Westhill Episcopal Church

Sunday 24 May 1998

Homosexuality

Readings

Leviticus 18: 6 ... 20-23, 24, 29; 20:10-16; 1 Cor 6:9-11; Rom 1:18-2:1; Rev 22:12-15.

Introduction

A homosexually-oriented person is one whose sexual inclination is towards those of the same sex. Homosexual practice or behaviour is an act of sexual intimacy between two people of the same sex. The term ‘gay’ is used inconsistently to describe either of these two categories. Surveys in the last decade indicate that between 2% and 6% of males in UK and USA have had some homosexual experience, the percentages for women being lower [Nicky Gumbel, Searching Issues, Kingsway (1994)]. So in a church of 100 people we would expect there to be a handful of folk who are homosexually oriented, although in practice many are put off attending church. Why is this? Well, although the Scripture links closely the forbidding of homosexual practice with adultery with a neighbour and with greed, many Christians are more tolerant of those inclined to the latter than the former.

What does the Bible say?

1.        Homosexual practice is a sin in the same way that incest or adultery is sin.

2.        Homosexual orientation is no more condemned than is heterosexual orientation.

3.        There are incidents of attempted homosexual practice receiving judgement in the Old Testament (Sodom, Gen 19:5, and Gibeah, Judges 19:22). These were attempted gang rapes on strangers, so it is not easy to use them as guidelines for voluntary homosexual practice. However, Jude tells us that this depth of depravity came about because they “gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion” (Jude:7).

4.        Increasing ungodliness in society will result in increasing homosexual behaviour, just as it will result in increasing gossip, slander, arrogance and disobedience to parents. (Rom 1).

5.        The Church will find those in her midst who “change the grace of God into a licence for immorality” (Jude:4) and who “divide you, who follow natural instincts and do not have the Spirit” (Jude:19).

6.        God loves practising homosexuals, just as He loves all of us who sin in other ways, and seeks to save them. How would Jesus have responded to the woman taken in adultery, or to Zacchaeus, if their sin had been homosexual practice rather than adultery, greed and fraud?

7.        Christians are forbidden to point the finger of judgement (Rom 2:1).

8.        Christians are called to show mercy and rescue the lost (Jude: 20-23).

Is Homosexual orientation a perversion?

1.        The fall has distorted all creation (Rom 8:20-22).

2.        Heterosexual relations and work have been affected (Gen 3:16,17).

3.        All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). For one this reveals itself in temptation to arrogance and pride; for another temptation to promiscuity; for another temptation to homosexual acts.

4.        All are justified freely by God’s grace through Jesus (Rom 3:24).

How should the homosexually-oriented respond?

1.        Remember the gospel applies to the homosexually-oriented in the same way as to the heterosexually-oriented.

2.        Repent of sexual relationships outside of God’s ordination of (heterosexual) marriage.

3.        Receive forgiveness through the blood Christ.

4.        Renew yourself in the Holy Spirit.

5.        Rest in God’s grace (2 Cor 12:8,9). If the Lord does not take you out of temptation’s way, then He will provide the grace to resist temptation and to glorify Him in your life.

How should other Christians respond?

1.        Do not judge or condemn others.

2.        Be unequivocal that sexual immorality of every form is a sin displeasing to God and destructive of society.

3.        Reach out to the homosexually-oriented and to practicing homosexuals with the love and grace of God.

4.        Support and encourage those who are weak, showing God’s love and mercy at all times.

5.        Demonstrate true fellowship in Christ, a family relationship in which His love binds us together, provides acceptance and fulfillment, dispels “aloneness”, and supplies lasting, deep, pure relationships brother to sister, sister to sister and brother to brother.