“All you need is love.” Gays are not harming anyone. True or False?
Objection Stated
“All you need is love.” But this is consensual. We’re not harming anyone.
Biblical Response
“All You Need Is Love” is a Beatles song that does not make for good theology or ethics. We will not argue about the prominent place of love in Christian theology and practice; without it we would not have redemption (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10).
Nor will we argue about the Christian requirement that we love one another. It is unquestionably Christian doctrine that “the one who loves his brother abides in the light” (1 John 2:10). Furthermore, “we know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14).
We agree that we should “not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18). The loving of one another is evidence of the life of God abiding in us (1 John 4:12). Truly, “we love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19), and we must love one another if we truly love God (1 John 4:20).
While these passages are ringing in our ears, we are accused of acting in an unloving or unchristian way when we express our disagreement with persons who are practicing or pursuing homosexuality.
While these passages are ringing in our ears, we are accused of acting in an unloving or unchristian way when we express our disagreement with persons who are practicing or pursuing homosexuality.
This is a special favorite of persons in the church who presume the compatibility of their homosexual lifestyle with biblical morality.
These folks claim that “the chief Christian virtue” of love is being violated by those who disagree with their homosexual preference. We are being told, “So long as the parties involved in the ‘union’ are loving, just so long as they are committed, it’s no big deal.” After all, “all you need is love.”
The ultimate question at this point is, what does it mean to be loving?
We are in complete agreement with the teaching of Scripture that says we must love one another, even our enemies (Matthew 5:44). We ought not to engage in conduct devoid of Christian charity. But what does this look like?
We are in complete agreement with the teaching of Scripture that says we must love one another, even our enemies (Matthew 5:44). We ought not to engage in conduct devoid of Christian charity. But what does this look like?
- Is it loving to “live and let live?”
- Is it loving never to share a correction, a reproof, or an admonition?
- Is it loving to turn away and ignore that which we know to be true?
- Is it loving to know what the Word of God says about a particular subject and not share it with those for whom you are concerned, due to a fear of conflict?
Just what does the Bible mean when it calls upon us to act lovingly?
To love one another, to behave lovingly, is to—stating the matter as simply as possible—do what God says to do in the way God says to do it.
To love one another, to behave lovingly, is to—stating the matter as simply as possible—do what God says to do in the way God says to do it.
Or, to put it another way, we must do the right thing, in the right way. To be loving is to be lawful: to obey God’s commands.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). The love of God first comes to us so that we are enabled to love one another, and the exhibition of our love for God is defined as the keeping of His commandments. Paul wrote, “Love … is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10).
One of God’s commandments prohibits homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13). Love of God, since it follows God’s commands, requires the cessation of homosexual practices. The love of God compels others, who are not homosexual, to present faithful instruction and admonition from God’s Word to those who are engaged in the sin of homosexuality. This is an exhibition of the love of God.
We are not homophobic, nor are we haters of homosexuals. Disagreement with the morality of homosexuality does not make one hateful or homophobic. Showing the clear teaching of God’s Word—the admitted authority for those on both sides of this same-sex controversy—is loving: “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed” (Proverbs 27:5).
We are not homophobic, nor are we haters of homosexuals. Disagreement with the morality of homosexuality does not make one hateful or homophobic. Showing the clear teaching of God’s Word—the admitted authority for those on both sides of this same-sex controversy—is loving: “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed” (Proverbs 27:5).
As Christian ministers we appeal to those who are practicing or pursuing homosexuality: you must obey God and repent. To pursue that which is under God’s condemnation is not a kinky satisfaction, nor is it harmless.
To live a life contrary to God’s Word—a life of homosexuality—is to declare that which is evil to be good, and the good to be evil. It is naïve and unbiblical to assume that sins occur in a vacuum, in isolation from others. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). If you claim to be a Christian, if the love of God has first invaded your life, then you must obey His commands. You must live in accordance with His standards of morality and forsake the interest and engagement in homosexuality. In the case before us, we should exhibit our disagreement in a loving way … and the truth has been declared.
White, J. R., & Niell, J. D. (2002). The Same Sex Controversy: Defending and Clarifying the Bible’s Message about Homosexuality (pp. 173–176). Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.
White, J. R., & Niell, J. D. (2002). The Same Sex Controversy: Defending and Clarifying the Bible’s Message about Homosexuality (pp. 173–176). Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.
