

The phrase 'vox populi, vox Dei' ("The voice of the people [is] the voice of God") surely came to mind.

Nonetheless, I realised that according to the Bible's description of Sodom and Gomorrah, homosexuality had widespread acceptance (Genesis 18 and 19). If God destroyed them although the masses approved of their lifestyle, then perhaps it is not always that the voice of the people is the voice of God.

When I look at Christianity in a global context, the picture in some place makes grim reading and viewing. Many are having to cave in to external pressure to twist what they believe; however, as this discussion progresses, I will equally shine the light on a faint glimmer or flicker of hope.

In some areas, it is increasingly obvious Christians have become a law unto themselves, and they have surely lost their essential compass of thought. In truth, we do not know what else we believe, and our confusion has become our blaring bane.

Today, Christians are fighting each other about God's view about homosexuality. Who would have expected such a sad turn of affairs? Even clear-cut Scriptures are now being seen and interpreted through certain relativity spectacles; and a new believer may on occasion, struggle to know whether the Bible is, and says what it purports to say.

'Full of twisters'

It is classic human nature to twist the truth to suit our fleshly purposes. And when such tendentious acts are gradually becoming a norm, soon, we will end up with a hotchpotch of the precious faith delivered to us. And at this frightening pace, and with our ranks full of twisters, we will need to apologise to the fathers of the faith, and in turn, our posterity will lay a myriad of maledictions upon us for handing them a corrupted faith when we should have "earnestly [contented] for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).

It is always surprising how people continue to say they belong to a religion but then try to bend the rules to suit their carnal desires. Why do you want Christianity to agree with your lifestyle, is a question I like asking. Without doubt, it is not the religion that must change; it is your duty to alter your sublunary taste and warped palate.

To previse that the debate about homosexuality will go away will be a temerarious conclusion. It featured very early in the Book of Genesis, and it is still a hotbed issue today. The subject is so contentious that anyone who attempts to say anything that does not side with the possessed and fevered zeitgeist view of the subject risks being treated as a pariah. The consequences are grave, and sadly, even staunch bastions of the faith are marinating their stance to suit the popular taste. Yes, they are giving "them" leadership positions and opening several other doors to them.

Perhaps, I must state that if the church continues to remain divided on the issue and gets sucked in the whirl and whoop of the times and watches indolently as such lifestyles invade its fabric, then God owes Sodom and Gomorrah an apology.

Yes, He must needs apologise to a people who were only acting according to the way He made them, if some of the proponents' views are anything to go by. If we are to agree with the argument that some are born with it; if God is the creator of life and He makes you a homosexual, and turns round to punish you, then that leaves much to be desired. On that porous premise, Sodom and Gomorrah would have done nothing wrong to merit being decrepitated in the crucible of God's raging anger. Nevertheless, Scripture rings true: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face" [1].

'Cheap grace'

Today, under the false illusions of cheap grace, everything is acceptable in Christianity. We just do what we like and hide behind the curtains of grace. It is shocking in the least. And those who call us back to the Bible are labelled legalists.

The truth remains that the just God does not change. Thus in resounding response to the question posed by this article: God does not owe anybody an apology. No, not for the "overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath" [2]. And He may very well do the same in our times.

It goes without saying that God's view on the subject remains clear, and will remain so till earth's last sun shall set.

As with life, we can expect to see convened panels, and on occasion people with stained collars attempting to speak for God. However, most true believers who are more interested in pleasing God and not pandering to the passions and palpitations of the flesh will always know what the real truth is. It is undeniable, and no amount of statute will ever change what feels like salty water rushing into a clean, fresh flowing stream.

The debate will rage on and on, but the truth stands firm; and as one great apostle has rightly pointed out, "We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth" [3].

Peter is worth quoting on such matters: "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds)" (2 Peter 2:4-8).

Jude 1:5-8 also has an essential piece of advice: "I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities."

To reiterate the answer to the posed question, Romans 9:20-21 is conclusive: "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"

On a number of issues, the Bible is pellucid in position, and yet there are many who will continue with their policy of twisting: "[W]hich they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" [4].

Having thought about the subject and read several justifications for this way of life, I can conclude that: "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness" (Proverbs 30:12).

If the comments on some threads are anything to go by, on such subjects, one has but to wonder whether a presumption of passivity on the part of Christians is to blame.

As a final word, God does not owe anybody an apology, and He will cause the Jehus to arise, and the Josiahs to emerge; for God "will build [His] church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" [5].

All Scripture references are from the King James Version unless otherwise advised.

[1] Psalm 89:14 (NKJV).

[2] Deuteronomy 29:23

[3] 2 Corinthians 13:8

[4] 2 Peter 3:16

[5] Matthew 16:18

Angelina K. Morrison is interested in national development, true religion, and self-improvement. She enjoys thinking, and writes stories only when the muse grips her. Her first short story, Gravellatina is a breathtaking five-part gripping series available now at Amazon. You can email her at angelinakm75@gmail.com, or find her at www.angelinakmorrison.wordpress.com or Facebook page.