Recently there have been at least two letters to the editor written in support of the social acceptance of the practice of homosexuality. Both letters would have one to believe the Bible does not clearly address the subject of homosexuality.

There is a vast amount of discussion/argument that could be generated concerning the issue of homosexuality and much argumentation that could be held in response to the subjective ways it was presented by the letter writers.

My intent is simply to present some information from the Bible concerning the subject and then to make an appeal toward God's grace and holy living.

Some folks want to change the general social view of such behavior and have it to be seen as just another expression of the way some are created. This will, of course, continue.

It is not a good argument, though, to proclaim that the issue is not addressed in the Bible.

From the Old Testament, we find these Scriptures:

Genesis 18:16-19:29 states that the practice of homosexuality in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah led to the destruction of those cities. Sodomy, a more descript term for the sexual acts performed by homosexuals, is, of course, named from this incident.

Leviticus 18:22 states that God said that a man lying with a man, as with a woman, is an abomination.

Leviticus 20:13 adds the penalty of death for the act of homosexuality as under God's law.

From the New Testament we find these Scriptures:

Romans 1:18-37 describes the conditions of God's wrath and judgment in response to the spiritual and moral decline of a culture. In verses 26 and 27, the passage directly states that "God gave them up" as a result of vile passions and describes such as men and women leaving the natural heterosexual relationships for the unnatural homosexual relationships.

I Corinthians 6:9-11: The Bible has a list of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. It includes unrepentant fornicators, adulterers, thieves and extortioners. Specifically, the passage states homosexuals and sodomites.

Jude 7 describes the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah as having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh.

In addition to these specific references, there are numerous more-general passages that speak of fornication and sexual immorality, which would include every kind of sexual deviance outside of heterosexual marriage.

Please understand the Bible teaches that the penalty for all sin is separation from God for eternity. My sin nature would have led me down the same path of destruction, even though my sinfulness would perhaps not have been seen so controversially.

I am mindful of how Jesus dealt with a woman who was caught in sexual immorality and about to be stoned. Because of her repentance, as He knew her heart, she was forgiven and then He told her to go but to leave the life of sin.

Jesus did not justify her lifestyle of fornication.

We all need to hear those words and understand God's love and grace as expressed through the cross of Christ. He loved the sinner while rejecting the sin.

We need to strive to do the same, never forgetting that we too, by nature, are sinners in need of a Savior.