Unrighteousness - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

There is some sort of silver lining here because while Paul is basically saying, “if you are defrauded, it’s not the worst thing in the world,” he also reminds us that “the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” The most important thing is to be righteous, anything that detracts from that should be avoided. But those who are unrighteous enough to take advantage of others will not “inherit the kingdom of God,” and so there is a sort of eternal perspective in that.

It’s interesting because my grandpa once lent his jet skis to a group of people in his ward who wanted to borrow them, but while they had them they broke two of them. My grandpa’s response was to quietly get them fixed and continue to lend them out when people asked. I was shocked that he didn’t require the people who broke them to pay to get them fixed, but my mom said that that’s just who my grandpa was. I mean, not everyone is in that situation to take the financial hit like that, but it makes me think some times about how I react to other people’s missteps. 

It’s not just the unrighteous who are dishonest that will not inherit the kingdom of God, but fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, coveters, drunkards, reviles, extortioners will either. But Paul gives an interesting explanation further saying, “nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.” Is it sinful to be effeminate? No that doesn’t make sense, “abusers of themselves with mankind? What does that even mean? The IM points out that Paul’s use of these phrases is specific to Greek culture at that time, saying that these are translated to “refer to homosexual relations.” 

The IM continues, “All forms of sexual immorality are contrary to God’s law. However, God provides the opportunity for forgiveness to those who truly repent. Paul taught that some who had been guilty of sexual sins had repented and were now washed clean and ‘justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.” I’m sure that I’ve talked extensively about homosexuality on here, but it’s an interesting and complicated topic.

I think we make a mistake by believing that homosexuality is unique in trials available in this lifetime. I absolutely believe that most people who are homosexual are born that way, which begs the question, why would God give someone a trial that prompts them to live contrary to the laws of God? That seems especially cruel, until we remember that we are all born with trials that prompt us to live contrary to God’s laws. We are all born with an inherent desire for love and affection, yet so many people are denied that even from infancy. Many are abused, exploited, mistreated, or starved, and we all have great portions of human nature in us, which is hedonistic and destructive.

All of us struggle with trials in this life, some are so overwhelming that it becomes impossible to function. People snub their noses down at others because their trials or sins are different from their own, but really we are all in this life together, we are all struggling and doing our best to be happy. We need to support each other and be kind and positive and helpful.