When it comes down to it, most people's acceptance of or stress about themselves as gay stems from their (or their family's) belief that The Bible is the Word of God. If you are struggling with accepting yourself as a gay Christian in the light of the bullet-pointed verses below, read on. I was reared in a small conservative MS town and became a Christian a little before I started to notice (and later try to fix) my attraction to the same sex. Below are the key scriptures that mention homosexual behavior and responses to each from my research. Additionally, I've included some verses that have gotten my attention since I came out, as well as some additional content at the bottom.
Key Verses on Homosexuality From the Bible
• Gen. 19:1-29 - The story of Sodom & Gomorrah, where the men of the city asked Lot to send out the angels that were staying at his house so they could have sex with them. God eventually destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah. If you read this story, you’ll quickly see that the men of the city of Sodom wanted to commit a brutal, homosexual rape. We simply cannot condemn a sexual orientation because of a rape. Shall we condemn heterosexuality because of rape? Any reasonable person will understand that this passage has nothing to say about loving, consensual homosexual relationships.a* Also, I have been taught that the greater offense here was the disrespect and threat to strangers/visitors--not the potential sodomy. The culture there dictated that visitors be accomodated and treated kindly with hospitality. The context of this story is hospitality (not sex); Jesus even alludes to this in Matt. 10:11-16.
A note about the term "sodomy" - In modern times, homosexuality is frequently referred to as the sin of sodomy. This reference comes from an account in the Bible of two exceedingly wicked cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, which the Lord destroyed. Sodom was known for its rampant homosexuality and unrestrained sexual lust, as well as sins such as arrogance, haughtiness, and disregard for the poor.b Sodomy involves malicious intent, not simply consensual anal sex. Sodomy is as different from anal sex as rape is to heterosexual intercourse.c Sodomy can also refer to any sex act that doesn't produce a child.
• Lev. 18:22 - "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." Detestable or "abomination" in some translations (in Hebrew "toevah"). Unlike what the English translation implies, toevah did not usually signify something intrinsically evil, but something which is ritually unclean for Jews. Eating pork, shellfish, lobster, trimming beards, mixing fibers in clothing, and having sex during a women's menstrual period are just as much an "abomination".d So why the "Do not..." you may ask? So that the Jews could avoid ceremonial uncleanliness.
• Lev. 20:13 - "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death..." So why the harshness about being put to death you may ask? Because typically homo and hetero sex were part of the pagan ritual of worshipping false gods Molech & Ashera; the Hebrews also sacrificed babies in these rituals. So one theory is that God took a hard line in this verse to keep his people from getting lured away from him to these false gods and decadent sexually charged worship rituals. Another theory is that the Jews were told by God to be fruitful & multiply; there were not many people on earth at the time, and God wanted the world populated. Also see the information above in reference to Lev. 18:22.
• Judges 19:1-30 - Nearly identical situation as Gen 19:1-29. See that information above.
• Rom. 1:24-32 - Does not say homosexuality is a sin. In this passage, sex was the result of the sin of idolatry, not the core sin. People were exchanging the truth of God for other things. The gay lifestyle can tend to draw you away from living as a Christian and regular time with and worship of Christ. All the more important to continue to have an active relationship with Christ as someone who's orientation is homosexual. Finally, keep in mind that not everything natural is moral, and what's not natural is not necessarily wrong.
• I Cor. 6:9-10 - This passage was the one that always concerned me the most. There is a lot of material I've run across, so I've put it all on a separate page. "Malakoi" is the word translated as homosexual offenders, men who have sex with men, etc. in English. See this pdf for more information on this word.
Other Verses To Consider
Gen. 15:5-6 - If God is no respecter (plays favorites) of persons & credited Abram’s belief to him as righteousness, why wouldn't he for Christian gay people?
Deu. 5:10 - God doesn't treat us as our sins deserve. (Also Ps. 103:10-11)
Deu. 28:20 - Don't be gay and forsake Christ.
Ps. 111:7 - "The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy." We're created by God. Does he make mistakes?
Rom. 3:22-23 - Righteousness is available to all who believe/have faith in Jesus Christ. Everyone has sinned & fallen short but can be justified by God's grace.
Rom. 8:14 - Those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God.
I Cor. 1:8 - If you're a Christian, He will keep you strong til the end so you'll be blameless...
I Cor. 8:9 - Be careful how you excercise your freedom in the grace of God so as to not make others stumble. (Also see Php. 2:12 below).
I Cor. 10:23 - Be careful how you excercise your freedom in the grace of God.
II Cor. 5:21 - Shouldn't His sacrifice credit to us as righteousness? What straight Christian is perfect? (Ecc. 7:20) Also see Gen. 15:5-6 above.
Gal. 4:7 - We are still sons and heirs.
Eph. 2:8-9 - We are not saved by works or trying to be perfect all the time.
Php. 1:6 - God will carry on the good work began in you at salvation.
Php. 2:12 - I take this verse as admonition to regularly work out in your relationship with Christ what being gay and living as a Christian means for your actions, the decisions you make, and how you treat others.
Col. 1:22 - God has reconciled me via Christ to present me holy, blemishless, and without accusation as long as I continue in my faith. (See II Cor. 5:21 above).
I Jn. 3:21 & 24 - Don't let your heart condemn you. Even though traditional evangelical teaching easily condemns homosexuality, take into account all the information here. We should not have to choose between our gender preference and Christianity.
*a - Revised Edition Harper Collins Bible Commentary --James L. Mays ©1988/2000 and The Pulpit Commentary Vol. 1: Genesis, Exodus; Hendrickson Publishers
If you've heard about or experienced a lot of religious things, "grown up in the church," and/or have a family that are Christians, but you can't recall a time when you've actually repented, believed & accepted Christ as your savior, and received his grace and salvation, please read more about it, or check out this video, and consider that for yourself.
MORE RESOURCES