Introduction: A Tender Truth in a Broken World
I’ve known and loved many people who identify as gay or lesbian: former colleagues, dear friends, neighbors, even churchmates and extended family members.
Many of them are among the kindest, most thoughtful, and genuinely caring individuals I’ve ever met. I’ve seen their devotion in how they serve others, and I’ve even seen some of them actively involved in ministry: welcoming guests at church doors, lifting their voices in worship, and generously giving of their time and talents. I don’t doubt that many of them sincerely love God.
That’s what makes this topic so difficult. This isn’t just an abstract theological debate to be hashed out in comment sections or across pulpits. It’s deeply personal. It touches the lives of people we care about: people with real stories, real struggles, and real hopes.
And for many Christians today, it creates an ache in the heart: Can I uphold what the Bible says and still be loving? Is it possible to speak the truth without sounding judgmental or unkind?
In this series, I want to approach the subject of homosexuality not with a hammer, but with humility. Not to condemn, but to understand what God’s Word actually says, and to see how we, as followers of Christ, can respond with both conviction and compassion. My desire isn’t to win an argument, but to reflect the heart of Jesus: full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
If you’ve ever wondered what the Bible truly teaches about homosexuality, or if you’ve wrestled with how to reconcile Scripture with the faces and names you love, I invite you to walk through this with an open Bible, an open mind, and a tender heart.
Let’s explore Scripture together and trust that God’s truth is not only clear but also deeply good.
What Does the Bible Actually Say About Homosexuality?
As Christians, we believe that Scripture is our final authority for faith and life. So when it comes to questions about sexuality, especially something as deeply personal and culturally debated as homosexuality, we must begin by asking: What does God’s Word say?
The Bible doesn’t speak about homosexuality in the exact terms our modern culture does, but it does address same-sex behavior directly in both the Old and New Testaments. Let’s look at these passages with humility and a desire to understand God’s heart.
🅰️ Old Testament Foundations
1️⃣ Genesis 1:26–28; 2:18–25 — God’s Design for Marriage
In the very beginning, God created humanity in His image, male and female. Genesis 2 paints a picture of the first marriage, where Adam and Eve are joined together as “one flesh.” This union is not just relational but also complementary: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
God’s design for sex and marriage was not random. It reflected His purposeful creation of male and female; distinct and yet united, equal in value but different in form. This male-female relationship forms the foundation for all biblical teaching on sexuality.
💡 Key idea: The Bible always presents marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman, starting from creation itself.
2️⃣ Leviticus 18:22 & 20:13 — Prohibitions in the Law of Moses
“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” — Leviticus 18:22 (ESV)
These verses are part of God’s moral instructions to Israel. While some laws in Leviticus were specific to Israel’s ceremonial and civil life, others, like those dealing with sexual conduct, reflect God’s enduring moral standard.
Some argue that these verses are outdated or irrelevant, but we see them affirmed later in the New Testament (e.g., Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 6), suggesting that they still hold moral weight today.
💡 Note: The word “abomination” in Leviticus is strong, but it doesn’t mean hatred toward people; it refers to actions that are spiritually and morally out of line with God’s design.
These commands in Leviticus weren’t isolated or temporary; they reflect a consistent biblical pattern that carries into the New Testament. Let’s see how the apostles also addressed this issue in the early church.
🅱️ New Testament Clarity
3️⃣ Romans 1:24–27 — Turning from God’s Design
Paul describes how humanity, having turned away from God, exchanged His truth for lies and began to worship created things. As a result, people “dishonored their bodies” and engaged in same-sex relations; actions Paul calls “contrary to nature.”
“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature…” — Romans 1:26–27 (ESV)
This passage doesn’t speak only about homosexuality; it’s part of a larger indictment of all humanity’s sin and rebellion. But it does show that same-sex sexual behavior is one evidence of that brokenness.
💡 Key point: Paul ties same-sex activity to humanity’s general rejection of God, not to a specific cultural practice or power imbalance.
4️⃣ 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 — A Call to Holiness and Hope
“Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral… nor men who practice homosexuality… will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you.” — 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (ESV)
Paul includes “men who practice homosexuality” in a broader list of sinful lifestyles. But this passage doesn’t end in condemnation; it offers beautiful hope: “And such were some of you.”
Through faith in Christ, people from every background, including those once caught in sexual sin, can be washed, sanctified, and justified.
💡 Key point: The gospel doesn’t leave us in our sin; it transforms us completely.
5️⃣ 1 Timothy 1:9–10 — A Warning Against Distorting God’s Law
Paul again refers to same-sex behavior (among other sins) as being “contrary to sound doctrine.” This shows that such actions not only go against God’s design but also distort the gospel message itself when unrepented.
💡 Note: Paul is not singling out one sin; he’s showing how all sin leads us away from God’s best.
What Do These Passages Tell Us?
- God’s design for sex and marriage is between a man and a woman.
- Homosexual behavior is consistently described in Scripture as outside that design.
- But the Bible also offers hope, grace, and forgiveness for all who turn to Christ, including those who have experienced or struggled with same-sex desires.
- These passages are not meant to shame, but to lovingly invite people into God’s redemptive truth.
Closing & Transition to Part 2
The Bible speaks with both clarity and compassion about sexuality. From Genesis to the New Testament, God’s design for marriage is consistent, His standard is holy, and His mercy is wide enough to welcome anyone who will turn to Him. This truth is not given to crush people but to call them into life; life that is abundant and free (John 10:10).
Yet many still wrestle with questions: Didn’t Jesus say nothing about homosexuality? Aren’t these verses just cultural? Isn’t it unloving to call it sin?
In Part 2, we’ll address these common questions and objections, and explore how Christians can respond with both grace and truth in a culture that often pits them against each other.