I am currently taking a class at my church on the topics of The Doctrines of Man and Sin (Anthropology and Hamartiology, respectively). We are looking at man and sin from a Biblical viewpoint. One of the assignments for this class was to write a 1-page paper on a topic that deals with any area of these doctrines. After some thought, I chose to write a paper on a Christian view of homosexuality. What does the Bible say about it? What does God say about it? Given the elevated status that homosexuality seems to garner in today's society, how should the Christian view this lifestyle choice? Anyway, here is the content of my paper.
“God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” This is a trite expression used by many Christians as evidence that homosexuality is not a lifestyle that God intended for mankind. While there is validity to this expression (as you will see later), it falls short of being a complete and total Biblical argument against the homosexual lifestyle.
Homosexuality as a lifestyle has become more common and prevalent in the last 15-20 years, though it has been existence since Bible times. In fact, it has become an in-your-face movement. No longer does it have the stigma that it once had. Popular culture tries to dictate to today’s Christian that we must accept the homosexual lifestyle. If we do not, we are labeled as bigoted, intolerant, or ‘homophobic.’
Sadly, many “Christian” churches have accepted openly gay people and their lifestyles into their churches, because “God loves everyone,” regardless of their lifestyle or their unwillingness to change their lifestyle to meet God’s standards. They try to tell us that God loves us just the way we are. In essence, instead of us trying to become closer to God and meet His standards, they want to bring God closer to us and have Him change His standards to accept that which He clearly condemns. We are not necessarily supposed to show our love for God on His terms. Rather, He is to show love for us on our terms.
So, does this mean that we are supposed to accept sinful lifestyles which are contrary to the Word of God? Are we supposed to ignore open sins which God condemns? Are we supposed to shut up about God’s standards and get along so that it might be easier for us to witness and win souls? Let’s see what the Bible has to say about this topic, and then I think the answer will be clear to us.
In Genesis 1:26-27, God says that man is created in the image of God. The end of verse 27 states that God created both male and female. This would make sense, seeing that in verse 28, God blesses the man and the woman, and He tells them to “…be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” This command is not a possibility if there are 2 men or 2 women on earth. Not to be crude, but God made the body of the man and the body of the woman to fit together anatomically for the act of procreation (which is to be within the bounds of marriage).
Later, in Genesis 2, the author goes into a little more detail on the creation of man and woman. In verse 18, God looks at Adam and sees that he is alone, and that he is in need of a help meet. In verses 21-22, God causes Adam to fall asleep. He then takes a rib from Adam, and God makes woman. It is the woman that is to be the help meet for man. This is clearly not the role of another man. Also, in verse 24, the author says that it is God’s command that man shall cleave unto his wife. These are not generic terms. This is quite specific that God intended for man and woman to be together.
In Romans 1, the Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Rome about the temptations and sins facing the church. Because man had rejected God and worshipped other things, God allowed man to be given over to his own fleshly, vile affections (Romans 1:26-32). In verse 27, Paul states that because of this, men started to be attracted to other men, doing that which is unseemly. Because of this, God gave them over to a reprobate mind. They have no guilt for what they are doing. In fact, they find pleasure in such acts.
In I Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul tells the Corinthian people that those who are unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Among the list of the unrighteous are those who are effeminate and abusers of themselves with mankind. These are clearly listed as unrighteous lifestyles that are not compatible with a Christian lifestyle.
So people now use the argument that people are born gay. We are told that they are born with the predisposition for people of their own gender. And it seems as though many “Christian” churches are starting to buy into this philosophy. Well, according to Scripture, people are not born this way. Can I prove this scientifically? No, I am not a scientist, so I would not even know where to start. However, as I read the Bible, I can easily refute this line of thinking Biblically.
We have clearly seen that Scripture tells us that homosexuality is a sin. James 1:13 tells us that “…God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man.” God does not tempt us to sin. God does not cause any man to sin. God will not force any man to sin. Why would He do anything to force mankind to do something contrary to His will? Man chooses to sin. Man chooses to live his life in rebellion to God and His Word. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and come short of God’s glory. People are not born gay – they are born a sinner. That sin can lead people to homosexuality.
So, as Christians, what are we to do? Are we to let these people continue in their sinful, vile ways and watch as they doom themselves to an eternity in hell? No, we are not to do that. We know that people can turn away from this lifestyle and follow after God. As soon as Paul is done listing different lifestyles that will keep us from the Kingdom of God, he goes on to say that some have turned from this lifestyle (I Corinthians 6:11). People are not doomed to stay in this type of lifestyle for the rest of their lives (which is another argument against being born gay – if we were born gay, then there is nothing we could do to change our lifestyle). People have turned away from their evil lifestyles and followed after God. They asked forgiveness of God, and He washed and sanctified them. It is possible.
We also are to show God’s love toward the sinner. We are not to accept their sins, but we are to display God’s love to them. John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world so much that He gave His Son to die for us. The Bible does not list any exceptions to this – He died for all. He died for everyone that ever lived. His death on the cross covered all of the sins of all mankind. His death covered all the sins that mankind has ever committed. Again, the Bible does not list any exceptions to this – the blood of Christ is able to cover any sin that man has committed. God is able to forgive someone who is gay, should they ask forgiveness. With His help, they can turn from this wicked lifestyle. But as long as they are living a life contrary to what God has prescribed in His Word, there can be no fellowship with God.
