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I am looking for Biblical evidence that homosexuality is a greater sin than adultery or divorce (for any reason other than adultery).

Prohibitions of "sexual immorality" could cover homosexuality, and I understand that Christian marriage is to be the joining of a man and woman as long as they live. I have also read Paul's warnings about men acting/dressing like women and vice versa, but these still don't seem to be outweighed by the passages relating to adultery.

Many Christians are opposed secular gay marriage but do not seem to oppose secular divorce that can set aside a Christian marriage for "no fault".

Caz
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    There's nothing sinful about being gay. There are admonitions against acting on that disposition. The distinction is important. I'm not sure how to interpret your question. – Andrew Leach Jul 06 '13 at 12:06
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    As far as I know, I am well aware that some Christians are opposed to both no-fault divorce, abortion (for millenia), and same-sex marriage. I doubt they are treating any sexual sin as deserving more penalty than another, or at least I do not think they should. Assuming that you are an American, the U.S. probably has no-fault divorce, because that is part of civil law, not religious law. Separation of church and state operates due to the first amendment of the constitution, under freedom of religion. – Double U Jul 06 '13 at 12:42
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    Who said either one was more wrong than the other? – Narnian Jul 06 '13 at 20:23
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    Bear in mind that not all Christians regard homosexuality as any "worse" than any other sin. To a very large swath of Christianity, all sin is equal. See Can one sin be worse than another sin, or are all sins equal? I'd just like to point out that this question presupposes that the sin of homosexuality is worse, which is a questionable presupposition, and rules out answers from those that believe otherwise. – David Stratton Jul 06 '13 at 20:56
  • May be this is off the mark though not off the topic. It just comes to my mind that some people justify gay marriages for reason that these two individual have intense love for each other and irrespective of whether they are compatible or capable of expressing this love in natural manner or not, they want to have an intimate and physical relationship in an unnatural way. Authorities also seem to be determined to recognise these relationships. – Seek forgiveness Jul 10 '13 at 11:18
  • So the days are not far, when if someone feels a similar intense love for his or her pet animal (mind you some are very emotional attached to their pets), we might come across a request for legalising a similar relationships with one’s pet in near future. Hardly any difference between two except the language. – Seek forgiveness Jul 10 '13 at 11:18

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It is worth noting that while divorce was not part of God's original intent / design, for those who were determined to divorce, God made a provision (through Moses) for them to do that in a respectful way.

This is in stark contrast with homosexuality, which, throughout the entire Christian canon is characteristic of deep depravity (cf. Sodom, Rom. 1), and leads to the severest condemnation and judgment from God -- every time it is mentioned.

Sin is sin, but one is tolerated (cf. polygamy), and one is severely, consistently condemned (cf. idolatry.)

Regarding the alleged distinction between orientation and practice, we should probably consider Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where He explicitly refutes such thinking and defines even perverse thoughts as sin.

So what is a "homosexually-oriented" person to do?

those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. -Galatians 5:24

we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ -2 Corinthians 10:5

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. -Colossians 3:2

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. -Philippians 4:8

...which, incidentally, is good advice in general for any such struggle with the flesh.

Community
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Jas 3.1
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First of all, if you are going to accept an answer from conservative biblical scholarship, you have to set aside the claim that Paul merely condemned "men acting/dressing like women." Romans 1:26-27 has been claimed to be addressing certain forms of sexual intercourse, not just dressing or acting like women. An additional point on this distinction is that homosexual orientation, per se, is not condemned in many theologically conservative treatments of the issue, as opposed to homosexual practice.

Here is one example of a theologically conservative group making a distinction between orientation and practice. The American Lutheran Church's 1980 Statement on Human Sexuality says:

We believe it appropriate to distinguish between homosexual orientation and homosexual behavior. Persons who do not practice their homosexual erotic preference do not violate our understanding of Christian sexual behavior.

Secondly, you are precisely correct that scripture holds divorce in higher disregard than homosexual practice. Those who hold it homosexual practice to be a greater outrage are relying on extrabiblical, perhaps cultural or personal, motivations. Jesus himself has great outrage at divorce.

Matthew 19: Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

pterandon
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  • you are mistaken in that 1 Corinthians 6:9 lists effeminate which be men dressing or acting like women –  Jul 15 '13 at 05:36
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Sin is like cyanide, it is deadly in small or large doses.

Sin is also defined as missing the mark. If you hit the mark, you get the prize. If you miss the mark, you miss the prize.

If you head into homosexual activity, you enter an addiction that causes you to miss out on something better. Genesis 1:27 states that God created man in His own image, male and female he created them. Therefore for every type of male DNA there must be somewhere a corresponding type of female DNA that is a compatible match for it. It is the enormity of the intended gift that determines the enormity of the sin that causes one to miss out.

Divorce and remarriage are allowed in some cases. Homosexuality is never approved. Adultery is also never approved.

All can be forgiven and restored through faith in Christ and the help of the Holy Spirit; deliverance can be instant but often it is long and difficult as in any case of addiction or allergic reaction. (addictions now are treated as allergies bringing on a strong and unusual response to stimuli that cause little or no response in others).

Hope this perspective helps.

rguy
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