Art Toombs Ministries
Online Bible Commentary
Guilt and Homosexuality
Isaiah 3: 9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves. 10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. 11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done. (NIV)
Isaiah is saying that the people of Judah are parading their sin, like Sodom (v.9). The sin of Sodom was homosexuality: “In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire” (Jude 7). Isaiah writes that the righteous will enjoy the fruit of their deeds, but those who sin will suffer “disaster”, the punishment of Hell (vv. 10-11).
Isaiah is writing of people who “parade” a lifestyle of sin. They are adamant in their sin, and want the whole world to know. They have no intention of turning from their sin and, in fact, endeavor to legitimize their sin in the eyes of society. This attitude applied to the homosexuals of Sodom and is shared by many homosexuals today.
God sees either good or evil. He does not see any gray area. He is the God of absolutes. If we do His will, we are doing good. If we do not do his will, we are doing evil. This evil is called sin. Guilt comes from doing evil, sinning. In fact, evil and guilt are the same. The word “guilt” is not even in the original Greek Scriptures. The word “evil”, sin, is used instead.
We experience two kinds of guilt. There is false guilt, which comes from Satan and there is legitimate guilt which comes from God. We may feel guilty when we should not. This false guilt comes from Satan, and those who are influenced by him. But guilt, legitimate guilt, comes from God and only God. It is God’s way of convicting us of our sin. Read more about “guilt” in yesterday’s commentary on that subject.
The people of Sodom, referred to in this passage, were an example of guilt that comes as a result of the sin of homosexuality. Those involved in this lifestyle experience guilt. Likely, they do not even know that is what they are feeling. They may attribute their unrest to being shunned by society. However, the thought of society towards homosexuality has changed over the recent years.
First, society stopped persecuting homosexuality and became tolerant of that lifestyle. The guilt did not subside and homosexuals sought more. Next, society accepted homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle. The guilt did not subside and homosexuals sought more. Next, society claimed, in error, that homosexuals are born that way and should not be blamed for their lifestyle. The guilt did not subside and homosexuals sought more. This claim is in error because homosexuality is sin (Ro. 1:26-27, Jude 7, 1 Cor. 6:10, and many others) and God punishes sin, but A Holy God can not punish us if he made us that way. Thus He did not create anyone a homosexual. God made us good, not evil, exclaiming “it is very good” (Gen. 1:31). Finally, society may recognize homosexual marriage as equal to God’s marriage. The guilt will not subside and there will be no more that they can seek from society. The guilt will not subside for homosexuals because the guilt is not caused by society, but God. That is the nature of guilt, and sin.
So what should be one’s appropriate response to legitimate guilt? The appropriate response is to ask God to forgive them. They must repent, turn from their sinful lifestyle, before God will forgive them. If they are not a Christian, they must first become one, asking Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior. They must recognize that legitimate guilt comes from God, so they must turn from the sin causing the guilt. It is only through repentance, turning from a sinful lifestyle, that one can be released from the bondage of guilt.