Homosexuality and the Bible

1. Is Homosexuality a Christian Option? Homosexuality and the Bible

2. Homosexuality Churches that believe homosexuality is a sin. • Roman Catholic Church • Conservative synods of the Lutheran Church • Orthodox • Evangelical Protestant churches • Southern Baptist Convention • Christian & Missionary Alliance • Evangelical Free

3. Homosexuality Churches that are “gay friendly”: • United Church of Canada • Liberal congregations within the United Church of Christ • Episcopal Church in the United States of America • Moravian Church • Anglican Church of Canada • Methodist Church of Great Britain

4. Homosexuality Churches that are debating the issue: • Presbyterian Church USA • United Methodist Church • Evangelical Lutheran Church

5. Homosexuality The worldwide Anglican Community has experienced ongoing debate and controversy regarding homosexuality since the Episcopal Church ordained the first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, in 2003.

6. Homosexuality Metropolitan Community Churches: Denomination that was created exclusively for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community. GayChurch.org: Reports over 5000 LGBT churches around the world.

7. Homosexuality Local Church in OKC: We remember and experience God’s creation, filled with diversity and wonder. We proclaim that all creation is beloved of God. We strive to welcome all of God’s people – no matter their race, gender, class, sexual orientation, culture, or religious background.

8. Homosexuality From GayChurch.org: So is homosexuality a sin? “It depends” is my answer. The question is no longer ‘gay’ or ‘straight’ but an issue of love in the relationship. First and foremost, is this relationship encouraging both partners’ spiritual growth and relationship with God?” …

9. Homosexuality From GayChurch.org: …And second, is this a relationship loving and healthy for both parties? God is not concerned with the superficial things that worry us. He does not care what our sexual orientation, gender, skin color, or church affiliation is. These things have no meaning to God. He goes straight to the heart of the matter and simply asks the question, “Is this relationship based on, and operating in, My love or not?

10. Homosexuality Wesley’s Quadrilateral • Reason • Experience • Tradition • Scripture

11. Homosexuality • Homosexuality as a practice. • Homosexuality as an orientation.

12. Homosexuality Scriptures that seem to prohibit or condemn homosexual activity:

13. Homosexuality Gen. 19:4-29: …And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” 6 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7 and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly…

14. Homosexuality Gen. 19:4-29: • …And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28 And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace…

15. Homosexuality Gen. 19:4-29: …29So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

16. Homosexuality Jude 1:7 So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

17. Homosexuality Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.

18. Homosexuality Romans 1:26-27 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

19. Homosexuality 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality*, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

20. Homosexuality 1 Timothy 1:8-10 But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately, realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers– in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching.

21. Homosexuality So, in light of the Scriptures, how do Christian homosexuals justify their behavior?

22. Homosexuality Arguments for Biblical Homosexual Acceptance:

23. Homosexuality • People are born with a homosexual orientation. Therefore, their inclination is natural and God-given as much as heterosexual orientation.

24. Homosexuality 2. Even if homosexuality is a sin, it is no worse than any other sin. All sins are equal in the sight of God. People should not separate homosexuality as if it is something different.

25. Homosexuality • Passages that suggest that homosexuality is wrong are open to interpretation and should not be used dogmatically.

26. Homosexuality • People are born with a homosexual orientation. Therefore, their inclination is natural and God-given as much as heterosexual orientation.

27. Homosexuality Romans 1:26-27 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

28. Homosexuality • Paul is speaking of those who go against their “nature” or “natural function.” Therefore, if one is a homosexual and goes against this “natural function,” it is sin.

29. Homosexuality Response: If this was the sense in which Paul meant it then going against our nature is wrong.

30. Homosexuality Ephesians 2:1-3 And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you formerly lived according to this world's present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest.

31. Homosexuality • It may be true that certain people are born with a genetic disposition toward homosexuality, but Christianity has always conceded that all people are born with a disposition to sin. People’s dispositions may differ, but this does not justify them individually.

32. Imputed Sin/Guilt: Romans 5:12; 18 Inherited Corruption: Psalm 51:5 Augustinianism Homosexuality Personal Sin: 1 Jn 1:9-10 Personal Sin: 1 Jn 1:9-10 Personal Sin: 1 Jn 1:9-10 Personal Sin: 1 Jn 1:9-10 Personal Sin: 1 Jn 1:9-10 Personal Sin: 1 Jn 1:9-10 Personal Sin: 1 Jn 1:9-10

33. Homosexuality 2. Even if homosexuality is a sin, it is no worse than any other sin. All sins are equal in the sight of God. People should not separate homosexuality as if it is something different.

34. Homosexuality 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality*, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

35. Homosexuality • Even if all sins are equal in the sight of God, this does not in any way justify the behavior. We should fight against all sin.

36. Homosexuality • Passages that suggest that homosexuality is wrong are open to interpretation and should not be used dogmatically.

37. Homosexuality 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality*, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

38. Homosexuality • The term translated “homosexual” in the Pauline vice-lists is not found anywhere else in extant Greek literature. Therefore, it is hard to interpret. It probably refers to abusive sexual behavior, not homosexuality.

39. Homosexuality Response: It is true that this term is not found in any other writings, but Paul often coined terms for association. This term is taken from Lev. 18 and literally means “man-bed.” It is a direct reference to the prohibition of a man lying with another man in the Law.

40. Homosexuality Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.

41. Homosexuality This passage occurs in the Old Testament. It is part of a Law that was suited for the times, but much of which no longer applies. For example, the Law also says not to eat pork. As well, there were many prohibitions that oppressed women and allowed for slaves. No one regard this as binding today.

42. Homosexuality Response: The trajectory of the Law points in a culturally redemptive way for both women and slaves, but not for the practice of homosexuality. To equate the issues is misleading.

43. Homosexuality Women and Slaves Old Testament Redemptive New Testament Redemptive Culturally Negative Homosexuality Old Testament Negative Culturally Positive New Testament Negative

44. Homosexuality Response:Has God spoken?Have we understood Him correctly?Will we obey and trust Him?

45. Homosexuality Principles: • Homosexuality is a sin. It is not a Christian option to bury this issue in cultural norms. • Homosexuals are one of the most ostracized communities among Christians today. We must consider deeply and personally how it is we can love them as we love ourselves and all other sinners.

46. Homosexuality Principles: • The Church is a collection of sinners. While no sin, including homosexuality, can be compromised, homosexuals should be welcome. • There are Christians who struggle with this issue. We need to approach them with love, grace, and kindness, not a judgmental spirit of elitism. • It could be that if Christ were here today, he would be ministering among the homosexual communities.