Weekly Q&A
When the Bible condemns homosexuality, is it against those born homosexuals, homosexuals who engage in homosexual behaviour, or is it towards both? How can God condemn someone who was born a certain way?
The Bible condemns not only homosexuality, but all sex outside the confines of a (heterosexual) marriage.
We understand that as a result of the Fall, sin entered the world and has been manifesting itself in different ways in people. The Bible says no one is worthy to escape God’s judgement on sin. Romans says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
Temptation is a reality that all humans encounter, but it is not from God. Hebrews 2:18 speaks of Christ helping those who are tempted. While temptation is not sinful in itself, it becomes sin when we give in to it. Mathew 5:28 says we sin if we entertain lust in our minds. Romans 1:29 calls out greed, envy, malice etc as sins that can be nurtured in our minds.
When evil thoughts or temptations are nurtured, they take root and defile us. Jesus said in Mathew 15:19-20: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts — murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person.”
Sexual temptations or lustful desires, whether heterosexual or homosexual, are no exception from the above principle. It is the entertaining of such thoughts that often leads us down a slippery slope and causes us to be subject to God’s wrath.
We must never fool ourselves to believe that we can resist temptation with our own strength. We are, in fact, asked to pray that we do not enter into temptation. Mark 14:38 says, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
1 John 1:9, however, says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” This is talking to believers and is calling for confession when we sin.
God does not have any more anger towards the same sex-attracted than to the opposite sex-attracted. The key difference would be that, while the opposite sex-attracted can find sexual fulfilment in a marriage, the same sex-attracted would have to prayerfully wait on the Lord to understand what His plans for them are.
Can God change your desires? The lives of few individuals show that He can indeed transform them. Is this usual? No, it is only to be considered with much prayer and godly counsel. Several same sex-attracted individuals have committed to being single and glorifying God with their bodies. The Bible offers several worthy examples of those who lived fulfilling lives in God’s service, while single.
The reason why certain individuals are born same sex-attracted is because of the Fall. As a result of the Fall, sin manifests itself in different ways in people. Moses had the sin of anger, while it was adultery for David and covetousness with Ananias and Sapphira.
In some, it manifests in the form of same sex attraction. Can God be blamed for this? James 1:13 says, “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
Homosexual temptation is a result of our own fallenness. The perfect creation was marred by sin due to the Fall. God’s sovereignty, however, is all encompassing and He can use an individual’s singleness and commitment to holiness to bring glory to His name — which is what He has sought from His children at all times.
In conclusion, God does not single out same sex-attracted individuals for special wrath. Any temptation that we allow to get the better of us and succumb to its attractions invites His punishment. This is irrespective of the nature of sexual sin.
May Romans 8:1 give us strength and encouragement: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Charles Mathew is an elder at his church in Bangalore. Along with his secular profession as a technology marketeer, he is involved in teaching in small groups and encouraging individuals personally. He is particularly passionate about Biblical history and how God’s plan of salvation for mankind has been orchestrated through the ages. A dad of two, he has been married to his wife Deema for the last 15 years.
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