What Does the Bible Really Say? (Part 1)
Written by: Mike | September 9th, 2008Does the Bible really say that homosexuality is a sin? Or does it, as some people say, actually condone and celebrate homosexual relationships? As Christians, we need to know what the Bible tells us about sexuality and gender. Here’s a quick overview of what Scripture really says, as well as responses to some of the most common challenges made to our understanding of the Bible.
Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin. (Leviticus 18:22 NLT)
If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense. (Leviticus 20:13 NLT)
Challenge: There are lots of commands in Leviticus that we don’t follow today, like the rule that you can’t eat shellfish, or combine two kinds of thread.
Answer: Not all Levitical law is the same. There were rules that were moral rules–such as prohibitions against things that were wrong and sinful–and then there were ritualistic commands that the people of Israel were meant to obey as a sign that they belonged to God.
The difference is clear when you study all of Leviticus closely, and you understand the context and the structure of the writing. For an example, in the same passage of Leviticus 18 we find commands against bestiality, incest and adultery. The passage also says: “Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.” (Lev. 18:24-25).
So these rules obviously didn’t only apply to Israel but to all people, and God was driving these other countries out because all these sexual sins were rampant within them
Lastly, it’s important to realize a few things in light of these harsh-sounding verses. Some people have assumed that, since homosexual acts are called a capital offense by Leviticus 20:13, it’s alright to bully and abuse (verbally or physically) those who are or are perceived to be gay. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Let’s never forget how Jesus responded to the woman caught in the act of adultery:
“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”…
They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”
…Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” From John, Chapter 8 (emphasis added)
…God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. (Romans 1:26-27)
This is part of a larger message Paul is giving in Romans 1 about the descent into sin and depravity that takes place when people don’t acknowledge and worship God (Romans 1:18-32). He’s actually setting up an argument that comes to bear in Chapter 2, that we would be hypocrites to judge others, because in our hearts we do the same things and it’s only through grace that our hearts are changed.
Challenge: Paul wasn’t saying that homosexuality was unnatural–he was saying it is a sin for people who aren’t naturally gay to do those things. But it’s still okay if you were born gay.
Answer: The Bible never talks about homosexuality coming naturally to some people and not to others. All that’s ever mentioned is homosexual behavior–motive and orientation are never addressed. This could only mean that it does not matter why one might engage in homosexuality–it is always wrong.
It also says that the men “burned with lust for each other.” Seems like they found it pretty natural.
Through this writing, Paul makes clear that homosexuality is one of many sinful indulgences that result from turning away from God. But the purpose of this passage isn’t to single out those who struggle with that particular sin–he is leading up to a truth that is greater than human sin (which is shared by us all).
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24)
For a great, in-depth study of Biblical arguments about homosexuality, check out The Gay Gospel by Joe Dallas.
13 Responses to “What Does the Bible Really Say? (Part 1)”
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October 3rd, 2008 at 10:24 am
Mike, I’m looking forward to part 2 of this post. I want to hear what you think about 1 Corinithians 9-11, as well as what we can draw from God’s creation of man and woman in Genesis 1-3.
The bottom line to me of what scripture says about homosexuality is this:
Sexuality was given to us by God as a gift to be shared between husband and wife. Scripture consistently teaches that ALL other forms of sexual behavior are sin. Thus homosexual behavior is always sinful, as scripture clearly teaches (Rom 1, 1 Corinthians 6, etc). Further, God designed a beautiful complementary nature in the division of mankind into male and female. These differences express the image of our triune God. Engaging in behavior, fantasy, or even self-identification that blurs this gendered image is a rejection of how God made us and ultimately a rejection of the Creator himself.
“God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.”
October 9th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I really want to know if God would still forgive us if we keep being gay. I mean it’s who we are. Leta say for instance that God had made the world completely opposit, and he created people to be homosexual (I know He didn’t it’s just an example) then all people who aren’t homosexual would be sinning according to what the bible would say if God had made the world opposit of what it really is. Would you agree with the people who are telling you you have to change because thats not how God tells you to live? I’m terribly confused, if what I am is a sin, then why did God even create me?
October 10th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Thanks for your question. The key to thinking about this is the question of what it really means to be gay. Is it “who you are” (the core of your very being), or something else? According to the Bible, “who you are” is a human being, created to be in the image of God, but corrupted by the power of sin… that’s just what is true of all human beings.
Your nickname points out this truth – who you truly are, if you have cast yourself before Jesus, trusting him to pay the penalty for your sins, and making him the true Lord and master of your life – is a Child of Christ.
God intended for us to be perfect, free from sin. Mankind chose otherwise, to rebel against God, and to corrupt his perfect design. And so all of us struggle with sin – and can’t fix ourselves. That’s why we need Jesus, why we need forgiveness, why we need Christ to transform us and make us new creations (and that’s what the gospel is all about).
So homosexuality is not the core of who and what you are.
You may experience attractions to the same gender – that in itself is not sin, but something to ask “why?”.
You may be tempted to act out sexually with a person of the same gender – that in itself is not sin, but something to resist.
You may adopt a self-identity of “I am gay” which becomes the root from which all your actions and thoughts spring – that’s a misunderstanding of who God made you to be that will lead you in the wrong direction.
You may choose to pursue romantic or sexual relationships with a person of the same gender – that is sin, as it violates God’s design of the genders and his clear teaching in scripture on the proper uses of sexuality.
I understand this can feel very confusing, especially if you believe that your sexual attractions define the very essence of who you are. But again, it’s not who you are. It’s something you are experiencing.
All of us struggle with sin and temptation. I know that I personally need to change in lots of areas of my life to obey and honor God more fully. And that’s only possible through the power of God in Jesus, not through our own strength.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:30 am
I fall in love with a girl and she also love me that much. We’re not lesbians but fall inlove with each other. We’re happy since the day we found each other. Until we made commitment with each other. What will I do now? I really love her.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Zy, it sounds like you are confused with some feelings you’re having that you don’t want, and don’t want to follow. That’s not unusual! Check out this article and post a comment there if you have more questions:
I have boyfriends, but I’m afraid I might be a lesbian
November 1st, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I’m straight. I have no sexual attractions towards girls and desire to be with a man and have a family and children one day. I have a problem though. One of my closest friends who is always there for me and me for her and helped eachother through everything somehow got too close and somehow became more than friends, neither of us ever wanting it or expecting it. It’s been like this for 9 months now and we don’t know what to do. I love her and don’t understand how I can feel like this towards her. I want to follow God’s plan for me but I don’t know how to be just her friend now. Some people have said to cut off contact with her. That is not an option for me. She is one of my closest friends ever and will always be. How do we become just friends again?
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:00 am
liz, friendships can get really confusing when they move past healthy levels of closeness and become exclusive (sharing special secrets, spending lots of time alone together, keeping other people at a distance so the one person can be closer).
Sometimes the only thing to do is make a clean break with an unhealthy friendship. But you can certainly try putting the friendship back into a healthy place. For a start, I would suggest:
* pursuing other friendships (so your friendship with this one person isn’t so exclusive
* spend less time together
* don’t spend any time alone together – always bring along another friend
We also have a new article that might help:
I Love My Friend
January 4th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I dont understand how people of god can sit and judge others. I am gay and I am also a child of god. God loves me unconditionaly, look it up, its in the bible to. That means even if Im gay. His greatest comandment in life is LOVE. I love this person, they love me. That is not wrong, I feel god deals with us, and no one has the right to try and make us what they want us to be. You cant make yourself not be attracted to a person of the oppesit sex. What makes you think I can make my self not be attracted to the same sex. God made me in the way he wanted to , how can anyone debate that. You dont know what god has planned for my life, A sin is a sin, we were born into sin. NO ONEs is any greater than the other, so listen to god and what he has in store for you. I know he loves me and that Im going to heaven and if god has a diff. plan for me in life then he will let me know. But I do know that the prayer I said on the day I was saved was between me and god. His son died for all beleivers(ALL) nnot just strait ones. Dosent the bible teach love, understanding, and truth!! Can you honestly say you know what gods plan for me is, Can you say my relationship is unhealthy without judging it with what you beleive gods word says, key word is you.
January 15th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Steppredd,
Thanks for writing, even though you obviously disagree. Your comments are a really common misunderstanding of what we’re trying to say — we never say that God doesn’t love you, or that it’s wrong to love people of the same sex – we’re simply saying that God didn’t create us to have sex with others of the same gender! Sex and love aren’t exactly the same thing…
Check out this article we wrote all about it. I hope this helps you understand where we are coming from when it comes to love:
https://exodusyouth.net/2007/12/12/why-is-it-wrong-to-love-someone-of-the-same-sex/
You have a bunch of other thoughts in there that are hard to answer all at once. I think the main issue has to do with whether God “made you gay” and that you’re being judged unfairly for something you can’t control.
There’s a lot about these topics on our websites, but let me sum it up:
- God didn’t make you gay. He made you human, and either male or female
- So where did your homosexual feelings come from if God didn’t give them to you? Well, like all the different things we are drawn to that are wrong (as you say, everyone sins), they didn’t come from God – they come from a complex mix of our environment, personality, and sinful nature. Here are some common roots that lead to homosexual feelings:
- The kind of “judgment” that the Bible tells us not to make is when we condemn other people and pretend like we don’t have any sins in our own lives. That’s hypocrisy, and we are very careful not to do it.
- But we are supposed to judge between sinful behavior and godly behavior– that just means to know the difference between them and to speak honestly about it. The Bible is very clear that any sexual behavior that is not between a husband and wife is sin. And that very clearly includes any homosexual behavior. So all we’re doing here is helping people understand how God commands us to live.
- It’s obviously up to you whether you want to obey God or not. Our goal here is to let people know what God says about it (not us, Him), and to help those who choose to live in obedience to God.
Ok, hope that all makes some sense. If you choose to follow after God in the area of your sexuality, we would love to help however we can. It’s obviously not the easiest thing to choose not to be controlled by your sexual feelings. But it’s very possible, and it’s a very good thing to do!
February 25th, 2009 at 11:00 am
In the bible it only says stuff about gay men not women! just thought id point that out lol
February 25th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Sawah, actually, Romans chapter 1:26 says that Women exchanged their natural desires for those that were against nature. and the next verse also says that Men also burned with lust for other men. regardless of whether or not the bible mentiones lesbianism or not, we can know that its still prohibitted because of the prohibitions put on men.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Steppredd,
hey man. I don’t intend for this to sound like an argument… But i have to say something. You asked "doesn’t the Bible teach love, understanding, and truth?!"
The answer is: Yes.
Bro, i can say that i love you (i have no idea if you’re even going to look at this thread again!) but, i love you. I can say that with honesty, because if you are a child of God, and a member of Christ’s family, then you and i are united by His Spirit, which unifies us and leads us into truth, understanding, and love. If you believe in Christ’s sacrifice, then i assume you believe that what he says in Scripture is true (Because it really is HIM speaking in the Bible… not just men). What you read in this post was not Mike’s, Frank’s or Scott’s ideas: those thoughts were written down nearly 2000 years ago, and the ones from the Old Testament, maybe over 5000 years ago. Those thoughts about sexual sin and sexual purity are as old as God, because God has never changed His mind or His position on sin.
I sin when i lust. You sin when you lust. Whether it be after man or woman, lust is a sin. Any act of sexuality outside the confines (and safety) of marriage is called adultery. So what does that make us? if we sin out of lust, or if we act out on that lust, we are indeed adulterers. Would you disagree with this statement?
if you don’t disagree with me on that statement, why do you disagree on the passages dealing with homosexuality?
my aim is not to condemn or belittle… not at all. But i want to help you see truth, and understand exactly what God’s love can do. When dealing with the very worst of sinners, Christ did not condemn them, or call them hopeless, or unchangeable… He showed grace, gave them forgiveness, and then called them to repentance: To turn from the sin (which they were committing) and let Christ CHANGE them from who they were without Him, to the very IMAGE of Himself. Our goal should be Christlikeness, not self approval.
July 28th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I didnt know that version!!!!
Until now, i never saw the traslation "Do not practice homosexuality" or "if a man practices homosexuality"
All the versions i ever known was the ones without that statement.
I think that those kind of traslations are made for discrimination, there are no such a word in greek or hebrew that could be translated as "homosexuality". This is why:
Because the word homosexuality has been used and formed, since the 19th century… malakoi or arsenokoitai are used in that verse of Leviticus… and they… dont refer to homosexuality as we know today.