The KJV captures this in its translation of 1 Corinthians 6:9
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind
This list of sins continues beyond vs. 9, but the significance of this concept is captured by the two Greek words translated by the KJV separately as "effeminate" and "abusers of themselves with mankind."
The ESV combines these two concepts into one in its rendition of 1 Corinthians 6:9
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality
While "effeminacy" and "abusers of themselves with mankind" certainly can come together to practice homosexuality, this is too narrow of an application of the concepts being condemned.
Effeminacy is itself a sin. Before it ends up behind closed doors, it is doing something in broad daylight; and that thing must be repented of or it will not inherit the kingdom of God. It is not only a sin if it reaches it's telos, it is a sin at its inception. It grows up and gets worse like any other sin, but it's beginnings are not great to begin with (James 1:15).
The Good News is that if a sin can be named, it can be forgiven. If you have been going soft, you can repent and find forgiveness. What you cannot do is embrace softness as an ideal. You cannot dismiss it as an untouchable personal preference. It is either a sin as God has defined it or it is acceptable as we have determined.
Silk will always scratch less than wool skipping will always be more fun than marching.
Silk will always scratch less than wool skipping will always be more fun than marching.
The Christian community has far too long been ignorant to the sin of softness and as a result has even promoted it as ideal. What many churches aim for as "exemplary," God aims His wrath at as "unrighteous."
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