HOMOSEXUALITY
What are
we to think of a passage like Romans 1:26-27? The Bible defines homosexual
desires as “contrary to nature,” not an equal alternative orientation.
Homosexuality is a “dishonorable passion” that “consumes” men and women,
leading to shameless behavior. The strong emotional pull of lust and the
affections shared between persons in a homosexual relationship – whatever those
affections may be called – cannot properly be called “love.” After all, love
“does not rejoice at wrongdoing” (1 Cor. 13:6) and homosexuality is wrongdoing.
Thabiti M. Anyabwile
Lust and Chastity, Tabletalk, May 2008, p.
10-11, Used by Permission.
Concerning
homosexuality: This once brought hell out of heaven on Sodom
It was God
Himself who united a man and a woman in marriage (Gen. 2:22). Marriage,
therefore, is a divine institution, not a human one (Matt. 19:6). Consequently,
God, not man, has the right to define the terms of the institution.
Jay Adams
One
Flesh, Tabletalk, June 2005, p. 13. Used by Permission.
In mercy,
even though homosexuality is a sinful way of life, and not a genetic problem,
Paul makes it clear that it is possible for a homosexual to be “washed” form
his defilement through the saving grace of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6:9-12).
Jay Adams
One
Flesh, Tabletalk, June 2005, p. 14. Used by Permission.
Jesus did not
speak against homosexuality specifically, but neither did He specifically
address many other sexual behaviors, such as incest, bestiality, and rape. That
doesn’t mean that they were permissible. Jesus consistently upheld the Old
Testament law. He stood against all legalistic attempts to narrow its intent,
and He maintained that the law addressed both behavior and attitude. He
consistently spoke for marriage, and He indicated that the only alternative to
heterosexual marriage was celibacy (Matt. 19:12).
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 155.
The issue of homosexual
orientation is where the church must engage the homosexual community in
biblical discussion. The problem, however, is that the idea of homosexual
orientation does not rest on any foundation that can be discussed. It relies on
neither biblical data nor medical research. Instead, it is a political premise
for gaining homosexual rights and is rooted in personal experience. Therefore,
neither biblical data nor refutation of the medical literature will persuade
most homosexual advocates. Ultimately, most homosexuals appeal to their own
feelings and the experience of their homosexual brothers and sisters.
“Homosexuality feels right to us, so it is natural. It is part of our created
constitution.” But that should not keep us from examining their arguments
biblically and engaging them in as much careful discussion as they are willing.
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 158-159.
Is it
possible that the biblical texts were ignorant about homosexual orientation and
were thus prohibiting only “unnatural” homosexual practice by participants of heterosexual orientation? This would
suggest that the practicing homosexuals in the Bible were involved in
homosexuality against their natural inclinations. Yet the nature of sin is that
people sin because they want to sin
(James 1:13-15). It comes from our desires. No one is dragged into sin kicking
and screaming. Homosexuality existed in biblical times because people enjoyed
it; they were drawn to it by their own hearts (Mark 7:21-23). An artificial
distinction between (sinful) homosexual practice and (justifiable) homosexual orientation
contradicts the Scripture’s constant connection of desire, orientation and
deed. If the deed was prohibited in Scripture, the desire was too.
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 160.
Why does it
feel natural? The biblical answer is relatively straightforward. Like many
other sins, homosexuality does not have to be learned. The child who never
witnessed a temper tantrum can be proficient at throwing them; it is an
instinctive ability of the human heart. Homosexuality is natural in the same
way that anger or selfishness is natural. They are embedded in our fallen
humanness. Indeed, homosexuality is “natural,” but only in the sense that it is
an expression of the sinful nature… Sin is more than mature, rational,
conscious decisions. It is our moral inclination from birth.
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 160-161.
It is true
that, on some level, there can be great affection and commitment in a
homosexual relationship. But this doesn’t mean that the relationship is
approved by God. If a man is unbiblically divorced
and marries a woman he believes he truly loves, that union is still wrong.
Adulterous relationships may, on some level, be loving
and committed, but they also are still wrong.
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 162.
But what
about love and loyalty when no one else seems to be hurt, such as premarital
sexual relationships? Such an argument does not apprehend biblical love. Love
is not simply the absence of obvious injury to anyone. For example, critical
thoughts don’t victimize, but they are unloving and wrong. Defining love in
terms of whether people get hurt misses the heart of biblical teaching. We may
not automatically decide what form love takes. God tells us how to love. When
we love on our terms rather than His,
we are in sin. Even if our sin does not seem to hurt another human being, it is
still sin. If sin were reduced to hurting others, then we could become morally
perfect by isolating ourselves from all people. Sin, however, is not primarily
a human-against-human action. It is human-against-God. God defines love as
obedience to Him.
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 162-163.
The biblical
position is that there is a creation order for human sexuality. God’s ordained
design for sexual relationships is male-female. Homosexual acts and homosexual desires, male and female, violate this creation ordinance and are
thus sinful. The church must therefore warn and rebuke those who call
themselves Christians but persist in homosexual practice. And the church must actively teach that homosexual affection is sinful. It can never
suggest that there is morally neutral, constitutional, homosexual orientation.
To urge those struggling with homosexual desire simply to refrain from acting
on their desire is to sin against these brothers and sisters.
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 165.
Biology can’t
make us sin. At most, biology is analogous to a friend who tempts us into sin.
Such a friend might be bothersome, but he can be rebuked and resisted.
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 167.
Am I now suggesting
that it is biblically possible for the body to cause homosexuality? Indeed, I
am, provided – and read carefully – the word “cause” in this context means
“biologically shape or influence,” not
“irresistibly compel.” Used this way, there is nothing shocking about what I am
saying. Our sinful hearts express themselves in behavior via hundreds of
factors, biology being one. A person whose sinful heart acts out in murder may
have been influenced by unjust treatment, by parents who allowed him to vent his
rage on siblings and by Satan’s incessant suggestions to kill. But none of
these influences remove his personal responsibility for his intentions or
actions. The ultimate cause of sin is always the sinful heart.
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 169.
Remember that
it is on the question of homosexual orientation that the world, the flesh, and
the Devil converge. The world, with its sub-biblical views, has voted that
homosexuality is normal. Our flesh wants to exonerate itself from homosexual
fantasy and maintain that sexual gratification is a sacred right. And the Devil
stands behind both, whispering his murderous deceptions. The deception of
homosexual orientation must be exposed and corrected. It is a false teaching
that will eventually lead to bad fruit. We truly do have an “orientation,” but
it is a spiritual orientation that is against God. It is not a simple physical
propensity.
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 175-176.
Has the
church been, at times, self-righteous in its attitude toward homosexuals? Is
there homophobia in some of our congregations? Do we tend to think of
homosexuality as worse than the gossip and private idolatries that are rampant
in the church? Has the church been unwelcoming to unbelieving but spiritually
searching homosexuals? The answer to these questions is certainly yes. More
specifically, the answer is, “Yes, we
have sinned.”
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 180.
A rejection of
the Bible’s authority on an issue such as homosexuality is a theological
problem – not merely a moral controversy. No church can remain divided on this
question, and no faithful believer should remain in a church that refuses to be
bound to God’s Word.
Albert Mohler
Should I Stay or Should I Go? September
2009, Tabletalk, p. 21. Used by Permission.
We will
continue to say what the world, by and large, will not believe, namely, that it
is possible to describe homosexual behavior as sinful, perverse, abnormal, and
destructive to persons and culture while at the same time being willing to lay
down our lives in love for homosexual persons. In fact, we say something even
more radical and unbelievable to the world, namely, that you must believe homosexual
behavior is sin and harmful in order to love homosexual persons. Because God
tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:6, “[Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but
rejoices with the truth.” If you deny the truth that homosexual behavior is
sin, but instead approve of it or rejoice in it, what you bring to the
homosexual person will not be love – no matter how affirming, kind, or
tolerant. Our aim is the biblical combination of conviction in God’s truth and compassion for God’s
creation.
John Piper
Discerning the Will of God Concerning Homosexuality and
Marriage, August 8, 2004, www.DesiringGod.org,
Used by Permission.
1.
The
Will of God for Marriage Was Expressed in Creation: Jesus confirmed God’s will
in creation when He said in Matthew 19:4-6, “Have you not read that He who
created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore
a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they
shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What
therefore God has joined together, let not man
separate.” That’s the Bible’s teaching and the Bible’s assumption from cover to
cover. Marriage is one woman and one man becoming one flesh by covenant and
sexual union.
2.
There
Is No Such Thing as Homosexual Marriage in the Eyes of God: The other biblical
reason marriage cannot be between two men or two women is that, on the one
hand, the Bible defines homosexual behavior as “dishonorable” and “shameless”
and “contrary to nature” (Romans 1:26-27), but on the other hand the Bible says
that marriage is to be “held in honor” (Hebrews 13:4). Marriage does not
produce shame. And marriage is not contrary to nature. There is therefore no
such thing as homosexual marriage in the eyes of God. And there should not be
in the eyes of his people – no matter what the state says.
John Piper
Discerning the Will of God Concerning Homosexuality and
Marriage, August 8, 2004, www.DesiringGod.org,
Used by Permission.
The deepest
problem of our lives, whether heterosexual or homosexual, is the terrible
exchange of the glory of God for images (Romans 1:23). The
exchange of the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:25). The
disapproval of having God in our knowledge (Romans 1:28). Failed worship
is our worst disorder. This is beneath all the maladies of the world. Repairing
this, not first our disordered sexuality, is our main
business in life.
John Piper
The
Other Dark Exchange: Homosexuality, Part 1, October 11, 1998, www.DesiringGod.org, Used by
Permission.
We learn from
Paul in Ephesians 5:31-32 that, from the beginning, manhood and womanhood
existed to represent or dramatize God’s relation to His people and then
Christ’s relation to His bride, the church. In this drama, the man represents
God or Christ and is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. The woman
represents God’s people or the church. And sexual union in the covenant of
marriage represents pure, undefiled, intense heart-worship. That is, God means
for the beauty of worship to be dramatized in the right ordering of our sexual
lives.
John Piper
The
Other Dark Exchange: Homosexuality, Part 1, October 11, 1998, www.DesiringGod.org, Used by
Permission.
God and man
in covenant worship are represented by male and female in covenant sexual
union. Therefore, when man turns from God to images of himself, God hands us
over to what we have chosen and dramatizes it by male and female turning to
images of themselves for sexual union, namely their own sex. Homosexuality is
the judgment of God dramatizing the exchange of the glory of God for images of
ourselves.
John Piper
The
Other Dark Exchange: Homosexuality, Part 1, October 11, 1998, www.DesiringGod.org, Used by
Permission.
A few words
to those among us who have homosexual desires:
1.
Acknowledge
the presence and pain of a disordered sexuality, with all the ambiguity of
where it came from – much like other disorders and disabilities – and do not
define your God-given personhood by your disordered sexuality.
2.
Put
your faith in Christ alone for the forgiveness of all your sins and for the
gift of God’s righteousness and for the fulfillment of all his promises to you
(Romans 1:16-17). The only sinner who can successfully battle his sins is a
justified sinner. In other words, you fight against sexual sins from
relationship, not for a relationship.
3.
Begin
to reorder your entire life around the centrality of the glory of God as your
highest treasure. Homosexual sinning, like all other sinning, is an echo of
exchanging the glory of God for other things. So restore the sun of God’s glory
to its place at the center of your soul and all the planets of your desires
will begin to return to their God-given orbit.
4.
Resolve
to live a chaste and, if necessary, celibate life by the power of God's Spirit,
with the confidence that if God does not heal now, he will in the age to come;
and all the patience of purity of will be worth it (Romans 8:18). May God grant
all the single people (and married!) at Bethlehem a passion for purity.
5.
Seek
wholesome friendships with both sexes, especially in groups… The more we do
things in groups rather than pairs, the more opportunities we create for
wholesome non-sexual relationships.
6.
…There
are ministries like Outposts here in our cities that have insights and
experience and encouragement and Biblical counsel from a depth of awareness
that goes beyond what most of us can bring. This may be something God would use
in your life.
7.
Take
a bold and compassionate stand for truth…and hold up God’s purposes for human
sexuality, namely, as an expression of Christ’s love for the Church dramatized
in the covenant love of marriage between one man and one woman.
John Piper
The
Other Dark Exchange: Homosexuality, Part 2, October 11, 1998, www.DesiringGod.org, Used by
Permission.
If your
children are still small or yet to come, realize that, in large measure, their
healthy sexuality hangs on your healthy attention and teaching and touching and
loving. I say this especially to you fathers. For both boys and girls, the
development of a healthy sexuality hangs more on strong, loving, godly male
figures in their lives than on the women in their lives – though both are very
important. Biblically and experientially and psychologically this can be shown
– that the role of the father (or of some crucial man) is paramount for normal
sexual development of boys and girls.
John Piper
The
Other Dark Exchange: Homosexuality, Part 2, October 11, 1998, www.DesiringGod.org, Used by
Permission.
Whatever the
physical or social or personal origins of the homosexual disordering of our
sexuality, none of that would define it as good or “natural” or “normal.” In a
world where God is the Creator and Designer of life, “natural” means in sync
with God’s purpose and design, not just anything that has physical causes.
Having a physical root makes nothing right. Physically-based, aggressive
tendencies may lead to violent behavior, but we don’t condone it.
Physically-based lethargic tendencies may lead to laziness and neglect, but we
don’t condone it. Frenetic tendencies may lead to disruption and workaholism. A gloomy bent may lead to suicidal thoughts.
An anxious bent may lead to paranoia. Addictive tendencies may lead to
alcoholism or bondage to gambling or deadly smoking. A low frustration
threshold may lead to outbursts of rage. Strong sexual desires may lead to lust
or pornography or fornication or adultery or polygamy. In other words, in a
world where the effect of sin permeates to the roots of nature and disorders
all of life, we cannot define as good and natural whatever has physical roots.
There must be a higher norm than fallen nature. There are many physically-based
abnormalities in the world. Therefore having a physical base or root is not
sufficient reason for condoning anything as natural or good.
John Piper
The
Other Dark Exchange: Homosexuality, Part 2, October 11, 1998, www.DesiringGod.org, Used by
Permission.
God’s verdict on homosexuality is inescapably
clear. His law is a precise interpretation of the sexual order of creation for
fallen man, rendering again His intention and direction for sexual relations.
When members of the same sex (homo-sexual) practice
intercourse with each other…they violate God’s basic creation order in a vile
and abominable fashion.
Greg L. Bahnsen
Homosexuality: A Biblical View, Baker
Book House, 1978, p. 36.
Homosexual behavior is contrary to the Creator’s design (Gen.
1:27-28), and therefore is entirely unnatural (Rom. 1:26-27). Homosexual acts
are not good; they neither conform to the standard of good (i.e.,
righteousness) revealed in God’s law, and they are not good (i.e.,
beneficial) for an individual or for society. According to Scripture,
homosexual activity is sinful and an abomination (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom.
1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:9-10). The rise and acceptance of homosexual
relationships is a sign of moral degradation, is due to man’s suppression of
the knowledge of God in his pursuit of idolatry, and is a revelation of God’s
wrath (Rom. 1:18-32; Gen. 19:1-11).
William
Einwechter
The Debate over “Same-Sex Marriage,” June 21, 2006,
Vision Forum Ministries, Used by Permission.
Marriage is not a human invention, it is the creation of God; it
did not originate in the mind of man, but in the mind of God. This being the
case, man cannot change the definition or purpose of marriage to suit himself. The redefinition of marriage is the negation of
marriage.
William
Einwechter
The Debate over “Same-Sex Marriage,” June 21, 2006,
Vision Forum Ministries, Used by Permission.
Those who believe that
marriage is an evolving concept and that “same-sex marriage” is based on man’s
new understanding of the nature of homosexual orientation fundamentally assert
that “marriage” itself is a meaningless notion. If the concept of marriage has
no fixed reference point beyond the evolving (constantly changing) mind of man,
then no idea of marriage can have any permanence or claim to be the right view
of marriage since, according to evolutionary dogma, man may yet progress to new
understandings of marriage in the future. The logic of evolutionary thought
also leads to the possibility that the idea of “same-sex marriage” will be
rejected in the future as an ignoble phase of human development for which man
should be ashamed. If it might be renounced in the future, on what ethical
grounds can it be wrong to oppose it today?
William
Einwechter
The Debate over “Same-Sex Marriage,” June 21, 2006,
Vision Forum Ministries, Used by Permission.
If there is no higher law than the will of the state, then the
state becomes man’s ultimate sovereign, against whose
will there is no appeal. The legalization of “same-sex marriage” by the state
would be a definitive rejection of the sovereignty of God and would constitute
a claim of divinity by the state – whoever is the ultimate source of law in a
society is the God of that society (cf. Isa. 33:22). The debate over
“same-sex marriage” is not simply a debate over what our marriage law will be,
but more so, over who will be our God: the triune God of the Bible or the
state?
William
Einwechter
The Debate over “Same-Sex Marriage,” June 21, 2006,
Vision Forum Ministries, Used by Permission.
Because
Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God,
their opposition [to homosexuality] is rooted in a commitment to the absolute
authority of the Bible to define the institution of marriage and to judge the
moral nature of homosexual acts (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Therefore, their rejection of
homosexuality and “homosexual marriage” is based on the objective,
propositional revelation of Scripture that teaches that these things are sinful
because they are contrary to the will of God. The true Christian does not
condemn sodomy and “same-sex marriage” because of fear or hate, but because his
faith in God’s revelation requires him to do so.
William
Einwechter
The Debate over “Same-Sex Marriage,” June 21, 2006,
Vision Forum Ministries, Used by Permission.
The Christian is motivated by love – his love for God and for his
neighbor. The whole duty of Christian ethics is summarized by the command to
love. But what is love? According to Jesus, love is keeping the commandments of
God (Matt. 7:12; 22:36-40). The moral law of God shows us how
to love God and our neighbor (Rom. 13:8-10). Christians believe that the laws
of God against homosexual acts are given not only to reveal God’s righteousness
but also for man’s own good (Deut. 10:13). The prohibitions in Scripture
against homosexual acts are there not only because this behavior dishonors God,
but also because it is destructive to man individually and in community. A man
of love will act, to the degree to which he is able, to protect his neighbor
(understood in both the singular and collective sense) from the degradation,
danger, and destruction that is associated with homosexual practice (Lev.
19:17-18). The facts reveal that homosexuality is more of a death-style than a
life-style. Can true Christian love ignore this reality?
William
Einwechter
The Debate over “Same-Sex Marriage,” June 21, 2006,
Vision Forum Ministries, Used by Permission.
Evangelicals [often] do not appeal to Scripture in the public
debate, but base their arguments on reason and “natural law.” By so doing they
surrender the only real authority and power they have (Isa. 8:10; Eph. 6:17;
Heb. 4:12) and are forced to stand on the same ground as their opponents. Not
only does this method disarm the Christian, it is also disingenuous. The
leading reason why Christians reject homosexual behavior is because the Bible
teaches them to do so. In refusing to stand up and say this, especially since
their opponents know that their chief objection is based on the Bible, they
appear to be dishonest and ashamed of their faith. It is much better to be bold
and forthright in defending biblical morality by using the Bible! Even if their
enemies reject their arguments, Christians cannot help but gain a measure of
respect for their honesty and courage.
William
Einwechter
The Debate over “Same-Sex Marriage,” June 21, 2006,
Vision Forum Ministries, Used by Permission.
Christians seem blind to the hypocrisy of treating homosexual
conduct so seriously and adultery and divorce so lightly. Evangelicals cry out
that they must defend “traditional marriage” against the danger of “gay
marriage.” But the greatest threat to traditional marriage is not from without
but from within; from the rampant adultery and divorce that is found in
heterosexual marriages. Churches preach against “gay marriage” (and rightly
so), but tolerate adultery, divorce, and adulterous remarriage within their own
memberships. The divorce rate among Christians is a disgrace. The church is so
morally compromised by adultery and sexual sin (e.g., addiction to pornography
and fornication) among its heterosexuals that it has lost its power to confront
the plague of homosexuality.
William
Einwechter
The Debate over “Same-Sex Marriage,” June 21, 2006,
Vision Forum Ministries, Used by Permission.