How do we respond to homosexuality?

Probably the most abused word of recent times is the word 'love'. Love is at the centre of Christianity. Yet the gay movement has co-opted the word love into the meaningless activist phrase 'Love is Love'.  The Bible stands in contrast to this declaration of moral relativism. God is the essence of love. His sacrificial life should never be compared to a sexual redefinition mantra.

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This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:10

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Words and terminology are important. Christians are not 'homophobic'. The definition of homophobia is a fear of homosexuals. Disagreeing with homosexuality is very different to being sacred of homosexuals or hating gay people. Christians are called to love all people including those who disagree with us. Again we come back to the definition of love. Love is not affirming a lie. Love is not failing to speak, when one's eternal destiny is at stake. So let's look at what God says about love and homosexuality. 

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A Christian and a non-Christian can each hoId a view on any topic including homosexuality. Their opinion or view is neither right or wrong on their own. In a democracy, every person's view hold equal weight. But when it comes to determining Christian doctrine, no one gets a vote. God has set the standard in Scripture and believers cannot overrule what He has clearly said. Believing what is taught in the Bible is the very essence of being a believer. And in both the Old and New Testament, God has strong words for homosexual activity.

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Old Testament

If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act.

Leviticus 20:13a

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New Testament

That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

Romans 1:26-27

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Homosexuality is not new.  It has been around since Adam and Eve left the garden. It did not take long before entire cities were defined by same sex practices. In Genesis 19, Sodom and Gomorrah were homosexual hubs and described as prosperous and attractive cities. Yet, God destroyed them with brimstone because of their pursuit of strange flesh, not because of a lack of hospitality. But lest  anyone concludes that homosexuality is the most evil sin, consider Jesus words in Matthew 10:14-15 where he says that unbelief in Jesus will result in even a greater judgement than the fire that reigned down on those cities. 

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Today, the number of people 'coming out' as gay has increased astronomically. In just the last 12 years, there has been an 200% increase in gay identification at Brown University. Yet, today, gay activists claim they were Born This Way. To suggest otherwise justifies calls for 'gay conversion' bans. In the sense that all humanity was born in sin and has an attraction to it, yes that is true.  However, to suggest that God created some people to forever identify as homosexual is errant theology.

In John 3:7, Jesus declares to Nicodemus, "You must be born again".  Be careful about a faith that allows believers to continue to identify as a gay Christian. God's does not permit believers to identify with sin of any kind.  God does not permit the church to endorse sin as acceptable. If we experience a homosexual temptation, pray and flee it, that is faithfully resisting sin. If we've been living in sin and repent, God welcomes us back with open arms. His church must show that same welcoming attitude. But Romans 1:26 calls homosexual desire a vile affection (KJV)  and so 'gay' is not a moniker by which the believer identifies. Instead, God provides all believers a new identity. "Redeemed Saints". We have been clothed in his righteousness.

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The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:13

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In sanctification, God renews our mind and changes our desires to be more like Him. All believers - regardless of the nature of sexual passion- are instructed to flee sinful temptation and put on the new man.  It is both possible in theory and practice that God changes our desires to the natural order for men and women in marriage. Sanctification is a life long process, and it requires patient endurance. The church needs to walk with those who are actively fighting the good fight to resist sin and temptation. There is a blessing and a reward for those who fight this life long battle to the end. 

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God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.  And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

James 1:12-14

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