Can a Homosexual be Christian?
When it comes to homosexuality, most Christians fall into two groups. The first group is staunchly opposed to the idea that homosexuals can be Christian or go to heaven. The second group is the polar opposite, trying to change the traditions of the church to promote and allow homosexuality within the church. The reality is somewhere in between these two extremes.
Before we get into exactly what I mean by that, however, we need to discuss the difference between judgment and discernment. Judgment is deciding in your mind whether someone is saved and will go to heaven or not. Discernment is making a decision based on someone’s actions and speech whether you want to associate with that person. We cannot judge, because we as humans do not know the hearts of others, but we can discern and make good decisions in regard to our own lives. Unfortunately, too many Christians use these terms interchangeably. For example, many Christians use Matthew 7:1 which says
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”
Matthew 7:1 (NIV) – The Words of Jesus Christ
in order to defend themselves and others who are acting poorly or ungodly. Yet it is not human judgment, but God’s judgment, they should fear. If you read a little further in the Bible, we are told
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV) – The Words of Jesus Christ
In other words, we are all sinners and so we cannot judge others for their sin. Oftentimes, people who judge others are worse sinners than the person they are judging.
That said, the Bible also directly addresses homosexuality as a sin that leads to separation from God and His kingdom:
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NIV) – The Words of Paul the Apostle
It is obvious from this that homosexuality is explicitly forbidden in the Bible. And this poses a problem for homosexuals who claim that they were born that way and it’s just who they are. This is because we were all born sinners and we all have to overcome that sin that we were born into, as well as the sin that we are exposed to during our lives, in order to claim our place in heaven. There is Biblical basis for this as well:
“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.”
Psalm 51:5-6 (NIV) – The Words of King David
Truly, to believe that you were “naturally” born to be homosexual is to nullify the power of Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins and to ignore the possibility to be born again through dedication to Christ.
Furthermore, all Christians are held to the standard to not watch pornography or commit other adulteries. Yet, there are many who want to give homosexuals a pass within the realm of Christianity. This is wrong, as the verses we’ve covered show.
But it is not only homosexuals who are excluded from God’s kingdom; this list (as provided by Paul in 1 Corinthians) is only a sample and it includes many more classifications of people that fit people of all sexual orientations.
What this really boils down to is the heart. Jesus died for all of our sins. If you are homosexual or have homosexual tendencies, He died for those sins as well. If you renounce your homosexuality and other sins (not just publicly, but privately as well) and if you fight back the urges you have towards homosexuality, and if, most importantly, you have faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you pray to Him for forgiveness, then you will be forgiven and you will be saved. If you choose not to do these things, then you will not be.
In short, a homosexual can be a Christian if he or she believes in Christ as their Lord and Savior. However, they can only be saved if they renounce their sins and ask Jesus for forgiveness.
