What Do Christians Have to Say about Homosexual Behavior?

Does God actually create GAY and LESBIAN since they were first born? will they be saved and go to eternity? because most of them say that they don't want to be like that, but they just couldn't deny it that they like the same gender.

—E.

There are currently a lot of misconceptions about Christianity and homosexual behavior. The recent selection of Governor of Alaska, USA, Sarah Palin as Republican vice-presidential candidate (August 29, 2008) has put her beliefs, her church, and her pastor under much scrutiny, including on this topic. Common arguments against Christians having anything to say on this topic include: “People are born that way,” “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (a Bible quote, by the way, from Matthew 7:1), and any anti-homosexual comment is perceived as “hate speech.”

It is true that sometimes this topic is cherry-picked to be discussed regarding what is sinful, when, in all fairness, Christians should be equally vocal about any other sexual sin. A Christian’s stance really should be that any sex outside marriage is sin. There’s no reason to pick out any one in particular. And non-Christians see the hypocrisy when premarital sex and/or extramarital sex are practiced or winked at by Christians in comparison. This is certainly not pleasing to God (1 Corinthians 5) and has likely caused more and more sexual behavior (including everything from immodesty, pornography, unwed pregnancy, and abortion) to become more acceptable in society and, sadly, even within the Church.

Regarding the questions presented in this feedback, this article will answer them more generally than directly. Sexuality is a decision to engage in activities that humans do have a healthy, natural predisposition for, but God has put on a limit due to the sinful perversion of these originally perfect “inclinations” after the Fall. Simply put, God has indicated in His prescription for a healthy and rewarding life that we abstain from sex outside of a God-defined marriage (Leviticus 18; Deuteronomy 22; Ephesians 5; 1 Corinthians 7). Period.

While there are several specific places in Scripture that deal with homosexual behavior in particular in both Old and New Testament (some listed above), they are not necessary to further classify it as prohibited. It really boils down to one either abstains or marries and has a blessed union (Proverbs 5; Hebrews 13:4), or one chooses to disobey and defile his or her body.

Discussing inclination is a distraction tactic and is really beside the point: acting on the inclination physically or mentally outside of marriage is sin (Matthew 5:28). And while Christ’s blood is powerful enough to cover any sin, the Bible warns against willful sinning (Romans 6).

What’s it for, anyway, if we can’t just do what we want?

Sex was not only created by God for our pleasure (yes, God does bless us with this among many other pleasures), but also for a special revelation about Himself in the context of oneness in marriage (more details about this below). That is at least one reason why God jealously guards what is and what is not appropriate use of our bodies. And as our Creator, He knows what is best for us—He can set the rules. He owns us (1 Corinthians 6:19). That’s not what many people want to hear, and that’s the main reason people object to the Christian view that homosexual behavior is wrong. They, as we all, want to be owner and decision-maker for themselves, not realizing that their own sinful inclinations will lead to their ruin (Proverbs 7; Proverbs 13:15). God’s loving plan is much better, whether we claim Him as our Lord and Savior or not. Christians should understand this and happily comply with God’s written plan for our lives, knowing that He knows best as our Creator, that He always does what is right, and that He will work all things to our own good (Genesis 18:25; Romans 8:28).

Conversely, one need not look very far to see the damage and horror caused by using the gifts of sex and our and others’ bodies flippantly and disrespectfully. And when a Christian points out sin to another individual, it should indeed be done with the mindset of “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” A Christian approaching someone engaged in any sin should have the humble acknowledgement of their own sinful inclinations in mind, yet desire to let the individual know of the blessed aid of Christ’s power to overcome any sin and Christ’s ability to free us from sin and death’s bondage forever. Pointing out sin to point others to the cure is our duty. Pointing out sin to humiliate or to make ourselves look better is the type of judging that is sinful and has no place in the Christian life.

What’s so special about marriage? What about homosexual marriage?

God is love, and since He is, He has revealed Himself and His love to us in ways that we can understand. His dealings with us are often described as familial (e.g., He is our Father; Jesus is referred to as the “Son of God”). These terms are not wholly adequate, of course, to fully explain the perfect relationship that they point to. But did you know that Christ is also referred to as the Husband of the Church (the Bride)? Laying out the relationship and rules for the proper behavior of husbands and wives in Ephesians 5, including the ultimate exemplary display of Christ’s love (as the husband) giving himself (even his very life) for His wife, the Church. Song of Solomon also is a poetic example of a loving and happy marriage intended as a parallel of sorts with the marriage of Christ and His Church.

Combine this with the account of the first marriage in the Garden of Eden. The Almighty Creator God saw what Adam needed, and it wasn’t another man—and Eden was still perfect after the union of man and wife. There’s no room for homosexual marriage in the Bible. Whatever humans may call “marriage” does not mean that God will see it as such. Homosexuals may claim the rights of marriage, but they can never claim the God-ordained meaning of marriage. While we cannot force people to accept the biblical point of view and some will continue to live in sin, it is still our responsibility to show that while human definitions change, God’s standard does not.

What’s the bottom line?

Christians should be dogmatic about any sex outside marriage, not just homosexuality, because God is. Any sex outside marriage defiles the body of the committers and is prohibited by God according to His Word (1 Corinthians 6:18–20); therefore, if any want to argue about God’s rules for our bodies, they really need to be referred to the Source: God the Creator and His Word—not to Christians who try to simply believe, obey, and declare what He has written. It really is only our business as Christians to point others to the Word, not to judge for selfish motivation or involve ourselves in endless debate (Titus 3).

Further, if we present arguments against homosexuality or homosexual marriage as merely our “Christian” opinion, we have knocked our own legs out from under us. Our opinion about what is right and wrong ultimately doesn’t matter. In 20 years, culture will have changed, and we may find that things once considered taboo are now acceptable, even within the church. So, what does matter? God does not change, and neither does His Word. Let’s talk less about what we think and then read and share God’s Word for guidance in this and every matter of life.