HOMOSEXUALITY, THE BIBLE, AND COMMON SENSE
For the last few years, we have heard a lot about the rapidly evolving acronym LGBTQ that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, plus, plus, plus. It seems that this acronym is being imposed upon us to replace the many thousand-year-old societal and biblical practice of marriage between husband and wife (male and female). It is time we hit the brakes and try to examine what this new morality is all about.
BIBLICAL SEX IS BEAUTIFUL
Let us begin by saying that sex may be the most beautiful, powerful, and satisfying drive in all human nature. When properly understood and used, it is one of the greatest blessings in life. Conversely, the sexual drive misunderstood and misused can be a powerfully destructive force. We hear more and more instances of child sexual abuse, rape, rape/murder and other horrible acts. No doubt many of these minds were warped by the pornography, lewdness and sexual abuse that is already so evident in our society.
Sex when used properly in the marriage relationship can be a mainstay in our world. Clearly, sex is about procreation. To this great responsibility, God has added great pleasure as his blessed divine gift for husband and wife.
It is a modern myth of our “it’s all about me” society that sex only concerns our selfish satisfaction. However, we cannot help but note how it takes a lot of ingenuity to avoid procreation. The Lord designed it that way.
GOD’S PLAN REGARDING SEX
Let us take a look at God’s original plan regarding sex. The Lord created human beings male and female (Genesis 1:27). Thus, there are only two sexes and not the 21 as was recently announced by National Geographic or the 50 as announced by Facebook.1 God made man and woman to be joined together in marriage and to become unified in that relationship. I like what Focus on the Family writes about this: “When God said that it ‘is not good that the man be alone’ (Genesis 2:18) he wasn’t lamenting that Adam didn’t have a buddy or was just lonely. He was saying that the male could not really know himself as male without a human ‘other’ who equally shared his humanity but was meaningfully distinct right down to every bit of her DNA.” 2
His original intention was that the two would become one in flesh particularly through the sex act. With this plan the Lord desired to continuously populate the earth (Gen. 1:28). He desired that children have a mother and father as well as a secure and loving home.
What does the Bible say about sex and its use, and what does it say about homosexuality, which is the rage today? In the Old Testament we read: “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable. Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion” (Lev. 18:22-23 NIV). This last verse deals with bestiality which is coming on the horizon today. In the Bible the death sentence was prescribed for homosexual offenses (Lev. 20:13).
Even our New Testament forbids homosexual and other related behavior. Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10 NIV). In 1 Timothy 1:10, Paul lists homosexuality as contrary to good doctrine. It is in Romans 1:24-28, where Paul soundly condemns homosexuality. This passage is crystal clear, and we need to stop and read it carefully:
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 about 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 sexual 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 shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
In this passage, we see that the New Testament particularly condemns homosexuality and lesbianism. However, such talk as this today in our liberal society could probably get Paul fined or maybe even thrown into jail if he were here. We are worshipping idols once more as they did, and God is about to give us over to our lusts.
MODERN AND POSTMODERN INTERPRETATION OR MISINTERPRETATION
Of course, our neopagan society happily accepts homosexuality. According to Pew Research, 72 percent of the US population accepts it. In Canada, the figure is 85 percent. The figures are much lower on the other side of the globe, like 37 percent in India, 14 percent in Russia, 9 percent in Tunisia and 7 percent in Nigeria.3
In modern and postmodern times God’s plan has been grossly reinterpreted, or rather misinterpreted, even by the church. All we have to do is click on to the Internet under homosexuality or LGBTQ and Christianity to see the preponderance of so-called Christian websites that try their best to support homosexuality.
William Lane Craig in his excellent article writes: “This shift is occurring not only in liberal churches. Evangelicals Concerned is a group of people who are to all appearances born-again, Bible-believing Christians, but also practicing homosexuals. They claim that the Bible doesn’t forbid homosexual activity or that its commands aren’t valid for today but were just a reflection of the culture in which the Bible was written. These persons can be orthodox about Jesus and every other area of Christian teaching but they think that it’s biblically permissible to be a practicing homosexual.” 4 We might be shocked that even the Pope of the worldwide Catholic Church is now pushing for the official blessing of homosexual couples.
For many, at least in our Western world, God has been taken totally out of the formula. Atheism and humanism have neatly replaced God and the Bible for multiplied millions. These folks following the philosophers of the Enlightenment and of our present day feel that all truth is relative. With this thinking, each person can have his or her own “truth.” One society can interpret things one way, and another can interpret them another way and they are both right.
Craig comments on this: “Relativism has won the day as our society rapidly moves away from God and the Bible…If God does not exist, anything goes, including discrimination and persecution of homosexuals. But it doesn’t stop there: murder, rape, torture, child abuse—none of these things would be wrong, because without God objective right and wrong do not exist. Everything is permitted.” 5
Craig continues, “God’s plan for human sexual activity is that it is reserved for heterosexual marriage: any sexual activity outside of the security of the marriage bond—whether pre-marital sex or extra-marital sex, whether heterosexual or homosexual—is forbidden. Sex is designed by God for marriage.” 6
THE WRECKAGE OF UNREGULATED SEX
Let us consider the wreckage of selfish sex or sex without God and his guidelines. The risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has increased in the homosexual community. “In spite of the slowdown over Covid, several STDs still increased dramatically. Gonorrhea from 616,392 cases in 2019, to 710,151 cases in 2021. Syphilis from 129,818 in 2019 to 176,713 in 2021. Congenital Syphilis [present in newborns] rose from 1,875 in 2019 to 2,855 in 2021.” 7 Based on Center for Disease Control (CDC) information Craig has reported that 90 percent of all syphilis cases were men, with 68 percent being men who had sex with men. Amazingly 45 percent of these men were HIV positive.8
Craig goes on to say: “Our bodies, male and female, are designed for sexual intercourse in a way that two male bodies are not. The anal sphincter can be torn and permanently damaged by trauma leading to chronic incontinence, especially evident when suffering from diarrhea. The lining of the rectum is very thin and vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections. The human papillomavirus (HPV) increases the risk of anal cancer and is the cause of nearly all cervical cancer. Other risk factors for this include having many sexual partners. Every year in the USA, more than 33,000 men and women are diagnosed with cancers caused by HPV, and in recent years there has been a steep rise in the incidence of colorectal cancer in young adults.” 9 According to the CDC, “Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are 17 times more likely to get anal cancer than heterosexual men. Men who are HIV-positive are even more likely than those who do not have HIV to get anal cancer.” 10
Raul Romaguera, DMD, MPH, acting national director for CDC’s Division of STD Prevention sighs: “Less than 20 years ago, gonorrhea rates in the U.S. were at historic lows, syphilis was close to elimination, and advances in chlamydia diagnostics made it easier to detect infections…That progress has since unraveled, and our STD defenses are down. We must prioritize and focus our efforts to regain this lost ground and control the spread of STDs.” 11
We will consider just one other area where homosexuality is bringing wreckage and that is depression and resulting suicide. “The prevalence of depression among gay men is three times higher than the general adult population. Because depression is a known risk factor for suicide, gay men are also at high risk for suicidality.” 12 The Government Census of 2022 notes that “mental health struggles are higher among LGBT adults than non-LGBT adults in every age group.” 13 Back in 2021, Dan Avery of the New York Times reported that almost a third of young gay people have attempted suicide.14
Despite all the problems of our fallen world, with things like war, disease, plague and many other adversities, the human family has continued to increase worldwide. It seems like marriage and family are common graces distributed by God. They are also common-sense things.
We should consider the knowledge and glory of the creation around us. The birds, animals, fish and all other creatures are living exactly as their Father told them to live. It would be a crazy world if the momma duck was trying to be a daddy duck, or the papa platypus was trying to be a momma one. There is such beautiful harmony and obedience in all the created order until we come to humankind. With humans, the divine pattern breaks down since we are determined to do things our own way. People are intent to get things out of life that God never put into it.
The ancient Bible writer Job advises: “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.” (12:7-8).
When we carefully observe the natural world, we will see that all of nature, all living things, from the smallest cell to the largest whale are super busy regarding procreation. We may think the birds are singing to make music, but they are probably singing to attract a mate. Birds work feverishly to build their nests, to lay their eggs, to feed their young. We would certainly not see birds kicking the eggs or little ones out of the nest so they could continue their selfish sexual pleasure. How dumb we are when compared to nature.
WHAT IS THE REAL PURPOSE OF LGBTQ?
Is LGBTQ crying out for individual rights and liberties today? No, it is not crying out for liberty but for control. It has now already gained much of that control through the US legal system. Unfortunately, in the end, it becomes satanic control of society. There are two biblical episodes that illustrate this quite well. The first is that of Sodom mentioned in Genesis chapters 18 and 19. This ancient city, along with the city of Gomorrah, had become so vile with the sin of homosexuality that it was not safe to live in them or even to travel through them.
The Lord sent two angels to visit Sodom, and righteous Lot invited them into his house. However, after dinner, the men of the city assaulted the house demanding that Lot turn over the angels so they could have illicit sexual pleasure with them. Lot refused their request and with this, the whole episode became violent as the men tried to break down the door. The angels struck these men with blindness, yet they still vainly tried to enter the house.
With this, the angels began to rescue Lot and his family from the city since God had determined to destroy it with fire and brimstone. Lot and his family were hurried out of town but on the way Lot’s wife looked back at dear old Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt. Lot and his two daughters made their escape just as the fire was falling on these wicked cities.
The second biblical account is quite lengthy and is found in Judges chapters 19-21. This account almost resulted in the complete destruction of the important Israelite tribe of Benjamin.
The account concerned a Levite from Ephraim who took a concubine from Bethlehem. The concubine was unfaithful and returned to her father’s house. In time, the Levite made a trip to bring her back home. On the return with his concubine, he spent the night at Gibeah of Benjamin. His visit was interrupted by many men of the city who pounded on the door and demanded to have sex with him. In the end, they took his concubine and abused her all night until she died.
After this dreadful experience, the Levite took his dead concubine home, cut her body into pieces, and sent them to the twelve tribes of Israel. When Israel learned of this awful episode, the other tribes declared war on unrepentant Benjamin. When the war was over most of the men of Benjamin were dead.
We see in these stories how homosexuality may appear peaceful but can turn violent when it is refused. It not only insists on its “rights” but insists that others become a part of its activity. If refused it can become violent. Today homosexuality shakes its fists at all who oppose it and it even shakes its fist at God. It has rebelliously taken the biblical symbol of the rainbow and waved it in Christian faces. This symbol was given by God as a sign that he would never destroy the earth by water again. What a travesty!
It is obvious in these stories that homosexuality is a threat to human life and to continued society on earth. If everyone became homosexual, humanity would soon die out. God went to the great extremes of destroying Sodom and Gomorrah along with much of the important tribe of Benjamin in order to quell this evil and leave us an example.
BETTER UNDERSTANDING HOMOSEXUALITY
To be human is to have problems with sex. As long as Satan is running loose there will be all kinds of sexual temptations. Some of these temptations are much increased because of past sexual abuse and bad experiences, childhood or otherwise. Internet pornography also certainly increases these temptations. However, we need to distinguish the temptation or desire from the act of homosexuality. Everyone probably has some type of homosexual temptation at times. We read that Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are, but he did not yield to temptation (Heb. 4:15). This tells us that Jesus even had homosexual temptations, but he was not a homosexual. He never yielded to the temptation.
As Christians, we should be hesitant to apply the world’s descriptions and labels to our lives. We cannot label ourselves as homosexual just because we have homosexual temptations or feelings. “To identify people by their sexuality is to reduce people to their sexuality. Every individual is so much more.” 15 With the help of Christ, we can overcome these temptations like all other suggestions from the devil. The only labels we should take are those given by God, like – man, woman, boy, girl, child of God, overcomer, saint, beloved, redeemed, or saved.
The evolving acronym of LGBTQIA presently stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and asexual. We can be sure that many more letters will be added. For instance, bestiality or zoophilia (sex with animals) is coming on strong as we have mentioned. Even child sexual abuse or pedophilia may soon be included in the acronym. As Christians, we must not apply any of these descriptions to our lives. If we have committed sex sins, we need to remember 1 John 1:9 which says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Homosexuality in all its forms is a vicious attack on the Word of God, the Bible. Surely it is time to change the acronym to agree with Romans 3:4, “…Let God be true, and every human being a liar…” LGBTQ should mean Let God Be True and Quit believing all the lies and nonsense offered by this present evil age.
Let us get back to the Bible and the plain old common sense that God has given each of us. Let us just do things God’s way, like every bug, bird and beast happily does. We will then see and enjoy our children and likely our children’s children. We will also save both ourselves and all of them from a great deal of turmoil, both natural and spiritual.
-Jim Gerrish
Published, 2023
1 Nancy R. Pearcey, Love Thy Body, Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2018), p. 203.
Nancy Pearcey is a popular Christian author and professor of apologetics.
2 Focus on the Family, https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/10-things-everyone-should-know-about-a-christian-view-of-homosexuality/,
3 Pew Research, https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2020/06/25/global-divide-on-homosexuality-persists/
4 William Lane Craig, A Christian Perspective on Homosexuality, https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/popular-writings/practical-issues/a-christian-perspective-on-homosexuality
Dr. William Lane Craig is a leading American analytical philosopher and Christian apologist.
5 Craig, A Christian Perspective.
6 Craig, A Christian Perspective.
7 Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2021/default.htm
8 Craig, A Christian Perspective
9 Craig, A Christian Perspective
10 CDC, (https://www.cdc.gov/msmhealth/STD.htm) See Sexually transmitted diseases.
11 CDC Newsroom,(https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/2021/2019-std-surveillance-report-press-release.html)
12 National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5675322/#:~:text=Gay%20men%20are%20a%20subgroup,at%20high%20risk%20for%20suicidality.
13 Government Census, https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/12/lgbt-adults-report-anxiety-depression-at-all-ages.html
14 NBC News, (https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-health-and-wellness/nearly-third-gay-youths-attempted-suicide-study-finds-rcna724)
15 Focus on the Family.