It’s not uncommon to hear people from conservative religious backgrounds make the statement ‘the Bible says homosexuality is a sin’.
This is actually a false statement as there is no chapter or verse for that quote we so often hear in either the Old or New Testaments. It is a belief/assumption based on an interpretation of several verses—six passages out of 31,240 verses actually. While you are looking in your concordance for the ‘verse’ ‘homosexuality is a sin’…..try and find the ‘verses’ also often quoted ‘God helps those who help themselves’ or ‘spare the rod, spoil the child’ or the three kings or came to visit Jesus at his birth as well. Joseph and Jesus were not carpenters and Mary Magdeline was not a prostitute. If some 80 percent, including “born again” Christians, believe that “God helps those who help themselves” is a direct quote from the Bible it is not difficult to understand then how many people falsely believe that ‘homosexuality is a sin’ is also a direct quote.
It’s actually impossible for homosexuality to be a sin because we know from science that homosexuality is a sexual orientation (a foreign concept in biblical times) and like a heterosexual orientation is, in itself, amoral (not involving questions of right or wrong; without moral quality; neither moral nor immoral).
When the concept of orientation is brought into the discussion these people will then often suggest that others have desires that are clearly sin and should not be acted on but resisted. They ask questions like, “Why do you believe it’s okay for you to act on your orientation. Couldn’t others in society like………….make the same claim.?
The list includes such things as:
- Murderer – a criminal (a person guilty or convicted of a crime) who commits homicide; who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being.
- Adulterer – a person who has sexual intercourse with another married person or a partner other than the lawful spouse.
- Thief – a person who steals another person’s property, esp. by stealth and without using force or violence
- Alcoholic – a person suffering from alcoholism (addicted to intoxicating drinks)Drug addict – a person who is addicted to a narcotic
- Paedophile – a person who is sexually attracted to children (a criminal offence and abuse of power or a relationship)
Sexual orientation
There are a large number of people in Christian circles and beyond that think of sexual orientation only in terms of sexual activity. This very limited view demonstrates ignorance of the growing scientific research in the area of sexuality and brain/hormonal activity and processing. Sexual orientation is much more profound than a sex act.Depending on a person’s sexual orientation (homo, hetero or bi) sexual/relational expression comes out of their orientation. According to one’s own experience, sex can be meaningless, addictive, abusive, or the most profound act of love and intimacy two individuals can experience, whether they are of the same or opposite sex.
- Love
- Intimacy
- Affection
- Partnering
- Companionship
The examples in the first list are either a crime against society, another person, their property, abuse or an addiction that can destroy the individuals life. This is not about orientation.As a gay man my same sex orientation is not a crime, does not take the life of another, doesn’t cause me to break a promise I have made to my partner, used to abuse others and it’s certainly not an addiction destroying my life etc. It’s an orientation.
Murders, abuse, addictions are tragic examples of damaged humanity or evil and are not determined by a person’s sexual identity or orientation.
As mentioned, sexual orientation is essentially about love, intimacy, affection, partnering and companionship. These are some of the most fulfilling experiences we can have in life as human beings. When two people of the same sex fall in love with each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together in a monogamous, committed relationship, this is divine because ‘love is from God’….and that is in the bible (I John 4:7).
To deny gay and lesbian people these God created experiences is cruel and has no biblical precedent. But to liken our same sex orientation to things like murder, abuse or addiction is not only ignorant it is highly offensive.
I do not care what orientation anyone wishes to claim,but by calling an act of sex an orientation is ridiculous,a man and woman in a marriage or relationship do not walk around claiming their heterosexual ness because that is sex and the relationship is about more than sex,but with same sex couples,or gay couples the demand for equality as the same as heterosexuals yet clearly defining their different is confusing and insulting,it is just another thing to use to point fingers at those who disagree,no one is out there trying to force a law that says you can not be gay or live with your chosen,but their are those out there saying if you do not like it and do not want to rent your house to a couple for that reason,that you have to anyway,but if you do not want to rent it to some one cause they have a pet and you do not like pets that's fine,or pretty much any other reason,white god fearing,gun owners are made the bad guy on every thing,sometimes we need to step back and look at who is really harming people and their rights,in the gaining of rights that you already have granted to you by being alive,by the forcing of the government to step in and declare something on a groups behalf you are stepping on the rights of others,,what makes any ones rights more important than another's ? the GOVERNMENT and the government has no ones rights in mind only whats in it for them, they are the evil doers not who they tell you,it goes both ways the government plays all angles,people only have their agenda's,the government has manythey turn everyone against each other to get what they want,look at who is really to blame,,too many people whining to the government to fight their battles for them and you get where we are today, which is exactly where we were and will always be people can not all agree on everything and can not be forced to,so gays can get married in some states they could not before, so what does that make them more accepted no,and because some believe it is against the will of god does that make them ignorant ? no,if someone thinks different does that make them more enlightened ? no, it just makes us all human,and in the end if there is a god who will judge people on who they had sex with or if you rented your house to a gay couple than i guess but i do not think god looks at these human type issues just as far as if we cared for or did not care for our fellow life on earth as he wishes us too,the other shit is just stupid your gay live together love each other just do not try to make those who are against it, be for it if you are a murderer do not cry human rights after taking another's , rights from them,if you do not believe in god do not try and force others to not pray in public,if you believe in god AND ARE TRYING TO SHARE WITH NON BELIEVERS GOD BE WITH YOU some will listen others will not and move on,i do not know any religion that demands the government to make non believers observe religious holidays or pray to a god because it makes others feel like they belong,instead i see selfish people wanting to take other rights away from those who disagree with how they live,and i see the government right up in helping them,because once a right is taken away it is easier and easier to take them all away Kelly
thanks for writing those 600 + words Kelly but your comments lack clarity..confusing actually.
so is incest a sin? or bestiality? after all one can love his mother/sister/daughter just as well as two people in a homosexual relationship. "When two people who just so happen to be related by blood, fall in love with each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together in a monogamous, committed relationship, this is divine because 'love is from God'….and that is in the bible (I John 4:7)." nice try not biting.
sorry, but changing God's word because we can't change His mind doesn't work. twisting the meaning of "from the beginning it was so" doesn't change the fact that God intended male and female.
nice wording though, I can see how people can get confused when they read this and then justify a sinful relationship. btw in what regard or what law did God use the word abomination?