Does "Being Gay" Send You to Hell?

In his response to the recent court rulings in California and a local pastors retort Jonathan Falwell made the statement,

“Being gay doesn’t send anyone to hell. Rejecting Jesus Christ does.”

Falwell was responding to a local pastor from Lynchburg who responded to the recent court rulings to allow same sex marriage by saying, “he hoped that all homosexuals would just move to California.”

Jonathan Falwell’s intent on rightfully reprimanding the concept that we should not deal with people who have serious issues in a flippant way was well founded. However, his admonishment left an ambiguous whole in his retort.

The Apostle Paul said,

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, NKJV)

Paul clearly indicates that someone who practices the sinful lifestyle of the past such as thievery or drunkenness or homosexuality is someone who does not demonstrate that he has been changed or born again.

While I agree with the sentiment to hate the sin and love the sinner, we should also affirm that we will condemn not condone a sinful lifestyle. Steve Lawson said, the two edged Word of God comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. The tragedy of all of this is that our culture is slowly accepting the practice of a sinful lifestyle by defining ones personhood by their behavior.

Jesus Christ promises a new life to those who are born again.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV)

I find John Piper’s response to the following question helpful.

How can we help Christians who are struggling with homosexual desires?

I would encourage them to be careful not to define themselves as "homosexual." Don't say, "I am gay," or "I am a homosexual." Say, rather, "I struggle with homosexual desires." That's a very small—and huge—distinction.

What Judgment?

Apparently the voice and will of the people of California was overridden today by four judges as the California Supreme Court overturned a homosexual marriage ban.

Today’s ruling by the California supreme court is another reminder why the most important job the next President of the United States will do is appoint justices to the Supreme Court of the United States. The presidential campaign this year may boil down to the lesser of the two liberals.

A ruling like this is perhaps a sign of worse things ahead as our society continues to sanction debauchery; in this case through appointed officials.

I wonder if those judges would classify the Apostle Paul’s statements as “hate speech?” I would not be surprised to see this issue brought before the courts in my lifetime.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

Below is the AP article if you care to read it.

California's top court overturns gay marriage ban

Associated Press
Published on: 05/15/08

SAN FRANCISCO ( — In a monumental victory for the gay rights movement, the California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage Thursday in a ruling that would allow same-sex couples in the nation's biggest state to tie the knot.

Domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage, the justices ruled 4-3 in an opinion written by Chief Justice Ron George.

Outside the courthouse, gay marriage supporters cried and cheered as news spread of the decision.

"Our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation," the court wrote.

The city of San Francisco, two dozen gay and lesbian couples and gay rights groups sued in March 2004 after the court halted San Francisco's monthlong same-sex wedding march.

"Today the California Supreme Court took a giant leap to ensure that everybody — not just in the state of California, but throughout the country — will have equal treatment under the law," said City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who argued the case for San Francisco.