What the Word Says
About Homosexuality
The Rev. Willard L. D. Heinrichs
S
ome years ago I produced the following to help a couple explain to their
friends outside of the New Church why they believed that homosexual
practices are wrong and are contrary to the teaching of Scripture and to God’s
order in creation.
Since these friends would not be accessing the Heavenly Doctrine, I tried
to explain the matter just from the letter of the Word, except for a reference to
Conjugial Love.
I acknowledge that this document is in no way complete or perfect. But I
wonder if this general approach might be of use in talking to friends outside of
the Church. Also I wonder if it might be useful with young people in the New
Church who may be unfamiliar with the teachings in the Heavenly Doctrine,
but might be affected by the powerful teachings from the letter of the Word. I
am just suggesting one more possible approach for some of our hurting young
people.
In general, I think we might put our greatest effort into inviting people to
begin from as broad a view as possible of what the Lord intends in relation to
marriage. We need to note especially what the Lord has directly taught in His
Word, rather than be guided in any way by the poor example of how people in
the stories of Scripture too often responded to His teaching.
Further, I think we need to stress why the Lord said what He did. Among
other things, from His infinitely merciful and eternally wise perspective, He
tells us not to try to form same-sex marriage or sexual relationships because
they are not in agreement with the way He created us! People of the same sex
do not fit together as to their souls, and were never intended to, any better than
they do as to their bodies. Consider Conjugial Love 55:6:
There is a love of man and man, and of woman and woman; and there is a love of a
man for a woman and of a woman for a man. These three pairs of loves are entirely
different from each other. The love of a man and man is as the love of understanding
and understanding; for man was created and thence born that he may become
understanding.
179