Bible and Homosexuality

1. HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE BIBLE
Is Homosexuality a Christian Option?

2. Homosexuality
Churches that believe homosexuality is a sin.
• Roman Catholic Church
• Conservative synods of the Lutheran Church
• Orthodox
• Evangelical Protestant churches
• Southern Baptist Convention
• Christian & Missionary Alliance
• Evangelical Free

3. Homosexuality
Churches that are “gay friendly”:
• United Church of Canada
• Liberal congregations within the United
Church of Christ
• Episcopal Church in the United States of
America
• Moravian Church
• Anglican Church of Canada
• Methodist Church of Great Britain

4. Homosexuality
Churches that are debating the issue:
• Presbyterian Church USA
• United Methodist Church
• Evangelical Lutheran Church

5. Homosexuality
The worldwide Anglican Community has
experienced ongoing debate and controversy
regarding homosexuality since the Episcopal
Church ordained the first openly gay bishop,
Gene Robinson, in 2003.

6. Homosexuality
Metropolitan Community Churches:
Denomination that was created exclusively for
the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender
(LGBT) community.
GayChurch.org:
Reports over 5000 LGBT churches around the
world.

7. Homosexuality
Local Church in OKC:
We remember and experience God’s creation, filled
with diversity and wonder.
We proclaim that all creation is beloved of God.
We strive to welcome all of God’s people – no
matter their race, gender, class, sexual orientation,
culture, or religious background.

8. Homosexuality
From GayChurch.org:
So is homosexuality a sin? “It depends” is
my answer. The question is no longer ‘gay’
or ‘straight’ but an issue of love in the
relationship. First and foremost, is this
relationship encouraging both partners’
spiritual growth and relationship with
God?” …

9. Homosexuality
From GayChurch.org:
…And second, is this a relationship loving and
healthy for both parties? God is not concerned
with the superficial things that worry us. He
does not care what our sexual orientation,
gender, skin color, or church affiliation is. These
things have no meaning to God. He goes
straight to the heart of the matter and simply
asks the question, “Is this relationship based
on, and operating in, My love or not?

10. Homosexuality
Wesley’s Quadrilateral
• Reason
• Experience
• Tradition
• Scripture

11. Homosexuality
• Homosexuality as a practice.
• Homosexuality as an orientation.

12. Homosexuality
Scriptures that seem to prohibit or
condemn homosexual activity:

13. Homosexuality
Gen. 19:4-29:
…And they called to Lot, “Where are the men
who came to you tonight? Bring them out
to us, that we may know them.” 6 Lot went
out to the men at the entrance, shut the
door after him, 7 and said, “I beg you, my
brothers, do not act so wickedly…

14. Homosexuality
Gen. 19:4-29:
• …And Abraham went early in the morning
to the place where he had stood before the
LORD. 28 And he looked down toward
Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the
land of the valley, and he looked and,
behold, the smoke of the land went up like
the smoke of a furnace…

15. Homosexuality
Gen. 19:4-29:
…29 So it was that, when God destroyed the
cities of the valley, God remembered
Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the
overthrow when he overthrew the cities in
which Lot had lived.

16. Homosexuality
Jude 1:7
So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the
neighboring towns, since they indulged in
sexual immorality and pursued unnatural
desire in a way similar to these angels, are
now displayed as an example by suffering the
punishment of eternal fire.

17. Homosexuality
Leviticus 18:22
You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a
female; it is an abomination.

18. Homosexuality
Romans 1:26-27
For this reason God gave them over to degrading
passions; for their women exchanged the natural
function for that which is unnatural, and in the
same way also the men abandoned the natural
function of the woman and burned in their desire
toward one another, men with men committing
indecent acts and receiving in their own persons
the due penalty of their error.

19. Homosexuality
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will
not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who
practice homosexuality*, 10 nor thieves, nor
the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

20. Homosexuality
1 Timothy 1:8-10
But we know that the law is good if someone
uses it legitimately, realizing that law is not
intended for a righteous person, but for lawless
and rebellious people, for the ungodly and
sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those
who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
sexually immoral people, practicing
homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers– in fact,
for any who live contrary to sound teaching.

21. Homosexuality
So, in light of the Scriptures, how do Christian
homosexuals justify their behavior?

22. Homosexuality
Arguments for Biblical Homosexual
Acceptance:

23. Homosexuality
1. People are born with a homosexual
orientation. Therefore, their inclination is
natural and God-given as much as
heterosexual orientation.

24. Homosexuality
2. Even if homosexuality is a sin, it is no worse
than any other sin. All sins are equal in the
sight of God. People should not separate
homosexuality as if it is something different.

25. Homosexuality
3. Passages that suggest that homosexuality is
wrong are open to interpretation and should
not be used dogmatically.

26. Homosexuality
1. People are born with a homosexual
orientation. Therefore, their inclination is
natural and God-given as much as
heterosexual orientation.

27. Homosexuality
Romans 1:26-27
For this reason God gave them over to degrading
passions; for their women exchanged the natural
function for that which is unnatural, and in the
same way also the men abandoned the natural
function of the woman and burned in their desire
toward one another, men with men committing
indecent acts and receiving in their own persons
the due penalty of their error.

28. Homosexuality
• Paul is speaking of those who go against their
“nature” or “natural function.” Therefore, if
one is a homosexual and goes against this
“natural function,” it is sin.

29. Homosexuality
Response:
If this was the sense in which Paul meant it then
going against our nature is wrong.

30. Homosexuality
Ephesians 2:1-3
And although you were dead in your
transgressions and sins, 2 in which you formerly
lived according to this world's present path,
according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air,
the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the
sons of disobedience, 3 among whom all of us
also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings
of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh
and the mind, and were by nature children of
wrath even as the rest.

31. Homosexuality
• It may be true that certain people are born
with a genetic disposition toward
homosexuality, but Christianity has always
conceded that all people are born with a
disposition to sin. People’s dispositions may
differ, but this does not justify them
individually.

32. Homosexuality
Copyright © 2003-2006 Reclaiming the Mind Ministries, All
Augustinianism
Imputed Sin/Guilt: Romans 5:12; 18
Inherited Corruption: Psalm 51:5
Personal Sin:
1 Jn 1:9-10
Personal Sin:
1 Jn 1:9-10
Personal Sin:
1 Jn 1:9-10
Personal Sin:
1 Jn 1:9-10
Personal Sin:
1 Jn 1:9-10
Personal Sin:
1 Jn 1:9-10
Personal Sin:
1 Jn 1:9-10

33. Homosexuality
2. Even if homosexuality is a sin, it is no worse
than any other sin. All sins are equal in the
sight of God. People should not separate
homosexuality as if it is something different.

34. Homosexuality
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will
not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who
practice homosexuality*, 10 nor thieves, nor
the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

35. Homosexuality
• Even if all sins are equal in the sight of God,
this does not in any way justify the behavior.
We should fight against all sin.

36. Homosexuality
3. Passages that suggest that homosexuality is
wrong are open to interpretation and should
not be used dogmatically.

37. Homosexuality
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will
not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who
practice homosexuality*, 10 nor thieves, nor
the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

38. Homosexuality
• The term translated “homosexual” in the
Pauline vice-lists is not found anywhere else in
extant Greek literature. Therefore, it is hard to
interpret. It probably refers to abusive sexual
behavior, not homosexuality.

39. Homosexuality
Response:
It is true that this term is not found in any
other writings, but Paul often coined terms for
association. This term is taken from Lev. 18
and literally means “man-bed.” It is a direct
reference to the prohibition of a man lying
with another man in the Law.

40. Homosexuality
Leviticus 18:22
You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a
female; it is an abomination.

41. Homosexuality
This passage occurs in the Old Testament. It is
part of a Law that was suited for the times,
but much of which no longer applies. For
example, the Law also says not to eat pork. As
well, there were many prohibitions that
oppressed women and allowed for slaves. No
one regard this as binding today.

42. Homosexuality
Response:
The trajectory of the Law points in a culturally
redemptive way for both women and slaves,
but not for the practice of homosexuality. To
equate the issues is misleading.

43. Homosexuality
Culturally
Negative
Old
Testament
Redemptive
New
Testament
Redemptive
Women and Slaves
Culturally
Positive
Old
Testament
Negative
New
Testament
Negative
Homosexuality

44. Homosexuality
Response:
Has God spoken?
Have we understood Him correctly?
Will we obey and trust Him?

45. Homosexuality
Principles:
• Homosexuality is a sin. It is not a Christian
option to bury this issue in cultural norms.
• Homosexuals are one of the most ostracized
communities among Christians today. We
must consider deeply and personally how it is
we can love them as we love ourselves and all
other sinners.

46. Homosexuality
Principles:
• The Church is a collection of sinners. While no
sin, including homosexuality, can be
compromised, homosexuals should be welcome.
• There are Christians who struggle with this issue.
We need to approach them with love, grace, and
kindness, not a judgmental spirit of elitism.
• It could be that if Christ were here today, he
would be ministering among the homosexual
communities.