Getting Sodom Straighter

"It’s interesting—Lot was also protected right where he was by angels. (I think this is the main point.  Dave is not going to want to "flee" and leave his stuff behind, so maybe they can be protected in their homes . However, since all the members have taken out the equity in their homes and sent it in, and not to worry, "Frankly before it becomes due, we flee",  I could be mistaken) It was a very perverse city. There were a lot of homosexuals who saw these two beautiful young men. I mean, angels wouldn’t have come and been ugly, they would have been attractive or handsome, we’ll say, and they come into Lot’s house. And there are a couple of interesting things about the story…many interesting things about the story, but one of them is they demanded that Lot send these two men out.

Well, he first tried his daughters, his married daughters. It shows that God’s servants can make mistakes, brethren, and it ought to encourage you.  (Meaning:  I have made big mistakes and even though I don't admit to them and that should make you feel good when you do). The Bible calls Lot a just man, but the first thing he tried to do to satisfy these homosexuals is to send his daughters out to commit adultery…Not the best thing to do when you’re threatened…and yet God still let him escape…still let them escape.

By the way, they did some terrible things after they got out…but that is kind of an aside. The angels protected him where he was, in the home he was in; used miracles to create blindness to keep the people outside from getting in and just sealed them in the home. They escaped before they left the city and fled to Zoar. It’s an interesting story. It also is instructive for those who think that to be like Sodom and Gomorrah everybody has to be perverse or homosexual. Well, no they don’t. There are a lot of problems with that. (Yes there are. I think he gets this)

First of all, Lot was married to a woman, and his daughters were both married to men who mocked and wouldn’t leave. They said, “No, you’re crazy,” and they died the next day. So you had three heterosexual people, who are cited there in the community, and presumably we all believe that there were men and women all through the…all through the city who came about by the usual means, okay?" (Okay!  On this point I think you see more clearly than most COG ministers.  No city is all gay in the Middle East, ever!)

Apostle David C Pack

Screed # 61

Less heat?

Let's get Sodom straight....

The Biblical story of Sodom is not the story of a town that happened to be 100% gay, men and boys, for this is a ludicrous assumption. This would have to be the conclusion if God, vowing to save it for ten righteous men, did not. It would also mean that "righteous" meant heterosexual, while unrighteous meant homosexual and, well, I doubt that alone qualifies men to be righteous.

The story that unfolds in Genesis 19 is a hospitality story and not a story based on homosexuality. Sodom's problems as remembered by Ezekiel were that the people were prideful, had too much food, too much time, neglected the poor, were haughty and committed abominations (Ez. 16:49-50). Not ANY mention of mass homosexuality. Abominations can be just about anything not in tune with the law and in this case was a reference to idol worship. Another common Israelite trait all through their history. 

Why would papa Lot offer his virgin daughter's to a crowd of homosexuals, in place of his guests? What interest would homosexuals have in virgin women? ZERO, unless the girls were being offered as an appeasing virgin sacrifice ("for they have not known a man.") This would qualify as an abomination to be sure, and also idolatry. Human sacrifice was still an option it appears with Abram and Lot. Just a thought....

Another factor is that in that culture the protection of guests under one's roof to a male host was a matter of honor. This is why Lot scrambled to come up with a solution to the problem. In Lot's mind, it was about Lot's reputation and honor. Not an uncommon modern theme in Middle Eastern men to this day. Strangers were not taken kindly to in small clannish towns. They could be spies and were always suspect.

The way to put a stranger in his place was to humiliate them sexually, and send the warning that they had best have no ill intentions in the town. In that culture, the most horrific way to humiliate a stranger and have power over him was to mistreat him as one might mistreat a woman. Symbolic or literal rape. The rape would not be a homosexual act, it would be a warning and a putting of strange man in his place as a warning. "In our town, you are just like any other woman, property to be used as needed and disposed of if necessary" It may only have been a threat to humiliate and control as the original request was for them to come out "that we might know them".

There are two schools of thought on "know them". One is sexual and one is to simply interrogate and get to know. Few ever question Lot's evil counteroffer. But it does show that Lot was a product of his culture and personal ego protection. Eastern hospitality issues were at stake here and not homosexuality. EVERY sermon I ever heard on the topic stops short of explaining Lot's egregious behavior as a father. I doubt this ever really literally happened, but if it did, Lot would be no hero of mine. I seriously doubt he had much of a relationship with the girls after this stunt, not to mention Mrs. Lot! Perhaps she did not so much look back to Sodom as refused to look ahead at him leaving town.

And no one literally turned into a pillar of salt

Ezekiel 16 is all about Israel acting the part of adulterous woman and prostitute and concludes with:

Ezekiel 16: 49 “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: 
She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; 
they did not help the poor and needy.
50 They were haughty and did detestable things before me. 
Therefore I did away with them as you have seen. 
51 Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. 
You have done more detestable things than they, 
and have made your sisters seem righteous by all these things you have done. 
52 Bear your disgrace, for you have furnished some justification for your sisters. 
Because your sins were more vile than theirs, they appear more righteous than you. 
So then, be ashamed and bear your disgrace, 
for you have made your sisters appear righteous.

No totally gay town here to see.

Keep moving please.

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