Homosexuality and the Nature of Christianity

Homosexuality and homosexual practice are issues that are often debated in the Christian Church. They are issues that include several areas including, whether homosexuality is a sin, church membership for homosexuals and ordination of homosexual clergy. Homosexual practice is addressed in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament homosexual practice is addressed indirectly twice in Genesis and directly twice in Leviticus. Homosexual practice is addressed three times in the New Testament.

In Genesis there are two notable passages that discuss marriage and God’s instructions to males and females. In Genesis 1:27- 28 it says, "So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." (NRSV)

These two verses show that god instructed his male and female creation to “be fruitful and multiply.” This is support for the promotion of heterosexual marriage, and indirect evidence against homosexual marriages and relationships. God blessed man and women to be “fruitful and multiply,” homosexual relationships cannot fulfill this command from God.

Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.” This verse is further instructions for marriage. It again shows that marriage is in a heterosexual form.

Genesis shows that marriage should be heterosexual form and that males should leave their fathers and cling to their wives becoming one flesh. These verses speak indirectly against the allowing homosexual marriage and unions. They show God’s intentions for a marriage. A packet by Dr. Stephen K. Moroney says, “God intends for sexual unions to take place between a husband and wife who are committed in lifelong covenant to each other.” This sums up the marital intentions that are written in Genesis.

Leviticus speaks directly to homosexual union in two different verses, which are both part of the Holiness Code. Both verses, Leviticus 18:22,20:13 say men who “lie with a male as with a woman” have committed an abomination. Because these verses are part of the holiness code or purity law, the may no longer be necessary in light of Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” This ended the law so to make an accurate judgment to the nature of homosexual practice requires the support of the New Testament.

The New Testament refers to homosexual acts in 3 locations. In 1 Corinthians 6:9 Paul wrote, “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites.” In 1 Timothy 1:10 the author refers to “fornicators, sodomites.” Fornicator is translated from the Greek word pornos and the word sodomite is translated from the Greek word arsenokoites. According to the Strong’s Dictionary Arsenokoites means an “abuser of (that defile) self with mankind.” Pornos is defined as a male prostitute, that is, a debauchee.

These words are the same in 1 Corinthians and 1Timothy, in both incidents they words are contained in lists of evildoers. In the context of 1 Corinthians the list is of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. While 1 Timothy contains a list of people who would be considered “Godless and sinful.” 1 Timothy 1:8 says, “now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately.”

The issue of homosexuality goes beyond moral or immoral; it needs applied to clergy and laity. In the case of laity the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s (ELCA) actions says, "Gay and lesbian people, as individuals created by God, are welcome to participate fully in the life of the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" (ELCA). This statement is supported through theology; if all other people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and so have homosexuals then it follows they too would be able to participate in church life.

It’s a different case for Clergy. Clergy should be upstanding citizens who are not living a life style contrary to God’s Word and the teachings of the Bible. People who are living a lifestyle contrary to what is written in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy about immoral lifestyles should not be ordained as clergy. This goes against the teachings of the Bible and means that the clergy would be living in direct disobedience to God and His will. The relationships are unnatural and unhealthy and should not be set forth as an example to believers as to how to live the Christian life. It would also harm to the churches over all witness. It does not matter if the clergy is a homosexual or engages in homosexual practice, it’s their life style and mind set that makes the practice immoral.

Homosexuality is a sin like every other sin; it should not prevent church membership. It is a sin that is mentioned both in the Old and New Testament. The Old Testament passages are reinforced by the New Testament passages. Homosexuals should be treated like any other person in the church and not banned from any activities, except that of leadership position in the same way other sexual immoral laity are not allowed to participate.

Works Cited

Moroney, Stephen. “Homosexuality and Christianity: Are They Compatible?” Malone College, Ohio. January 28, 2002
Welcoming Gay and Lesbian People 1995. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,