What the Bible Says About Homosexuality

Please read the following very carefully: "homosexual behavior and religious freedom. These two are incompatible. The goal of the radical homosexual activists is to make sure that no church can say that homosexual behavior is sinful"[1] (emphasis added) "The reality is that radical homosexual activists and their allies are looking for an opportunity to attack and silence any church that takes a biblical stand with regard to homosexual behavior, regardless of denomination."[2] (emphasis added) These are shocking words coming from the president of the Alliance Defense Fund, an organization fighting in partnership with the Family Research Council, on the front lines everyday for our religious freedoms. We must take them very seriously.

The Church: Pillar and Foundation of the Truth

For millions of Christians, the Bible is our authoritative guidebook for life. We take its words as God's truth. We choose to take a biblical stand. So did Jesus. He affirmed the absolute authority of Scripture when He said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. " (Matthew 5:17-18, NIV) Jesus declared in prayer to the Father that "your word is truth." (John 17:17, NIV) He rebuked two disciples for not believing God's Word, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spokenAnd beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." (Luke 24:25, 27, NIV)

The Apostle Paul reminds us that the church of Jesus is to be "the pillar and foundation of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15, NIV). Is your church a pillar and foundation of the truth? Tragically many churches have forsaken the Scriptures as their source of truth and have abandoned the faith by following deceiving spirits (1 Timothy 4:1, NIV). Unbelievably, in 2003, a professor at the Chicago Theological Seminary released a book declaring that Jesus was a homosexual. Churches that have embraced the sin of homosexuality in the name of tolerance and diversity are telling us that David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi and others in the Bible were homosexual. This is very tragic and reveals a deep deception. Please pray for your pastor that he will always follow the wisdom of Psalm 119:30, "I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart upon your laws." (NIV)

The Bible is Clear: Homosexuality is Condemned

An honest reading of Scripture will always lead one to acknowledge that homosexuality is a sin and is condemned by God. Before we look at the primary verses regarding the sin of homosexuality, read this shocking list of some of the words the Bible uses to describe this sin: a "grievous sin" (Genesis 18:20); a "wicked thing" (Genesis 19:7); "detestable" (Leviticus 18:22); one act of homosexuality meant "they must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads" (Leviticus 20:13); homosexuality is caused by "shameful lusts," is "unnatural," an "indecent act," and "perversion" (Romans 1:26-29); those who practice homosexuality will not "inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). How any honest person could say that the Bible affirms or even allows homosexuality is beyond reason. The testimony of the Bible is simply overwhelming. Let's look at the primary Scriptures that condemn homosexuality.

Genesis 18-19: The Depravity and Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

"Then the LORD said, 'The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached meThen the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah - from the LORD out of the heavens." (Genesis 18:20-21; 19:24 NIV)

Those who want us to accept homosexuality know they have to do something with God's Holy Word. They try to revise the long-accepted understanding of the Bible. For example, revisionists (those who want to change the clear teaching of Scripture) tell us that the men of Sodom were guilty of inhospitality or homosexual rape, not simple homosexuality. But Bible scholar Matthew Henry tells us "It was the most unnatural and abominable wickedness that they now set upon, a sin that still bears their name, and is called SodomyIt was a punishment that answered to their sin. Burning lusts against nature were justly punished with this preternatural (beyond what is natural) burning. Those that went after strange flesh were destroyed by strange fire."[3] The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia informs us that Sodom was the "most notorious of the five cities of the valleySodom's sins were manifoldarrogant pride and haughtinessprosperous luxury while ignoring the poor and needyviolated the code of hospitalitySodom's most notorious sin was its engaging in homosexual acts. Jude 7 affirms that Sodom acted immorally and indulged in unnatural lust." [4]

The depravity and destruction of these cities was so momentous that God had numerous writers of Scripture recall this event as a severe warning (see Deuteronomy 29:23; Isaiah 1:9-10; Isaiah 3:9; Jeremiah 49:18; Amos 4:11; Matthew 10:15; Romans 9:29; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7) God's attitude of burning wrath against the perversion of homosexuality is unmistakably clear from this story.

Leviticus 18:22; 20:13: Homosexuality Forbidden and Detestable

"Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestableIf a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13, NIV)

The Hebrew word translated detestable means to be loathed, abhorred, to be vile, repulsive and rejected. God's choice of words could not be clearer. Homosexuality is extremely offensive and repugnant to God, which explains why the severe penalty of death is imposed upon those committing this sin. FRC's Timothy Dailey comments on Leviticus 20:13, "Homosexuality is classed with the most severe moral transgressions, which are considered capital offenses and incur the death penalty."[5] The proponents of homosexuality tell us that we either must apply all of the Old Testament law or we cannot claim that it has any place in our debates today. What they fail to understand is that Jesus did fulfill the ceremonial law (laws regarding the sacrifices and priestly rituals) when He laid down His innocent life upon the cross. He said He came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17). But, according to Dailey again, "By contrast, the New Testament speaks of no corresponding 'fulfillment' or abrogation (setting aside) of the moral law." [6] This means that God's moral law is still in force, that is, homosexuality is as repugnant to God and as under His judgment as it always was. This helps us understand why so many recoil at the thought of our government approving and protecting this sin. Interestingly, homosexuality is still a crime in 70 countries. Also, every major religion, with the possible exception of Buddhism, clearly condemns homosexuality.

Deuteronomy 23:17:Homosexual Temple Prostitution Forbidden

"No Israelite man or woman is to become a shrine prostitute." (Deuteronomy 23:17, NIV)

The Kings James Version translates this verse as "There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel." The Hebrew word translated "prostitute" means one practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals. God's law was clear, as Matthew Henry tells us, "The land of Israel must be no shelter for the unclean; no whore, no Sodomite, must be suffered to live among them." [7] Timothy Dailey informs us that the "qadesh," (the Hebrew for shrine prostitute) were not only male prostitutes who engaged in homosexual acts with the male devotees of the temple, but they may have been transvestites (men who dress as women) as well.[8]

Judges 19:Homosexual Lust Turned On Innocent Girl

"While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, 'Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.' The owner of the house went outside and said to them, 'No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don't do this disgraceful thingBut the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night" (Judges 19:22-23, 25, NIV)

The story of the tragic rape unto death of the Levite's concubine reminds us of the lust-inflamed men of Sodom. In normal relations between a husband and wife, the wife tempers the strong sexual drive of her husband. When men release this drive toward each other, all restraint is lost and sexual lust inflames the passions. A Levite and his concubine (a female servant or mistress) were traveling home and ended up staying with an old man living in Gibeah. As in Sodom, homosexuals surrounded the house and demand sex with the old man's visitor. The result was the rape and death of the Levite's concubine. The words translated "wicked men" in Judges 19:22 are literally "sons of Belial." According to the meaning of the Hebrew, these were worthless men, totally given over to immorality. We read in 2 Corinthians 6:15 that "belial" has become a name for Satan himself. This helps us understand the unreasonable rage and inflamed perversion which so tragically grips those in the homosexual movement. This story teaches us, yet again, the vile and uncontrollable nature of homosexual lust.

Romans 1:24-27:Homosexuality is Degrading, Unnatural Perversion

"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." (Romans 1:24-27, NIV)

According to Dr. Robert Gagnon, this text is "the most substantial and explicit treatment of the issue in the BibleRomans 1:24-27 is also the most difficult text for proponents of homosexual behavior to overturn"[9] The truth is that these powerful words should instill fear into anyone contemplating a homosexual experience or already tragically involved in the lifestyle. The Apostle Paul makes clear that homosexual perversion is evidence that one is already under the judgment of God. In fact, this judgment includes the removal of God-provided restraints to human sexual desires. To persist in sin is to run the risk of being given over to it by God. Dr. Gagnon points out that Paul reveals three "exchanges" and three corresponding "giving-overs" by God, beginning in verse 23. Deceived men and women have exchanged (1) the glory of the immortal God for idols (v. 23), (2) the truth of God for (lit. "the") a lie (v. 25), and (3) natural sexual relations with members of the opposite sex for sexual perversion with members of the same-sex, (v. 26). Corresponding to these tragic decisions, God gives man over to (1) sinful desires for sexual impurity leading to the degrading of their bodies (v. 24), (2) shameful lusts leading to sex acts contrary to nature (v. 26), and (3) to depraved minds to do what ought not to be done (v. 28). Dr. Gagnon gives a very helpful diagram of these "exchanges" and "giving overs:"

Stage 1: God's invisible transcendence and majesty is visibly manifested in creation (1:19-20).

Stage 2: Humans knowingly and thus foolishly "exchange" the true God for idols (1:21-23, recapitulated in 1:25 and 1:28a).

Stage 3: God "gives over" humans to their desires/passions and to an "unfit mind" which aim at self-degrading and self-destructive forms of conduct (1:24, 26, 28).

Stage 4: Many humans then dishonored themselves by "exchanging" natural intercourse for manifestly self-degrading and unnatural intercourse (1:26-27); all engaged in some form of "improper" and evil conduct (1:28-31).

Stage 5: The self-degrading evil behavior to which God "gives-over" humans ends in the ultimate recompense of "death" (1:32).

Dr. Gagnon tells us, "Quite appropriately, an absurd exchange of God for idols leads to an absurd exchange of heterosexual intercourse for homosexual intercourse. A dishonoring of God leads to a mutual dishonoring of selves. A failure to see fit to acknowledge God leads to an unfit mind and debased conduct." [10] The Apostle Paul is crystal clear; same-sex intercourse is sinful, shameful and is itself part of God's sentence of judgment upon the guilty. What about those who want to be Christians and live a homosexual lifestyle? Our next text gives us the answer.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11:Homosexuals Will Not Inherit the Kingdom of God

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters not adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (I Corinthians 6:9-11, NIV)

The Apostle Paul, in his various letters, asks some questions that we might think are quite obvious. For example, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?" Today, people are very reluctant to describe almost anything as "wicked." A pastor who now embraces universalism, the belief that in the end all will be saved and go to heaven, was asked if he thought Adolf Hitler, whose Nazis murdered over 6 million Jews during World War II, would go to heaven. He said yes. Talk to the average man on the street who doesn't attend church, lives completely without regard to God and His Son Jesus, and he will, more than likely, assure you that he will go to heaven. Such is the natural, deceived condition of the human heart until the Holy Spirit convicts one of his sin and need of a Savior. Those who truly come to a saving, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus cannot continue to live in wickedness. Matthew Henry reminds us that "Men are very much inclined to flatter themselves that God is such a one as themselves, and that they may live in sin and yet die in Christ, may lead the life of the devil's children and yet go heaven with the children of God."[11] According to this Scripture, homosexuality falls under the category of wickedness. Those who practice such behavior are deceiving themselves if they believe that a Holy God, who hates their sin and judges them guilty, will one day simply admit them into His kingdom. The Expositor's Bible Commentary tells us regarding professing Christians who think this way, "they are in a dangerous frame of mind - they need to clear their heads and realize that if they act wickedly in this way, they are no better than the wicked idolaters and others who will not inherit heaven."[12] The Corinthians needed to be reminded that God had mercifully redeemed them from their former corruption. God had marvelously washed, justified and sanctified them. These are the absolute requirements for acceptance into God's kingdom. Let's look at some questions many are asking about the Bible and homosexuality.

Important Questions You May Be Asking

1. Why didn't Jesus address the issue of homosexuality?

A favorite tactic of proponents of homosexuality is to hold up the apparent silence of Jesus on the issue as a counterargument to the numerous texts that clearly condemn it. Dr. Gagnon's answer is forceful, "Why, then, did Jesus not make an explicit statement against homosexual conduct? The obvious answer is that Jesus did not encounter any openly homosexual people in his ministry and therefore had no need to call anyone to repentance for homosexual conduct. He also did not address other sexual issues such as incest and bestiality, but that hardly indicates a neutral or positive stance on such mattersJesus, both in what he says and what he fails to say, remains on the side of those who reject homosexual practice."[13] Jesus warned that sexual immorality (the Greek word is plural, porneiai) comes from within and makes people unclean (Mark 7:21, NIV). Dr. Gagnon comments, "No first-century Jew could have spoken of porneiai (plural) without having in mind the list of forbidden sexual offenses in Leviticus 18 and 20 (incest, adultery, same-sex intercourse, bestiality)."[14] Add to this the fact that Jesus affirmed the model for marriage and sexual union given us in Genesis 1-2 (see Matthew 19:3-6). He affirmed the Old Testament (never overturning any prohibitions against immoral sexual behavior in the Law of Moses) and even required more than just external obedience in His teachings, applying God's standards to the heart of man (see Matthew 5:27-30). We should also remember that Jesus gave the Apostle Paul the revelation of the gospel that he preached (Galatians 1:11-12).

2. Since the biblical writers didn't know about "sexual orientation," shouldn't we interpret their writings on the sin of homosexuality as outdated and ignorant?

Those who want to strip away the Bible's clear condemnation of homosexuality like to say that the Bible writers only understood homosexuality as a perversion. They mean that those who are really attracted to the opposite sex and who then engage in homosexuality have perverted themselves. According to the proponents of homosexuality, these are the ones the Bible condemns, not those who are "born homosexual." In their minds, those who have a homosexual orientation are not perverting anything, just acting according to their inclination. But what does the Bible say? First, all of us are born with a sinful nature, inclined to sin. Before long, our selfish natures are clearly manifested for all to see (Romans 3:10-12). Even if one claims to come to the knowledge that they were "always homosexual," the fact remains that God judges all sin as worthy of eternal punishment. Every sinner, all of us, stands condemned before the justice of God, in need of the atoning blood of Jesus. The Bible still condemns homosexuality, regardless of the cause, and clearly states that those who live this lifestyle will not inherit God's kingdom. God holds us accountable, regardless of whether or not we blame Him for "making us that way." Second, once you move beyond the fundamental question of the authority of Scripture and turn to imperfect man for research, you have elevated man's faulty opinion above God's revealed Word. Jesus did not do this and neither should we. Remember, "the findings of the human sciences are sometimes circular, sometimes ambiguous, and often in conflict."[15]

3. Weren't some of the "good" people in the Bible homosexual, like David and Jonathan?

To suggest that David and Jonathan were homosexuals is to pervert the noble ideal of true, biblical friendship. It is very sad to view everything in life through the lens of sexual perversion. Timothy Dailey reminds us, "To attempt to inject a sexual component into Jonathan and David's relationship is morally wrong; the Hebrew texts are absent of any sexual meaning."[16] One should remember the special place the kisses of greeting and parting have in Middle Eastern culture. Neither Ruth and Naomi nor the Roman centurion and his slave are presented as homosexuals. Again, this is simply the perverted attempt by revisionists to rewrite the Bible to support their views. The Bible warns of these times, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4, NIV)

4. Shouldn't Christians love everyone and be tolerant?

Christians should indeed love everyone. We should not, however, be tolerant of anything that God is not tolerant towards. We should never be tolerant of behavior that is condemned in Scripture or that is physically and socially destructive. Christians have the wonderful privilege to live as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse world (Philippians 2:15, NKJ). Listen to these words of Jesus, "Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of foods sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways." (Revelation 3:20-22, NIV) These words were spoken to the church at Thyatira and reveal the intense attitude of Jesus toward the tolerance of sin, in this case, sexual immorality. Our attitude must be like our Lord's.

Conclusion: Do Not Be Deceived

Dear Christian friend, thank you for taking the time to read this simple pamphlet. Please do not be deceived: to embrace homosexual behavior you must reject Biblical truth. Do you really want to go down that path? Over the past several years, homosexual activists have set out to accomplish many evil goals. Among them are the removal of homosexuality from the medical category of a "mental disorder;" promoting the lie that people are born homosexual; adding homosexuality to civil rights and anti-discrimination laws and codes; passing hate crimes laws that provide harsh treatment for those who oppose this perversion; redefining marriage to include all kinds of immoral arrangements; targeting mainline Protestant churches for acceptance by crafting elaborate theologies and new interpretations of the Bible; demonizing all who refuse to accept their agenda, especially Bible believing Christians and pastors.

Please read these statements from men who have studied this issue thoroughly and who bring a strong belief in the authority of Scripture to their writings:

"Scripture clearly, pervasively, strongly, absolutely and counter culturally opposes all homosexual practice." [17] (Dr. Robert Gagnon, New Testament Professor, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary)

"Rather than being a divine "gift" that needs to be celebrated, homosexuality is unambiguously found wanting by Scripture and tradition."[18] (Timothy Dailey, Senior Fellow, Center for Marriage and Family Studies at Family Research Council)

"The bottom line is this: the Bible nowhere affirms, sanctions, endorses or approves of the practice of homosexualityNever does God authorize any practice or act of the gay lifestyle."[19] (Dr. Ronnie W. Floyd, Senior Pastor, First Baptist, Springdale, AK)

For the church to remain silent on this most pressing issue, or worse, to surrender her belief in the authority of Scripture and become an accomplice to a lifestyle which destroys marriage, families, harms children and blinds to the need for salvation through Christ, is simply too fearful to contemplate. Will not the God Who calls us to be witnesses to the truth require an accounting if we suppress the truth by our silence? Yes, we are to love those bound in this lifestyle, but not at the expense of the truth, marriage, family or our religious freedoms. True love does not tolerate that which destroys. Love speaks the truth which can set the captives free. Jesus did and so must we.

Resources for Further Study

Dailey, Timothy J. The Bible, the Church, and Homosexuality. Washington D.C.: Family Research Council, 2004.

Dailey, Timothy J. and Sprigg, Peter, Getting It Straight, What the Research Shows about Homosexuality. Washington D.C.: Family Research Council, 2004.

Dailey, Timothy J. The Other Side of Tolerance: How Homosexual Activism Threatens Liberty. Washington D.C.: Family Research Council, 2006.

Gagnon, Robert A. J. The Bible and Homosexual Practice. Nashville:Abingdon Press, 2001.

Floyd, Ronnie W. The Gay Agenda. Green Forrest, Arkansas:New Leaf Press, 2004.

Sears, Alan and Osten, Craig The Homosexual Agenda, Exposing the Principle Threat to Religious Freedom Today. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 2003.

Sprigg, Peter. Homosexuality in Your Child's School. Washington D.C.:Family Research Council, 2006.