THE WAY OF THE CHRISTIAN WARRIOR

What does the Bible say about homosexuality?

by Matt Slick

The Bible doesn't speak of homosexuality very often; but when it does, it condemns it as sin.  Let's take a look.

• Lev. 18:22, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."1
• Lev. 20:13, "If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltness is upon them."
• 1 Cor. 6:9-10, "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, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
• Rom. 1:26-28, "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. 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper."

Homosexuality is clearly condemned in the Bible.  It undermines God's created order where He made Adam and Eve, a man and a woman, to carry out his command to fill and subdue the earth (Gen. 1:28). Homosexuality cannot carry out that mandate. In addition, it undermines the basic family unit of husband and wife which is the God-ordained means of procreation.  And, believe it or not, it is also dangerous to society. (See, Is homosexuality dangerous?)

Unlike other sins, homosexuality has a heavy judgment administered by God Himself upon those who commit it and support it. This judgment is that those who practice it are given over to their passions and believe its lie, which means that their hearts are allowed to be hardened by their sins.

"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," (Romans 1:26-27).

As a result, they can no longer see the error of what they are doing, will not seek forgiveness, and will not repent.  They will die in their sins and face God's righteous condemnation. 

But their rebellion against God does not stop there.  Those thus judged also promote it and condemn others who don't approve of their behavior.

"...and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them," (Rom. 1:32).

So, in their "hearty approval" of homosexuality, they encourage others to accept their practice; and thus their sin spreads.  In this, they will reject the ways of God and stand in opposition to Christ's redemptive work on the cross.  Without Jesus, they will have no forgiveness.  Without forgiveness, they will have no salvation. Without salvation, there is only damnation in eternalHell.  We don't want this for anyone.

Is this politically correct?

No, the Bible's view of homosexuality is not politically correct.  Society says that there is nothing wrong with two people "just loving each other."  They ask who are we Christians to judge them?  But, we ask who are they to say what is morally right and wrong?  Do they have an objective standard of morals that all people should follow?  No, they don't.  They appeal to things like "society" and "common sense" and "basic rights," to promote their opinion of homosexual normality.  The problem is that societies have been wrong before (Nazi Germany, anyone?).  What is common sense to one person isn't necessarily common sense to another.  And, basic rights?  Well, we all have basic rights.  But, the homosexuals want special rights.  They want laws passed to protect their sexual behavior. They also want to redefine marriage and have everyone else to accept it.

Will the redefinition stop with homosexual marriage? Don't bet on it. Pedophiles are now asking for rights, too, and they are using the same arguments initially presented by the homosexual movement decades ago2).

Think about it. The pro-homosexuals want laws passed to protect a behavior.  It is, after all, homoSEXuality. I want to know what right do the politically correct, pro-homosexual minority have to impose their values on the majority? What right do they have to condemn Christians, call us names (homophobes, bigots, etc), and be so very intolerant when we say their behavior is a sinful? They don't have sound arguments.  But they do have emotional ones fueled by liberal dogmatism. They are successfully getting homosexuality promoted in schools, TV, and movies as "normal" and healthy.  Healthy?  Check out the health statistics of homosexual behavior.  As a result, their confidence and successes have pumped up their bravado so much that they even oppress those who oppose homosexuality, a fact blatently ignored by the double-standard-liberal-media.  But what are we to expect when dogmatism is king and all opposing views are condemned? The pro-homosexuals want everyone to think like them and approve of their "inborn sexual orientation"; and if you don't, well, then you're labeled a bigot--and worse!  What they want is for everyone to think that homosexuality is normal.  After all, it exists in the animal world, doesn't it?  Yes, it does, and so does eating their young and canibilism.  Just because animals do it, doesn't make it morally right.

But, believe it or not.  We, Christians, aren't judging homosexuals.  We are informing them.  God has declared that homosexuality is a sin.  It isn't our preferences we're declaring.  It is God's.  I know.  I know.  Some will say the Bible isn't true, that it is archaic, sexist, homophobic, etc.  I've heard it all before.  Kill the messenger and let's all jump into bed together and have our fun. Sorry, I'm not interested in freedom without responsibility and the resulting promiscuity and diseases and oppression that accompany the politically correct, sexually promiscuity of liberal morality.  Instead, I'll follow my Lord who calls all to repentance (Acts 17:30), myself included.

Homosexuality is a sexual orientation

Homosexuals will say that they are born the way they are, that it is a genetic orientation, and since they didn't choose it, it cannot be wrong.  If that is the case, then why do identical twins, with identical genetics, not have uniformity of sexual orientation?  This proves it is not genetic.3  But let's not stop there.  What if I am born with a genetic orientation to dislike homosexuality?  Is that okay?  If it is not, then why the double standard?  Would it then be okay for me to want laws passed to protect my "homosexuality aversion orientation"?  Or, is only their orientation worthy of protection? 

Just being born with an orientation doesn't mean it is okay.  If I am born with the orientation to lie, does it mean lying is okay?  Of course not.  Should I demand national rights granted to me because of my lying orientation and its resulting practice?  Again, of course not. (See What is sexual orientation?)

What is the homosexual's hope?

The only hope for the homosexual and all people who break God's laws is to realize that God is holy, and He will rightfully judge all who have sinned against Him by breaking his law (1 Kings 8:32; Ps. 9:8; 1 John 3:4).  If He did not do this, then He would be approving of wrong doing.  However, God is loving (1 John 4:8), patient (Rom. 2:4), wants people to repent (Acts 17:30) and desires that we come a saving knowledge of Him.  What this means is that the sinner must turn to Christ, who is God the Son in flesh (John 1:1, 14; Col. 2:9), who bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24), died and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4), and made it possible for sinners to be saved from the righteous judgment of God, by faith in what Jesus did on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21), so they can be forgiven of their sins (Eph. 2:8).  This is done by receiving Christ (John 1:12), by believing in Him and accepting His sacrifice that is a payment for our sins to God the Father.  Like any sinner, the homosexual needs to repent, receive Christ by faith, and be saved from God's righteous judgment by trusting in Christ and the judgment that fell upon Him on the cross.  They need to pray and ask the Lord Jesus to save them.

What should be the Christian's response to the Homosexual?

Just because someone is a homosexual, does not mean that we cannot love him (or her) or pray for him (or her).  Homosexuality is a sin and like any other sin, it needs to be laid at the cross and forsaken. 

Please understand that I don't hate homosexuals.  I wouldn't care if my neighbor is gay.  I've had homosexual friends and have loved them the same as I would anyone else.  I was their friend, yet they knew I did not approve of their behavior.  But, the Bible says homosexuality is a sin, and the solution to the problem of sin (the breaking of God's Law, 1 John 3:4) is found only in Jesus.  He is the Lord, the Savior, the risen King. Jesus is God in flesh (John 1:1, 14), and He died to save sinners from God the Father's righteous judgment.  We are all sinners, and we all need salvation (Eph. 2:8-9) that is only found in receiving Christ (John 1:12-13).

We Christians should pray for the salvation of the homosexual the same as we would for anyone else.  This is not an issue of arrogance or judgmentalism. We don't want anyone to be lost due to their sin and that includes gays, lesbians, and transgenders.

The homosexual is still made in the image of God, even though he (or she) is in rebellion against Him.  Therefore, we Christians should show homosexuals the same dignity as anyone else with whom we come in contact.  Don't injure them.  Don't hate them.  Don't judge them.  Inform them that freedom and forgiveness are found in Jesus.  Let them know that God loves us and died for us so that we might be delivered from the consequences of our sin - which is eternal separation from God (Isaiah 59:2).

But, this does not mean that we are to approve of what they do.  We are not to compromise our witness for a socially acceptable opinion that is void of rationality, godliness, and biblical truth.  Instead, stand firm in the Word that God has revealed to us and patiently love him/her biblically and pray for their salvation.  Be kind to them.  Be loving.  And, when appropriate, tell them the Gospel because forgiveness of our sins is found in Christ.