GAY TRUTH

Question: What is a theologically faithful definition of sexual orientation? Does sexual orientation affect one's sexual identity ? Christians must be honest enough to recognize that the modern secular understanding of sexual orientation has legitimate insights that we can appropriate in a way consistent with evangelical theology, Scripture, and the Christian tradition . Christians in general, and evangelicals in particular, must admit that we have often had a very superficial understanding of sexuality.  We assumed for centuries that people simply chose their pattern of sexual interest. The modern secular concept of sexual orientation suggests that every single human being who has reached the age of sexual maturity is characterized by a specific pattern of sexual interest that includes sexual arousal , sexual fantasy , sexual expectation, and a hope for specific sexual fulfillment. From the vantage point of biblical theology and orthodox pastoral counsel, the modern notion

Question: The biblical authors did not have the category of orientation, so aren't they talking about something different than we are? If sexual orientation refers to a pattern of sexual interest and arousal, then the Bible is actually quite explicit about this. In Romans 1 , for example, Paul addressed not only men who have unnatural relations with men and women who have unnatural relations with women, but also those who burn with same-sex passions toward one another.  This language reflects sexual preference and a pattern of sexual arousal that corresponds with the modern concept of sexual orientation. Furthermore, the Bible recognizes something even more fundamental than a sexual orientation-it recognizes a sinful orientation. Scripture communicates that every single human being is born with a sinful orientation. We all have a pattern of interest, ambitions, and temptations unique to us. Further, every single human being who has experienced puberty has a sexual orientat