Believers in Jesus Are not Defined by Homosexuality.
Same-sex sexual relations a.k.a. homosexual has become an emotive, sensitive subject that is hardly mentioned by preachers. In my over fifty years in the church, I cannot recall a preacher or teacher of the word, with enough confidence to boldly give a biblical exposition of the subject. Until my sojourn in the West, I had taken it as given that one cannot be a practicing Christian and be homosexual. I do not share the view being perpetrated in the West, the church included, that gays, bisexuals and the like, are kinds of special species of human beings - implying that nothing can be done to change their condition. This stance of the West has created a yawning gap between them and some African countries that legislate against homosexuals in their countries - with far-reaching consequences for their relations with the West.
However, while explaining differing positions of nations on issues of life on account of cultural differences, the same cannot be said for churches and believers sharing faith in Jesus and the Bible. Yet, Christians and church leaders take differing positions on multiple issues - in good conscience - based on their definition of some practices and behaviors as primary, and others of secondary importance in Christianity; thus the cliche, “in essential unity, in non-essential, tolerance.”
In today’s Western culture, full affirmation of LGBTQ sexual identities and lifestyles has become a litmus test of social acceptance. Increasingly, the church, under cultural pressure, is moving the goalpost of tolerance, to accommodate newcomers to the fold with little or no significant change to their lifestyles. Scriptural assertion that the inward transformation of a “new creation in Christ” manifests on the outside as “the old has gone and the new has come” no longer has a place in our churches. The conversation now centers on the necessity of ordaining LGBTQ brothers and sisters as ministers in the church.
Same-sex amorous relationships existed in the ancient world and exist today. It was an issue in the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament.
The question is, what does the Bible say about homosexuals? In what way is same-sex sexual relations different from greed, theft, drunkenness, and other sins condemned in Scripture?
Leviticus 20:13 says,
“if a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death, their blood will be on their heads.”
The word lesbian is not found in the Old Testament probably because sexual predators in ancient times were known to be men.
In 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10, apostle Paul addressing Christians in the church warned of the eternal consequences for people immersed in these practices. He began by asking,
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” (v.9)
The kingdom of God is God’s loving rule over His people. It is the life we were created to live. It was lost in Eden, when humans fell out of the Creator’s purpose for creating mankind - making humans unrighteous. But God demonstrated His love and compassion for humans when He sent His Son Jesus to restore humankind to the right relation with Him. Only those who respond to God’s provision - believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus are made righteous.
Righteousness is inputted when we take the decisive step of moving from unbelief to believing in Jesus, and taking citizenship under God’s sovereign rule (John 3:36; 11:25-26). Life in the kingdom starts here and now and continues until its fullness at the Second coming of Christ.
Paul interrogating the Corinthian Christians continued,
“Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV).
All inclusive, right?
Please check it out and tell the world why the church is picking on “men who practice homosexuality” for isolation and special rebuke. Why treat homosexuals differently than others on the list? I mean why is the church silent about thieves, the greedy, swindlers, adulterers, and revilers in church and society?
Paul said to Timothy, “Take hold of eternal life” (1 Timothy 6: 11-16). Eternal life is in God’s kingdom through Jesus. To be in God’s kingdom is to get hold of eternal life, and run with it.
In other words, homosexuality like all sins, is an issue with fallen humanity, and no believer in Jesus should be defined by it.
What are we saying here?
We are saying, no sin is trivial. All sin, invariably is a rebellion against God. Men and women who practice homosexuality should be treated with empathy and love. Believers and the church should relate to them as they do with other sinners. Nor should they be pampered by accepting their condition is normal. We must call a spade a spade. Sin is sin under the microscope of God’s word. We all were sinners before we came to Christ. Paul reminded the Corinthian Christians that they were like that before they became citizens of God’s kingdom. Indeed, all of the sins on Paul’s list deserve the sober reflection of every Christian. We struggle variously with one or the other sin on that list. “We should be more distressed by our own sins.”
Fallen humans build and function in fallen cultures. It is why humans are disposed to particular sins than others. As Sam Allberry says in his article, “Sexuality Is Not a Minor Issue” in Christianity Today, of July/August, 2024, “Christian leaders often find themselves having to address some sins more frequently than others in response to cultural messaging.”
The quote speaks to the rise of same-sex marriages in the West. “When a sin receives a high level of publicity, it is not just providing legitimacy for those already disposed to engage in it, but it is also encouraging others to engage in it” he adds.
It might seem that certain sins are inescapable. So often the lie of the Evil One is that a given sin is part of our DNA identity; that there is no point in trying to deny it or live differently. Paul, however, reminded the Corinthian Christians that they were once like that:
“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (v.11)
To all struggling believers, Paul encourages us to:
“put off your old self, which belong to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).
Believers are called to love our neighbors, including our homosexuals - openly gay - neighbors. Jesus loves all sinners and offered himself as atonement for our sin.
The church cannot write them off - leaving them to be excluded from eternal life in God’s kingdom. The church has to bail them out by confronting them with the word of God. They must learn to repent of this sin and set their minds to getting out of it. It may take time, as it often does with newborn babies growing.
They, however, must be humble and ready to submit to the discipline required for learning while committing to get rid of the heavy yoke and take on the yoke of Jesus which is easy and light.
