Two Lives, Two Crossroads

The sermon opens with the contrasting stories of Abraham and Lot found in Genesis 12–13 and 19, emphasizing that both heard God's call but responded in entirely different ways. Abraham, by faith, obeyed God's call to leave his homeland without knowing where he was going, repeatedly built altars to worship God, and oriented himself toward Bethel (house of God) rather than Ai (place of ruin). Lot, despite living alongside his uncle for thirty years and witnessing Abraham's faith, never once built an altar to the Lord.

When the land could not support both flocks, Lot chose with physical eyes: he selected the well-watered Jordan plain, as fertile as the garden of God and the land of Egypt, and gradually moved his tent toward Sodom — a city so wicked that God later destroyed it entirely. The consequences were catastrophic: Lot's wife became a pillar of salt, his daughters committed incest with him, and his life's work and honor were utterly lost. Abraham, by contrast, chose with spiritual eyes and became the father of faith not only for Israel but for all who receive Jesus Christ as Savior.

The sermon then connects the Sodom narrative to contemporary events: Taiwan's legalization of same-sex marriage in May 2019 and the U.S. House of Representatives passing a bill expanding civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community. The pastor explains the acronym LGBT(QI) and distinguishes between biological sex and social/personal gender identity. He also outlines three stages of same-sex orientation — attraction, developing orientation, and public identification — stressing that the progression from attraction to behavior is a process that can be interrupted.

On the biblical position, the sermon cites Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:26–27, 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, and 1 Timothy 1:8–11 to affirm that same-sex sexual activity is sinful according to Scripture. At the same time, the pastor reminds his congregation that homosexuality does not rank higher than other sins such as adultery, greed, or lying — and no one has the right to cast stones while being a sinner themselves.

The conclusion calls the church to respond with genuine compassion: neither condemning nor remaining silent, but listening, empathizing, and speaking truth in love. The pastor affirms that the church's doors are open to all, including those struggling with same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria, and reminds the congregation that each person carries their own cross. The ultimate hope is the new heaven and new earth where God will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:1–5).