I have dreaded writing about this subject all year. Not because I don’t have convictions about it, but because my convictions aren’t very popular. I’ve dreaded writing about it because I have friends who are either struggling with or have identified with homosexuality, and I love them and don’t want to cause them pain. I have dreaded writing about this because there’s a possibility that readership of this blog will increase, but much of the new readership could be upset with and hostile towards my views. So, again I say, I have dreaded writing about this subject.
Because of both my love for my friends and out of concern not to be misunderstood I wanted to begin this series-within-a-series, by outlining a few foundational points as it relates to my views on homosexuality. This will be important to keep in mind throughout the rest of the posts that follow. In other words, here is where I am coming from when I write that I do not think the Bible approves of or is indifferent towards homosexuality.
1) I believe the Bible is authoritative and sufficient. Of course not all will agree with this position, and especially as it relates to sexual ethics. Nonetheless it is where I stand. I won’t here defend the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. Plenty of resources are available for readers interested in that discussion. Here I want to state more specifically, that when it comes to determining what is right and wrong the Bible is the primary authority in my life. I affirm what Scripture says and want to conform my life and values to the Word of God. Whatever experience, culture, and emotions may contribute to my decision-making (and they can contribute) is subject to the final and ultimate authority of the Bible.
2) Homosexuality should not be a central focus for Christians. Christians are often criticized for being obsessed with homosexuality. But I don’t think that’s true at all. Our interaction with the subject is often reactionary. That is to say we are forced to address it because of the prominence of gay theology in the culture around us. But it is not primarily what I am interested, nor should it be what the church is interested in. The danger in writing about it is that we can give an undue importance to it. Furthermore, we are criticized for making this particular sexual sin worse than any other. But anyone who has been following my year-long study will note that I have addressed a host of sexual sins that I think the church must address. Many of these sins are far more serious in the average church. I do not want to spend unnecessary time writing about homosexuality, but no theology of sex would be complete in the 21st century without touching on it.
3) There is a serious difference between same-sex-attraction and homosexuality as I see it. To be tempted with homosexuality and to act on or indulge in homosexuality are not the same thing. I want to be careful not to cause harm to those struggling with an internal battle. I agree with Robert Gagnon who says:
A rigorous critique of same-sex intercourse can have the unintended effect of bringing personal pain to homosexuals, some of whom are already prone to self-loathing. This is why it need to be emphatically stated that to feel homosexual impulses does not make one a bad person…The person beset with homosexual temptation should evoke our concern, sympathy, help, and understanding, not our scorn or enmity. Even more, such a person should kindle a feeling of solidarity in the hearts of all Christians, since we all struggle to properly manage our erotic passions. (The Bible and Homosexual Practice, 31)
One cannot change the type of person you are attracted to. It is the acting on sinful impulses, not necessarily the impulses themselves, which I want to address in the coming weeks.
4) It is out of love for homosexuals that I write. The danger in writing about this subject is that one will be labeled homophobic or bigoted. I wish that such labels were used more sparingly than they often are. I am neither afraid of, nor do I have any personal disdain towards homosexuals. I believe that they are beautiful human beings made in the image of God and possess all the dignity that accompanies that. I cannot help but think of my deep and abiding love for friends who have embraced the homosexual lifestyle. Therefore, my intent is not to incite violence towards homosexuals, nor to intentionally cause them harm. Those few friends I have who identify with homosexuality are dear to me. We disagree on this subject but I want nothing but the best for them. My intentions are pure, even if my convictions are distasteful to them. I believe that God’s Word has outlined what is best for us and for our sexual expression and it is, therefore, out of love that I wish to encourage my friends to think more carefully about their homosexuality.
There is much more that I could say by way of preliminary foundations, but I will leave it to these four points. Some may be offended even by these points alone. To those who are I want to say that I do not mean to express any ill will towards you personally. My hope is that throughout this short series we may engage in thoughtful discussion and dialogue. If we are Christians we may both turn to Scripture to see what God’s Word says to us about how we ought to conduct our sexual lives, and there we may sharpen each other as we read from His Word and seek to apply it to our lives. My hope is that we can do this together in love, friends.
Sparrow & Heart Soul Care 
Dear Pastor,
What a wonderful word. Recently I came of facebook becuase I allowed myself to view pronographic images and video of homosexuality, gay and lesbianism. I am a married man with two beautiful children. I confess I am NOT gay, but I was attracted to viewing gay sex. Anycase, since than i quit facebook account that I allowed myself to sin. Dear pastor, I confess to God that i am a sinner and i had sinned inthought, sight word and deed. Although many many many times I prayed for forgiveness, but i still found myself view internet porn. As of today I turn my back on porn and the lusts of the flesh. I just hope on street and in the beach i can keep my eyes from sinning. How will I know that God had forgiven me my sins.
Thank you for your honesty, friend. There is only one way to know we are forgiven and that is to trust in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:7 from the Bible says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Jesus paid the penalty for your sins on the cross and if you trust in him though you will still struggle with sin the apostle John writes, “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
May God bless you today, friend.
I wish more folks wrote with your depth of compassion and respect. I am convinced that Evangelicals are obsessed with this topic in an unhealthy, voyeuristic and judgmental way. My own denomination, in the last seven or eight years, added to its proud list of “distinctives” which is widely published and distributed, a statement specifically condemning homosexuality. They could have added war, or violence, or gluttony but chose instead to distinguish themselves by their affirmation of six historic confessions and one add-on condemnation of one sin. So at least in my denomination the charge that we evangelicals are obsessed with sexual orientation is completely true. I also don’t think that we can expect an increasingly pluralistic U.S. society to believe our claims of loving disagreement as long as we link our disagreement with aggressive attempts to limit the civil rights of those who disagree with us.