What About Homosexuality?

Homosexuality is a very important and sensitive topic, and it affects everyone differently. The potential for misunderstanding is very high. But the opportunity for discipleship – each of us becoming more like Jesus – is also very high. So let’s talk about it.

Audio

You can listen to the original audio of ‘What About Homosexuality?’ here:

Midweek Q & A

When speaking about homosexuality we invited questions via SMS. We recorded some responses to these questions here:

1.What about those that are ‘born’ gay? Is that possible? Did God make them like that?

2.Homosexuality isn’t new. But it seems to have had highs and lows in different cultures/times? Why?

3.Is homosexuality more common in developed countries?

4.In Romans 1.26-27 it says that men received in themselves the appropriate penalty for homosexual acts. What do you think this is referring to?

5.As you mentioned, some of the laws given to the Israelites are considered relevant to our community, culture and time and some are not, and that the inappropriate ones ought not to be obeyed anymore. Unless Paul’s opinion given to people of Corinth around 2000 years ago is necessarily also directed to the current society then I think we cannot merely accept the laws he confirms as still relevant in this day and this culture. What I mean to say is that I feel like we are still making an arbitrary call ourselves as to which laws are directed at us and which are not. Is that the case? If so, then we must demonstrate that homosexual acts themselves have some detriment to people and/or society to justify claiming that it is still to be viewed as sin. Can you rely on this, and do you find these arguments convincing?

6.Is homosexual activity as a sin equal in “badness” to any other sexual sin?

7.You said homosexuality represents our brokenness so the temptation is same sex attraction. As a heterosexual I have also temptation to contend with which is opposite sex attraction. But being attracted to opposite sex does not mean I am a sinner, it is only when I let my feelings rule over me. So, why do we have this feeling that practicing homosexuals are worse than heterosexual people that are sleeping around?

8.I have sought to develop good relationships with people I know who are in same sex partnerships. My nephew and his male partner are one such couple. They are eagerly awaiting a ruling to allow same sex marriage. My dilemma is whether or not to attend their wedding.

9.How should we as Christians respond to a vote on the legality of same sex marriage?

10.How would our church deal with someone who regularly attended services and volunteered, declared themselves a born again Christian, and pursued homosexual activity?

11.If a same sex couple with a child come to faith, should they end the relationship thus breaking up the family? Or keep the family together for the child?

12.What about if you know someone that is a Christian who then says they are gay, says that it is okay with God to live that way, and goes and lives in a married homosexual relationship. What is a good response to this biblically in light of things like Luke 17:3 and Matthew 18:15?

13.What are some resources around this topic which you’d recommend?

14.Are there any Christian ministries in Cairns/Australia specifically supporting same sex attracted people?

Resources

The Living Out website was really helpful with articles and videos.

Tim Keller’s interview on Veritas Forum was excellent.

The Lauren F. Winner book quoted is Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis.

When we quoted from Ravi Zacharias we had no idea what would later be discovered about the way he was treating women. His quote in our book is a little haunting in light of this. Originally we drew a number of points from this video.

To explore further the variety of Christian responses to gay marriage, this Bible Society article is a good resource.

This Bible Society article helped us understand the concept of brokenness and sin.