Homosexuals in Christianity
Emails & Questions
Homosexuality
Q: What do you think about Christian homosexuals?
A: Heads up -- Homosexuality is a learned behavior, no one is born a homosexual, according to some research. But, there seems to be more to this than some would believe. Is it possible that both sides of this argument are correct? It is both a learned behavior as well as some, "born that way"? I believe that is true, and in most cases, it is only the individual that can answer this, for themselves and others.
Of course in these times we all know what the overall belief is, mostly driven by human sensibilities and a falling away from religion. Maybe the falling away from religions banning homosexuality, is not so much a falling away as it is a population boom that refuses religion of any type -- the growth of the agnostic and atheist, as populations grow. Perhaps, a natural expression among humanity, coming more to the front and larger in group than many in previous generation thought. But, if you examine historical records we find that Homosexuality has been with humanity from the beginning of history.
What about Sodom and Gomorrah? Letting the Word inform us:
Eze 16:46 Your elder sister is Samaria, who dwells at your left hand, she and her daughters; and your younger sister, who dwells at your right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.Eze 16:47 Yet have you not walked in their ways, nor done after their abominations; but, as if that were a very little thing, you were more corrupt than they in all your ways.Eze 16:48 As I live, says the Lord YaHWeH, Sodom your sister has not done, she nor her daughters, as you have done, you and your daughters.Eze 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. (Notice, Homosexuality is not mentioned as the great sin -- but other things highlighted by their ignoring the poor, those in lower circumstances -- this is the Great SIN of Sodom)Eze 16:50 They were haughty, and committed abomination before Me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.Eze 16:51 Neither has Samaria committed half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters by all your abominations which you have done. (Abominations against The Lord -- homosexuality could be found among those things, certainly, but to condemn one, then too the others)
Before reading the rest of this answer about Christian homosexuality, you should take a look at this Harvard Magazine study -- a study that seems to be saying that there is NO HOMOSEXUAL GENE. Once this is realized and acknowledged, perhaps more about what morality is will become clear.
By the New Testament Rule, we are not killers, and technically, we are not really supposed to have too much to do with those Outside of the calling. Our judgments, if we have them, are to be focused on those claiming to be believers, followers of the teachings of YaHshua and His Apostles. Our judging the outside world of general population is not our duty. But, inside the ecclesial order (Church) we do have a responsibility to avoid sin of every kind.
1Co 5:11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.1Co 5:12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?1Co 5:13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
That is the basic teaching, simple as that. Of course, this is not what the world wants to hear, as more and more Groups (churches of the world) allow sin to live in their groups in a sense of self-righteousness.
But, What Does Your Hebrew/Christian Bible say?
(Lev 18:22) You shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination (disgusting). (Also, read all more surround this verse, and we see what our Creator's attitude is toward such things and more)
Lev 18:23 Neither shall you lie with any beast to defile yourself with it: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion (unnatural).
Lev 18:24-25 Defile not you yourselves (personally, as well as collectively) in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomits out her inhabitants. (sexual immorality is the cause of a nation losing its identity, its place in the world, even, in some extreme cases, becoming nonexistent)
Lev 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he would lay with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Harsh, very harsh, telling us that our Creator does not consider this life-style, so called, appropriate, and definitely not acceptable)
But what about the New Testament, isn't it all about "love" and forgiveness?
Just as in the Old Testament, the sexual sins are counted among, even leading in the following expressions of what sin is, and going so far as to say that those who practice these things will have no part in the Coming Kingdom of the Living God -- read it for yourself, and then you decide -- are those claiming to be Christians, but lifting the Homosexual life, really Christians?Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet (suitable).1Co 6:9-10 Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (filthy wantonness, or desires),
Gal 5: 19-21 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (deliberate contention, or opposition to truth), emulations (Jealousy, envy, coveting), wrath, strife, sedition (purposefully dividing), heresies (untruth, lies), 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers (killers of every kind),1Ti 1:10-11 For whoremongers (driven by sexual desires), for them that defile themselves with mankind (Homosexuality), for menstealers (kidnappers, enslaving others), for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11 According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
It seems that the New Testament has just as much to say about sinful conduct as does the Old.
Continuing:
I guess there are homosexual Christians -- of course there are, but really, followers of the Messiah, of our Savior, of the very Son of the Living God? There are some who claim to be Christian but they deny the very existence of the God of the Hebrew/Christian Bible, how could they not? After all this Holy Book objects, even condemns homosexuality and all things connected to it, of every sort of sexual sin and indiscretion. The homosexual life style is a choice. a choice of the flesh, the feeding of the flesh. Still with me? Please read on. The world is the world and in the grip of Satan and his demon angels. It is, after all, his kingdom, at least temporarily.
Now, ask yourself, If a professing Christian is living in adultery, or a continuing of life style of fornication, or uses lies for self advantage, or promotion, or is a thief -- are they then real Christians? Yes, of course -- false Christians -- calling themselves Christians is only lip service. Wilful sin is very close to blaspheme of the Holy Spirit - Mat 11:22 -- something that cannot be, or will not be forgiven. If someone is living in a life style contrary to the Biblical principles of the Word, both Old and New Testament, really converts to the Word, to YaHshua? No, and if they insist they are because god loves everyone and they refuse to adjust their lives to the Moral principles that are obvious in the Word of our God, then they are batting at the wind and bring disgrace upon YaHshua and His sacrifice for us.
Perhaps, a better question is, do I believe they should continue in such conduct, whether homosexual or a thief or liar or a fornicator? No. If such people continue in the immoral conduct of the flesh are they then to be considered real believers and followers of the Messiah? No, they are pretenders and there remains no more a sacrifice for them and they will die in their sin.
(Hebrews 10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
Yes, we are all sinners, but repentant sinners, having repented of our sin not continuing in it, that would be an insult to the sacrifice our Savior made for us. Sure, we can slip up from time to time but we always have the avenue of repentance -- "wilful sin" is different from "falling into sin". To repent of something is not to deliberately continue in the sin we repent of. You cannot continue under the forgiving cover of our Lord's Saving Blood while living a lie. If you are in an adulterous relationship or a homosexual relationship, these are clearly defined as sinful life choices, requiring repentance and change, not a continuation of the same.
I do not think you can say you are a follower of the teachings of our Savior and Creator and continue to be engaged in adultery, stealing, witchcraft or homosexuality as a life style. There, I said it, I said, "I think", but it really is not up to me. So, what does the word say? Remembering, as followers of YaHshua and the teachings of His Apostles aren't we bound to understand and incorporate those teachings into our own lives? Of course, otherwise, we would we claim to be follower of YaHshua or call ourselves Christians or Believers? To do otherwise is like someone claiming they are a plumber but do not know anything about being a plumber and have no tools for plumbing.
A believer can fall to temptation but by the act of our Savior they can repent of that flaw act and work at not falling again. Listen to this instruction to the members of the Church. Remember, you are not the wicked, you have been forgiven, no matter how many times you may fall but when does it become "wilfully sinning" in spite of what is taught?
(1Co 6:9-10) 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.
If you are looking to enter the Kingdom of God you had better not be living a life style that includes conduct as listed in the above verses, and if you are and if you have accepted YaHshua as Messiah and Savior then you had better get your life in line with His righteousness and purge those sinful deed from your life -- now, read it again.
And read it a third time, there is no interpretation needed, it is not something a person can twist to suit their own lust, it says what it says and clearly states that such people will not inherit the Kingdom. The subject does not center around only the homosexual but many other misdeed and conduct as well. Some of these lustful attributes are found in a person or groups of people, a mixture of some of these immoral traits. We are called to avoid and to repent and not repeat, or continue in these wicked things we personally have control over. Certainly there is temptation and failure, from time to time, on our part but it is an a Believers choice to be any of these thing counted as sinful. Notice what is said in the next verse --
(1Co 6:11) And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the Lord YaHshua the Christ and by the Spirit of our God (The Father).
We can say, HalleluYaH, to that. What does this verse say to you? Does it say love covers all and therefore we can continue in a life style of a thief or a murderer or a drunkard or a homosexual relationship? Of course not, all those things some of us were once active participant -- feeling no guilt or shame. There is an answer to breaking with this life style or pattern of thoughtless living -- a washing away of our sin because of Him, our Savior.
It would be an act of crucifying our Lord over and over again if we were to continue on living a life of immoral self-centred life of stealing and lying, and sexually immorality, a life of wilful sin even though we might know the truth. To break away from the truth, to forget about repentance and change, to stop growing in His truth, is to reject Him and His sacrifice making it as nothing and making seem as if He is still on the cross and being crucified over again. Paul explains this to the Hebrew Christians of His day.
(Heb 6:4) It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. NIV
To slip or fall into a sin in a moment of weakness or carelessness, and to fall on our knees asking forgiveness afterwards is not, I repeat, IS NOT WILFUL SIN. There is the suggestion, by Paul, that to "fall away" would mean such a person has given up on the struggle and thrown the avenue of "repentance" and "forgiveness" into the gutter to resume the wicked life.
This is the warning against such things AFTER having received the truth and then falling away, quitting in order to return to the wicked life. There is still hope for those blind and by their own lust and desires have not yet seen the truth. But, once this truth is revealed to you then this verse is your verse, your own personal warning, and you must act, but expect failure from time to time but be firmly resolved to never quit, to never give up striving to life a better Life of Him and in HIM.
Some are so hardened by their own self-serving attitude, living in pure lust of the flesh ignoring the real offer of eternity, trading for a few years for the pleasures of the flesh, ignoring the problems these temporal pleasures deliver, that come in the way of personal troubles and disease and many times mental trauma -- especially if they claim to be followers of the Messiah and continue in such conduct then when does it become a "wilful falling away"? Those who live openly opposed to the Word while following the way of the flesh bring insult and disgrace to the religion itself.
I could go on to quote the Old Covenant about the evils forbidden but there is enough to make the case to be opposed to life styles not in agreement with the New Covenant. Homosexuality, like any other sin is not condoned in the New Covenant.
The world does what the world does and mooning our Creator seems to be the majority rule, a rule against God, even when those who say otherwise they continue to flip off the Holy Spirit and make outrageous claims of love and tolerance to cover their own moral conduct, when it is the Blood of our Savior they need but spit on.
So, let the world do what the world does but let it not be found among you, among those serious about the Calling to which we are called -- to endure unto the end, to stand on His word and the Word of His Apostles. Isn't it enough already that many outside of Christian circles scoff and ridicule those claiming to be Honorable and honest believers? How often must we hear it said that a person professing to be a Christian is the person you should trust the least? Will the secular world accept professing Christians all the more if they also profess the ways of the sinful world? Of course not, such actions only prove to the secular world how right they are, as they continue to ridicule and continue to encourage such illicit conduct from those seeking the world's approval.
Homosexuals desire the world's approval over the Word of God, that is clear and even if all of the Christian churches and peoples of the world were to accept homosexuals and homosexual marriage as wonderful it would not make it right -- it would be a violation of His Word and His rule in our lives. It has been reported that of the Evangelical Churches over 40% approve of homosexual unions in marriage. Incredible, as this percentage of approval continues to increase in favor of killing our Savior over and over again. How long will it take before the majority of all churches accept homosexuality as normal? (Update: The Supreme Court of the USA has legalized homosexual marriage -- amazing. It is the Courts job to define law not to make law).
What is the difference between those claiming to be Christian witches or Christian homosexuals? None, they all seem to brag about it. We rarely hear the thief bragging about being a Christian thief or liar or cheat or a Christian adulter, unless they are in an act of repentance seeking forgiveness and confessing their sin. The homosexual and other preverse peoples, however, are happy to brag about their anti-Christ actions, denying the Son of God by their actions as they hold coming out parties and announcements. Not all homosexuals claim to be Christian, of course, and many hate the concept of a God telling them what to do, but this growing trend of acceptance among the religious people is truly astonishing in light of the Word and teachings of the Book they claim to be teaching from. Read further word witnesses defining what sin is.
(Gal 5:19-21) The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
(Eph 5:5) For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Just in case you think Paul does not know what he is talking about, as some have claimed, and have gone so far to call Paul a heretic and some go so far as to accuse Paul of being the Anti-Christ -- that is right, not kidding if you have not heard this before, there are some, claiming to be Christians, that hate Paul and call him a heretic.
Why? Because Paul stood with our Savior and on the Word of God in these matters and damned those from the Kingdom of God by their immoral lives which they refused to give up, bring shame on the Word of God by their false claims and false humility. Some of the discord is found among the Sacred Names people, and Hebrew Roots people because Paul, in their view, really did do away with Torah Law and these people are trying to restore Torah Law but cannot effectively get around Paul's inspired arguments, so they attack him as a heretic. This give fuel to those wanting to live in their sin, and opposite effect, I am sure, desired by those of the Torah Christians, but by destroying the writings and instructions of Paul, the do away with the clear teachings against homosexual activity among Christian -- not all Christians accept Torah as the Law governing their lives, their thought, things, even suggestions to live by. They are free, then to live as they please.
the Apostle Paul, however, is in agreement with YaHshua, our Savior, and as we have already read what Paul had to say, what did our Savior have to say? We should all remember what it is to be called a Christian, a follower of YaHshua and His teachings, right? Not all, of course, as some say following their Christ is to follow JESUS (Hey Zeus), these are those who are still in the dark, at least partially. Not to get off subject, but yes, it is all about Identity -- just read Revelation chapter 13 and you will see that it is all about Identity, just as in the days of Elijah (EliYaH) -- If the Lord (Ba'al) be god then follow him, but if YaHWeH (YHWH) be God then follow Him -- and so it is with the Identity of the Beast, the False Prophet, or any being, or object that claims a name not belonging to our True and right Savior and His, even our, Heavenly Father. Continuing with what our Savior had to say, about this current subject of wilful sin --
(Mar 7:20-22) He (YaHshua) went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean. For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.YaHshua clearly defines what sin in the flesh is, and this is in agreement with what Paul and the other Apostles taught -- they are actually in agreement with Him. In YaHshua's teaching He was making the point that it was what comes our of a person not what goes in. In other words a person can study and witness evil but it is not that witness or study that pollutes, it is the action or how that information is purged, or acted upon. Temptation is like that, an evil or wicked act is presented and temps the person to act but if the person does not act on the temptation then that person has over come that temptation. Again, notice how our Lord leads off with His instruction -- "...what makes him unclean..."?
(1Th 5:21-24) Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord YaHshua the Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.
Read all of 1 Thes chapter 5 for good measure and encouragement to do what is right. To live a life that is right, not filled with the lust of the flesh or anything you see and know to be evil. Many things are spelled out for us and -- what is not -- the Spirit will alert us. Avoid every kind of evil, is the challenge. Let us not forget, we are all still in the flesh and fall victims to the pulls of the flesh but a way has been made for us to repent of wrong doing, even perceived wrong doing, and once we have repented to our Heavenly Father, in prayer, for a wrong action or a slip, we are to move on. Once forgiven there is no need to dwell on the past. This is difficult for everyone but a time is coming when it will all be forgotten. Resistance to a temptation builds strength in your spirit and it can hurt sometimes but to be one who "overcomes" you must overcome something that takes effort, right? To overcome anything takes effort, sometime physical, sometimes mental, sometimes spiritual, and sometimes all three.
(1 Corinthians 5:9-11) I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer (reviler), or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
We have to live in the world and are surrounded and must have dealings with the blind of this world, and they have an excuse, being blind and not being called at this time by our Lord. But what of the called or those claiming to be Christians, or called to YaHshua, what of brothers and sisters who still act as the world does when it comes to things already mentioned as sin. Notice that the instruction does not say these bothers and sisters living in error are not HIS but that we are not to keep company with such a person. Our Lord will deal with them, in the end. We are not to accept this kind of conduct among the brethren, and this is the quandary we find ourselves in today. Almost all of those calling themselves Christian conduct themselves as if they are no different than all sinners of the world who are still blind to the sacrifice of our Lord. A believer cannot leave this world and must live in it, as Paul points out, but when it comes to professing believers we have a choice to congregate with or not. If we are attempting to change our life choices and to avoid lustful sin then we are not to associate with individuals or groups or churches that are not overcomers -- that by their actions condone acts of sin, and this is heard and seen in the attitude of self-righteous, Tolerance, even in the churches themselves.
(1Co 5:1) It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.(1Co 5:2) And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that has done this deed might be taken away from among you.
As mentioned before, the number of believers and churches going against the clear teachings of what sin is and is not, condoning things like, for example, "gay marriage". The example is not one of homosexuality, but of a sinful act being allowed to exist in the local church. We dare not suggest the this particular sin is all that this verse is about, excluding all other sin, that would be insane. This is but an example, replacing the sin that caught Paul's attention, and if it had been any other sin, Paul would have had the same words for any such congregation allowing such depravity within their ranks. And what do we see today? Congregation after congregation, making allowances for, excuses for, such sinful life styles to be openly accept, all in the name of love -- but whose love? Certainly the Apostle Paul would have had something to say -- no, wait, he already said it.
This letter began with the question about my position on homosexuality. I believe my position is in line with the Word and words found in the New Covenant writings. And by now, you should see may answer, or my position. There is more that can be said --
Do you have homosexual desires? That is just another kind of lust of the flesh and not to be construed as something "special", as something we cannot control or that we are just born with it so it must be alright. It is not conduct that has heavenly approval, like it or not.
Wait just a minute -- why pick on Homosexual love? Sure, lust of the flesh takes on many different forms, most developed between men and women but not all, as the growth in homosexual activity proves. Set free, without official disapproval, the homosexual offenders do not shy back from displaying their outrageous conduct. There are many unnatural lusts as well, murder, for one, and adultery for another, as fornication runs rampant through our High Schools and Universities. All of these are things, however, that we have under our own, personal control and if we accept the calling of our Lord then we have to make the appropriate choices, and become that new person we are called to be. Yes, there will be the occasional slip and the many temptations and it is right for us to forgive those our Lord has forgiven, but of a professing brother or sister who continues in a life style opposed to what our Lord and His Apostles define as sin, then it is up to us to separate ourselves from such people or groups or churches.
Are you a practicing Witch, an idol worshipper, or a thief? If you are and are called to the Christ, then you will have to change your ways -- this is the same requirement for all life styles that are in direct conflict with our Lord's words and the teachings of His Apostles -- not to mention the clear instructions from the Torah about such unclean conduct. Yes, and the words of His Apostles too, just as we read in our Lord's final prayer -- before He went to the Cross for us --
(John 17:20) "My (YaHshua's) prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their (the Apostle's) message ..."
Do you have homosexual tendency? Then change, reject that as normal for all sin, just as it is for a liar, a thief, a person of violence and rage, or any fornicator or adulterer -- all of these actions are to be rejected as normal among the brethern, where ever they may be. We are all born into sin, not to be accepted as something out of our control but but something to overcome. And to him that overcomes? Again, our Lord has a message for us all --
(Rev 3:5) He (or She) who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his (or her) name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his (or her) name before My Father and His angels. NIV
(1Jn 5:3-5) This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that YaHshua is the Son of God. NIV
No one said it would be easy, but isn't eternity worth it? We are born sexual creatures with natural desires and many lusts of the flesh and to bring the flesh under control is to strengthen the Spirit. One sin is not better nor worse than another, just as we are told, to break even the least of the commands is to break them all and for anyone to teach contrary to this will be called the "least in the Kingdom" (Mat 5:19) -- the Old Covenant is clearly not an advocate for the homosexual life style and neither is the New Covenant.
So, how can any of us succeed in this? He has done it for us so we have a way cleared for us -- a pathway to Salvation, only in and through Him is it possible for us to come fully out to be an "overcomer" -- if we confess Him as our Savior as our deliverer from sin, from the penalty of sin, which is death, then the least we can do is try, try, try, to avoid the sin of the flesh and bring our thoughts under control and think on His Words, His teachings and the teachings of His Apostles. HalleluYah
UPDATE 08/31/2019: Gene studies strongly suggests that there is no Homosexual gene. Homosexuals are not born or predisposed to be homosexual, either male or female. Read the article put out by Harvard Magazine Link -- https://harvardmagazine.com/2019/08/there-s-still-no-gay-gene