What does the Bible say about homosexuality?

by Matt Slick

There are those who like to say that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality.  Various verses are cited (out of context), and the verses that people use to show that homosexuality is wrong are explained away.  The world wants to change God's words and meanings into something more suitable to its sinful desires.  Nevertheless, the truth stands:  the Bible condemns homosexuality as a sin.  Let's look at what it says.

• Lev. 18:22, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."1 
• Lev. 20:13, "If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltness is upon them" 
• 1 Cor. 6:9-10, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 
• Rom. 1:26-28, "For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, ²⁷and 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. ²⁸And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper."

Homosexuality is clearly condemned by the Bible.  It goes against the created order of God who created Adam, a man, and then made Eve, a woman.  This is what God has ordained as the normal means by which we carry out his command to fill the earth (Gen. 1:28).  What God has set up is what is right -- not what sinful man sets up. 

However, unlike other sins, homosexuality has a severe judgment administered by God Himself. This judgment is simple:  they are given over to their passions.  That means that their hearts are allowed to be hardened by their sins (Romans 1:24).  As a result, they can no longer see the error of what they are doing, and then they go and promote it and condemn others who don't participate in their sin.  So, without an awareness of their sinfulness, there will be no repentance and trusting in Jesus.  Without Jesus, they will have no forgiveness.  Without forgiveness, there is no salvation. Without salvation, there is only damnation in eternal hell.

What should be the Christian's response to the Homosexual?

Just because someone is a homosexual does not mean that we cannot love him (or her) or pray for him (her).  Homosexuality is a sin, and like any other sin it needs to be dealt with in the only way possible.  It needs to be laid at the cross and repented of.

As a Christian, you should pray for the salvation of the homosexual the same as you would for any other person in sin.  The homosexual is still made in the image of God -- even though he is in grave sin.  Therefore, you should show him the same dignity as anyone else with whom you come in contact.  However, this does not mean that you are to approve of his sin.  Don't compromise your witness for a socially acceptable opinion that is void of godliness.  Instead, stand firm in the truth that God has revealed, love him/her biblically, and pray for his salvation.

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See Related Articles

• Christianity and Homosexuality
• The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America moves closer to apostacy

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• 1. All Bible quotes are from the NASB Bible.