The topic of homosexuality can be a very divisive, controversial one within churches and other religious settings.
This can come up generally or in more specific situations. For example, debate arises when discussing same-sex marriage from a religious perspective. Likewise, the topic of ordaining gay clergy can be very polarizing.
On one hand, there are many people who are in favor of changing some of the traditional church teachings on these topics. This isn’t about changing religious education. In contrast, it’s about upholding Biblical teachings that emphasize inclusivity, acceptance, and love.
On the other hand, some people express concerns about making those changes. As these discussions continue, it’s important that we listen to one another with open-mindedness, curiosity, and respect.
What Homosexuality Is and Is Not
Homosexuality is not a choice. It is not a cross to bear. It is not a disorder.
Quite the opposite, in fact. Homosexuality is an intrinsic identity. God intends for us to celebrate it.
Homosexuality is a gift. To believe otherwise is to misunderstand the nature of this identity.
Homosexuality as a Loving, Family-Oriented Identity
One of the most persistent myths in regard to this issue is the idea that homosexuality is about lust whereas heterosexuality is about love.
We never ask heterosexual couples to think about the nature of their attraction. Nevertheless, it drives many of the choices that they make in life. If they are grounded in a religious perspective, then they think of sex and attraction as one aspect of their capacity to form bonds, share romance, support another human being, and create a family.
The myth is that gay couples just have sex for the sake of sex. However, homosexuality grounded in a religious perspective can be as all-encompassing as heterosexuality. In other words, gay people also see sex as one aspect of a loving, committed, family-oriented relationship.
Interpreting the Bible on Homosexuality
People have interpreted biblical teachings in any number of ways. When it comes to homosexuality, people typically cite the same few references to negative same-sex relationships, three from the Old Testament and three from the New Testament.
However, although quoted to highlight negative aspects of homosexuality, upon closer examination we can view them very differently. Let’s take a look at three of those passages:
1. Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 19, Old Testament
Sodom was struck down by God, many believe as a result of his homosexuality. In fact, that’s where we get the term “sodomy,” which is often used to refer to male same-sex fornication. However, it wasn’t until The Middle Ages that interpretations of this passage even began to suggest that Sodom’s sin was homosexuality.
Although it’s widely used today as “proof” that God didn’t intend us to be gay, multiple references throughout the bible suggest Sodom was punished for other sins.
For example, not helping the poor and needy (Ezekiel 16:49) and inhospitable treatment of Jesus’ disciples (Luke 10 and Matthew 10). In fact, in twenty mentions of Sodom’s sins, the Bible only references “sexual immorality and perversion” once (Jude 7), and there is no specific reference to homosexuality.
2. Leviticus 18 and 20, Old Testament
This is the passage that almost every anti-gay religious person cites, the one that says, “Do not lie with a man as one does with a woman; it is an abomination.” Leviticus 20 is a variation and elaboration on that same point.
However, keep in mind that Leviticus outlines more than 600 prohibitions. Starting as early as 49 AD, the church has debated the relevance of these prohibitions, often determining that some or even all of them do not apply to modern Christians.
For example, no one argues anymore that it’s a sin to eat shrimp, wear clothing woven from two different types of material, or cut your head’s side hair.
Digging deeper into the sexual prohibitions, Leviticus also bans adultery. Many religious people are in agreement with this, but don’t necessarily agree that the punishment should be death; which is what Leviticus suggests for both same-sex relationships and adulterers.
Likewise, this passage says that a woman having sex while menstruating is an abomination. Furthermore, those who do should be permanently exiled from their community. Most people don’t see it this way anymore.
In other words, the most famous passage against homosexuality in the church is rife with contradictions and rules that the church and its followers agree are out of date.
3. Romans 1, New Testament
In verses 26 and 27, Paul calls same-sex sexuality “unnatural” and “shameful.” However, this oft-quoted passage is taken out of context. When we dig further into it, we see that the point he’s making isn’t about homosexuality.
Instead, it’s about idolatry. He’s talking about people who have started off in opposite-sex relationships then turned away from God, abandoning him for idols, and turning to homosexuality.
However, homosexuality isn’t a choice. It isn’t something that people can change. It is permanent, ongoing, and natural to have an attraction to the same sex. Therefore, if they were to abandon that natural state to chase heterosexuality, then they, too, would be abandoning God in the way that Paul means in this passage.
Homosexuality is a gift. You do not have to be ashamed of it, and your religious teachings should not make you feel less than. If you’re struggling with this in your life today, reach out and learn more about how I can help.