by Olukayode Thomas

In Leviticus 20:13, God commanded, “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them”. In the book of Genesis 19: God destroyed the city of Sodom and Gomorrah because gay men attempted to gang rape angels.

Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and former boxing heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield were right when they described Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender [LGBT] people as having defects that could be cured.

Pope Francis believes, “Homosexuality is a defective manner of expressing sexuality, because [sex] has a structure and a purpose, which is procreation.”

Holyfield posits that being gay is not normal and compared it to a handicap that can be fixed. “You know how handicapped people are born? If you are born and your leg was turned this way, what do you do? You go to the doctor and get it fixed.’’

About the time they spoke, President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law the same-sex Prohibition Act.

Reactions from NGOs and others who want to be seen as being politically correct was a general condemnation of President Jonathan.

Their backers, especially Western nations, wept more than the bereaved. Since the Act was signed, they have threatened fire, brimstone, sanctions, stopping all manners of aid and assistance to Nigeria.

What do our religions say about gays?

Apart from condemning the Act, members of the LGBT community claim they are created that way by God and so we should respect their creator and their choice.

They further state that scientific research supports this claim. Also, they are consenting adults and LGBT right is human right.

But as a Christian, I know God hates all forms of sexual perversion, including LGBT acts. The book of Leviticus chapter 18:22 states this clearly, ‘Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind, it is abomination;’

In Leviticus 20:13, God commanded, “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them”. In the book of Genesis 19: God destroyed the city of Sodom and Gomorrah because gay men attempted to gang rape angels.

In the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, the bible tells us that “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the kingdom of God”.

Though, the bible says in Psalm119:9, ‘‘Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven’’, but supporters of LGBT often twist the Bible and use the story of Jesus Christ forgiving a woman caught in the act of adultery in the book of John, Chapter 8:1-11 to justify their lifestyle.

Jesus did not condemn her, but He told her, in verse 11 that, “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more’’. Meaning she must not continue in sin. LGBT are forgiven if they repent and forsake their sin, like adulterers, thieves and other sinners.

Insinuation that signing the Act is discrimination against members of LGBT community is false; there are legislations against other forms of sexual immorality from incest to bestiality, adultery, bigamy, so why should members of the LGBT be exempted?

The argument that there are more weighty issues for legislators and for the President to bother about is neither here nor there. Are they saying countries and states in America permissive to same-sex partnerships are paradise on earth? There are many problems in Nigeria, but the issue of LGBT is also a problem that must be tackled alongside others.

Limits to human rights

The argument that LGBT right is human right and what consenting adults do behind closed doors is their business is weak.

If we agree with them, soon, a father and daughter or mother and son will start asking for their right to be married in court since they are consenting adults. Pedophiles will soon start justifying having carnal knowledge of young girls who consented, it won’t be possible to challenge adultery in court since the parties are consenting adults, some people might even say they want to marry their pets.

Drugs addict will start saying since they are adult, they should be allowed to sniff cocaine and smoke marijuana.

Also, kleptomaniacs, corrupt leaders, murders and other classes of criminals will use similar theories to justify their actions. There have been reported cases of members of LGBT community who have been cured, even people that are born blind, deaf, dumb, have been healed, LGBT are not different, they should go and get a cure.

Respect begets respect

For the Western world, polygamy is a barbaric practice “almost exclusively a feature of the life of Asiatic and African people.”

American courts have been reported to have declared polygamy as “a blot on our civilization and a return to barbarism.”

If we respect their right to make polygamy an abomination in their society, I believe they must also respect our decision to make LGBT an abomination in ours. Even in America, there are states where same-sex marriage is illegal, why have those states not been threatened with fire and brimstone like African countries.

Majority of the NGOs championing the cause of LGBT rights here are doing so because of international funding or grant, while most members of LGBT community are seeking asylum. LGBT is the new genital mutilation, political or religious persecution and other grounds on which Nigerians apply for asylum.

Thank God many countries are ready to accept them, they can buy a one-way ticket and never return here, but for those who wish to remain here they must respect the law.

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This post was published with permission from Premium Times Newspapers

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.