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Can A Homosexual Be a Faithful Christian?
Homosexuality is as old as the Old Testament. So many groups have been so successful in their efforts to normalize such relationships, even many denominations tolerate homosexuality among their members today. As Christians, we need to be careful to shine God’s light in a way that is both honest, but also done in humility and love, remembering that God’s desire is for all people to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. So can a homosexual be a faithful Christian? Here are a few things to consider.
Every Person is Wonderfully Made (Psalm 135:13-15). This includes everyone. God’s love is not reserved just for the people you like and agree with (John 3:16). II Corinthians 5:15 tells us Jesus “died for all.” While every person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), every individual deals with various temptations.
Every Temptation is Potential for Sin. An important distinction needs to be made between temptation and sin. Temptation itself is not a sin (James 1:12-15). Temptations come from our desires. Satan likes to put our desires on the end of a hook and encourage us to take the bait. However, you are not sinning when you recognize the bait and resist. You sin when you take the bait! Thankfully, God promises to help us overcome our temptations (I Corinthians 10:13).
Think about the temptation associated with physical attraction. As the book of Song of Solomon attests, there is a time and a place for physical attraction. At the same time, physical attraction is a dangerous temptation that can easily lead to sin (Proverbs 6:25-29). While attraction is a natural thing, different people have different opinions regarding what and who they find attractive.Regardless of who you may find attractive, your attraction to a person is not permission from God for you to have a romantic relationship with that person! Attraction becomes sin when our desires lead us lust (Matthew 5:28) and/or when we engage in any act of fornication outside of marriage (Hebrews 13:4).
Every Sin Requires Repentance (I Corinthians 6:9-11). Homosexuality is included amongst the list of various sins in I Corinthians 6:9-10 that will keep people out of the kingdom of God. It appears that Christians in Corinth struggled with homosexuality. And yet, they repented (I Corinthians 6:11; II Corinthians 7:9-11). Whenever we find ourselves guilty of sin, the solution is always to repent. Some make the claim they were “born this way.” First of all, young children do not desire a romantic relationship with someone in response to a physical attraction. Secondly, you can just as easily claim to be born an angry, impatient, and rude person. Nevertheless, your temptation to act out of anger does not give you a right to sin (Ephesians 4:26). No matter what desires you have, desire does not equal justification.
Every Christian Faces Temptation. Temptation is part of the human experience. Some sinful behaviors and activities bring pleasure (Hebrews 11:24-25), that is what makes sin tempting! Do we look down on each other because we are tempted to sin? Even Jesus was tempted to sin (Hebrews 4:15), does that make you think less of Him? Hopefully not. Thankfully, not only did Jesus overcome every temptation, he offers His personal assistance to anyone of us trying to overcome our temptations.
I Timothy 2:3-4 tells us “God …desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” While no Christian can continually engage in unrepentant sin and be found faithful, no Christian is without temptation. While one’s sins are washed away in baptism, temptations do not go away after a person is baptized into Christ. As fellow children of God, we must be careful not to categorize sins in ways the Scriptures do not. More than that, we need to be ready to help bear the burdens of any brother caught up in sin, or struggling with the temptation to sin (Galatians 6:1-2).
