²⁶ For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, ²⁷ and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

Sex outside of marriage is wrong according to God’s special revelation, that is, His written Word. That truth is not inherently found in general revelation. Nor is it found explicitly taught in the creation account, though it could be inferred in Genesis 1 & 2 from the observation of sex being an integral part of the original idea of marriage. But homosexuality—that is, sexual relationships between members of the same sex—is censured both clearly in specific revelation and inherently in general or natural revelation. It is “unnatural.” The natural order of things is for opposites to attract. When like attracts like in the sexual arena, then something has gone horribly wrong. The evidence clearly shows that we live in a fallen world!

God “gave them over,” the exact same wording as in verse 24. His giving them over to “impurity” is equated with His giving them over to homosexuality. Try as they might, same-sex marriage advocates today cannot escape the teaching of this passage. Same-sex activity is given as the ultimate endpoint of the vortex spiraling away from the Creator. In other words, the ultimate straying away from God is found in the rejection of the natural affinity of male to female. It is “degrading.” This is true in spite of the most vigorous defense to the contrary. God’s estimation, as the Creator, Originator and Artist, considers that to be a travesty against the image of God in humankind.

Strong words are used: “degrading” (or “shameful” NIV), “exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,” “abandoned the natural function,” “burned in their desire toward one another,” “indecent acts,” “error.” Hardly could the case be made any stronger. This is not just a prohibition against abusive same-sex relationships, because abuse is just as much a problem (probably even more so) in heterosexual relationships. The activity of homosexuality is in question, not the “quality” of the relationship.

Nothing is said of the temptation or proclivity toward homosexuality being wrong. Temptation comes from living in a fallen world with fallen bodies. Having same-sex attraction is not the sin. But when a person is “carried away and enticed by his own lusts,” that leads to “sin and death” (James 1:14-15).

Lord, help me to always keep You at the center of my life and thoughts so that I don’t spiral into sexual sin of any kind.