There has been much upset at the laws of Brunei where they punish adultery and gay sex with death by stoning. It is curious that the reaction is not to the death penalty for discovered adultery, but to the act of homosexuality. Islamic protest in Britain has stopped teaching in schools of acceptance of such behaviour in family life. What should true Christians think?
Let us go back one step. What does the God of the Bible think? We cannot make God over to be in 'our image', as that is idolatry. Yahweh Elohim declares he doesn't change, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6). We will work back in time on this matter.
Apostle Paul's Foundation in Christianity
We start with the Apostle Paul who, before he was converted, held the garments for those who stoned Stephen to death. The Apostle Paul reacted to the Classical world which looked in some ways similar to today, with many statues of naked men and scantily clad women. The laws of the land were those of this Roman, Greek influenced system which clearly allowed within bounds of norms of property and rights all sorts of sexual adventure. Paul devotes a whole section near the beginning of his letter to the Romans analysing the source of homosexuality. Fundamentally, through the insight of the Holy Spirit, he sees it as punishment for those who worship the creation more than the creator. It is borne out by observation. Those who love human 'beauty' will have issues.
Have a look at the order of evil that Paul rips into the Corinthians for,
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators (pornos) , nor idolaters (eidōlolatrēs), nor adulterers (moichos, male paramour), nor effeminate (malakos, fine soft ), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (arsenokoitēs literally 'man-couching', as in cohabiting sexually on a bed / couch), Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1Corinthinas 6:9-11)
Paul begins with overall general sexual promiscuity, which was often associated with idol worship. He was dealing with the Greek culture. He then digs deeper into specific types of pornos, where men would sleep with another's wife. Paul condemns, as absolutely ending any hope of salvation, 'soft' behaviour, which is an affectation which is as easily recognisable today as it was then. What is meant is clarified by the expression of 'man-couching' that follows. Only then does Paul come to theft, which is seen today as a crime and lastly extortion.
The power of Rome preferred crucifixion, which was a slow torturous death, and likely due to length of time dying, much much more painful than stoning. For early Christians there was no issue of stoning as there no juristiction of the the Law of Moses. The Roman laws were so different to Jewish standards that Paul differentiates a Christian response writing,
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (1Corinthians 6:12)
Paul is implying that there is repentance for a servant of Christ, as some were these things, but that if they return to such ways they will not inherit. They are free in Christ, but their choice has consequences. If a person is ongoing, in lifestyle, a fornicator, it is a way of life to death. One act of fornication may be a different matter. There may well be consequences in this life, in any case, let alone how it may affect the hope of eternal life, but this is not a matter for Christians. The matter is that they are not under the power of sin, but living a life in general in a way that pleases God, with the attitude of mind free of being servants or slaves to these things.
Christ's view
When it comes to Jesus, more properly Y'shua, we again have a situation where Jewish law was subordinated to Rome's law. Rome ruled Judea. The only records of attempted stoning are in John's Gospel. There is no mention of homosexuality. This may be for a reason, as it is simply less likely to exist where there are no images at all and no Greek idolatry. The best incident to illustrate Y'shua's thinking, which should influence the Christain is in the woman taken in Adultery. However it has a context which should make us wary of simplistic understanding. The Jews of Judea could be in trouble with the Romans for stoning to death anyone. This fact is revealed by the Judean leaders themselves.
Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: (John 18:31)
The Judean leaders are saying they are subject to Rome's law. What is clear is that the Judean leaders had jurisdiction in Judea over all matters of Jewish law and daily living. They could punish but they couldn't put to death. In this context we see the trap set for Y'shua.
The scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him (to the Romans). But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord.
And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:3-11)
Firstly we see that the man taken in the act was not brought. But we see also that all including the Y'shua, assumed she had personal responsibly for the act of adultery. Three facts emerge: the first fact is that even the self righteous Jews of that era understood that even as perfect Torah keepers they were not, and could not, be free from all sin. The second fact is that Y'shua didn't condemn but expected that the woman depart from her way of adultery (multiple acts, which is likely how she was caught in the act). The last fact is that to Y'shua adultery was a sin, which had to be refrained from. As to how Y'shua would have reacted in a situation where a pair were brought for repeated offences, with all the aggrieved parties and he had the power to rule, we cannot know.
Stoning, especially for what they considered blasphemy, was a Jewish cultural tradition from the Torah. Even though forbidden to stone people to death by Roman law, they twice tried to stone Y'shua.
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8:56-59)
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. (John 10:31-33)
The foundation of the Torah
The Torah was given as a guide for life, in contrast to the
way of life of the people of Canaan
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God. After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 18:2-5)
In this context the way God wanted his people to walk is clarified.
Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her. And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. (Leviticus 18:20-25)
There is no doubt that the God of the Bible, who never changes, so hates these actions that He would remove people from His sight rather than let them continue to do them. There is further detail
The man that commits adultery with another man's wife, even he that commits adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10)
Our culture may have a much more lenient view of adultery, but there is no evidence that it makes people happy, rather strong evidence that it leads to unhappiness and family breakdowns, which in turn leads to higher crime rates. In any case this law has the death penalty for adultery, for both parties. In list of similar laws it comes to the homosexual act:
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:13)
Again the Law of Moses calls for the death penalty of both parties involved. What is interesting with this law, is that the God of the Bible is so unhappy with the act that even if they aren't caught in the act, God will cause evil to come upon them. Why is this the case? We are given a reason for the laws.
Sanctify (set apart by your actions) yourselves therefore, and be ye holy (set apart): for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you. (Leviticus 20:7-8)
Those who think these actions including, forms of incest, adultery and homosexuality are ok, might be challenged by considering that if we wish to be close to God he has shown clearly here that He expects us to reach His standards. The God of the Bible has never shown that He reaches down to others standards. But Habbakuk makes an interesting point -sometimes it seems as if Yahweh Elohim, who said he won't look on evil, lets people do evil.
Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? (Hab 1:12-13)
But has anything changed by the coming of Christ?
The New Covenant
Let us hear if there is anything changed. Here is the Apostle John.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)
But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. (1John 2:5-7)
Not only are we to be perfected in love, grace and truth by keeping the word of God, but there has been no change in that word: it is the same as from the beginning. We can find nothing that contradicts this.
So what did change in Christ? What makes it new? We see that the idea of forgiveness or grace for sins (once the sin is departed from) is stronger in Christ than in the Law of Moses, that required the death penalty. But there is something else which is new: truth in our hearts.
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28)
In other words, Christ has upped the requirement. It is not good enough that we don't do sin, we have to stop thinking of the sin as well. No lusting in pornography. The matters of the heart are flagged more important than in they were in the Law of Moses. Christ is so strict that even his disciples protest!
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery. (Matt. 5:31-32)
There is no sense in this that Christ is more lenient or tolerant than the Law of Moses. He is asking his disciples to lift their minds and the quality of their actions to another level entirely. Even thinking of unauthorised sex is a sin, even divorce makes others sin. The honest servant of Christ is called to always keep examining their thinking and ponder if they have fallen short of the truly high standard, and rely on grace. Remember that the Law of Moses could only judge practically actions of those caught in the act. There were provisions for suspicious husbands (Num 5:13-30) and there were provisions for divorce (Deut 24:1-3). When pushed on the matter of divorce, Christ said “What did Moses command you?”
They said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.(Mark 10:3-9)
Again Christ sets an impossibly high standard, going back to the beginning before even the Law of Moses. Christ is saying that a standard set by God at least 4,000 years before his birth was fundamentally a relevant principle - how is this then not a relevant Christian standard a mere 2,000 years later?
The change in Christ came with the recognition that we are not judged on our actions, but the motives and thoughts that led to the actions. Only the God of the Bible can see these clearly!
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Romans 2:16)
So knowing this should Christians be comfortable in ourselves and other Christians doing something specifically labelled an abomination by God, with such pride of heart that is beyond a single sin of lust, even beyond ongoing sin, to be a whole lifestyle?
The new covenant is written in hearts - and minds not in the letter of the law.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:8)
The issue of pride may actually be the killer. Pride separates people from God and prevents the 'cleaning of hands', which is the repenting from past actions that were sin: pride can prevent ceasing from sin. Pride according to Christ is a sin that defiles
“That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:20-23)
The New Covenant in Christ looks like the old one with the nation of Israel, but requires more than adherence to the dot point of the law. In addition it calls for humble service from the heart and cleansing from defiling thoughts. Those laws are to be written on our heart.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Hebrews 8:10)
What laws? When we go through the issues Christ spoke of and the matters covered by the commands of Christ, they look like the Law of Moses. Christ even commands his followers to do as the Pharisees commanded from Moses' Law!
“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” (Mat 23:2-3)
Christians are not to be as the people of Canaan, who could not be changed, or the people of Sodom who would not listen to Lot. Christians are not to be like the people of the nations. The Apostle Paul pleaded to all Christians that they be transformed in the actions they permit their bodies to do. That their actions be directed by the attitudes of their minds and hearts, that absorbed and valued the Law and the Thinking of the way and the will of the God of Israel.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)
For more see Pride and Prosperity and Sodomy
