Compare the prohibition against homosexual behavior with another law in the same section of Leviticus. This one forbids adultery - sexual relations between one man and another man’s wife. Adultery isn’t labeled an “abomination” like homosexuality is, but there is a strong prohibition against the behavior.
Leviticus 20:10 "'If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.
Note how this mandate satisfies the same three criteria as does the prohibition against homosexual behavior.
- It establishes the Israelites as a chaste nation with respect for the establishment of marriage.
- It sets societal norms for male/female sexual relationships.
- Even though perpetrators were to be “put to death” which would nix any future procreation, the law actually promotes “orderly” procreation by restricting it to the patriarchal, familial relationship.
The Old Testament punishment for adultery is the same as for homosexuality… “both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.”. This is pretty severe but, not to worry.
Today, no one thinks it’s a good idea to condemn an adulterous couple to death. We don’t even frown upon adulterous behavior - in fact, we seem to celebrate it. I could spend pages listing all the presidential candidates, preachers, movie and TV stars, athletes, etc. who are famous and celebrated in spite of and often as a result of their adultery.
So tell me… how do we justify turning a blind eye to behavior that our Old Testament God considered so heinous as to be punishable by death yet we continue our prohibition against and our persecution of homosexuality?