The Human Person: The Image of God Created and Restored

Today’s reading concludes Section IV: The Human Person – The Image of God Created and Restored. Read here.

The Christian understanding of same-sex sexual relations

Sexual intimacy between persons of the same sex is a phenomenon that is as old as human civilization, and the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, shows its awareness of such practices. On six occasions we find the explicit mention of same-sex sexual behaviour in the Bible. Because of the extraordinary importance of the subject for society and the church today, it is vital that Christians become familiar with all the references to same sex sexual intimacy in the Bible, and their meanings in context—Genesis 19:1-3; Leviticus 18:20; 20:13; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:9-11:

• The Old Testament refers to sex between persons of the same sex in the account of Genesis 19:1-3 where the life of Abraham and his family intersected with the culture of Sodom, which God had declared to be grievously wicked. Sodom’s notoriety had been due to multiple forms of social evils, including the attempted male-rape of Lot’s guests by all the townsmen being highlighted in the narrative as evidence of the abysmal moral condition of the city. (Ezek 16:49-50; Gen 18:20-21; 19:1-13; Jude 7)
• In the apostolic witness of the New Testament, same-sex behaviour is referenced in Romans 1:18-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, and 1 Timothy 1:9-11, against the backdrop of Greek and Roman culture. The historical record makes clear that sex between persons of the same sex was a well-known practice during this period, having been normalised, especially in the upper strata of society. In this context, it is striking that Paul places sex between persons of the same sex in the same category of sexual sin as fornication and adultery, and within a broader list of sins that included thieving, greed, drunkenness, slander, and swindling. In 1 Timothy 1:9-11, the list that proscribes same-sex behaviour includes patricide, murder, fornication, slave trading, and perjury. All who do such things are called lawbreakers, rebels, ungodly, sinful, unholy, and irreligious people.
• In 1 Corinthians 6:9, Paul coined a term to describe sex between men from two references in Leviticus 18:20 and 20:13. These texts state that sex between persons of the same sex violates God’s standards for the Israelites who had been bound by their covenant to God.
• When Paul refers to sex between people of the same sex in Romans 1:24-27, he does so to express how humanity’s rebellion against God has led to the rejection of his created order. As indications of humanity’s total moral bankruptcy, he cites the widespread practice of idol worship and sexual immorality. With regards to sexual impurity, Paul specifically condemns sex between women and sex between men, which were clearly well-known practices in what was considered the sophisticated culture of the time.

All the biblical references to sex between persons of the same sex lead us to the inescapable conclusion that God considers such acts as a violation of his intention for sex and a distortion of the Creator’s good design, and therefore, sinful. However, the gospel assures us that those who have, by ignorance or knowingly, given into temptation and sinned, will find forgiveness and restoration of fellowship with God through confession, repentance, and trust in Christ.

We recognise that a number of people, both within and outside the church, experience same-sex attraction, and that for some, this is the only or dominant attraction. The biblical insistence that Christians must resist temptation and so maintain sexual holiness, in both desire and behaviour, applies equally to heterosexually attracted individuals as it does to same-sex attracted persons. We acknowledge, however, that Christians who are same-sex attracted face challenges even in Christian communities. We repent of our lack of love towards our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.

We urge Christian leaders and local churches to recognise within our communities the presence of believers who experience same-sex attraction, and to support them in their discipleship by pastoral care and by developing healthy communities of love and friendship.