The term ‘homosexuality’ is
not found in the Bible. Nor is the term ‘lesbian’. The absence of these modern day terms in
scripture does not indicate that scripture is silent regarding this issue. The Bible does not address orientation but
the Bible very clearly and unequivocally addresses behavior. Same sex is condemned in the Pentateuch and
also again in the New Testament. The
Apostle Paul strongly warned about homosexual behavior, even listing it as one
of those sins that, if not confessed and cleansed by the sacrifice of Christ, would
certainly lead one to hell. (1)
God’s plan from the very
beginning was that sexual relations should be between one man and one woman
involved in a monogamous relationship that would last a lifetime. God’s condemnation of sexual activity outside
of these parameters must be taken very seriously. Those involved in homosexual behavior or
adulterous behavior in the Old Testament were subject to the punishment of
death. The instructions were very
specific and unarguable: “Do not lie
with a man as one lies with a woman, that is detestable.” (2)
The penalty for such behavior was clearly spelled out: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a
woman, both have done what is detestable. They must be put to death’. (3) The
severity of the law of the Old Testament is now redundant due to the fact that
Christ made the ultimate sacrifice by which he made available an abundant grace
to all who would believe in him and repent of their sins.
Since the fall of man our
depraved nature has habitually taken the good and beautiful gifts of God and
corrupted them. God gave us the ability
to create art, but we have corrupted that gift by creating works that degrade
the holy nature of God, even winning awards for placing a cross in a jar of
urine and declaring it art. (4) God gave
us music as a way of expressing our praise for him but we have corrupted his
gift by using it to promote violence and hatred and twisted sexual
behavior. God gave us the gift of sex so
that we might procreate and multiply God’s crowning achievement, the creation
of the human being. As a bonus he threw
pleasure into the formula but we have corrupted his gift by trespassing beyond
the parameters he has clearly set for us in scripture.
Lest Christians get on their
high horse and beginning flailing away at those who commit sexual sins, let us
beware of Christ’s requirement for holy living.
He didn’t come to lower the standard of his Father’s holiness, on the
contrary, Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman
lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (5) If anything, Christ is now raising the bar by
requiring that those who call themselves Christians draw on the grace of God
made available by his Holy Spirit and allow him to purify our minds.
So what are the parameters
regarding sex in the Word of God? They
are simple and very clear. We have only three
options regarding sexual activity if we are to please a Holy God: (6)
1. Abstinence before marriage
2. Fidelity in marriage
3. Celibacy in singleness
Sometimes orientation can be
changed. (7) There are others who seem
to be destined to a life full of temptation.
We must not believe the lie our culture is continually screaming in our
ear that no one can really be fully human unless they are participating in some
sort of sexual activity. The Apostle
Paul refuted this lie when he commended those who chose celibacy as a lifestyle
and were able to free themselves of sexual activity in order to live a more
exclusive and sanctified life for the sake of the Kingdom of Christ. (9)
The Bible does not condemn
those who have an orientation toward homosexuality or toward infidelity. But it clearly condemns those who participate
in sinful sexual acts. We must always
distinguish between temptation and actual sin.
Those who must fight a proclivity toward homosexuality and who do so
successfully have not sinned. Those who
fail in their struggle need to experience an alternative love, a love that
demonstrates the holy nature of a forgiving and merciful God. True followers of Christ will not shove a
boot in the face of the homosexual or the one who is sexually promiscuous. Rather, they will demonstrate the true nature
of Christ who graciously offered living water to the woman at the well whose
life was shredded with sexual sin. (10)
We often fall into the trap
of treating gay and lesbian people as if they were lepers. We condemn their sin while committing an
equal or greater sin of acting as if their actions merit a greater punishment
for their sins.
Today Christians are
expressing great concern over same-sex marriage. It is easy to find scripture to oppose such a
union. But the marriage Christians
should be more concerned about is the marriage of homosexual sin with Christianity
itself. The idea that one can live in a
continuous state of sin and disobedience and still claim ‘at-one-ness’ with
Christ Jesus is a blasphemous heresy. Of
course, the homosexual should be welcome to come as they are to our Christian assemblies
but they are not welcome to stay as they are.
The church is a place for all sinners to repent of their sin and join
the body of believers who rejoice in Christ’s power to deliver us from sin.
What are the causes of
homosexuality? Some would claim that
there is a gene that causes one to be oriented toward homosexuality. There is no sure evidence of this claim and
the study of identical twins with the same genetic code but differing
orientations seems to contradict this claim.
Environmental factors seem to play a part in orientation. Observe that very few homosexual men have a
strong, healthy relationship with their father or any other male figure in
their early lives. We all have inclinations. We all have orientations and a whole realm of
experiences that have brought us to where we are. The Bible minimizes the psychological and
environmental aspects and makes behavior the primary issue. We are all called to repentance.
1. 1 Timothy 1:8-11
2. Leviticus 18:22
3. Leviticus 20:13
4.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ
5. Matthew 5:28
6. Matthew 19
7.
http://www.newswithviews.com/psychology/psychology2.htm
8. 1 Corinthians
7:22-35
9. 1 Corinthians 7:8
10. John 4:1-26
Kevin Probst - Teaches History, Government and Apologetics at the high school level in Columbus Georgia.
