What does the Bible say about homosexuality?
Chris Bronsdon
What should the church teach about homosexuality? For those who have homosexual feelings, this is no pure academic debate. The answers given have a real and lasting impact on peoples lives, and their relationship with God.
I want to say at the out set that this is a contentious and controversial area for many. And this is only a very short review and so I haven't covered all the subject matter by any means. If this is an issue you would like to talk more about, then anyone of the church leaders would be very happy to meet with you.
Before we think specifically about homosexuality however we need to set the context.
All Have Sinned
The Bible's context is that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This includes sexual sin. For example Jesus says:
Everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery in his heart.
Matthew 5:28
So very few, if any of us, can claim to have never sinned sexually. I know I can't. I'm a sinner saved by God's grace. Whenever Christians discuss homosexuality, it needs to be made clear that homosexuality isn't the only form of sexual behaviour the Bible has a view on.
But turning to the issue of homosexuality there are several verses in the Bible that address this. And the Bible view on homosexuality is clear, and it's this:
Homosexuality is Wrong
Leviticus 18:22 says
"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination"
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 reads as follows (notice the other things listed with homosexuality)
"Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
Other verses can be found in Timothy 1:10 and Romans 1:18-25.
There are many arguments used by some people to try and dismiss these verses. I haven't got time to go through all of the issues now, but I'll look very briefly at two.
Firstly it is often said that these verses condemn promiscuous homosexual behaviour or homosexual prostitution but have nothing to say about faithful, life-long gay relationships. This however is a misuse of the original text. There are two words used for homosexual behaviour in the Bible and both words condemn all forms of homosexual behaviour, be it promiscuous or monogamous.
Secondly it is often said that Jesus never mentioned homosexuality, and therefore he can't have thought it very serious. However this again is a misuse of the Bible. Jesus himself said:
"Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them... until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven..."
Matthew 5:17-19
The Law and Prophets to which Jesus was referring to include the book of Leviticus which we have looked at. So although Jesus never explicitly mentions homosexuality, he upholds these and other Bible verses, which very clearly condemn it.
So homosexuality according to the Bible is a sin, and those who persist in practising it will be excluded from the kingdom of God.
If that's the case we're left with the question "how can some one who has homosexual feelings live a life compatible with the Bibles' teaching?" This is where the power of the Gospel message flows.
Jesus Offers Freedom and Life
Christianity is not a long list of "thou shalt nots". The Jesus revealed in the Bible is the God who offers grace, forgiveness and freedom.
Jesus said "If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). Jesus offers freedom and a new start to those who will acknowledge their sin and turn away from it. That's not to say that once a man or woman has acknowledged that homosexuality is wrong, life will be easy. Life will be tough with many temptations and struggles. I once heard a married preacher describe himself as a "non-practising adulterer". Each one us will have particular sins we struggle with, be it homosexuality or lust or pride or greed.
But those who give their life to Christ are not left alone. We are given the Spirit of the living God, to empower us, give us a new heart, and set us free. That freedom brings life as God intended it. If we trust that Jesus our Creator knows how we should best live then these words of Jesus will be true for us:
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full".
John 10:10