IS HOMOSEXUALITY OKAY, AFTER ALL? 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 We are in the second week of a three-week series concerning Christian sexual ethics. I invite you to open your Bible to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Last week we considered the marriage bed the truth that God created marriage for a man and a woman and gave sex as a gift to the marriage. Sex is a wonderful gift when practiced within God s boundaries; sex is dangerous and sinful when God s boundaries are ignored. We looked at some of the ways we sin against the marriage bed: the race to divorce court, living together before marriage, pornography, and adultery. So if you assumed that the only serious sexual sins are same-sex sins, you are sadly mistaken. There s plenty of heterosexual sin to go around. And it s safe to say that across the years, heterosexual sin has done more damage to families and children and culture than homosexual sin. So we heterosexuals need to humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways before we get too up-in-arms about homosexual sin. That said, this week we re considering homosexual sin. 1 And if we ve taken stock of our own bent toward sin perhaps we ll be more compassionate as we consider this. And yes, the Bible does call homosexual behavior sin. But the Bible is not fixated on homosexuality. The Bible is about larger things than that. And what the Bible says about homosexuality does not represent everything God wants to say to homosexual people. God has a message for every one of us in our brokenness whether that shows up in same-sex attraction or lust for the opposite sex or greed or arrogance or drunkenness or whatever. And that message is the gospel: you are more sinful than you ever dared believe; you are more loved than you ever dared hope; and Jesus is the way to forgiveness and life and the joy of becoming a new creation in Him. But before we are made new in Christ, we are broken in many ways. Some I saw an article this week that suggests as many as 5% of the population are broken by same-sex attraction. The Bible does not condemn someone who feels same-sex attraction any more than it condemns a heterosexual for feeling opposite-sex attraction. It s not what we feel so much as what we do with what we feel that moves us into the realm of sin. Do we let a simple attraction turn to lust? We sin whether hetero- or homosexual. And 1A helpful reference for much of this sermon is Sam Allbery, Is God anti-gay? (UK: The Good Book Co., 2013), 20-23.
beyond lust, when heterosexuals practice sex outside of marriage they sin, and when homosexuals practice sex with one another, they sin. I realize this is countercultural and unpopular to say such a thing. Some would say that by simply making the statement that homosexual sex is sin, I have engaged in a form of hate-speech. Yet no one would accuse me of hate speech by declaring that pre-marital sex or adultery is sin. I might be called out of touch or old-fashioned but not a hater. This is where politics get all mixed up in the matter. But as followers of Jesus, our concern can never be political correctness. Kindness yes. Understanding yes. Love yes. But political correctness no. Our concern must be biblical correctness. What does the Bible say? And the Bible declares without equivocation that homosexual sex is sin. It does so with the same clarity as it declares adultery a sin. Hear the word of the Lord (read the text). I If this were the only place in the Bible that condemned homosexual behavior as sin, that would be enough. But it s not. Here s a quick survey of other texts in both Old Testament and New. In Genesis 19 we read the story of Sodom in which the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man wanted to have sex with the male angelic visitors that had come to warn Lot and his family to leave Sodom before God destroyed the city for its sin. Scripture-twisters want to suggest that Sodom was guilty of being inhospitable. They ignore the sexual dimensions of Sodom s guilt. That viewpoint is an insult to basic hermeneutics and to the history of biblical interpretation across the ages. Was homosexual sin the only problem in Sodom? No. Ezekiel 16:49 cites a list of other sins. But in Jude v. 7, in the New Testament, Jude writes, In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. And 2 Peter 2:6-7 point to Sodom s sexual sins as well. And then we read the prohibitions in the Law in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. These laws, set in the context of other sexual sins, declare that a man
lying with a man as with a woman is an abomination worthy of death. This is not about gay rape as Scripture-twisters want it to say; it condemns even general, consensual homosexual sex. That s all the Old Testament has to say about it. There s not a lot the Bible is concerned about far more matters than homosexual behavior. It s not a lot, but it s enough and it s clear. The New Testament also speaks to the matter. In Romans 1 Paul writes about how one manifestation of the God s judgment is God giving people over to a depraved mind, letting them chase whatever their sinful heart s desire, and letting them reap the consequences. Paul lists several examples of this: people exchange the glory of God for the images of creatures (v. 23) people exchange the truth of God for a lie, leading to full-blown idolatry and the worship of created-things (v. 25) and people reject the knowledge of God (v. 28), exchanging natural relations for unnatural ones. Paul s example here is homosexual behavior. In vv. 26-27, Paul writes: Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way 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. Scripture-twisters are quick to suggest that Paul is writing here about heterosexuals who engage in homosexual activities because that wouldn t be natural to them. Homosexual relations are natural to the homosexual, they suggest, so the Bible is not condemning their behavior. And again, that interpretation is eisogesis (reading into the text) not exegesis (reading out of the text). And it is contrary to centuries of biblical interpretation in the church. Has the church been wrong on this issue for 2000 years and only in our enlightened day we are finally discovering the truth? No. Homosexual behavior is unnatural sex compared to the way God created man and woman. Paul identifies homosexual behavior as sin. And this isn t the only place Paul deals with the matter. He also addresses it in 1 Timothy 1:9-10.
And he addresses it in the text that is before us today. Paul lists a number of sins in this text: sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, thievery, greed, drunkenness, reviling, swindling, and the practice of homosexuality. In the Greek text Paul uses both New Testament words for homosexuality. Some translations render both words separately, but the ESV gathers up both words in the phrase men who practice homosexuality. The two Greek words are µαλακοί which means soft or effeminate, representing in that culture the passive partner in homosexual behavior; and αρσενοκοϊται a compound word meaning male and coitus (literally, bed). These are the same two Greek words used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament for the Leviticus texts we mentioned a moment ago. And Paul uses these words in a list of other sins. Whether a person is the aggressor or the passive partner, whether one plays the role of female and the other the male, the activity is sin. Obviously, the victim of a homosexual rape has not sinned, but Paul is not talking about rape here. He s talking about general homosexual behavior. What is not clear about these texts? The texts are very clear, and they are clear on their face. An interpreter doesn t have to do aggressive word studies or deep textual analysis to ferret out the meaning. It s clear. Not so fast! say some. That s just Paul and the Old Testament. Jesus didn t say anything about homosexuality, so it s obviously no big deal to Jesus. Well, Jesus didn t say anything about homosexuality directly, but He did include sexual immorality in a list of evils in Mark 7:20-23, along with theft, murder, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. Jesus said these kinds of evils come from inside a person and defile that person. Sexual immorality the Greek πόρνοι is the catch-all word for all sexual sin. It s reasonable to assume Jesus includes homosexual sin under that big umbrella. It s safe to say His hearers would have assumed so. It s also important to understand that Jesus ministry was in a more Jewish context. Homosexual behavior was already understood as a sin and so far as we know, not widely practiced. Paul, on the other hand, did his work in a pagan, Gentile context where homosexual activity was both common and generally accepted. Gentile Christians needed to know the truth. Also, Jesus said He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Mt. 5:17). During His ministry, Jesus declared that food laws and many of the ritual, ceremonial, and sacrificial laws were fulfilled in Him in His death and resurrection. That s why we don t see those laws required of Christians in the New Testament. But the Old Testament moral laws, including sexual ethics,
show up in the New Testament which can only mean that those laws and ethics still apply to Christians. In the space of a sermon, we can t deal in great depth with everything the Bible has to say about homosexual behavior, but we can certainly see in this brief survey of relevant texts that the Bible is clear on the matter. Like other sins Paul lists in our text: sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, thievery, greed, drunkenness, reviling and swindling, homosexual behavior is a sin against God and self and others. And as we read at the end of v. 10, those who do not repent of such sins will not inherit the kingdom of God. This sin, like all sin, is serious business: heaven and hell are at stake. II So what are those of us who don t struggle with same-sex attraction to make of these texts? Such texts remind us that homosexual sin is just one sin among many. While we may not deal with temptation to practice homosexual behavior, we face other temptations. We struggle with other sins. So instead of getting selfrighteous, let s try to be understanding. What sin or sins have you by the throat? You know what a struggle it is to overcome them. And you know something of the power of sexual drives. Those with same-sex temptations struggle every bit as much. So let s not get all holier-than-thou here. Let s certainly not behave hatefully. Apart from Christ, your sins will keep you from inheriting the kingdom of God too. So let s be understanding and patient and gracious with people. When that behavior is forced on us in media and education and in public parades, it s not easy to be either gracious or understanding. But as we deal with individuals, let s work extra hard at being gracious instead of hateful, kind instead of mean. And let s do this: befriend those in your path who struggle with same-sex attraction. If a friend or relative confides in you of this struggle or of a fall in this matter, don t abandon him or her; stick with this friend, pray for and with this friend, encourage this friend, invite this friend with you to church. And here s another thing: don t try to fix your friends who struggle with homosexual temptations and sin; just point them to Jesus. If Jesus delivers them, praise the Lord! But for whatever reason, this side of heaven, Jesus
doesn t deliver everyone who struggles in this area. There are Christians with same-sex attraction who will battle this temptation and these urges till Jesus takes them home to heaven. But let Jesus work on that part of the equation. Your part is to keep pointing them to the love and grace and strength of Jesus, to encourage them not to surrender to their temptations but to walk faithfully with Jesus. So there is a word in these texts for those of us who don t struggle with same-sex attraction. III And there is a word for those who do struggle with same-sex attraction and homosexual sin. The first word is a corrective word: repent. You may not be able to change your attraction, but you don t have to indulge it. Repent of that. I say that in love. I say that in the same spirit I would say it to an adulterer or someone practicing pre-marital sex, or someone who is a slave to greed or drunkenness or any other sin. I say that in the same spirit I would flag down passing motorists and tell them that there is a bridge out up the road. Danger ahead! As the Bible says, if you have an unrepentant heart in the matter, you will not inherit the kingdom of God any more than any unrepentant sinner. So the first word is corrective repent! Turn from your wicked ways and find forgiveness in Jesus. Wesley Hill writes about growing up in a Christian home and being taught biblical views on sexuality. And yet, Hill writes, "Confusingly, I found myself, just when all my friends were beginning to notice girls and become interested in dating, having longings to be in that kind of relationship with a member of my own sex." After receiving wise and loving guidance from Christian mentors, Hill writes: As I discovered more about Christianity's historic teaching, I found myself convinced of the position which the church has held with almost total unanimity throughout the ages that although many people find themselves, through no fault of their own, to have sexual desires for members of their own sex, this is not something to be affirmed and celebrated but is, rather, a sign that we are broken, in
need of redemption and re-creation. Gay people are not uniquely broken that's a position we share with every other human who has ever lived, or will live but we are, nonetheless, broken. And following Jesus means turning our backs on a life of sexual sin, just as it does for every other Christian. 2 The Bible as a whole and our text in particular offers a corrective word to those who struggle with same-sex attraction and homosexual sin. But there are also hopeful words. First, you are not defined by your sexual preferences. Your life is larger than that. Will Willimon reminds us that in a culture like ours that is pre-occupied with sex and values sex-pleasure as life s highest good, We simply cannot imagine any fully human being who is not driven by genitalia. 3 You don t have to be. Your sexual identity is not the most important thing about you. You have been created in the image of God. Your sexual attractions may be broken, but God s image is still imprinted on your life. And if you have a saving relationship with Jesus, then your life is defined by Jesus Christ. You are a follower of Jesus. That s the most important thing about you. That means you don t have to indulge or give in to homosexual temptations to be who God made you to be: a follower of Jesus who denies himself, takes up his cross, and follows Jesus even when it s hard a sacrificial to do so especially when it s hard and sacrificial to do so. Don t give in to the lesser things about you. Live in light of the larger things. In v. 11 of our text, after listing these various sins, Paul writes, And such were some of you. That s past tense. They were forgiven their identity transformed from thieves and idolaters and adulterers and practicing homosexuals to washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of our God. Your life is not defined by your sexual preferences whether hetero- or homosexual. Your life is defined by who Christ is and what Christ can do and has done in your life. And here s another hopeful word: there is mercy and strength in the Lord. You are not alone in your struggle. God is with you. God can help you. And when and if you stumble, God can forgive your sin, set things right, and get you started again down the path of following Jesus in this area of your life. Whether God ever fully delivers you from this temptation or not, God is with you and will help you. There s mercy with the Lord. 2Wesley Hill, Leave All, Gain All, Critique (3/2011), PreachingToday.com (Oct 17, 2011). 3William H. Willimon, Why Jesus? (Nashville: Abingdon, 2010), 71.
And here s still another hopeful word: God can use your life. I could tell you about Sam Allberry, Associate Pastor at St. Mary s Church in Maidenhead, UK. Though Allbery still struggles with same-sex attraction, he doesn t act on it. He lives a single, celibate, holy life and God uses him in many ways both in his church and as an author. If you struggle with same-sex attraction and even practiced such things, when you come to Christ for washing and justifying and sanctifying, you are not disqualified. God can use your life. I could tell you about Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, a self-described leftist, lesbian professor at Syracuse University, who over time, came to Christ and found full deliverance in what she called her train wreck conversion. She is now a pastor s wife and Christian author. 4 And I could tell you a little more about that same Wesley Hill I mentioned a moment ago. He tells a story that helped him recognize that God could use and bless his life in spite of his struggles and temptations with same-sex attraction. He visited a friend and mentor named Chris. After Wesley shared his struggles and asked for advice, Chris said: Imagine yourself standing in the presence of God, looking down from heaven on the earthly life you're about to be born into, and God says to you, "Wes, I'm going to send you into the world for 60 or 70 or 80 years. It will be hard. In fact, it will be more painful and confusing and distressing than you can now imagine. You will have a thorn in your flesh, a homosexual orientation that is the result of your entering a world that sin and death have broken, and you may wrestle with it all your life. But I will be with you. I will be watching every step you take, guiding you by my Spirit, supplying you with grace sufficient for each day. And at the end of your journey, you will see my face again, and the joy we share then will be born out of the agonies you faithfully endured by the power I gave you. And no one will take away that joy that solid, resurrection joy which, if you experienced it now, would crush you with its weight. Wesley, wouldn't you say "yes" to the journey if you had had that conversation with God? 5 4Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, My Train Wreck Conversion, ChristianityToday.com (Feb 7, 2013). 5Wesley Hill, Washed and Waiting (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), 78-79.
Hill said yes to the journey and walks it now. God uses his life as a professor and author who helps so many people. God has some words in our text for those who struggle with same-sex attraction and homosexual sin. IV So listen and act on God s word. To listen to the voices of our sexsaturated, sex-entitled culture in this matter and to act on the falsehoods that they preach is to take a life already broken in a hundred pieces and break it in thousand more. Aren t those of you who struggle with this issue, ready to see some of pieces of your life put back together again? Come to Jesus the sinforgiver, the burden-bearer, the life-changer, the strength-provider, and the lover of your soul. Come to Jesus. He will meet you where you are. He will meet you in your brokenness and take you on a journey that though difficult will culminate in a joy beyond your wildest imagination. Come to Jesus. And the rest of us let s try to be some Jesus to them. Preached: November 9, 2014 First Baptist Church, Hot Springs, AR John Scott McCallum II