June is designated as “Pride Month” when Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) causes are celebrated to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. LGBTQ supporters claim that if a traditional Biblical stance is held regarding those who identify as LGBTQ, then that person is homophobic, or a bigot who hates homosexuals. Many denominations and churches are as a result becoming what is known as “affirming.” Affirming is a term that simply means that LGBTQ individuals are welcomed to participate in the organization fully, and accepted as created by God the way they are. Traditionally, denominations and churches have espoused the philosophy of “Love the sinner, but hate the sin.” So, how should we as Christians biblically respond to the LGBTQ issue? What does the Bible say?
Affirming churches and denominations refer to several “clobber” Bible verses which they feel are taken out of context by some Christians in order to condemn homosexuality. These verses are:
- So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. Genesis 1:27 and, Then the LORD God made the rib he had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. And the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called "woman," for she was taken from man. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. Genesis 2:22-24
- Before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, the whole population, surrounded the house. They called out to Lot and said, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have sex with them! " Genesis 19:4-5
- The LORD spoke to Moses: "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God. ... Keep my statutes and ordinances; a person will live if he does them. I am the LORD. ... You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable." Leviticus 18:1-2,5,22 and, "If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman, they have both committed a detestable act. They must be put to death; their death is their own fault." Leviticus 20:13
- For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. Although they know God's just sentence -- that those who practice such things deserve to die -- they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them. Romans 1:26-32
- Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God's kingdom. And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
- We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral and males who have sex with males, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me. 1 Timothy 1:9-11
Various explanations are given by the LGBTQ community as to why the verses above do not necessarily condemn homosexual behavior. The primary explanation is that the verses refer to sexual abuse by an older man of a younger man, regardless of the fact that same sex relations are involved. It is the abuse and the taking advantage of the younger person that is the sin, not the actual homosexual act they explain. Additionally, LGBTQ supporters point out that Jesus never directly addressed homosexuality, and most of the condemning verses are from the Old Testament.
The “clobber” verses above seem to me to be sufficiently clear, and the traditional view is not one that takes them “out of context” in my opinion. Here are my comments on those verses:
- In Mark 10:6-9, Jesus is replying to the Pharisee’s question about divorce, but He references the Genesis chapter 1 and 2 verses: "But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." So, Jesus does address the purpose men and women were created, and confirms the Genesis 1 and 2 account in doing so.
- Jude 1:7 states “Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns committed sexual immorality and perversions, and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.” Jude clarifies that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah included sexual sins described as perversions. And we know from the story in Genesis about Sodom and Gomorrah, that one of their sexual immorality and perversions was the sin of homosexuality.
- While it is true that the ten commandments, and the other 600 plus statutes and ordinances given by God to Moses, were meant exclusively for the Jewish people, that does not necessarily mean that they are prohibitions that automatically do not apply for the rest of mankind.
- These last three verses are included in epistles written by the apostle Paul, and seem clearly to include homosexuality in a list of behaviors that are referred to as “unrighteous, lawless, rebellious, ungodly, sinful, unholy, and irreverent”.
We know that we are all sinners, and that one sin is not greater than another. We also know that God is faithful to forgive us of our sins when we repent from them and ask His forgiveness. Homosexuality is a sin. Let’s be clear about it, because the Bible is clear about it. Those who repent of the sin of homosexuality, earnestly seek the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to not engage in the sin any longer, and acknowledge that homosexuality is contrary to God’s plan and is a sin, can be forgiven by God. However, those who deny homosexuality as a sin, and actively engage in the behavior without conviction or remorse for the sinful behavior, are guilty of committing a sin by commission.
Christians, churches, and denominations need to be accepting of LGBTQ individuals, but not affirming as defined currently. We must adhere to Biblical principles and instructions, and to my understanding, those include calling sinful behavior “sin” and showing God’s love to all through our actions and behavior. Or, maybe as it has been quoted before, “love the sinner, but hate the sin.”
But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Have mercy on those who waver; save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Jude 1:20-23
Just for further study if interested…
This is the resolution adopted at the 1988 Southern Baptist Convention regarding homosexuality:
”Therefore be it RESOLVED, That we, the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in San Antonio, Texas, June 14-16, 1988, deplore homosexuality as a perversion of divine standards and as a violation of nature and natural affections; and
Be it further RESOLVED, That we affirm the biblical injunction which declares homosexuals, like all sinners, can receive forgiveness and victory through personal faith in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11); and
Be it finally RESOLVED, That we maintain that while God loves the homosexual and offers salvation, homosexuality is not a normal lifestyle and is an abomination in the eyes of God (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:24-28; 1 Timothy 1:8-10).”
