Homosexuality and the church

I have to admit, this is the hardest post that I have and will write. Not because I am unsure of what I am writing, but because I know how controversial the topic is, and that there are people I care about who have differing opinions. So inevitably there will be awkwardness that I am not looking forward to, but I feel I have to write what the Bible says on this topic before that right as an American is stripped from me.

Christians are supposed to be known by their love: love for God, and love for their neighbor. So why is there so much controversy over the issue of homosexuality, even within the church walls?

Why is the church against homosexuality?

Whoever is reading this, that is a Christian, I would like to prelude this discussion asking if you believe that the whole bible is true? If your answer to this is no, I would like to encourage you to read:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:16

You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it

Deuteronomy 4:2

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, and truly believe that He died for your sins so that you may one day go to heaven, I would encourage you to not take these verses lightly. If you believe in a God that created the universe, and sent His Son to die for you, wouldn’t you consider listening to the words He spoke? I am not going to admit I understand even a fraction of the reasons God does the things He does, or commands us to do; however, I am going to do what I can to be obedient to the Words he left us, because I know He loves us enough to send His Son to die for us on the cross, to pave the way to Heaven. So lets hear what He says about homosexuality.

God says it’s a sin

Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

Leviticus 18:22

The result of homosexuality is separation from God

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

Isaiah 59:1-2

Who cares? It is not your life.

I do not have a secret vendetta against homosexuals. I care about them deeply, or I wouldn’t write this article. It would be so much easier to avoid controversy, and allow everyone to choose whatever lifestyle they desire; however, God says that they will not “inherit the kingdom of God”, which is heaven, if they continue in their lifestyle.

So I am torn with this sad realization. Do I omit what the Bible says; or do I at least warn them what the Bible says, and leave it in their hands?

Free Will

I cannot change your mind. It is between you and God, but if you have come across people like myself who feel strongly about this issue, that is why. We want the best for you.  We want to see everyone in Heaven. No matter what anyone is struggling with, nobody is better than anyone else. However, we have to repent and turn from our sin daily, so we don’t harden our hearts towards God. In today’s society homosexuality is not seen as a sin, but scripture clearly states otherwise.

As a parent I see this relationship so clearly. I tell my child what he needs to hear, not necessarily what he wants to hear, because I know what is for his benefit does not always align with his desires (i.e. touching a stove, running in front of a car, playing with sharp objects).

I hear people advocate for homosexuality, and feel the passion that drives them.  They don’t want anyone to feel hurt or ostracized.  We have all felt pain, and can relate to feeling like the odd man out at one time or another. However, we have to realize it is not about that. People have to realize that their eternity is at stake, and we have to lovingly tell them the truth.

Why do You desire the same sex?

If God doesn’t want us to be attracted to the same sex then why do some people have this desire, or appear as though they have a predisposition to homosexuality? When considering this question one has got to ask themselves, “Why do people struggle with any form of addiction?” Examples may be, smoking, drinking, pornography, anything that is a sin. The answer is because we are sinful human beings. We were born with sinful desires contrary to God.

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Psalm 51:5

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

Romans 1:26-27

I have lived a homosexual lifestyle or with homosexual desires, what now?

Repent and turn from your life of sin. God allows us to turn back to Him no matter how many times we have sinned.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

Nobody is perfect. Sins are not confined to just homosexuality but that is indeed a sin. The first step to returning to God is acknowledging that it is a sin and repenting. When the prodigal son returned, his father’s arms were wide open. That is exactly the type of relationship Jesus wants with you. I hope you leave your heart open, as you seek what is truth in this world. We are all seeking the truth, and even when we have found Jesus we still have to pursue Him, with a zeal and focus.  Keeping the Word of God written in our hearts, and on the forefront of our minds.