C. Debate: Why was Sodom Destroyed?

Few Old Testament stories stir up more debate in today’s world than the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Some claim Sodom was judged merely for a lack of hospitality. Others insist the story has nothing to do with sexual sin at all. Why was Sodom destroyed?

Homosexuality Forbidden in New Testament

First, let's be clear, homosexuality is condemned and will be judged, along with all other lust-filled events.

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals." (1 Cor 6:9 NASB)

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals." ( 1 Cor 6:9 Net Bible)

The Debate: Sodomites vs. the Bible Believing

Issue: Sodomites claim Sodom was not destroyed for its sodomy.

1. Is it sodomy (homosexuality)?

We are not wrong to observe that sodomy stood out in Sodom as one of their sins. Note these Bible references:

"He urged them strongly” (Genesis 19:3)

“He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men.” (2 Peter 2:7)

"Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.” (Genesis 19:5)

• Sodomy (homosexuality) was one of Sodom’s sins.

These men were sodomites of the worst kind. They were rapists; this was not consensual sex. This extremism is exactly what we found in our societies when sodomy is accepted. Sodomy, along with other sexual sins, always devalues the ones they abuse. It is well known that some who have a deadly sexual disease continue to find sexual partners, passing their sentence of death on to others. This might not be typical, but it is real, just as we see in Sodom's case.

They people tend to live driven by desires rather than principles. When a culture loses its protective barriers, people quickly exploit others. Consider the issue of child abuse!

If you can't speak out against a sin, then your heart is already bound.

Homosexuality is a sin, but it does not survive by itself. Sodomy lives only among people with hardened hearts, and it would be foolish to think that it is the only sin. Genesis 19 records many wrongs, and sodomy stood out in Sodom as one of their sins. This is evidently where this term originated. Note these two references:

1) Gen 19:3 "He urged them strongly." This verse, combined with the following incident, shows that Lot knew what the men of the city would do to anyone who camped out in the square of their walled cities. They were trapped and sexually abused. Lot could not tolerate it and risked his life by insisting that these strangers stay in his home. The custom to protect a guest in one's home, even with one's own life, if necessary. This act showed Lot's righteousness. He liked the comforts of the city but hated the abuse. Later, we see it again when he stands out in front of the crowd of lusty men protecting his guests.

2) Genesis 19:5 does not cover up their request, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them." These men were sodomites! They even refused Lot's daughters because they wanted to rape the men. They advocated more than sodomy with consenting adults. These men were rapists of the worst kind. They would look out for the vulnerable and take advantage of them.

Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it (Ezekiel 16:49).

And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere--this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah--like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. (Genesis 13:10).

1. The Testimony of Genesis 19

Genesis 19 clearly records the sins of Sodom's men, young and old, surrounding Lot’s house and demanded that the visitors be handed over for sexual abuse (Genesis 19:4–5). Their intent was not mere rudeness toward strangers but aggressive, group sexual violence. Lot calls their desire a “wicked” thing (Genesis 19:7).

God had already stated that the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was great and that their sin was exceedingly grave (Genesis 18:20). The events of Genesis 19 confirm this assessment and show the depth of their moral corruption. In its context, severe judgment comes to those where such depravity is tolerated.

2. The Testimony of the Law and Prophets

Later Scripture adds important details. Ezekiel points to Sodom’s pride, prosperous ease, neglect of the poor, and abominations before the Lord.

“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. They were haughty and did an abomination before Me. So I removed them, when I saw it.” (Ezekiel 16:49–50, ESV)

"22 You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination. 23 Also you shall not have intercourse with any animal to be defiled with it, nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion." (Lev 18:22-23)

Some people stop reading after the first part of verse 49 and claim that Sodom was judged only for social sins—pride, greed, and lack of mercy. But verse 50 clearly speaks of committing “abominations” before the Lord. The same word is used in Leviticus 18:22 ( תּוֹעֵבָה -toʿevah) for homosexual practice (also Lev 20:13).

Sodom was not destroyed for one sin alone but for a package of sins that grew together—pride, luxury, hardness of heart, and shameless sexual perversion.

3. The Testimony of the New Testament

The New Testament also interprets the sin of Sodom for us and connects it to sexual immorality. We already pointed out 1 Cor 6:9 at the top of the page.

“Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” (Jude 7, ESV)

“By turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked... then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.” (2 Peter 2:6–9, ESV)

"26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error." (Rom 1:26-27)"

Jude specifically speaks of sexual immorality and “unnatural desire” (literally, “going after strange flesh”). Peter emphasizes the sensual conduct of the wicked people of Sodom. These passages confirm that sexual sin— including homosexual practice—was at the heart of the city’s rebellion. God is opposed to sodomy and the destruction of marriage between husband and wife. Homosexuality is a sin, but it does not survive by itself. Note the sins listed above. Notice how the Apostle Paul showed the decline of a culture in Romans 1.

The way people treat their bodies says a lot about how they think about truth.

4. Answering Common Objections

Objection #1: “Sodom was judged only for inhospitality.”

It is true that Sodom’s hospitality failed terribly, but to reduce the passage to a simple lack of courtesy is to ignore the context. The men of the city sought to gang-rape the visitors. Lot called their intention wicked. God called their sin exceedingly grave. Later Scripture highlights their sexual immorality.

Hospitality matters deeply to God, but Sodom’s sin went far beyond social rudeness. The passage cannot be honestly read as a mere lesson on being friendly to strangers.

Objection #2: “The problem was violent rape, not homosexuality.”

Genesis 19 does describe an attempted violent assault, but the men visibly desired other men. The act they intend is both violent and homosexual. God’s Word elsewhere forbids same-sex sexual relations, whether violent or consensual (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11). We are not free to affirm as okay what God clearly calls out as sin, rebellious acts against God.

The root issue is deeper still: people rejecting God’s authority and choosing to redefine good and evil on their own terms.

Objection #3: “Sodom is just a picture of any sin, not sexual sin.”

Sodom does indeed stand as a general warning to all who live ungodly lives, but Scripture consistently mentions both social injustice and sexual immorality when referring to Sodom. We must let the Bible keep all of these elements together, rather than selecting the ones that accommodate today’s cultural preferences.

5. What does this mean for us today?

The story of Sodom is not given so that we can stand on a pedestal and mock the sins of others. Rather, it reminds us that:

• God is patient but will not ignore persistent, unrepentant sin.
• God’s people are called to compassion toward sinners and clarity about what God calls sin.
• We must examine our own hearts for pride, indulgence, coldness to the poor, and sexual compromise.
• Like Abraham, we should intercede earnestly for our cities and plead for mercy.

The gospel holds out hope even for sins as serious as those in Sodom. The same Lord who judged those cities also sent His Son to bear judgment for all who repent and believe. Paul could say to former idolaters and practicing homosexuals in Corinth, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified” (1 Corinthians 6:11).