Section 377: 10 things you need to know as a child of God

On 6 September 2018, the Supreme Court of India decided that the application of Section 377 to consensual homosexual sex between adults was unconstitutional, “irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary”, but that Section 377 remains in force relating to sex with minors, non-consensual sexual acts, and bestiality.Section 377
As a child of God, what do I need to know? Do I really need to bother?

1. Know the Law of the Land

It is very essential to be aware of the basic terminologies with respect to the law of India (if possible, also the laws around the world) regarding sexual activities. This will help us to understand the news and the happenings going around.
What is section 377? What does it say? What is the crime involved in this act and what is not?
There might be a lot of questions in your mind. It is very important to get these cleared, for a better understanding of what’s happening around.

2. Know the Law of the Lord

Jesus commands us to search the Scriptures. It is very important to know what the Lord says, because He is the one who made the rules (or the law). Supreme Court is the ultimate authority, in India (and only in India), but the Law of God is made by the ultimate authority of the whole universe. Hence the Law of the Lord is much more important.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matt 28:20)

Jesus, the Creator of the whole universe (Colossians 1:16) holds ultimate authority on Heaven and Earth. Therefore, the Law maker commands

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (John 5: 39)

3. Learn the ‘Law of the Lord

And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them (Deut 5:1)

4. Your children must know and learn ‘the Law of the Lord’

God (the Law maker) commands us to learn the law and teach our children

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deut 6: 6-9)

Therefore, if you keep quiet and do not teach your children, you are accountable before God. It is ok to watch the news which highlights the ‘law of the land’, but remember to discuss the ‘law of the Lord’ with your children, as you go out, go to bed, go outside, talk about ‘the law of the Lord’. Let it get impressed in their hearts, before somebody impresses the law of the land into their hearts.
Let them know and learn to observe the law of the Lord, and just know the law of the land
Without the knowledge of what the law of the land actually states, it is not wise to get into a discussion or a debate.
Here are some essential things you should know regarding the law of the land and the law of the Lord regarding the news on 06th Sep 2018 (In the Indian Law)

5. What is Sections 377?

Section 377 is a section of the Indian Penal Code introduced in 1861, which states that

Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation.—Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section. Source

6. What is legal and what is not legal in India?

Here are some important terms, (especially with regard to the laws of India)
RAPE

Unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against a person’s will or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent because of mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception. Source

Rape (in simple terms, sex without consent of one of the parties) is a punishable offence in India, according to Section 375 in The Indian Penal Code
ADULTERY
Under Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code,

Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows, or has reason to believe to be the wife of another man, without the consent or connivance of that man, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, is guilty of the offence of adultery, and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both. In such case the wife shall not be punishable as an abettor.

In simple terms, sex outside marriage is a punishable offence in India according to Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code.
UNNATURAL SEX (Unnatural Offences as the text says)

Text. 377. Unnatural offences: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine

Here comes the main point of our discussion
Any carnal (means, anything to do with body) intercourse, even with consent, against the order of naturewas a punishable offence, which included gay-sex, lesbian-sex and so on.
Which means, police could arrest anyone involved in such unnatural sexual acts, as they call it.
These three sections namely 497, 377 and 375 made RAPE, ADULTERY and UNNATURAL SEX illegal in India. On Sep 06, 2018, The Supreme Court of India decriminalised Section 377 which has now made UNNATURAL SEX legal in India.
So, if gay sex is legal, will gay marriage be considered legal in India? [Share your views below]

7. What does the ‘Law of the Lord’ says?

Have you noticed the term ‘order of nature’ in Section 377? Does it have any relation with the words of the Bible? Bible explains the act more clearly
Let’s read Romans 1: 26 and 27

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

Have you noticed the word nature in this scripture?

The natural use
Against Nature
Natural use of the woman

How clear!
Section 377 mentions the word ‘against the order of nature‘. Bible speaks even more.
See the phrase

men with men committing what is shameful

We call it GAY-SEX. If it is between women with women, it is called LESBIAN-SEX. This is what we call homosexuality.

Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender

We will see more on the terms Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Queer etc in the upcoming posts. Remember to subscribe, so that you may not miss the posts
Both Section 377 and Romans 1: 26, 27 speaks about ‘nature’. Now, how will we define nature? Let’s see more on that, later

8. A man having sex with another man – Is this wrong?

Have you noticed the word, “error“? “vile passions” in the passage of Romans 1: 26, 27?
Let us read the same portion in few other translations

Worse followed. Refusing to know God, they soon didn’t know how to be human either—women didn’t know how to be women, men didn’t know how to be men. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men—all lust, no love. And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it—emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches. [The Message Translation]
Because people did those things, God left them and let them do the shameful things they wanted to do. Women stopped having natural sex and started having sex with other women. In the same way, men stopped having natural sex and began wanting each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and in their bodies they received the punishment for those wrongs.

Read for yourselves and understand what the Bible says.
Is this wrong? Romans 1: 26, 27 calls it ERROR or WRONG. 

9. Is gay-sex and lesbian-sex punishable?

They are already punished. See the tense of this verse

receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
they received the punishment for those wrongs

10. Lot more questions?

What does it mean: receiving in themselves the penalty of their error? Did God already publish them? Are they not born as a gay or a lesbian? Will they get eternal punishment? So, do God expect LGBTQ community not to marry?
This is an open call to discuss and learn together. Stay tuned. More on this coming up! Share your views below

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