Bible responses to the sin of homosexuality
ARGUMENT #1
“God prohibited homosexuality in Leviticus 18:22, and yet in the same book He also prohibited eating shellfish (Leviticus 11:10). Since Christians today eat shellfish, the Old Testament laws concerning homosexuality must no longer be valid either.”
ANSWER:
Some people teach that God instituted the Old Testament dietary law for the health of His chosen people in order to provide protection from illness during their difficult journeys. (For example, if not properly prepared, shellfish can cause hepatitis, pork can cause trichinosis.) Others teach that the laws were a way to separate themselves from their pagan neighbors and to stress holiness. Nevertheless, all dietary laws were repealed by Jesus, who, in Mark 7:19 declared all foods clean. However, the ban on homosexuality was never repealed, only reinforced.
“We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made … for adulterers and perverts [homosexuals] … and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine.” (1 Timothy 1:8–10)
ARGUMENT #2
“The Old Testament laws regarding homosexuality were laws that pertained to ritual purity, not moral behavior.”
ANSWER:
Two main passages in the Old Testament that prohibit homosexuality are Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. Neither chapter discusses ritual purity; however, both chapters give general prohibitions—prohibitions against incest, child sacrifice, bestiality, adultery and homosexuality. Neither chapter connects homosexuality with pagan rituals as the reason for prohibiting homosexuality.
“Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” (Leviticus 18:22)
ARGUMENT #3
“The city of Sodom has been unjustly slandered in the Bible. The men from Sodom wanted to get to know Lot’s guests for the purpose of hospitality, not homosexuality.”
ANSWER:
According to the King James Version of the Bible, the men outside Lot’s home wanted to “know” his guests—but with such force that they almost broke down the door. Lot called this act “wicked.” (Read Genesis chapter 19.)
A nearly identical event occurred in Judges 19:16–28 when men came to an elderly man’s home and demanded, “Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him” (Judges 19:22 KJV). Like Lot, the man refused. However, because they insisted, he sent out his concubine instead. The result? “They raped her … throughout the night” (Judges 19:25 NIV).
The Hebrew word for “to know” in both of these passages means “to have intercourse with.” In fact, the New International Version translates these passages “to have sex with” rather than “to know” because the sexual meaning is obvious.
Sodom was certainly known not for its lack of hospitality but for its wickedness. (See Genesis 13:13; Isaiah 3:9; Jeremiah 23:14.) Ultimately, God destroyed the entire city because five righteous people could not be found (Genesis chapters 18 and 19). The Book of Jude clearly states that the sin of Sodom was “sexual immorality and perversion” (Jude 7).
ARGUMENT #4
“The New Testament teaches that the Mosaic Law has been done away with; therefore, the law against homosexuality is no longer applicable. Adults should be sexually free to do what they want.”
ANSWER:
Although Christians are no longer under the Law of Moses, according to Romans 6:14–15 and Galatians 3:24–25, the Holy Spirit unmistakably inspired numerous New Testament writers to continue to condemn homosexuality as sin (Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 and 1 Timothy 1:8–11).
ARGUMENT #5
“Since Jesus never mentioned homosexuality, He did not consider it sin.”
ANSWER:
Although Jesus did not directly address the topic of homosexuality, four points must be considered. First, Jesus never endorsed homosexual union, only heterosexual. Second, in Matthew 19 Jesus spoke of only the male-female relationship as God’s intention for marriage. Third, He preached celibacy as the only alternative to heterosexual marriage. Fourth, even though He repealed other laws, Jesus never repealed the ban on homosexual behavior.
ARGUMENT #6
“Love is the main theme of the Bible. If people are loving one another, then homosexuality can’t be wrong.”
ANSWER:
Love is a significant theme of the Bible as seen in John 13:34 when Jesus said, “Love one another.” The issue is not the rightness or wrongness of “loving one another,” but rather is whether the expression of that love puts you into opposition to God’s definition of love. The Bible makes it clear, “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
While the Lord tells us to love one another, He also tells us that homosexuality is sinful behavior. We cannot pick and choose which of God’s commands we will follow and which we will reject—we must accept all that God commands. Sexual expression is expected between a husband and a wife, but is forbidden between individuals of the same sex. God’s command is not burdensome to those who love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.
ARGUMENT #7
“It is obvious that David and Jonathan had a homosexual relationship.”
ANSWER:
First Samuel 20:41 says that David and Jonathan “kissed each other and wept together” … and for good reason! They had been longtime friends and had just learned that Jonathan’s father, Saul, planned to kill David because David’s popularity threatened King Saul’s power over the people.
In the ancient world, the kiss was a common friendly greeting. Both Paul and Peter often encouraged believers to “greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 1 Peter 5:14). This greeting was not a sexual kiss. Likewise, Jesus was betrayed with a kiss (Mark 14:44). Men kissing men was commonplace.
Even today it is quite customary in non-American cultures, such as those in France, Russia, Iraq and Iran, for men to kiss each other as a form of greeting (similar to the American handshake).
ARGUMENT #8
“The apostle Paul held views that were dated and that related only to his culture. Therefore, Paul’s condemnation of homosexuality is culturally irrelevant today.”
ANSWER:
Paul’s view of homosexuality is not based on an outdated view of human sexuality that “just happened to fit” within his culture. Paul’s view is based on his accurate understanding of God’s previous commands about sexual expression. Paul agreed with the Law of Moses that God condemns homosexuality (1 Timothy 1:8–10). Paul also recognized that God’s original intent for sexual expression was between a married man and woman (Genesis 2:24) and that homosexuality is a deviation from God’s original design (Romans 1:26–27). Ultimately, the Bible’s prohibition of homosexuality was not merely temporary, but morally timeless.
ARGUMENT #9
“People are more important than rules and regulations. Loving people should be our highest priority, whether it is through a homosexual relationship or not.”
ANSWER:
In the first of the Ten Commandments, God clearly stated, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). If you are more important to your friend than God, then you have taken a place that only God should have.
ARGUMENT #10
“God is a God of love, and He would welcome someone having a loving homosexual relationship. The Bible says, ‘Love one another, for love comes from God’ ”(1 John 4:7).
ANSWER:
It is true that God is a God of love. First John 4:16 says, “God is love.” The Bible also says in Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” A perfectly logical God would not encourage all forms of sexual expression (such as marital infidelity, incest and homosexuality) when He has stated numerous times that those are sinful—those actions are contrary to His moral character. God’s command for you to love will never contradict His call to sexual purity.
ARGUMENT #11
“The church has not shown love for homosexuals, but rather has shown condemnation and hatred toward them.”
ANSWER:
In many situations this is true. A Christian should have a heart of compassion toward homosexuals, focusing on their unmet needs while still upholding biblical principles. While believers are also told to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), many have miserably failed to express kindness. However, the church’s failure to show love does not nullify the truth of God’s principles—obviously two wrongs don’t make a right. The church’s lack of compassion does not change the fact that God looks upon homosexual behavior as immoral.
In truth, Christ is willing to forgive anyone for anything, but He also declares to the one who is immoral, “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11).
ARGUMENT #12
“Shakespeare said, ‘To thine own self be true.’ A married man who comes to grips with his gayness—to be true to himself—should be able to get a guilt-free divorce.”
ANSWER:
There are two problems with this premise. First, a person is never called to give himself to a lie. The truth is that he is designed by God to be a heterosexual man who needs to come to grips with his emotional woundedness, which is drawing him into homosexuality. And second, a man who is true to himself is a man who keeps his word. A marriage commitment is a covenant that lasts for a lifetime. As a married man, if you are true to yourself, you must be a faithful marriage partner until death—not until divorce. Your solution is not divorce, but is rather deep healing.
“ ‘I hate divorce,’ says the Lord God of Israel.… So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.” (Malachi 2:16)
ARGUMENT #13
“Since there are many gay churches, homosexuality must be sanctioned by God.”
ANSWER:
Don’t be deceived. Sin always seeks a respectable face, and what better face than that provided by the sanctuaries of churches! Many homosexuals seek sanction from a condemning society and solace for their troubled souls by claiming God’s commendation of their lifestyle. These gay churches are sadly deceived because God’s position on sin never changes. He does not condemn homosexuality as wrong or unnatural at one point and later commend it as righteous or natural. There is no right way, right place, right circumstance, right condition or right time to do what is wrong!
“Reject the wrong and choose the right.” (Isaiah 7:15)
ARGUMENT #14:
“It is cruel and unfair to expect me to change my homosexual orientation … because change is impossible.”
ANSWER:
God never calls you to be holy and pure without giving you the power to be holy and pure. First Thessalonians 5:24 says, “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” What is impossible in your own strength is entirely possible in His strength. Luke 1:37 affirms, “Nothing is impossible with God.”
Hunt, J. (2008). Biblical Counseling Keys on Homosexuality: A Case of Mistaken Identity (51–56). Dallas, TX: Hope For The Heart.
