Homosexuality and the twisting of the Bible

In past decades homosexuals were ashamed to “go public.” Historically, theologians were not required to address this topic, as it was commonly understood to be a violation of God’s law. Francis Turretin, a theologian of the seventeenth century, simply referred to homosexuality as “the sin against nature.” 

Previously, homosexuals rarely tried to go to the Bible to obtain approval for their behavior and appetites—they knew it was not to be found. Lately, since public opinion has turned slightly in their favor, the shame has diminished to the point where the Bible is being pursued as an ally, as a moral reference point to bolster their position. After all, if the Bible can be summoned to the homosexuals’ defense, they may have a case.

So in the midst of this present debate, adherents to both sides of the same-sex controversy claim the authority of the Bible in their defense. Both sides claim that the Bible is clear. Both sides claim to have moral justification for their position. 

However, both sides cannot be correct. If God’s Word prohibits something, the church must prohibit it as well. The church must not remain silent where God’s Word speaks.

The Bible speaks of its own authority. It must. As God’s Word, it cannot speak, or admit, of any higher authority; to do so would be to present itself as a lesser authority. For our purposes, understanding the Bible’s own pronouncements regarding its authority is important for at least two reasons.

First, the question of the moral acceptability of homosexuality cannot be answered solely by the individual texts that specifically speak of homosexuality; the entire teaching of Scripture—especially its teaching on marriage—is relevant to our discussion. As we consider what the Bible has to say about marriage, we will see that a biblical definition of marriage leaves no room for homosexual intimacy or homosexual marriage.

Second, if the authority of the Bible, the stated consensus of those on both sides of this issue, is to be maintained, we will see that the Bible cannot truly be shown to approve of homosexual practice or desire. Even from the passages that are often cited by advocates of the acceptability of homosexuality within the Christian faith, the Bible from cover to cover, in passage after passage, disapproves of homosexuality, calling it sin yet offering hope for those who are struggling with it.

The interpretive approach of those who advocate the acceptability of homosexuality from the teaching of the Bible challenge the authority of Scripture at every point and on each passage. These revisionists point to the Law of God as found in Leviticus and say that these passages do not apply to the modern day. 

While speaking of allegiance to the Bible, they revise the clear teaching of the Bible with regard to homosexuality. The psalmist, however, thought otherwise: “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy Law is truth” (119:142). Yet the Bible says that the “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35) and “all [God’s] precepts are sure. They are upheld forever and ever; they are performed in truth and uprightness” (Psalm 111:7–8) (emphasis added).



White, J. R., & Niell, J. D. (2002). The Same Sex Controversy: Defending and Clarifying the Bible’s Message about Homosexuality (pp. 17–19). Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.