The Bible and Homosexuality

The hero depicted is Colossus, an X-Man who in recent years has been portrayed as homosexual.

I have decided that it would be beneficial for me to examine several controversial issues to see what exactly the Bible says about them. The first issue I’m looking at is homosexuality. The next issue will most likely be pornography, and then abortion, and then drug use. After that I may decide to tackle more issues depending on my job situation and other circumstances.

Please note that I am by no means the authority on these issues. These are personal studies that I am making publicly available for reasons of accountability, and also in the hope that they may help some people. My goal in all of this is to understand the Bible, because I believe the Bible is absolutely true and perfect.

Also, I’d like to just add that each study in this series has some personal relevance to me. I have never struggled with homosexuality, but what I have struggled with in the past is hating homosexual people. In my early college years, I was very insecure in my beliefs, and as a result I treated some homosexuals very poorly. I didn’t do anything to abuse them – it was more like once I found out that they were homosexual, I pretended like they didn’t exist.

It was wrong of me to have behaved that way, and I’m sorry for it. Regardless of my beliefs about their personal choices, I should have treated them with respect. 

I do still believe that practicing homosexuality is wrong (and dangerous, for health reasons). However, I no longer treat homosexuals like they aren’t people. I have several good friends in California who are homosexuals. I don’t approve of their lifestyles, but I’m not going to let that get in the way of me being their friend.

All that being said, let’s first address the issue broadly in terms of overall right and wrong, and then narrow things down to specific questions of behavior and practicality.

 

1. WHAT IS THE BIBLE’S OVERALL STANCE TOWARDS HOMOSEXUALITY?

The Bible specifically mentions homosexuality seven times: Genesis 19:5, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Judges 19:22, Romans 1:25-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and 1 Timothy 1:8-11. There are also several references to sodomy and male prostitution which presumably refer to homosexuality.

The Bible is not vague in it’s position on homosexuality. The most specific references are in Leviticus:

“You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” – Leviticus 18:22

“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 bloodguiltiness is upon them.” – Leviticus 20:13

Apparently homosexual activity was such a serious crime that it was actually punishable by death according to Levitical law. But I’ve heard arguments from homosexual advocates that Levitical law is outdated and was applicable only to Hebrews, and that since Jesus is all about love and compassion, we can throw out all that old stuff.

Actually, Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” – Matthew 5:17-18

And even though Jesus never specifically mentioned homosexuality, he did condemn sexual immorality when he said, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.” – Mark 7:21-23

The New Testament also mentions homosexuality:

“For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 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 1:25-27

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

“But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.” – 1 Timothy 1:8-11

In those verses, the New Testament describes homosexuality as degraded, unnatural, indecent, erroneous, unrighteous, lawless, rebellious, ungodly, unholy, profane, and contrary to sound teaching. Homosexuals are also grouped into the same category as thieves, drunkards, murderers, kidnapers, and liars.

There is no question: According to the Bible, homosexuality is wrong.

 

2. BUT WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE BORN THAT WAY?

When I was doing research for this post, I read an article by William Loader about homosexuality as the result of perverse desires versus homosexuality as a natural phenomenon that happens to some people. The basic gist of his argument was that genetic homosexuality is not wrong, and that we should be willing to abandon scriptures that are, according to him, no longer relevant in light of today’s culture. His reasoning is that the writers of scripture did not know about modern research that supports homosexuality as a genetic inclination in some people.

To that I would say that the Bible is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16), and if it is true that homosexuality is genetic, God certainly knew about it. Yet he still issued these commands.

I do think that some people are born with homosexual inclinations. At the same time, I have doubts about genetics being the cause, but I haven’t researched it enough to know. Although I’m not entirely convinced of the credibility of scientific research in this area, the research that has been done has gotten enough publicity to make it worth considering.

When I was growing up, I remember having a few male friends who were very effeminate. In one case, that behavior not only went unquestioned, it was encouraged, and that person is now living an actively homosexual lifestyle. I am certain this person would claim he was born that way. Is his lifestyle really just a result of his genetics?

William Loader would say yes, and he would also say that genetic homosexuality is a loophole in scripture. However, I would say that research supporting genetic homosexuality actually supports the wrongness of homosexuality. According to the Bible, we are born not only with the ability to choose to sin (verb), we are also born with a sin nature (noun) which can only be removed by Jesus Christ. (Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:18) This sin nature manifests itself in different ways. Some people are unnaturally prone to violence. Others have negative social tendencies or are prone to addiction. It is my belief that homosexuality is merely one more face of the sin nature that we are all born with.

Natural urges have no bearing on the rightness or wrongness of homosexual activity, because instincts can be controlled. In a lawful society, instincts must be controlled. If people were to give in to every impulse, our society would crumble. Natural instincts may play some part in our decision making process, but they are not what ultimately count. It is how we choose to deal with our instincts that determines what kind of society we live in. Instincts cannot therefore be used as an excuse for wrong behavior. If they could, we would surely have to pardon countless rapists, murderers, child-abusers, thieves, and other criminals who committed crimes of passion.

If genetic homosexuality is another face of humanity’s fallen sin nature, then accepting it is not only wrong, it is blatant denial of the healing power of God. It is like saying, “Most natural urges can be controlled, except for that one – so we’ll just let it go.” If you do that, you’re forgetting about the strength, forgiveness, healing, and encouragement that God offers. (1 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 1:7) No choice, no tendency, no circumstance is so great that God cannot redeem it. (Genesis 50:20, Revelations 21:5-7) To validate someone’s sinful nature is to invalidate God’s ability to overcome it.

 

3. SO HAVING HOMOSEXUAL URGES IS WRONG?

Acting out on homosexual urges is wrong – the Bible is very clear about that. But what about a person who enjoys homosexual thoughts, but does not participate in homosexual acts?

All of us have thoughts we have to make decisions about. It’s not wrong to be tempted, but it is wrong to dwell on temptation. In that moment when you have a tempting thought, you have to make a decision about whether or not you’re going to dwell on that thought. Dwelling on homosexual fantasies is no different than dwelling on lustful fantasies about women, or hateful thoughts about your boss, or jealous thoughts towards your neighbor.

“For as he thinks within himself, so he is.” – Proverbs 23:7

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:27-28

Homosexual urges, murderous urges, lustful urges, prideful urges – all are just symptoms of a fallen nature. If you’ve given your heart to Christ, you can ask him to take away those urges and replace them with righteous ones. (Psalm 18:28) Those temptations then become opportunities to grow in your faith as you refuse to dwell on them. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

 

4. YOU’RE BEING SO CLOSED MINDED! HOMOSEXUALITY IS PROGRESSIVE.

Actually, the opposite is true. Homosexuality was rampant in the centuries before Judaism, as were other perverse sexual practices. It was only when the Hebrew God demanded that all sexuality be channeled into heterosexual marriage that society began to improve. If God had not issued his commands to the Hebrews regarding sex, we would be living in a much more lawless society where women and children were treated like meat.

For more on homosexuality as it affects society, please visit this link to an article by Dennis Prager entitled Why Judaism Rejected Homosexuality.

 

5. IF THE BIBLE IS TRUE AND HOMOSEXUALITY IS WRONG, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT ME?

This could affect you in several ways.

If you claim to follow Christ, but you are living a homosexual lifestyle, you need to know that you are living a life that God does not approve of. But God still loves you regardless of your decisions. He wants the best for you, and his commands aren’t there to hurt you, but to give you life. If you will ask God for forgiveness and repent, He will be faithful to draw you out of that lifestyle and into a life that is honoring to him.

If you claim to follow Christ, but you think homosexuality is okay, you may need to seriously reexamine your beliefs. You should ask yourself why your beliefs do not line up with the words of the God you claim to serve. You should also search the scriptures yourself and ask the Lord to show you what is true.

If you claim to follow Christ, but you hate homosexuals, you are guilty of arrogance and pride. You need to humble yourself before the Lord and ask him to forgive you. You should also ask the Lord to help you love people regardless of the choices they make, and you should pray that every person you meet would come to know the love and joy and hope that Christ offers.

If you do not follow Christ, you might be turned off by this whole thing, since culture and media portray homosexuality as normal. You might not think so, but God is a God of love and compassion. If he says homosexuality is wrong, it is not said out of hate or maliciousness. He has put guidelines into place so that we can have blessed lives that are joyful and good. He wants the best for you.