Homosexuality

 

Since the Bible does speak on the subject of homosexuality, it is imperative that the Church correctly understands and articulates the truth on this important contemporary issue. 

 

It should be noted at the outset that there is absolutely no affirmation of homosexual activity found anywhere in Scripture. Rather, the consistent sexual ideal in the Bible is chastity for those outside a monogamous heterosexual marriage and fidelity for those inside such a marriage. There is also abundant evidence that homosexual behavior, along with illicit heterosexual behavior, is immoral and comes under the judgment of God.  We believe, in the light of biblical revelation, that the growing cultural acceptance of homosexual identity and behavior, male and female, is symptomatic of a broader spiritual disorder that threatens the family, the government, and the church.

 

Homosexual behavior is sin because it is disobedient to Scriptural teachings.   

When God called Israel to be His people in a distinctive sense, He miraculously delivered them from Egyptian bondage. But God did more. He entered into a covenant relationship with them and provided the law, predicated on love for God and neighbor, by which they could order their lives as a holy people. That law included specific prohibitions of homosexual practice, such as that of Leviticus 18:22: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” Lest the previous injunction be misunderstood, Leviticus 20:13 provides a restatement, “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.”  “Abomination,” used in both verses, is a strong word that indicates divine displeasure with sin.  An unbiased study of these and other passages (i.e. Romans 1:26-27) makes it clear that Scripture consistently identifies homosexual behavior as sin.

 

Homosexual behavior is sin because it is contrary to God’s created order for the family and human relationships.

When people choose to engage in homosexual behavior, they depart from the God-given nature of sexuality. Their unnatural sexual behavior is a sin against God, who established the order of sexuality (Romans 1:27). And the social unit they seek to establish is contrary to the divine instruction for the man to leave father and mother and “hold fast to his wife” (Genesis 2:24).

 

In Jesus’ discussion with the Pharisees, He reiterated the order of sexuality that God established in the beginning: “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4, 5). He pointed out that the only alternative to heterosexual marriage is celibacy for the kingdom of heaven’s sake (Matthew 19:10–12).

 

Homosexual behavior is sin for which reconciliation is possible.

While Scripture makes it clear homosexual behavior is sin it also indicates that those who are guilty of homosexual behavior or any other sin can be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:17–21, 1 Corinthians 6.9-11).

 

As Christians we must both exhort believers to live in moral purity and express in word and deed Christ’s love for the lost. Aware of the claims of God on every aspect of our lives, we must emphasize that we are called to holiness. We must reach out to unbelievers with compassion and humility. We must hold no malice toward, or fear of, homosexuals—such attitudes are not of Christ. At the same time we must not condone sexual behavior God has defined as sinful.