The big questions, from what I've gathered, are 1) Is homosexuality a sin and 2) Are homosexuals going to hell. I'm not going to broach gay marriage in this post, but I'm formulating thoughts for a later post on that topic. While I am certainly no theologian, I've been percolating and researching Christian views on homosexuality for a couple of years because I've never been comfortable with the anti-gay tone of the American church. So, here are my thoughts.
1) Is homosexuality a sin?
Many Christians believe homosexuality is a sin because the Bible clearly ordains sex to take place between a man and a woman within the confines of marriage. So, this means that any sexual relationships outside of marriage are sinful, including pre-marital sex and adultery. It's much easier for the American church to attack the homosexual minority rather than discussing the fact that many members of their congregation co-habitate before marriage, are addicted to pornography even though they are married, or have engaged in adultery.
The issue for many Christians, from my understanding, is about the translation of the passages in Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Leviticus (see more details on these passages here). Some liberal Christians argue that the New Testament passages criticized using male sex slaves rather than demeaning homosexuality in general. Other arguments claim that the term "homosexual" didn't even exist until the 19th century, so our arguments about homosexuality in the Bible are anachronistic since the term didn't exist in Biblical times. For me, whether or not these arguments are true, the main point is this: the Bible clearly states, in many places and with no ambiguity, that God designed sex to occur within marriage between a man and a woman. So, anything outside of this design is considered un-Biblical, including homosexuality.
Does this mean that someone dealing with homosexuality can just "turn it off" or "convert to heterosexuality?" I honestly and firmly believe the answer is no. I think many Christians wrestle with this very topic and unfortunately the church is not a safe space for discussing the torment of believing in Christ and the Bible while struggling with homosexuality. To read about a committed Christian's experience growing up homosexual, click here. I don't agree with many of his ideas on homosexuality in the Bible, but I think it's important for Christians to glimpse his struggle.
2) Are homosexuals going to hell?
Unfortunately, the American church's track record with homosexuality is embarrassing and hurtful. For some reason, ignorant Christians have decided that their task in life is to shout from the roof-tops that gays are going to hell.
That said, I don't believe gay people are going to hell for being gay anymore than I believe heterosexual people are going to hell for having sex outside of marriage. Orthodox Christians believe that all men are sinful, meaning all men commit actions that separate them from God. This separation and sinfulness is what makes Christ's death on the cross necessary, to atone for the sinfulness of man and allow God's justice to prevail without punishing sinful man. So, the fact that we are sinful in many ways is what separates us from God and sends us to hell. Only when man admits he needs a savior in Christ does this separation end, whether you are gay or straight.
Here's the rub for me. Many Christians believe this theology, but they don't want to admit that their own actions are sinful. Instead, they focus on easy "target sins" like sloth, gluttony, or of course, the all-time favorite, homosexuality. These same Christians will, however, step out of their $600,000 homes to drive their brand new luxury car to their million dollar vacation homes and not think twice about their sins of materialism. The Bible has ove 2000 verses (!) telling Christians to be generous with their time, talents, and money. Jesus is very clear about the mandate to care for the "least of these" (Matthew 25); the prophet Isaiah warns of the false religiosity of people who refuse to care for the poor and vulnerable (Isaiah 58); James calls "pure religion" caring for "the orphans and widows in their distress." It's much simpler and less messy for the church to lambast homosexuality, however, instead of speaking to the actuals sins of church congregations.
So, those are my thoughts. I'll leave you with this video clip of Tim Keller at the Veritas Forum at Columbia University, which is where I got many of my ideas for this post.
Many Christians believe homosexuality is a sin because the Bible clearly ordains sex to take place between a man and a woman within the confines of marriage. So, this means that any sexual relationships outside of marriage are sinful, including pre-marital sex and adultery. It's much easier for the American church to attack the homosexual minority rather than discussing the fact that many members of their congregation co-habitate before marriage, are addicted to pornography even though they are married, or have engaged in adultery.
The issue for many Christians, from my understanding, is about the translation of the passages in Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Leviticus (see more details on these passages here). Some liberal Christians argue that the New Testament passages criticized using male sex slaves rather than demeaning homosexuality in general. Other arguments claim that the term "homosexual" didn't even exist until the 19th century, so our arguments about homosexuality in the Bible are anachronistic since the term didn't exist in Biblical times. For me, whether or not these arguments are true, the main point is this: the Bible clearly states, in many places and with no ambiguity, that God designed sex to occur within marriage between a man and a woman. So, anything outside of this design is considered un-Biblical, including homosexuality.
Does this mean that someone dealing with homosexuality can just "turn it off" or "convert to heterosexuality?" I honestly and firmly believe the answer is no. I think many Christians wrestle with this very topic and unfortunately the church is not a safe space for discussing the torment of believing in Christ and the Bible while struggling with homosexuality. To read about a committed Christian's experience growing up homosexual, click here. I don't agree with many of his ideas on homosexuality in the Bible, but I think it's important for Christians to glimpse his struggle.
2) Are homosexuals going to hell?
Unfortunately, the American church's track record with homosexuality is embarrassing and hurtful. For some reason, ignorant Christians have decided that their task in life is to shout from the roof-tops that gays are going to hell.
ATTENTION AMERICAN CHRISTIANS: GAY PEOPLE KNOW WE DON'T APPROVE OF THEIR LIFESTYLE. So let's find a way to stand for truth while still loving our neighbor.
Here's the rub for me. Many Christians believe this theology, but they don't want to admit that their own actions are sinful. Instead, they focus on easy "target sins" like sloth, gluttony, or of course, the all-time favorite, homosexuality. These same Christians will, however, step out of their $600,000 homes to drive their brand new luxury car to their million dollar vacation homes and not think twice about their sins of materialism. The Bible has ove 2000 verses (!) telling Christians to be generous with their time, talents, and money. Jesus is very clear about the mandate to care for the "least of these" (Matthew 25); the prophet Isaiah warns of the false religiosity of people who refuse to care for the poor and vulnerable (Isaiah 58); James calls "pure religion" caring for "the orphans and widows in their distress." It's much simpler and less messy for the church to lambast homosexuality, however, instead of speaking to the actuals sins of church congregations.
So, those are my thoughts. I'll leave you with this video clip of Tim Keller at the Veritas Forum at Columbia University, which is where I got many of my ideas for this post.
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