Revisionist History on Sodom

The term revisionist history describes the rewriting or updating of historical accounts. This is not always a bad thing. Sometimes our understanding of history can be altered, and our misconceptions are corrected when new evidence comes to light. The discovery of new primary sources would certainly give us just cause to revise the way we look at a particular event or period in history. However, many people today are rewriting history with less than honorable intentions. Self-proclaimed experts and scholars reinterpret existing records, challenging accepted views in order to justify modern-day beliefs and practices. This is being done today with the Biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Modern revisionists claim that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of the inhabitants’ inhospitable and violent nature. In their reading of Genesis 18-19, God is not at all bothered by their homosexuality. They put forward the example of Abraham and Lot providing food and shelter for the angelic strangers as a contrast to the wicked people of the city. They further prop up their assertions with a quick mention of Matthew 10:14-15 and Ezekiel 16:49. They teach that while homosexual promiscuity is condemned, there is no problem with a committed monogamous homosexual union. Similarly flawed viewpoints have tried to say David and Jonathan were lovers.

I would argue that Matthew 10:14-15 only uses Sodom and Gomorrah as well-known examples of wickedness. These are representatives of a group sure to receive the wrath of God. And while Ezekiel 16:49 does mention their pride, idleness, and refusal to “strengthen the hand of the poor and needy” – the very next verse denounces the “abomination” committed by Sodom! According to Ezekiel 16:50 this is the reason they were destroyed. Additionally, in Jude 1:7 Sodom and Gomorrah are an example of suffering eternal fire because they had “given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh.” To be clear, I agree that they had an inhospitable and violent nature, but we cannot ignore what is plainly stated. Are we really to believe that Lot strongly insists the two angels come inside to spare them from Sodom’s pride and lack of hospitality?! The men of the city desired to know them carnally.

Whatever the foremost reason for their destruction, Sodom's fate does not change the consistent Biblical teaching against homosexuality. Don’t fall for the revisionist history that’s out there. We must respect the authority of God’s Word. Homosexuality, even within a committed monogamous union, is sinful.

(See also Genesis 2:18-25; 19:1-7; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; and 1 Timothy 1:9-10.)