jWhat does the Bible Have to say about homosexuality?
The Bible on Homosexuality
The purpose of this paper is to present a brief Bible study on the subject of homosexuality.
You may wish to first read: Finding a Christian Attitude toward Homosexuality
Introduction
It needs to be emphasized that when God says something is sin, He is NOT saying, “I’m very arbitrary, and I don’t want you to have too much fun. So you can’t do these fun things.”
God, the One Who made us, knows what brings joy, peace, and health to our lives. And He knows what takes away those things and destroys lives.
So, knowing what He knows, God says, in effect, “I created you. I know what’s best for you. There are some kinds of behavior that will bring pain, ruin, depression, destruction, and death into your life and the lives of those around you. I call these things sin. If you want peace, joy and life turn from these things.”
God is a God of love. He loves all sinners, no matter what sin they may be committing at the time. It is because of His love for sinners that He warns us of the tragic and terrible consequences of those sins.
Old Testament
In the Old Testament, homosexual behavior is considered to be a heinous sin. It is one of the sins that carries the punishment of the death penalty.
It is referred to as an “abomination.” The Hebrew word (towebah) is a word that emphasizes the horror of sin. God wants us to see all sin as detestable and disgusting. God uses this word to keep us from minimizing sin. Sin, including homosexual behavior, is extreme wickedness in God's sight.
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:13)
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. (Leviticus 18:22)
“Abomination” is the word that is used to describe many kinds of sin, all of which is horrific, including even child sacrifice:
The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. (Deuteronomy 7:25)
But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. (2 Kings 16:3)
And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. (1 Kings 14:24)
In the New Testament, homosexuality is still included with other heinous sin. Of course, the glorious news in the New Testament is that even those who commit even the most horrible of sins can be forgiven and restored, in Christ Jesus. Of course, cleansing implies repentance and turning away from such sins.
In Romans chapter one, homosexual behavior is considered “dishonoring” (v. 24), associated with idolatry (v. 25), a “vile affection” (v. 26), “against nature” (v. 26), “unseemly”--[Greek: indecent or shameful] (v. 27), “reprobate” [Greek: depraved or rejected], “not convenient” [Greek: not proper, inappropriate]
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Romans 1:24-28)
1 Corinthians 6 lists the sin with all kinds of “unrighteousness” (v. 9), including fornication, adultery, and idolatry, theft, drunkenness, etc. And reminds us that people who do these things, UNLESS CLEANSED AND FORGIVEN THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
In 1 Timothy 1, homosexual behavior is listed in a group of sins that many would consider to be especially terrible, (e.g., murderers of parents, whoremongers, kidnappers, liars)
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (1 Timothy 1:9-11)
A few people have tried to condone homosexual behavior by claiming that Jesus never condemned it. First of all, the fact that the Bible does not record that Jesus said anything about homosexuality does not mean that He did not ever say anything about it (see John 21:25). Secondly, are we going to conclude that because the Bible does not record a statement from Jesus on the subject of child abuse or drug abuse that these things are ok? It is important to remember that our source of authority is the Bible—not just the words in red!
Sometimes people ask, “Why is homosexual behavior sin? What harm does it do?”
Well, for one thing, it distorts and perverts the very sacred institution of marriage and sexual relations within marriage. God created man and woman. He instituted marriage between a man and a woman to demonstrate the spiritual relationship between God and His people. It is a very profound institution and type of spiritual truth. To attempt to change what God instituted for such a profound purpose is a very serious mistake.
Also, it doesn’t require much research to discover what a tragic threat homosexual behavior is to the health of its practitioners. Life expectancy of homosexual practitioners is greatly reduced. The likelihood of practitioners contracting serious diseases (such as AIDS and Hepatitis) is much higher than it is in the general population. The degree of depression and the number of suicide attempts is much higher among homosexual practitioners than it is in the general population.
Often defenders of homosexual lifestyles say, “They cannot help it. It’s just the way they are built.” They believe that it is easy for heterosexuals to condemn homosexuality because heterosexuals do not experience those desires. Many homosexuals believe that it is a genetic predisposition, therefore cannot be denied.
Of course, in our day there is strong debate about this issue. However, the evidence is overwhelming that many who once felt they were genetically and eternally bound to homosexuality now testify that they have been gloriously set free from it. It may help to consider the following points.
It may be true that most of us are not tempted toward homosexuality. But there are other areas of life for which we do experience predisposed weakness. That does not give us justification for yielding to those predispositions.
Some men may feel genetically predisposed to have sex with many different women. They feel that it is just the way they are built. They feel that they cannot help it. But God says that kind of behavior is wrong and that those urges must be denied. Even though there may be many who feel strong temptations in that direction and others who are not tempted at all in that direction.
In a similar way, many heterosexual single people would say that it doesn't seem fair to them that God would require them to abstain from sexual activity since they are not married. But we know that God has good reasons for His commands.
Others may feel a predisposition to steal things (kleptomania) or to lie (compulsive lying), but God requires that they overcome those urges and obey Him. And He will give them grace to do exactly that.
It is no different with those who experience homosexual predispositions and urges. Those urges may be quite real. But God requires that they be resisted and overcome.
Of course, it is important that we never confuse the temptation to sin with the sin itself. Christians can be tempted with many kinds of sin, including heterosexual and homosexual lust, without giving in to those temptations.
For those who wish to obey God in this matter there is help. There are organizations of men and women who once yielded to the sin of homosexual behavior, became convicted, repented, experienced God’s forgiveness, and are living victorious lives. I encourage you to visit the web pages of the Restored Hope Network. (Or call them at 503-927-0869.)
God has proven over and over again that He can give victory over every kind of sin, including homosexual behavior. He loves homosexual sinners (as He loves all sinners, and as all Christians should love them). He stands ready to forgive. He simply requires that we agree with him about our sin, instead of excusing it, rationalizing it, and arguing with Him about it. When we agree with Him, and humbly come to Him in genuine repentance, He always forgives and pours out His grace on us, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Steve Hall
February, 2004
You may also wish to read: Finding a Christian Attitude toward Homosexuality