Homosexuals are Considered Sinners, However We Need to Love Them
The concepts of individuality and acceptance are ideas that have become prevalent in the modern world as we know it. Things that were once surrounded by an air of social stigma have now become normalized. One of such things is homosexuality, which has become more socially acceptable and less unorthodox. However, with the evolution of the human race toward a state of the acceptance of gays and lesbians, it comes as a surprise to many that there remain groups who have not adopted this attitude. Christians have received the most publicity and criticism for their seemingly anti-gay actions that stem from the teachings of the bible. Indeed there is mounting criticism, even hatred, against gays from the Christian community and some Christians believe that we should be against homosexuals; but, the instructions given to Christians by the Bible order Christians to be against homosexuality, but show love to homosexual individuals as they would to anyone.
However outlandish this may sound, the bible truly does preach against homosexuality. One of the best known instances of this in the bible is the example of Sodom in the book of Genesis. In Genesis, Lot, who lives in Sodom, was visited by angels of God who were disguised as men. However, the men of Sodom gathered outside Lot’s tent and tried to force sex with the angels of God. Although the Bible does not explicitly say that the men sinned because of their homosexual desires but rather as a result of their sexual immorality, in the New Testament book of Jude, it says, “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire'. In this, Jude is telling us that the men sinned by not only their sexual immorality, but their desires for “strange flesh”. Many have argued that in this passage, the term “strange flesh”, also translated as “unnatural desires” in other versions, refers to the fact that the men were angels. Yet, this cannot be their sin because the men of Sodom had no means of knowing this fact; therefore, the only explanation is that the term “strange flesh” refers to the fact that the angels were men.
Although the example of Sodom is, to some extent, left up to interpretation, another passage in the Old Testament bluntly declares homosexuality to be a sin. In Leviticus 18:22, the bible says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination”, meaning that same-sex relationships are sinful. In an article entitled “What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality?”, Sam Allberry highlights the arguments some have made against this passage. Many argue that the old testament is a book meant to guide the Jews only, and is outdated in the Christian faith. However, as Allberry says, the surrounding verses describe other forms of sexual immorality such as incest, adultery, and bestiality that are still looked down upon in present day. Taking this fact into account, it is fair to say that although the verse is in the old testament, it still has moral relevance today just as do the various other sins among which it is listed.
Considering that Christians as well follow the teachings of the New Testament, it would not be fair to only include Old Testament passages. In the New Testament, Apostle Paul, on two separate occasions, denounces homosexuality, saying that homosexuals, among other sinners will not inherit the kingdom of God, or heaven. In Romans 1:26-27 NASB, Paul also highlights another issue, saying, “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.” In this, Paul highlights another concept that is very important: homosexuality was not the original plan for humans and is not a natural desire given to mankind by God. Paul does this by saying that we behave unnaturally by doing with a person of the same sex that which we should do with a person of different sex. According to Paul, humans have turned away from God and have been given up to a reprobate mind, causing them to seek sinful things such as same sex relationships. These teachings of the Bible show a clear stance; however, different denominations, who use the same Bible with the same ideas, have different views on the subject of homosexuality.
The issue of homosexuality clashing with Christianity dates back all the way to the 1940s. This has given rise to the varying denominational attitudes to the matter. According to Melissa Wilcox in an article entitled “Religion and homosexuality”, gays and lesbians have been meeting for worship as early as 1946 and the first organization for homosexuals was founded in 1968. Wilcox also manifests the different denominational opinions by highlighting that the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, various Eastern Orthodox churches, United Church of Christ, and most fundamentalists and Evangelical churches are the biggest denominations opposed to the practice; whereas the Episcopal Church and the United Church of Christ have been staunch allies of the LGBTQ community. There are also “Ex-gay” Christians who have been known to use conversion therapy to drive out gay tendencies--- a practice that is not biblically supported. This all goes to show that within these various dominations, although some are allied with them, there is a general lack of support for the LGBT community.
Not only churches and biblical teachings but also everyday people have proved to be a barrier to gays. For example, according to CBS news, a baker named Joseph Phillips denied an engaged homosexual couple a wedding cake, citing his religious beliefs. He was then sued for this action and the supreme court stood by his side, saying that he, as an artist, has the right to produce art that aligns with his convictions without legislative infringement. In addition, according to an article on ABC news written by Leah La Rosa, a tax preparer by the name of Nancy Fivecoate refused to allow a married lesbian couple file taxes with her, saying she has done this multiple times with gay customers and it is as a result of her religious beliefs. She made the point that she respects the beliefs of gays but wont go against her faith, and expects that her beliefs be respected as well. Although Phillip and Fivecoate did what they believed to be morally and biblically sound, their actions can be seen as hateful and homophobic by many. This is all because of the history of enmity between gays and Christians.
The problem with the perception of homosexuality in the Christian body is that it is seen as a sin of greater magnitude than all other sins. Throughout the Bible, it is inferred that some sin are of greater severity than others. However, Christians tend to classify homosexuality as a sin of unreedemable magnitude, which is biblically inaccurate. In the bible, there are seven sins that are abominations to God: pride, lying, murder of innocent people, a heart that devises evil, feet that run to evil, a false witness, and one who stirs trouble among brethren. It is implied that these sins are the worst in the sight of God, or at least grieve him the most. It is worth note that homosexuality is not listed among the seven. Although these sins can be seen as the worst, they are all sins from which one can repent and maintain his relationship with God. Christians fail to realize that, as with all sin, including the ones of greater severity, homosexuality is redeemable. Although in 1 Corinthians 6, Paul does say that whoever seeks homosexual desire will not to go heaven, the bible tells us that sin only keeps one from heaven when he has not been born again. It is important for Christians to know that the fact that they attach more stigma to homosexuality than other sins is the reason there is a poor relationship between them and homosexuals.
It has been established that the Bible does infact speak against homosexuality. However, the question of “why” still remains. It may seem unfair that God should put a limit on who humans are allowed to love; but the reason becomes clear after looking at the book of Genesis. In Genesis, after God created the world and all its living beings, he gave a command to humanity saying, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth. This shows God’s direct order to humanity to procreate. Because it is obviously impossible to procreate with a couple of the same sex, same-sex relationships directly goe against God’s command to multiply and that is why marriage is set to be between a man and a woman. If both men and women were able to carry out the reproductive functions of the other sex, it is likely that homoseuxality would be acceptable in the eyes of God.
Now understanding the reason and fact that homosexuality is against God’s teachings, it is paramount for Christians to know how to relate with those who have fallen into this sin. The solution to the question of how a healthy Christian-gay relationship should look is simple: love your neighbor as yourself. Another issue that causes tension between homosexuals and Christians is the fact that a lot of times, Christians neglect the Bible’s teachings about love. The Bible says, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law”. This means that we are ordered to love one another. By saying that he who loves fulfills the law, Paul takes love out of the group of actions which are optional to and makes it compulsory. God is, in a way, proclaiming hatred to be a sin. Considering this, if a person says he hates homosexuals because they are sinning, he would be considered a hypocrite. By hating someone because they are sinning, one would themselves be sinning, going against the principle he upholds.
In addition to being commanded to do so, the Bible gives another reason to love one another saying, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins”. To “cover” a sin means to forgive it. The greatest example of love in the Bible is Jesus Christ dying on the cross. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”. In the Christian faith, Jesus Christ is the son of God and his death is the reason humanity can be forgiven of their sins. It is what saves us from instantaneous damnation. Christ’s death is the ultimate example of sin being “covered” and in 1 Peter 4:8, Peter is saying that showing love to another shows that we are willing to forgive, or “cover”, their sins as we are commanded to in the Bible. The Bible teaches that everybody, but especially Christians, should live on a hate-the-sin-not-the-sinner basis; meaning that they should be absolutely against the act of homosexuality, but love even homosexuals.
As the Bible says, “Hatred stirs up strife”; or, according to the New International Version, “Hatred stirs up conflict.” This verse sums up the current relationship status of the LGBT community and Christians. There have been some followers of Christ who look at gays with hatred and this has brought about conflict. This hatred has proven to be the transgression of many Christians who transition from hating the sin to hating sinners, going against the teachings of the Bible. Homosexuality is indeed a serious sin; however, it should not be treated as one of the absolute worst sins because doing so will cause Christians to look upon gays with the same disgust with which one looks upon murderers and rapists. This is because as all sin, homosexuality is a redeemable sin; meaning that once repentance and confession have been achieved, the perpetrator can be forgiven by God and made right. Instead of housing hatred, Christians should live with love in their hearts for everyone; including gays. Failure to do so is a direct disobedience to God. All in all, although Christians are supposed to hate the sin of homosexuality, the Bible commands us to love one another. However, this rule does not apply solely to Christians but to the human race in general. By showing love to those who we have the urge to hate, we not only foster peace and harmony, but we also destroy the shackles of animosity that stir up strife in the modern world as we know it.
