Thursday, June 2, 2011

Is it Biblical: Is homosexuality a sin? -Blogos

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

The Christian Issues Network

Biblical Q&A; Scriptural Q&A; Theology Q&A; Proverbial; What Do You Believe?

"IS IT BIBLICAL"

Is homosexuality a sin?

As we continue looking at the top 20 most frequently asked questions on GotQuestions.org, #2 is another one that I wish I could avoid. There is probably no other topic that produces such angry and hateful replies as homosexuality. Saying that homosexuality is a sin is probably the ultimate taboo in current society, at least in Europe and the USA.

The question of whether homosexuality is a sin has become the “third rail,” if you touch it, you will be electrocuted! Those who are promoting the homosexual agenda purposefully attack with over-the-top outrage and vitriol in order to frighten and discourage Christians from speaking out on the issue. If you believe homosexuality is a sin, you hate homosexuals. If you believe what the Bible says about homosexuality, you are a hateful, homophobic bigot. The gay rights movement has gone far beyond fighting for equal rights. They are now, in fact, fighting to take away the free speech rights of those with whom they disagree. How long before it becomes illegal to say that homosexuality is a sin? How long before the search engines begin banning any sites that state homosexuality is a sin?

The Bible absolutely condemns homosexuality as an immoral and unnatural sin (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Homosexuality is a result of the Fall. The Fall has infected the entire human race with sin, and sin warps, twists, and distorts what God created us to be. Homosexuality is clearly a perversion of the created order. Obviously, men and women were designed to “fit” together sexually. One does not have to believe what the Bible teaches in order to recognize that homosexuality is not the way things are supposed to be. The obviousness of the sinful nature of homosexuality is likely the reason why the gay rights movement responds which such hate towards anyone who dares to question the rightness or normalness of the lifestyle. If it was not so obviously unnatural, if it was so clearly normal, there would be no need for the gay rights movement to be so vitriolic.

Sadly, some Christians (and/or some who claim to be Christians), take the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality and apply/proclaim it in hateful ways. Groups like Westboro Baptist Church make it very difficult for the true Christian message to be heard and understood. What is the true biblical message? Yes, homosexuality is a sin, but no, homosexuality is not worse than any other sin. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God can and will forgive the sin of homosexuality, just as He will forgive any other sin. Once a person has received forgiveness and salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, God can and will help a person to overcome the sin of homosexuality. There are thousands of examples of homosexuals find victory over and freedom from the sin of homosexuality (for examples, see Exodus International).

Probably the most difficult homosexuality-related question is: if a homosexual receives Jesus Christ as Savior, will he/she be instantly and permanently healed of all homosexual desires? Sometimes the answer is a resounding yes. Other times, homosexual impulses are a lifelong struggle. God does not deliver us from our sinful nature until we leave this world and join Him in heaven. ALL Christians struggle with sin. To say that a Christian can struggle with other sins, but not the sin of homosexuality, is unbiblical. The key word, though, is “struggle.” The Christian life is a struggle against sin, not a life of bondage to sin. Is it possible for a true Christian to give in to homosexual temptations? Yes, it is, just as it is possible for a true Christian to give in to heterosexual temptations.

Again, the biblical message is: (1) homosexuality is a sin, (2) but homosexuality is no greater sin than any other sin, and (3) God’s forgiveness, salvation, and ultimately deliverance is just as available to the homosexual as it is to everyone else. May we all remember the words of Ephesians 4:15, “…speaking the truth in love…”

Related GotQuestions.org article: homosexuality sin