Of course Adventists are ahead of the curve. Adventists have been doing this long before World Vision came on the scene.

The real sins of Sodom included the practice of homosexuality, all kinds of immorality, as well as all the sins described in Ezekiel 16: 49, 50.

To make it sound as if perhaps sexual immorality had nothing to do with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, does an injustice to the Genesis account, to say nothing of Jude 1; 7; 2 Peter 2: 6-8; Lev. 18: 23; Romans 1: 26, 17; 1 Cor. 6: 9-11; 1 Tim. 1: 10; and the writings of Ellen White.

According to Ellen White, the sins of "sodomitish impurity," "indulgence of unlawful things," "dissipation," and "perversity," were the result of the sins that Ezekiel 16 describes-- "pride, fulness of bread, abundance of idleness," and neglecting the poor and needy. (See Testimonies On Sexual Behavior, Adultry, and Divorce, pp. 119-121.)

"The prophet has here [Ezekiel 16: 49] specified the particular evils which led to dissolute morals" (4 SDA BC 1161). She is saying that the particular evils of idlessness and self-centeredness, etc., led to "dissolute morals," i.e., sins which included the practice of homosexuality.

"There is a strange abandonment of principle, the standard of morality is lowered, and the earth is fast becoming a Sodom. Sodomitish practices which brought the judgment of God upon the world, and caused it to be deluged with water, and which caused Sodom to be destroyed by fire, are fast increasing. We are nearing the end. God has borne long with the perversity of mankind, but their punishment is no less certain. Let those who profess to be the light of the world, depart from all iniquity." RH Nov. 10, 1884. She goes on to mention the "unrestrained passions," the "widespread impurity," and "the indulgence of animal propensities" that are "gaining strength" in our world today.

One cannot help but see that Ellen White is not primarily referring to neglecting the poor in those lines. Her choice of words in this connection--- "perversity," "passions," "impurity," "animal propensities," "dissolute morals," and "dissipation,"--- all have primary reference to sexual immorality.

Also, significantly, the narrative of Gen. 18 and 19 shows that it was the widespread practice of homosexuality in Sodom which demonstrated that the city deserved to be destroyed. See Gen. 18: 20, 21. Those things were an illustration of the sins which the Lord was speaking of when He went down to see if the people were acting according to the outcry that had reached Him.

It makes no biblical sense to conclude that the narrative just happens to contain this rather long and detailed story, and that it is coincidental to the punishment that God sent upon the city.

This is particularly true in light of the inspired commentary in 2 Peter 2: 6-9:

"The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, these also God condemned and reduced to ashes; He destroyed them completely, making them an object-lesson for godless men in future days. But He rescued Lot, who was a good man, shocked by the dissolute habits of the lawless society in which he lived; day afer day every sight, and sound, of their evil courses tortured that good man's heart. These are all examples of how the Lord can rescue the godly out of trials, and hold the wicked for their punishment until the day of Judgment. Above all he will punish those who follow their abominable lusts. They flout authority; reckless and headstrong, they are not afraid to insult celestial beings."

Without question, God hates both the sins in Ezekiel 16 and those sins in Gen. 19. But it would certainly be a mistake to give homosexuals the impression that the sins of Sodom did not include the practice of homosexuality. When those in the church speak as if homosexual practices were not among the sins which brought down God's wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah, whether they know it or not, they provide some people encouragment to believe homosexuality is not a sin, and thus they are helping spread the very sins that Ellen White and the apostle Peter were inspired of God to warn us against. Homosexuals need the message that it's a sin to practice homosexuality and that God has the power to help them resist and overcome ALL sin in their lives. This is the message God wants Seventh-day Adventists to give to all the world-- and that includes the millions of gay people whom God loves and wants to save.

I'm a gay person and would still be practicing these very sins today if it weren't for my personal study of this subject and the decision to allow God to change my desires. As a member of the gay church in San Diego, I used to see pamphlets containing the same specious argument made today by some SDAs that the sin of Sodom had nothing to do with the practice of homosexuality. It may indeed look sophisticated and "open-minded," perhaps "progressive," but it is really without any firm foundation, and is contrary to both the testimony of Scripture and the Spirit of prophecy.

Great OP Alex but I think ADRA is as large as World Vision. And also I believe are in every country or almost every country in the world. But I must say that I agree with John's post.

pk

I didn't read this as a specious argument that SDA's can use to condone their homosexuality if that's their leaning but rather an argument for a more Biblical approach to what it really means to be a Christian in our world - a return to the powerful messages of the OT prophets to tend to the needs of the impoverished rather than rant against gay marriage, stem cell research and all other sundry sorts of things of lesser importance.

I firmly believe that the most important question we will have to answer on Judgment Day will be, "What have you done to help the poor and needy?"

Alex

It's what Matthew 25 says

The argument is being made today even by some thought-leaders in the SDA church that homosexuality is not a sin and that the church ought to recognize same sex relationsships. They make the same argument that is being made here, that homosexual practices had nothing to do with God's destruction of Sodom. My point is that both Ezekiel 16 and the Bible verses condemning the practice of homosexuality as a sin must be acknowledged.

JOHN317

YES I agree that homosexuality is a sin but
that it was not the main one of SODOM AND GOMORRAH

dgrimm60

The argument about Ezekiel 16: 49 can be made without negecting to mention the fact that the practice of homosexuality is also a sin.

I have noticed that virtually every time since 1972 that I have seen this argument made-- beginning in the gay churches I attended-- there's either no mention that homosexual practices are condemned in the Bible, or, more commonly, there's an outright deniel of it.

How do you stand on this issue? Is the practice of homosexuality sinful?

I fully agree with you there, degrimm.

Both kinds of sins-- in fact, all kinds of sins-- will keep people out of God's kingdom. That's the message of 1 Cor. 6: 9-11; Rev. 22: 15; and Matt. 25.

JOHN317

yes homosexuality is a sin

in both 1 COR 5: 11 and 1 COR 6: 9, 10 there
is a list of sins

so to me this is perfectly clear

dgrimm60