For those who find themselves interested in homosexuality
God’s Word forbids desires that are sinful as well as deeds that are sinful. If the Bible prohibits a certain behavior, the longing for or the inclination toward performing such behavior is sinful as well. We are not contending that sins of inclination are the same (or as sinful) as the expression of that inclination into deeds, or homosexual acts. We are, however, asserting the biblical truth that both the desire for that which is sinful and the sinful acts themselves are morally unacceptable.
By recognizing a distinction between desire and deed, we have said nothing about the moral acceptability of either. Only God can determine the morality of any particular desire or action. Since God has declared homosexuality to be sinful, it necessarily follows that the desire or the inclination toward homosexuality is sinful as well. To use another example, as God has declared adultery to be contrary to His holiness, even the lusting after or the longing for adultery is forbidden (Matthew 5:28).
What is the responsibility before you if you are struggling with the inordinate lusts of homosexual desire? You must, like Joseph, flee such immorality. Repentance is pleasing to God, yet so many have been told the lie that says change is impossible. Is change possible? Absolutely! (1 Corinthians 6:11). Hope abounds, because homosexuality is sin, and Jesus Christ came to save sinners. That Christian counselors have been unfaithful to the Word of God at this point is a tragedy. All too often they refuse to call homosexuality what it truly is: a violation of God’s Word.
Without question, the lusts of homosexual longing can be fierce combatants. “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11, emphasis added). Romans 1:27 says, “men … burned in their desire toward one another” (emphasis added). But where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more (Romans 5:20). Those who turn to the Lord Jesus Christ have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Even though many in the church are attempting to justify the practice of homosexuality and are therefore redefining God’s standards of holiness, you must not. To do so is a soul-damning practice. We must not allow ourselves to be deceived into calling evil good and good evil.
We recognize the biblical distinction between those who teach that God approves of homosexuality and those who are taught these lies. As previously mentioned, the teacher will be held to a higher standard and will incur a stricter judgment (James 3:1; 2 Peter 2). This book has exposed the lies of those who are allowing sin to increase. Do not allow yourself to be led down the path to destruction. Why should you be taken captive by their lies and massive rationalizations? Ask yourself, “What has God said?” His Word is clear. The teaching that is offered by these advocates of immorality has been shown to be contrary to the Bible. Now, what will you do? Will you continue to pursue these sinful lusts?
You may reply that you have no interest in members of the opposite sex. You are not guilty of sin in this regard. You violate no precept of God simply because you do not desire an intimate relationship with a member of the opposite sex. Your sin, in part, is in your discontent with your state as a single person. Even if you truly have no interest in the opposite sex, your status as a single person still prevents you from seeking sexual intimacy of any kind outside of marriage. This teaching may not sound easy to swallow at first, but what does the Scripture clearly tell us? God has prescribed such relations to occur only within the covenant of marriage. All else is adultery or fornication: “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). As we have already seen, marriage is to be between one man and one woman, and this particular passage teaches us that marriage is to be held in honor among all, even among those who must remain in a state of contented singleness for the present.
If you profess to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, we think you’ll agree that you ought to be exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit; you ought to be a person who is exercising self-control in all areas of your life (Galatians 5:23). This requirement is not optional for you if you bear the name of Christ. In this regard, the struggles of a person with homosexual lusts are not at all dissimilar to the struggles of a person with heterosexual lusts. Both must practice self-control. Both must remain celibate unless and until God allows them to marry.
If you are currently married, discipline and self-control are required for you as well. Hebrews 13:4 and 5 are clear: “Fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your conduct be free from covetousness” (which is another way to say, “Be content”). Our Lord Jesus Christ denounced the sin of lusting after another so as to commit adultery. One’s marriage vows can be broken and the bonds of intimacy that are provided for in marriage can be rejected through the interest in and pursuit of another, even another of the same sex. Many—even among the church—have rejected God’s Word on the subject of homosexuality. To renounce one’s marriage vows and pursue a homosexual relationship is to compound sin; this is adding sin upon sin. This is to render one’s sinfulness more grievous. Some sins are more heinous than other sins. The gravity of a transgression may be considered as greater due to the persons who are sinning (e.g., leaders, pastors), by the persons sinned against (e.g., children, particularly weak persons), or even by the nature of the sin itself (e.g., the multiplication of sins).3 For those who are married, marriage is God’s institution and the disregard of such vows is no simple matter: “It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:5).
White, J. R., & Niell, J. D. (2002). The Same Sex Controversy: Defending and Clarifying the Bible’s Message about Homosexuality (pp. 202–205). Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.
What is the responsibility before you if you are struggling with the inordinate lusts of homosexual desire? You must, like Joseph, flee such immorality. Repentance is pleasing to God, yet so many have been told the lie that says change is impossible. Is change possible? Absolutely! (1 Corinthians 6:11). Hope abounds, because homosexuality is sin, and Jesus Christ came to save sinners. That Christian counselors have been unfaithful to the Word of God at this point is a tragedy. All too often they refuse to call homosexuality what it truly is: a violation of God’s Word.
Without question, the lusts of homosexual longing can be fierce combatants. “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11, emphasis added). Romans 1:27 says, “men … burned in their desire toward one another” (emphasis added). But where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more (Romans 5:20). Those who turn to the Lord Jesus Christ have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Even though many in the church are attempting to justify the practice of homosexuality and are therefore redefining God’s standards of holiness, you must not. To do so is a soul-damning practice. We must not allow ourselves to be deceived into calling evil good and good evil.
We recognize the biblical distinction between those who teach that God approves of homosexuality and those who are taught these lies. As previously mentioned, the teacher will be held to a higher standard and will incur a stricter judgment (James 3:1; 2 Peter 2). This book has exposed the lies of those who are allowing sin to increase. Do not allow yourself to be led down the path to destruction. Why should you be taken captive by their lies and massive rationalizations? Ask yourself, “What has God said?” His Word is clear. The teaching that is offered by these advocates of immorality has been shown to be contrary to the Bible. Now, what will you do? Will you continue to pursue these sinful lusts?
You may reply that you have no interest in members of the opposite sex. You are not guilty of sin in this regard. You violate no precept of God simply because you do not desire an intimate relationship with a member of the opposite sex. Your sin, in part, is in your discontent with your state as a single person. Even if you truly have no interest in the opposite sex, your status as a single person still prevents you from seeking sexual intimacy of any kind outside of marriage. This teaching may not sound easy to swallow at first, but what does the Scripture clearly tell us? God has prescribed such relations to occur only within the covenant of marriage. All else is adultery or fornication: “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). As we have already seen, marriage is to be between one man and one woman, and this particular passage teaches us that marriage is to be held in honor among all, even among those who must remain in a state of contented singleness for the present.
If you profess to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, we think you’ll agree that you ought to be exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit; you ought to be a person who is exercising self-control in all areas of your life (Galatians 5:23). This requirement is not optional for you if you bear the name of Christ. In this regard, the struggles of a person with homosexual lusts are not at all dissimilar to the struggles of a person with heterosexual lusts. Both must practice self-control. Both must remain celibate unless and until God allows them to marry.
If you are currently married, discipline and self-control are required for you as well. Hebrews 13:4 and 5 are clear: “Fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your conduct be free from covetousness” (which is another way to say, “Be content”). Our Lord Jesus Christ denounced the sin of lusting after another so as to commit adultery. One’s marriage vows can be broken and the bonds of intimacy that are provided for in marriage can be rejected through the interest in and pursuit of another, even another of the same sex. Many—even among the church—have rejected God’s Word on the subject of homosexuality. To renounce one’s marriage vows and pursue a homosexual relationship is to compound sin; this is adding sin upon sin. This is to render one’s sinfulness more grievous. Some sins are more heinous than other sins. The gravity of a transgression may be considered as greater due to the persons who are sinning (e.g., leaders, pastors), by the persons sinned against (e.g., children, particularly weak persons), or even by the nature of the sin itself (e.g., the multiplication of sins).3 For those who are married, marriage is God’s institution and the disregard of such vows is no simple matter: “It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:5).
White, J. R., & Niell, J. D. (2002). The Same Sex Controversy: Defending and Clarifying the Bible’s Message about Homosexuality (pp. 202–205). Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.
