Homosexuality - a Christian perspective

God loves the homosexual, just as He loves each person in His creation. Since God made each one of us, He knows what is best for each of us - how we can best function in our lives and relationships, and how we can be made whole. He sets this out in the Bible.

He offers healing to those who struggle with homosexuality or those who have thoughts of being attracted to people of the same sex (increasingly called an 'orientation' by the world); healing and freedom that is offered by Jesus Christ in many different ways: through inner healing, through prayer, counselling, His Word, through supportive relationships (especially non-erotic same-gender relationships). This may take time, but it is worth it, as friends who have been involved in the homosexual lifestyle testify.

Homosexuality is not only mentioned in 'a few specific Biblical texts' but is dealt with as part of a much broader concept of God's design, carried throughout Scripture. God designed 'sexuality' in Genesis when he "made them male and female".

God designated a time and place for sexual activity so that it would be a very special and wonderful part of life. God's place for sex is between a male and a female - God's time is only within marriage (and the 'two shall become one flesh'). A husband and wife are at liberty to enjoy this intimate sexual union to the full.

The Bible then endorses the special nature of 'married sexual intimacy' by using one term to describe ALL sexual activity outside of it as 'sexual immorality'. This includes promiscuity and adultery as well as homosexuality. We must understand that homosexuality is no worse than any other sexual sin. God forgives us for the wrong things we have done - including sexual sins - when we confess them to Him and ask for forgiveness.

Some people say that 'Jesus never spoke against homosexuality'. However, Jesus spoke against sexual immorality - and of course, he supported and upheld the teachings of the Old Testament.

We also need to realise that unless we are prepared to completely accept homosexuality as 'normal' we will be called 'homophobic'. The important thing is not WHAT people call us but that we know we have the RIGHT attitude based on God's word.

It is a cliche but nevertheless it is true - We must love the sinner but not the 'sin' or behaviour. Some of our friends who were once involved in the homosexual lifestyle have told us how they were really impacted by the non-sexual embrace of friendship from a person of their own sex. They believe this is because they had never experienced true non-sexual contact with someone of the same sex. 

SALT SHAKERS has many books on homosexuality in its library - some secular, some pro-homosexual, some written by doctors and psychologists, some by Christians and a number written by ex-homosexuals. We have studied this issue, and the worldwide push to accept homosexuality as 'normal, and the issue as it affects the church, for the past 16 years.

Homosexuality and Scripture
There are many passages in the Bible referring to homosexuality. Homosexual groups often turn these 'inside out' and come up with a conclusion that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality or loving homosexual relationships.
Dr Murray Adamthwaite has analysed all the Biblical passages. He considers the standard homosexual explanations and allegations and refutes them.
The following two articles have been posted on our page titled Homosexual 'theology'
Click here to read the page and the articles.

Homosexuality and Scripture
Murray Adamthwaite, PhD
A 4 page paper that addresses each of the main texts referring to homosexuality in the Bible and assesses the arguments used by those wanting to argue that the Bible supports homosexuality.

Inverted Gunbarrels: Homosexual 'Explanations' of Scripture turned around
Murray Adamthwaite, PhD
This 2 page paper considers the 'allegations' made by homosexuals about the various texts mentioning homosexuality and answers them briefly.
This article was published in Salt Shakers journal in March 2008.

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What homosexuals think

Monash Christian Fellowship has prepared a detailed response titled What Homosexuals Think which outlines a Christian approach to dealing with the issue and to reaching out to homosexuals with the gospel.

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Diff'rent Stokes
As printed in SX newspaper - December 16 2005
Gary Fishlock, editor of the Sydney homosexual magazine SX, had an email correspondence with Peter during 2004. He asked Peter if he would be prepared to answer some of the questions concerning homosexuality and Christianity that many homosexuals ask Gary promised not to edit his answers. Peter agreed and an interview-style feature article was published in SX in December 2004.
Gary writes in introducing the article: "One of the themes that emerged throughout 2004 was the rising influence of religion in both political and civic life. While many of us have strong reservations about the appropriateness of this, like it or not, it remains a reality - at least for the time being. . . When Peter and I sat down to "discuss our differences", we both knew that we would still disagree on some pretty fundamental things by the end of the interview. One thing we did agree on however, was that exploring our differences instead of putting all our energy into taking offence from each other's views was a far more constructive way of interacting. And who knows, we might even find some things we actually had in common!"

Full article - Diff'rent Stokes, SX magazine, December 2005