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Homosexuality is currently one of the most controversial issues debated in American culture. It is quite likely that it will remain in the forefront of cultural controversy for a number of years. Sadly, the issue of homosexuality is not limited to the secular world. Many “Christian” denominations around America are debating issues such as the ordination of homosexuals for ministry. This issue is widely debated across the country and the variance of opinion is almost innumerable.

As Christians, we believe that the Bible is God’s revelation of Himself. It is our absolute standard of truth. The truth of God’s Word dictates the way we interact with the surrounding culture. Because homosexuality is so prevalent in our country, I think it would be valuable to examine what the Bible teaches about it.

God’s View of Homosexuality
Let’s take a look at Scripture to see what it says about homosexuality. The first text I want to look at is found in 1 Corinthians:

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

Paul is reminding the Corinthians that the unrighteous will not enter the kingdom of God. Among this list of people considered to be unrighteous are homosexuals. This is a very blatent, condemning passage representing God’s view of homosexuality. God hates unrighteousness and He will not unrighteousness to enter His kingdom. Homosexuality is among this list of unrighteousness. God hates homosexuality and will not allow it in His kingdom.

Here are a couple more verses in which God clearly gives instruction regarding homosexuality:

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

If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them. (Leviticus 20:13)

It is clear that God takes the sin of homosexuality very seriously.

The Deepest of All Human Evil
One of the texts in which homosexuality is dealt with most deeply is Romans 1:

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 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. (Romans 1:22-27)

In this passage we once again see homosexuality as something that is utterly wicked. The root of all sin is idolatry by way of exchanging of God’s truth for a lie. Homosexuality is no exception. Because these people had exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped creation rather than the Creator, God turned them over to the wickedness of their hearts. God removed all restraint and allowed their wickedness to work itself out. What was the outworking of the deepest unrestrained evil of the human heart? Homosexuality. When God removed all restraint and allowed people to sink into the depths of their own evil look what happened: “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.” When God removed His divine restraint of human evil homosexuality resulted. Not only were people committing homosexual acts with one another, they were doing these wicked things openly without shame!

The end of verse 27 very interestingly describes the natural consequences for the homosexual lifestyle: They received “in their own persons the due penalty of their error.“ I believe this is a direct reference to sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS. I believe sexually transmitted disease is God’s judgment against homosexuality. From this passage in Romans we can see that homosexuality is a revelation of how truly wicked the human heart is when divine restraint is removed.

It is clear that God hates homosexuality and views it as sin. The Bible speaks often about homosexuality in general, but what about specifics?

What About Transvestites?

A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 22:5)

I have often heard Fundamentalists or Independent Baptists take this passage and use it to say, “See, women shouldn’t wear pants. It’s an abomination to God.” That is absolutely ridiculous. In the Old Testament everyone wore skirts. That is not what this passage is saying.

You see, homosexual practices are nothing new, they were common even back in the day of Moses. This verse is talking about women wearing that which is is distinctive of manhood, and men wearing that which is distinctive of womanhood. It doesn’t matter what it is, if it blurs the distinctiveness of one’s gender, it is an abomination to God. This type of behavior is very common among the homosexual community. Homosexual men dress up in women’s clothing and call themselves “drag queens.” Transvestites are an abomination to God.

What about Transsexuals?

No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off shall enter the assembly of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 23:1)

Now, who would have their male organ cut off? Who in the world would do that? They used to be called eunuchs. In today’s culture we have a special term for them, they’re called transsexuals. While eunuchs and transsexuals are not fundamentally the same, they share this defining characteristic. Clearly God says transsexuals will never enter the assembly of the Lord, have fellowship with God, enter the kingdom, be in Heaven. Now does that mean that transsexuals are beyond salvation? Look at Isaiah 56:

1 Thus says the LORD,
“Preserve justice and do righteousness,
For My salvation is about to come
And My righteousness to be revealed.
2 “How blessed is the man who does this,
And the son of man who takes hold of it;
Who keeps from profaning the sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say,
“The LORD will surely separate me from His people “
Nor let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”

4 For thus says the LORD,
“To the eunuchs who keep My sabbaths,
And choose what pleases Me,
And hold fast My covenant,
5 To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial,
And a name better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off. (Isaiah 56:1-5)

What an amazing passage about the grace and forgiveness of God! Here you have a transsexual, who is obviously familiar with Deuteronomy 23:1, saying “I am an abomination to God! Surely I will be cast away!” God says “No. Turn from your sin, come to Me, and you will have a place in my house. I will give you a place in my family as my children.” What a testimony of God’s grace! Are transsexuals beyond redemption? By no means! Only transsexuals who actively practice homosexuality will never enter God’s kingdom, but the one who comes to the Lord will be saved!

Summary
Scripture clearly teaches that homosexuality is sin that will be punished by eternal death, if not repented of. But just like any other sin, homosexuality is redeemable. Go back to 1 Corinthans 6:

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Paul comprises this list of sins that will not be in the kingdom, and homosexuals make the list, but look at verse 11: “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.“ Paul is writing to the Corinthian church where some of the members were ex-prostitutes, ex-idolaters, ex-adulterers, ex-theives, ex-alcoholics, and even ex-homosexuals! Homosexuals can be saved out of their homosexuality in the very same way that alcoholics are saved out of their alcoholism, or adulterers are saved out of their adultery: By the cleansing of the Holy Spirit through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross! As Christians, that should be our approach to homosexuals. We have seen clearly that God hates homosexuality, but as Christians we are called to treat people with compassion. We are called love people and demonstrate Christ to them. The greatest way to demonstrate love for sinners is to compassionately show them their sin. To withhold God’s hatred for the sin of homosexuality is not compassionate, even if it’s masked with the label of “tolerance.” Withholding the only truth that can bring salvation is the opposite of compassion; it is condemnation.

As Christians we are called to proclaim the truth; and not simply for truth’s sake. We are called to proclaim God’s truth regarding the sin of men so that through the knowledge of sin God may grant faith and repentence that leads to salvation. With homosexuality it is no different. If a homosexual will turn from their sin and turn to Christ, they too can be saved.

By His grace, For His glory
Brandon