A Christian Perspective On
HOMOSEXUALITY
Biblestudies\HOMOSEXUALITY.A Christian Perspective On.04.13.08
LYF Bible Class / April 13, 2008
One of the most controversial and emotional issues in our country - and increasingly so - is that of homosexuality
So what does God, the very one who created humans and sexuality itself have to say about homosexuality? To find the answer to that we must of course go directly to His revealed word. We will also be using a book from our Church’s own Concordia Publishing House entitled: A Christian Perspective On Homosexuality”, by Daniel W. Puls.
To start with, let’s answer the following questions:
1. Does God’s written word, the Bible, actually say anything specific about homosexuality?
Yes. Here are some of the references to homosexuality found in the Bible:
Romans 1:26-27
I Corinthians 6:9-11
Genesis 19 (the story of Sodom and Gomorrah)
Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13 (Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.)
2. One of the main verses often used to point out that homosexuality is contrary to God’s revealed will are the Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 verses. However those wishing to dismiss these prohibitions to homosexuality are quick to point out that there are many other verses in Leviticus that direct us to do things that we would consider ridiculous in today’s world, such as the regulations dealing with mildew found in Leviticus 13:47-51. How can one respond to such an argument?
Though some of the other verses create more of a challenge to answer, for this one, we simply need to know that Holy Scripture differentiates between the dietary and ceremonial laws of the Old Testament, which have been set aside, and the moral law, which is upheld in the New Testament.
3. What is the cause of homosexuality?
The major argument is whether a person with homosexual attractions and desires; or whether this is a result of the environment and relationships which a person has experienced. (sometimes referred to as either Biology vs. Environment, or, Nature vs. Nurture). There seems to be evidence that the amount of male or female hormones that are introduced to a person’s brain during the fetal development in the mother’s womb may be a strong factor. Some are searching for a “homosexual gene”. Certainly, any number of positive and/or negative experiences (learned action) with sexuality that a person has will also influence a person’s sexual tendency’s. So, it appears that the answer may be “both” biology and environment. If this is the case, the next several questions becomes even more important.
4. What is the cause of other sins such as heterosexual sin, lusting, adultery, hatred, envy, etc. etc.?
We find the answer to that in Matthew 15:19: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” All actual sins come from the sinful nature we have inherited from our parents and all the way back to the Adam and Eve’s fall into sin
5. Does the cause of homosexuality provide an excuse in God’s eyes? A question in the mind of many homosexuals is that if people are born with homosexual desires, is it really a sin for them to act on them? Some ask how could God expect them to express their sexuality in any other way?
Since ALL sins have their root in the sin we INHERIT, and since God condemns all sin and has judged it to be so serious that Jesus had to die on the cross to take it’s punishment, the answer is an obvious - “NO”, even if homosexuality (or any other sinful desire) were the total result of being born that way - God still calls it sin and directs us to abstain from it. He does not make excuses for it nor allow us to.
And it’s not just the homosexual sin that we try to excuse. In our fallen nature we will try to JUSTIFY any sin. (IE: “but I have a family to feed and surly God will understand why I must steal”...“but I have a college student to pay for, I must cheat on my taxes to have enough money” ... “but I have sexual desires that my wife/husband isn’t meeting; that’s why I had to have an affair” ... “but I have sexual desires and I’m not married yet; certainly God can’t expect me to wait” ... and on and on
Furthermore, God promises that there is NO temptation too great to overcome - with His help (See I Corinthians 10:13.)
6. What should a person do who recognizes that he or she has homosexual attractions and desires?
The person who is tempted to sin sexually needs to do what EVERY person needs to do - namely realize that we are all fallen sinful beings and in need of God’s grace and forgiveness, both to take away our condemnation, AND to help us change our sinful desires and actions.
7. Can a person change from being homosexual?
Most people defending their homosexual lifestyle seem to say no; however there are those who have come out of this lifestyle who say “yes”, they have been changed. The author of the book “A Christian Perspective On Homosexuality”, (Concordia Publishing House), is one who claims to have been changed with God’s help. Chapter 4 of his book specially addresses this point. He does however make a point to the challenges involved, especially in that our fallen sinful nature remains with us throughout this life.
The Bible is full of examples of people caught up in all kinds of sin whom God changed through the power of His renewing word and love. Saul became Paul, Mary Magdalen, Zacchaeus are just a few that come to mind.) And while they still struggled with their fallen sinful nature; their hearts were changed toward the Lord.
On page 48 of his book, “A Christian Perspective on Homosexuality”, Puls states: “Like all Christians who deal with sin, homosexuals who are changing live with the struggle to enact what God has done. It is a continual process. As St Paul wrote: ‘So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind ... Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ out Lord ”
The author then goes on to mention several specific lifestyle changes that helped him to diminish the feelings and attractions of his homosexuality (see chapter 4), and move to the “better way” of expressing sexuality in a manner that God has purposed and intended. On page 36 of his book he states “God chose to perform a unique and beautiful creative act as He took out a rib from Adam in order to create Eve. God ‘divided’ the whole Adam and brought forth man and woman, masculine and feminine, plurality in union. God divided one into two, so that they might draw together again as one. He intended for us to be attracted and drawn into relation with a complementary ‘other’.” “Significant too is that life proceeds as a product and blessing from heterosexual union but cannot possibly come from homosexual union.”
8. Did God make some people heterosexual and others homosexual?
The Bible declares that God created humans as male and female. It was the fall into sin that brought confusion of sexual attractions, desires and activity.
9. Is there a difference between someone having homosexual attractions and living a homosexual lifestyle?
YES Webster's Dictionary defines the word homosexual as characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex ; and the word homosexuality as the quality or state of being homosexual or, erotic activity with another of the same sex . A definition given by our Church states that there is a difference between having strong feelings of attraction toward people of the same gender, which the individual has no control over , and “homosexual behavior” over which the individual is regarded as having control.” Feelings and temptations to sin are just that - they are not sins themselves - unless a person allows those temptations to draw us into willful sinful thoughts and actions.
10. Is homosexuality a greater sin than other sins?
Homosexuality, like all other sins, is a result of the world’s fall into sin, dating back to the garden of Eden and Adam and Eve. The fall of mankind” affected every area of life from then on Anything about this entire earth and all people who live on it that differs from God’s perfect original design in Creation (including hate, illness, disease, death, selfishness, homosexuality, etc., etc.) is the result of mankind's general fall into sin.
11. Why might living a homosexual lifestyle have more noticeable consequences to a person than some other sins?
All sin is equally serious and condemned in God’s eyes - however some sins have greater consequences to our lives and the lives of those around us than others. The Bible declares that sexual sin is one in which we also “sin against our own body.”
12. What is one of the primary purpose for which God gives us commandments not to do certain things?
Out of His love for us God’s commandments are given to protect us and His creation from the consequences of sinful activity, which we in our free will and fallen nature are able and tempted to do. God’s commandments also show us our sin and our need for a Savior.
13. Who is affected when a person engages in a homosexual activity?
While some sins are limited - for the most part - to the one person committing the sin; this sin affects at least one other person who is thus also involved in the sinful activity.
14. How should the Church treat someone who is struggling with homosexuality?
In the same manner that our Lord treats us - with love and caring and forgiveness and encouragement to turn from our sins
15. How should the Church treat someone who is openly and proudly living a homosexual lifestyle?
In the same manner that our Lord treats us - by using the law to show the seriousness and consequences of un-repentant sin. And then hopefully, to be able to share God’s forgiveness and grace when there is repentance.
16. What would you say is the current view of homosexuality in our society? In the media?
It appears to be more and more accepted and even championed as an equally “moral” alternative lifestyle, especially by the media.
CAUTION: Everyone has friends, both male and female, whom they either like very much, or have even stronger feelings of love for. We must be careful not to assume that these are sinful feelings just because they are for a friend of the same gender Indeed, the Bible not only commands us to love one another, but God blesses us with both male and female friends for whom we may have very strong feelings. BUT, there is a God-created design and command about the way that men and women are to relate to each other when it comes to sexual interaction and behavior. When we go outside of God's design and will is when it becomes sinful.
BUT WHAT IF: If someone finds themselves or a friend to have sinful desires and/or be acting on them, he/she should:
1) be aware of sin's great power to also affect this part of God's creation, (that is the creation of sexuality )
2) remember that while the fallen sinful nature remains a part of our lives this side of heaven; God's regenerating power to change our sinful desires and actions is greater than sin's power when we allow the Holy Spirit to be in control
3) repent to God and ask for His help to change if sinful desire or behavior is involved
4) be comforted with the message of God's complete forgiveness of all sins through repentance and faith in Christ
For much more information please go to www.LCMS.org, and type in “homosexuality” in the “Search” box in the upper left hand corner.
