The Guilt of Sodom

 Most people understand the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was because of homosexual sin, as the story is found in Genesis 19. I don't believe the story of Sodom and Gomorrah started in Genesis 19 or that homosexuality was the cause of God letting loose on these cities. I believe the rampant rape, homosexuality and lasciviousness of the people was the apex of a continuous, rapid decline that had been going on for some time. Not just in the area of homosexuality, but in many others where the ultimate results were two major cities bringing God's long suffering to a catastrophic end. The story and sin of Sodom and Gomorrah started long before it's destruction.

Much later after Genesis in the Book of Ezekiel God addresses Sodom and the guilt God found in it. Homosexuality isn't mentioned...

"Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy." Ezekiel 16:49

Even later than Ezekiel in the Book of Romans it's clear that the living conditions in Sodom and Gomorra, when they were destroyed, were the result of judgment just as it is for any other people. Not the final judgment that resulted in destruction, but the judgment of being given over to the life they insisted on and the end that form of judgment brought.


"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.  

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. 

For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:18-32

"He gave them up, He gave them up, He gave them up". 3 times this is repeated in Romans...3 times signifying the finality of it and the great emphasis of the judgment. God gave up Sodom and Gomorrah just as He does with everyone who refuses to acknowledge the truth, who refuses to acknowledge Him and insist on continuing in their own futile thinking and lifestyle.

Sodom and Gomorrah were rich cities. The people were comfortable, they had plenty of everything with excess, they became proud and wise in their own eyes because of their riches, prosperity and ease and the result was extreme selfishness and depravity. They traded truth for a lie with idolatry. They didn't care about anyone else or anything else. They didn't care about righteousness, justice or taking care of those less fortunate. They only cared about themselves. This alone is grievously sinful and enough to stir God's wrath.

Wealth creates boredom. When you have enough money to do pretty much whatever you want where ever you want where's the excitement? The wealthy become bored fast. They'd seen it all and they'd done it all. People having excess, nothing "does it" for them anymore so they turn to the most lude, vicious acts to get some thrill and break the boredom of their plentiful lifestyle no matter who it hurts or destroys. The result always ends in behavior and actions that person never dreamed they'd find themselves in. Soon the usual trip around the world, or the usual parties, or the usual shopping sprees, or the usual relationships are just not fun and that person begins looking for something else. Something they've never done to get that excitement back.

So they began a depraved lifestyle and weren't ashamed of their behavior nor did they repent. The homosexuality was a result of the excess and mountain of sin. The homosexuality was a result of already being debased and God giving them up to their depravity. It was the bottom of the barrel...the level they sank too. It was the last straw for God that brought destruction.

He allowed them to fill up their cup of wrath. He no longer restrained them with grace. Once the grace was removed...they went nuts and paid the penalty. The Bible has a lot to say about wealth and very rarely is it ever anything good. Sodom and Gomorrah were not exceptions...they are glaring examples of the norm.What ought we to expect in our own country?