“Homosexual And Christian?”

Biblegems #203

Question: How do those who practice homosexuality and who also consider themselves to be Christian defend their position biblically, especially in light of such straightforward passages as Leviticus 18:22 and 1Corinthians 6:9-10?

Here are the verses in question. Note the underlined words.

         Lev. 18:22 Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

         1Cor. 6:9-10 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Those who claim they belong to Christ while defending their homosexual lifestyle typically justify their position as follows:

• The Bible is not to be understood literally.

• God values diversity.

• God values unity in Christ, therefore nothing should divide believers.

• Those who judge people because of homosexuality are guilty of other equally condemned behaviors.

• Condemning homosexuality is legalism; and the law has nothing to do with faith.

• Love, not behavior, marks a true disciple of Christ.

Are these arguments valid? No. Here’s why—

The Bible is God’s inspired Word and our final authority in doctrine and behavior:

2Pet. 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Therefore, when Scripture states that certain lifestyle behaviors are “detestable,” “wicked,” “immoral” and descriptive of people who will not “inherit the Kingdom of God,” it is to be understood literally. As Jesus clearly affirmed:

         Matt. 5:18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Therefore, Christians are not being judgmental or legalistic in denouncing homosexuality; they are simply pointing out what God has already judged as “wicked” in His Word.

When a car passes you on the highway at 100 mph and you say, “he’s going 30 mph over the speed limit,” you are not being judgmental. You’re just stating the facts—the driver is breaking the law and you hope, for everyone’s benefit, he gets caught before he causes serious injury.

In the same way, God does not encourage “wicked,” “detestable” and “immoral” behavior in the Body of Christ in the name of love, unity and diversity. If that were the case, why not condone incest or prostitution? Yet the Scriptures clearly identify all such behavior as sexually immoral and to be zealously avoided by God’s people, just as we are to avoid all other sinful behavior:

Eph. 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.

Note: For further discussion related to this topic please see Bible Gems #102, 103, 104 (Sept - Oct, 2012).

Homosexuality—3: Who Am I To Judge?

Biblegems # 104

Question: I don't want to think that God would fault me for associating with people who are homosexual because God wants us to love everyone. Who am I to judge?

This is the third and final installment on this series dealing with homosexuality, focusing this time on how God would have His people interact with those who have adopted a homosexual lifestyle. The answer to this begins with the question, “who am I to judge?”

Usually, what we mean by that question is “who am I to condemn?” Listen to what Jesus taught about that:

         John 3:17-18 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

According to Jesus, then, the entire human race is already condemned. Humanity is contaminated by sin—we are born into it, like an AIDS baby is born into a deadly disease. The Bible puts it this way:

         Rom. 5:12 …sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—

The sins we choose to commit—lying, adultery, homosexuality, etc.—come from the sin nature we have inherited from our ancestors. We are all born into an environment of sin, of disobedience to God, and of a slavish desire to satisfy our animal desires and determine our own path through life. As Jesus said,

         John 3:19-20 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

But—you ask—why should we be condemned for a sin nature we inherited? It’s not fair!

You’re right, it’s not fair, any more than a baby condemned to die of AIDS because of a parent’s choice is fair. In fact it’s outrageous! And if you could do something to rescue that baby, to save that baby from the consequences of a parent’s sinful choice, would you not do it? Of course you would!

This is precisely what God has done in sending His Son Jesus to die in our place, taking the disease of our sin upon Himself and offering the transfusion of His life into ours for our salvation. You have heard the verse and seen the reference at baseball and football stadiums every year:

         John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

No, it is not our place to condemn those who choose a life of sin, whether homosexuality or stealing or whatever. Sin cuts us off from God, and God IS Life. Apart from life in Jesus, we are all condemned (John 14:6). But for us who have put their faith in Jesus and have been vaccinated against the effects of sin, who have been given the free gift of eternal life, our role is to get this Good News out to the rest of humanity.

One final thought: for those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, yet choose to maintain a lifestyle that belongs to the old sinful nature…

         Rom. 6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Homosexuality 2: Right, Wrong Or Genetics?

Biblegems # 103

Question: I don't want to believe in an "interventionist" God who could find fault with someone for loving someone of the same sex, and who has a strong faith in God as well. How do I deal with this?

In order to discuss this honestly, it is important that we understand and agree upon the terms we use (sexual orientation, homosexuality, etc.). According to the American Psychological Society: “Sexual orientation refers to an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both sexes.”¹

In discussing homosexuality then, it is important to understand that we are talking about an “attraction,” not a genetic inevitability like blond hair or blue eyes. According to the APA: “There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation.”²

In fact, the psychological community understands sexual orientation to be principally a matter of choice: “Mental health professional organizations call on their members to respect a person’s (client’s) right to self-determination…”³ (italics, mine).

Both the Bible and the APA agree on this: Homosexuality is a choice, not a question of genetics. 

The disagreement comes at the issue of “self-determination.”

As we saw in the previous post, “Homosexuality And The Love of God,” God designed human sexuality as a union between male and female (Gen. 1:27; 2:18). Men and woman are not designed for same sex intimacy. It is not a choice that has been given to us by God, anymore than robbing a bank. “Self-determination” in the area of sexual orientation was never part of God’s plan for us. To break from His design and purpose is to disobey God, which is what the Scripture calls sin.

So when God gives us this clear instruction—Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable (Lev. 18:22)—He is, like a good and loving parent, telling us to stay away from a practice for which we were not designed. For those who claim no loyalty or love for God, this is a non-issue. But for those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, disobedience becomes a real problem:

         John 14:15 If you love me, you will obey what I command.

God in His infinite love for us has given us many areas in life in which we are free to choose. We can choose a spouse (of the opposite sex); we can choose which store we buy our groceries from; we can choose public, private or home-school for our children.

But equally in His infinite love for us He puts a fence around our freedom of choice for our own good, whether we think it’s good or not. We do not get to choose our own birth date, who our children will be, or where or when in the world we will be born. Self-determination is a very precious gift God has given to humanity to be exercised within the limits of His purpose and design for us, not for our own self-centered pleasure.

         Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

1. American Psychological Association. (2008). Answers to your questions: For a better understanding of sexual orientation and homosexuality. Washington, DC: Author. [Retrieved from www.apa.org/topics/sorientation.pdf.] This material may be reproduced and distributed in whole or in part without permission provided that the reproduced content includes the original bibliographic citation and the following statement is included: Copyright © 2008 American Psychological Association.

2. ibid.

3. ibid.

Homosexuality & The Love Of God

Biblegems #102

Question: How does one reconcile the apparent contradiction that God, who is love, condemns homosexuality, even when two people of the same gender genuinely love each other? And what if that same couple love God as well? Who are we to judge?

Introduction:

There are many who read this question for whom the answer seems so straightforward they can’t imagine how anyone could be confused. They would say something like: “God says homosexuality is sin, end of subject.” However, many others reading this are saying something like: “Finally, someone has the courage to ask what I’ve been wanting to ask for so long!” In either case, I hope you will read on, because even if you are not asking this question, you know people who are—but who may be to afraid to ask out loud. And there are too many Christians afraid to answer the question out loud.

There are several components to the question above: The love of God, human love, the nature of homosexuality, passing judgment on others, etc. I cannot possibly answer all of these interrelated questions in one 500 word blog. So this will be the first of a multi-part response. I know as I post each blog some readers will be saying, “Yeah, but what about…” —because I have to approach this piecemeal, not as a whole. Please be patient, and try to see each blog post as one incomplete part of a larger whole.  

I have used 200 words already just introducing this topic. Therefore, for this week’s blog post, the 500 word limit I attempt to impose on myself for your easier reading begins now:

God is love.

         1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Love is the very essence of God’s nature. It is not so much what He feels, or even what He does, it is who God is. That is very different from human love. Human love at its most superficial reflects how we feel, and that feeling is fleeting, inconsistent. God’s love is constant, unchanging. Human love at its highest chooses to be loving even when not being loved in return— something also achieved with great inconsistency. God always loves, and always acts in love, because He is love itself—unselfish, self-sacrificing, always seeking the welfare of those who need His love.

Obviously, then, true love must be measured against the highest, perfect standard, which is God. The goal of true love is not for God to love like us, but for us to love as He does. So when John says, Whoever does not love does not know God, God is the standard: whoever does not love [i.e., as God loves] does not know God.

So how do we love as God loves? Jesus gives us the answer:

         John 14:15 If you love me, you will obey what I command.

To disobey God is to selfishly choose what we want rather than lovingly choose to live as He designed us to live. We did not design ourselves. We are created with a carefully crafted design and purpose by a God whose very nature is love. We are designed to be like Him:

         Gen. 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

         God designed human sexuality as a union between male and female, and that union is designed to be a mirror image of Himself.

Gen. 2:18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Gen. 2:22-24 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

The “suitable helper,” according to God’s perfect design, was not male to male or female to female, but the union between a man and a woman who share a similar essence, but who have been intentionally separated by God into two genders. It is part of God’s design for human beings that we find our truest self by becoming united with our “other half.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.