When More Than Prayer Comes…Out of the Closet

Written by Daniel J. Yearey

This article is courtesy of HomeLife magazine.

The content of the phone call was totally unexpected. The callers were treasured friends. Though their greeting was genuinely pleasant, they obviously were in agony. "Mark just told us he is gay!" they blurted. Their son had just set off a trauma alert.

I was stunned. I had known this boy as my friend. His family was healthy, balanced, and in no way dysfunctional. The son was, by testimony and lifestyle, a Christian. His confession did not make sense to me. But the parents were convinced. They urgently needed to provide a compassionate and intelligent reaction.

We eventually located help in a church that had sensed God's calling to provide redemptive help. Their sense of mission saved my young friend from much pain and heartbreak. The solution was not simple, but something good continues to happen in Mark's life. It took commitment, encouragement, prayer, and relentless family support to reach a redemptive conclusion.

I rejoiced in the solution but remained troubled. I knew I was still incapable of offering the best help if it was requested again. And I feared such a request was inevitable. I determined I would learn so I could minister in love, as I would to any person with any problem. My discoveries still challenge me.

A Biblical Beginning

Sooner or later, the Bible is either proclaimed or defamed on the issue of homosexuality. Viewing persons and the practice of homosexuality from the perspective of biblical revelation is both responsible and redemptive. Biblical principles must take priority over public opinion or practice.

The Bible offers no affirmation of homosexuality. Regardless of societal norms, the idea that homosexuality is normal or acceptable in God's eyes appears nowhere in Scripture. Levitical law specifically teaches that homosexual practice violates the creative purpose of God for both male and female (Leviticus 18:22; 20:23).

The entire canon of Scripture precisely teaches that sexual expression is intended for and restricted to the confines of heterosexual marriage. Jesus never affirmed, permitted, or condoned homosexual expression or practice. He clearly taught that God's intention was heterosexual marriage (Matthew 19:1-9). The apostle Paul emphatically opposed the practice of homosexuality. Romans 1:26-27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 detail condemnation of homosexual expression with the view that such is unnatural.

The Bible strongly condemns homosexuality. Genesis 18 and 19 describe God's disapproval. Leviticus 18:22 uses the word "detestable." Romans 1:21-32 uses unmistakably plain language in solemn warning. First Corinthians 6:9 reiterates that homosexual offenders will not inherit the kingdom of God. The full spectrum of scriptural teaching on the subject is condemnatory.

A Homosexual Challenge to Scripture

The homosexual argument for scriptural justification of their lifestyle rejects the positive biblical view of God's purpose for sexuality. Stanton Jones, writing for Christianity Today ("The Loving Opposition," July 19, 1993), persuasively argues against such homosexual bias in scriptural interpretation. "There are only two ways one can neutralize the Biblical witness against homosexual behavior: by gross misinterpretation or by moving away from a high view of Scripture."

Jones points out that alternative lifestyle advocates argue that Leviticus and Deuteronomy are irrelevant because they do not consider today's homosexual lifestyle as different from those condemned in homosexual pagan temple prostitution. Homosexual advocates say the Bible only rejects the deviant practice of same-sex activity used in cult worship and does not reject or restrict loving, monogamous relationships of homosexual orientation today. They reduce Romans 1 to a condemnation regarding only heterosexual people who engage in homosexual acts. They insist that modern homosexuals are doing what is natural for them and are not violating biblical teaching.

Most interesting is an interpretation of 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10. The homosexual community translates the Greek language as not forbidding homosexuality but only pederasty, the sexual possession of an adolescent boy by an adult male.

None of these arguments can nullify the reality that, without exception, every time homosexual practice is mentioned in Scripture, it is condemned.

I concluded in my personal examination of Scripture that God's plan for human sexuality is a higher standard for everyone. We must not take lightly obedience to His standard for sexuality. God intended sex to be the experience of two heterosexual partners who are committed for life. Anyone, if unmarried, is expected to live a chaste life of obedience to God rather than gratification of self. Such obedience to God's standard is the irreducible minimum in sexual ethics.

The Blame-It-on-God Theory

The most vigorous debate is the one regarding choice and genetics. The homosexual theory of genetic destiny insists that homosexuality is a normal condition. Adherents to this theory conclude that what is normal cannot be immoral. Therefore, they insist, prohibitions against homosexuality make no sense. The Christian viewpoint counters this argument by asking, Because something might be genetic in origin, is it therefore natural? What then must we conclude about genetic deformities and birth defects? Are we to conclude that deformities are normal?"

Whereas many allow that physical imperfections can predispose certain behaviors, it is a precarious reach to argue that a person is predestined to engage in such behavior. Even if conclusive proof is eventually discovered that genetic predisposition toward homosexuality is a fact, such still cannot prove that the act of homosexuality is, in and of itself, normal. Genetic origins do not justify behavior prohibited by God. And that is the crux of the conflict.

Why Homosexuality Is a Bad Choice

Homosexuality denies the sovereignty of God. Genesis 1:27 says God created man in His own image. In God there are no disorders or confusion. He created male and female for distinct purposes. Homosexuality says we can be independent of God's direction and design.

Homosexuality distorts God's purpose for maleness and femaleness. Genesis 2:20-25 describes God's creative choice for man who had no "suitable helper." We must give careful consideration to the creative purpose as well as the creative process.

Homosexuality breaks God's law. Scripture is precisely prohibitive in defying homosexual practices. God views homosexuality as detestable.

With great concern for the struggles of those who have chosen homosexuality, we nevertheless must labor within the boundaries of God's authority alone. God created sex and marriage. Everything God created was good. Humankind, however, perverted God's creation, and a correction was necessary. The correction was supplied through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Hope for the Homosexual

Outside the bonds of heterosexual marriage, the proper use of sexuality is to honor God by obedience. Celibacy is a gift from God, and a chaste life is God's expectation. Only God can provide the spiritual strength for this difficult commitment.

The difficulty for the homosexual is that he or she doesn't always make unfettered choices. Evidence abounds of disorders resulting from dysfunctional family relationships or abuse that can leave a person deeply scarred. Despite the damage, however, inclination or misfortune does not negate the clarity of God's higher moral calling.

Persons who are inclined toward homosexuality, for whatever reason, are not exempt from God's immutable law, which is the standard of holiness. Dependence on God's power and trust in the enabling presence of Christ remain the only possible recourse.

The Bible does not permit anyone to define himself or herself in terms of sexual desires. Our identities are not based on sexual orientation but on the status given us when we were adopted by God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Misplaced identity, based on sexual feelings, is a sub-standard position.

From a biblical viewpoint we must conclude that homosexuality is less than ideal and is the product of the fall of humanity. Jesus Christ defines man and woman, gives them their identity and calls them to a lifetime of change for the better. A significant key to hope for the homosexual is the response of Christians. Repulsive acts must not be permitted to cause us to reject persons. We must minister with grace to all who need love, respect, and forgiveness. We must repent of our arrogance and intolerance and learn to love the sinner convincingly while condemning sin clearly.

A man with an intolerant attitude asked me, "Do you want homosexuals to come to our church?" My answer was an unqualified "Yes." I want adulterers, liars, bigots, gossips, drunks, and drug addicts to come, too. The tension comes when we say, "You are welcome here. We love you, as Christ does, unconditionally. We will not condone some of your choices or permit the normalization of your lifestyle. But we will keep preaching to all the same message of hope: Jesus loves you just as you are, but He loves you too much to leave you that way."

There is hope for all of us in Christ and Christ alone.

Daniel J. Yeary is pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church, Phoenix, Arizona.

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