King James Version:
(26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their bust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
Latin Translation:
(26) propterea tradidit illos Deus in passiones ignominiae nam feminae eorum inmutauerunt naturalem usum in eum usum qui est contra naturam (27) similiter autem et masculi relicto naturali usu feminae exarserunt in desideriis suis in invicem masculi in masculos turpitudinem operantes et mereedem quam oportuit erroris sui in semet ipsis recipientes
Life Application Version:
(26) That is why God let go of them and let them do all these evil things, so that even their women turned against God's natural plan for them and indulged in sex sin with each other. (27) And the men, instead of having a normal sex relationship with women, burned with lust for each other, men doing shameful things with other men and, as a result, getting paid within their own souls with the penalty they so richly deserved.
Text Analysis:
God's natural plan is God'a ideal for His creation. Unfortunately, what comes naturally to human nature is sin. Sin often means not only denying God, but also denying the way we are made. When our society says that any sex act is acceptable so long as nobody gets hurt, it is fooling itself. In the long run (and often in the short run), sin hurts people--individuals, families, whole societies. How sad that people who worship the things God made instead of the Creator so often distort and destroy the very things they claim to value! But it is impossible to understand God's natural plan without knowing the Creator himself.
Homosexuality is strictly forbidden in Scripture (Leviticus 18:22). Homosexuality is considered an acceptable practice by many in our world today--even by some churches. Many homosexuals believe that their desires are normal and that they have a right to express them. But God does obligate nor encourage us to fulfill all of our desires (even normal ones). Those desires that violate His laws are wrong and are to be avoided.
Guidance and Recommendation:
If you have this desire, you can and must resist acting upon it. Consciously avoid places or activities you know will kindle temptations of this kind. Don't underestimate the power of Satan to tempt you nor the potential for serious harm if you yield to these temptations. Remember, God can and will forgive sexual sins just as He forgives other sins. Surrender yourself to the grace and mercy of God, asking Him to show you the way out of sin and into the light of His love. Prayer, Bible study, and strong Christian fellowship in a Bible-believing church can help you to gain strength to resist these powerful temptations. If you are already deeply involve in this sin, you may need to seek help from a trustworthy, professional, pastoral counselor.
Other Key Verses:
-I Corinthians 6:9
