The focus of this article is to believers within the Church on the issue of homosexuality.
All unrepented sin is offensive to God and those who practice a lifestyle of unrepented sin will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21; – (look through this list carefully and we all will see areas we are vulnerable in.) We shouldn’t judge the sin of homosexuality with any greater severity then we do those other sins listed in this passage. We all face temptations and we shouldn’t be any less compassionate to a fellow believer who struggles with the temptation of homosexuality then the temptation of hatred ect… All of us at one time were dead in our sin. Eph 2:1-3; But when we accepted salvation we were freed from the slavery of sin Rom 6:17-18; And we were washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus by the Spirit of God. 1 Cor 6:9-11;
Understanding who we are and where we came from should humble us and give us the right attitude to approach this subject.
What was Gods design for marriage and sexual relationship?
- Purposes
- Marriage & procreation- Gen 1:27-28; Gen 2:21-25; Mt 19:4-6;
- Avoidance of immorality – 1 Cor 7:2,9
- Paul understands the natural sex drive and that is how God created us. Gods only design for fulfillment of that natural sex drive is in a covenant marriage between a man and a woman.
- Commended companionship – Gen 2:18; Pr 5:18; 18:22; Heb 13:4; Eph 5:33;
- Avoidance of immorality – 1 Cor 7:2,9
What does the Bible say about homosexuality?
- As sinful behavior –
- Leviticus 18:22-24 (By this sin nations were defiled.)
- Leviticus 20:13-16
- Romans 1:24-32 notice the phrase “God gave them up” (homosexuality becomes a corporate judgment of God)
- 1 Cor. 6:9-11
- 1 Tim. 1:8-11
- Incidents of homosexuality in Scripture – Gen 19:1-11; Judges 19:20-28;
How should the Church respond to those seeking acceptance of this behavior within the Church?
- Paul’s approach to unrepented sexual sin within the Church (not the world)- 1 Cor 5:1-13;
- Paul says to “hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord 1 Cor 5:5 (ISV) We as the church shouldn’t allow professing Christians involved in sexual immortality (including homosexuality) to continue fellowship without discipline and if need be as Paul says “Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person.” 1 Cor 5:13 (NKJV) Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 1 Cor 5:6 (NKJV) If the professing believer is unwilling to repent from sexual immorality (including homosexuality) the church is not to accept that individual into fellowship of the church. I wrote to you in my letter to stop associating with people who are sexually immoral— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or greedy people, robbers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
11 But now I am writing to you to stop associating with any so-called brother if he is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunk, or a robber. With such a person you must even stop eating. 1 Cor 5:9-11 (ISV) The object of church discipline is to not allow those involved in homosexuality or any other unrepented sinful lifestyle (as listed in verse 11) to comfortable in their sin. But after repentance to restore those individuals to fellowship with Christ. so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord 1 Cor 5:5 (ISV) The focus of church discipline should always be restoration after repentance. - Those outside of the Church (of the world, unbelievers) it is not a homosexual issue, but salvation issue. These individuals need to hear that Jesus loves them and wants to save them from all their sins not just the sin of homosexuality. Their salvation should be the focus not the sin of homosexuality.
- Paul says to “hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord 1 Cor 5:5 (ISV) We as the church shouldn’t allow professing Christians involved in sexual immortality (including homosexuality) to continue fellowship without discipline and if need be as Paul says “Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person.” 1 Cor 5:13 (NKJV) Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 1 Cor 5:6 (NKJV) If the professing believer is unwilling to repent from sexual immorality (including homosexuality) the church is not to accept that individual into fellowship of the church. I wrote to you in my letter to stop associating with people who are sexually immoral— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or greedy people, robbers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
- Our attitude in addressing homosexuality within the Church – Gal 6:1-4
- Or responsibility before God to stand for Scriptural truth – Ezek 3:18-21;
The focus should always be restoration not condemnation!
- Forgiveness for the sinner – 2 Cor 2:5-11; Mt 6:14-15;
Most all sinful behavior is a quest to find fulfill for the void in our lives. John 4:1-26 As did the woman at the well where Jesus pointed out what she was searching for could not be found in mutable marriages or relationships but only in a relationship with living Christ. We to can generally trace our sinful behavior back to the search for fulfillment. Many times the struggles of any sexual perversion is rooted in abusive childhood experiences that they had no control over. With this understanding it should give us compassion to approach those we are seeking to restore to a loving relationship with Christ. Its not about us being right and they being wrong. Its about sharing the love and fulfillment that can only be found in a personal relationship with Christ.
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