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I think
they are illicit unions because according to the Scripture only man and woman
have the right to get married, that is to say, the only lawful marriage in
the sight of God is that which is contracted by a man with a woman. In the
book of Genesis it is written that after God had made man in His image,
according to His likeness, He made a woman (from one of the man’s ribs) for
him, and brought her to the man, and the man lay carnally with her. And then
God said: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to
his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24 – NKJV).
Please, note that God says that a man will leave his father and mother and be
joined to a woman (her wife) and not to another man; consequently a
‘marriage’ between two men (or two women) is contrary to nature.
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However,
according to the Word of God, it is contrary to nature not only the ‘marriage’
between two men or two women (in this case, they are considered joined
together by a non-existent bond of marriage), but also any sexual intercourse
or sexual act between men or women even though they are ‘unmarried’. For the
Scripture says that Sodom
and Gomorrah,
two ancient cities which were full of homosexuals, went “after strange flesh”
(Jude 7 – NKJV. The Italian Bible Riveduta Version reads “dietro a vizi
contro natura’ that is, “after vices against nature”); and Paul says about
those who commit indecent acts with people of the same sex: “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” (Romans 1:26-27 – NKJV).
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To confirm
that sex between men is condemned by God I quote the following passage which
is written in the law: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is
an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22
– NKJV).
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Therefore
all kinds of sexual acts between men (as well as between women) – no matter
if they are ‘married ‘ or ‘unmarried’ according to a human law – are
condemned by the Word of God.
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However
this perverse and sinful generation, which takes pleasure in what God hates, not
only tolerates indecent acts between men and between women, but also
encourages them. We have many evidences which confirm this extremely
permissive attitude toward homosexuals. In some nations, for instance, homosexuals
have obtained the right to get married and even the right to adopt children.
In Italy
the Parliament has not yet passed any law which allows homosexuals to get
married and to adopt children; nevertheless there are many signs that make us
think that one day this nation also will pass a law that allows these
perversions.
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Now,
brethren, I want to tell you this: unfortunately among the Protestants (both
in Italy
and abroad) those who are in favour of the marriage between homosexuals are
increasing all the more in number; such Protestants very insolently ask all
the Christians to forsake their ‘prejudices’ against homosexuality, which
originated in ancient times. ‘The customs have changed, so we ought to
conform ourselves to the new customs. We cannot and must not hold on to a
retrograde and out-of-date mentality, which is not suitable for this time any
longer’, assert these Protestants. Here is what some protestant pastors and
theologians declared about the civil ‘marriage’ between homosexuals several
years ago: ‘We appreciate and welcome with interest the recommendation of the
[European] Parliament in Strasbourg to recognize in the national legislations
the rights of the permanent cohabitations between citizens who are
homosexuals, by comparing them with the permanent cohabitations among
heterosexuals, in order to assure both of them of equal rights and duties; we
invite our society to have a confrontation of such proposal with serenity and
a spirit of equity, developing an ethical reflection which takes note of the
development of the custom which is going on in the western societies,
safeguarding the respect of the people involved in their human specificity
and their choices of life, and safeguarding together the times which are
indispensable for a development and maturity of the consciences in the face
of the changes which are going on; we hope that in this matter neither rigid positions
nor preconceived condemnations will arise, even in the name of a Christian
ethics which has been lived historically in different ways, and that the
respect of the human being, created in the image of God and loved and
redeemed by God, may remain in its centre; finally, in this context we
suggest that the word ‘marriage’ (which has produced the sense of an
unnecessary provocation) should be forsaken in favour of the words ‘permanent
cohabitation’ or ‘civil union’, which are more suitable’ (NEV, 2 March, 1994,
year XV, number 9, page 1). This declaration was signed by 33 Waldensian
pastors, 17 Baptists, 7 Lutherans, 7 Methodists and a Reformed woman pastor. Among
the signers we find Giorgio Bouchard (Waldensian, former President of the Italian
Federation of Evangelical Churches); Sergio Aquilante (Methodist), Franco
Scaramuccia and Massimo Aprile (Baptists); Hans Gerch Philippi (the Lutheran
Doyen); Paolo Ricca, who is the Dean of the Waldensian Theological Faculty,
and Bruno Corsani, Daniele Garrone and Ermanno Genre, who are teachers at the
same faculty, as well as Giorgio Girardet, who is emeritus professor.
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As you can
see, the position of these Protestants is clear, they hope that also here in
Italy homosexual ‘marriages’ will be accepted. This is a position, therefore,
according to which homosexuality is natural and lawful. But we know that
homosexuality is contrary to nature and unlawful in the sight of God. These
so called Protestants, therefore, protest against the truth, righteousness
and holiness, rather than against sin. They have rebelled against God, they
have cast His Word behind their backs, they have trampled the Word of God
underfoot. If they don’t repent, they will surely bear their judgement, that
is, they will surely be punished by God.
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As far as
we are concerned, as it is fitting for ministers of Christ, we will continue
to condemn with all boldness both homosexuality and every bill or law that
legalizes both homosexuality and homosexual ‘marriages’, saying in a loud
voice that homosexuals (whether they are Catholics or Baptists, or
Waldensians, or Methodists, or Lutherans, or Pentecostals, etc., etc.,) sin against
nature, doing things that are an abomination in the sight of God, and if they
don’t repent and believe in the Lord they will perish. Homosexuals will not
inherit the Kingdom
of God
(1 Corinthians 6:10).
After death they will go to Hades, and in that day they will rise again and
be cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the place
of eternal torment appointed by God for the abominable (Revelation 21:8). I
exhort you, brethren, to do the same: raise your voice against homosexuality!
Do not be deceived by the empty words of these so called Christians (they are
Christians in name only) who twist the meaning of the Word of God to their
own destruction. I say it again, do not be deceived by their empty words, for
because of these things – as Paul says – the wrath of God comes upon the sons
of disobedience (Ephesians 5:6). Instead, I say to these so called
Protestants who tolerate and encourage homosexuality, ‘Repent of your evil
thoughts and protest against homosexuality, otherwise the wrath of God will
come upon you because God is a righteous judge who punishes all those who
tolerate iniquity’. And I take the opportunity of saying to all those who are
called Protestants and are homosexuals, ‘Repent of your sins and believe in
the Lord, so that you may be set free from this sin of which you are slaves.
Do not hesitate to take this decision, otherwise you will go to hell when you
die’.
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