The Gay Christian? Some Thoughts


I Believe:

God loves every sinner and desires to save every person (Titus 2:11). A person who has been involved in homosexual acts or currently struggles with homosexual lust is salvifically loved by God, and can, therefore, be saved in exactly the same way as someone who struggles with heterosexual lust or the same way any other person is saved (John 3:16; Titus 2:11; 2 Pet 3:9).

I Reject the idea of:

First, defining a Christian as a gay Christian because that is defining him by his sin. We do not categorize Christians by terms such as drunk Christian, murdering Christian, or lying Christian even though some commit such sins. God calls us to faithfulness, and we are either faithful or unfaithful to that call (Matt 16:8; 17:20; 1 Cor 4:17; Gal 5:22; 1 Tim 2:2, 13).

Second, using the designation “gay Christian” as a suitable designation for people who accept their homosexuality as from God and not totally as a result of the fall in the garden and their subsequent sins; that minimizes Scripture’s clear and repeated condemnation of homosexuality (Lev 18:22; 20:13; Rom 1:26-27; 1 Cor 6:9). Moreover, the qualifier should never be used to describe a Christian regardless what nuanced understanding is attached to it.

Third, normalizing a Christian who is gay and refrains from homosexual behavior but does not live in daily repentance of his homosexual thoughts along with praying for victory over his homosexual thoughts (1 Thess 4:3-4). Sin always starts in the heart (Matt 5:28; 15:11).

Fourth, the gospel being so impotent that it lacks the power in regeneration and sanctification to enable someone to have total victory over homosexuality. While some may not experience this, it is not because of any inadequacy of the desire and power of God (John 17:17; 1 Cor 6:9-11).

Total victory does not entail perfection (never having such a sinful thought), but it does include the power and unequivocal resolve that such desires are sin, and therefore need immediate confession and persistent reliance on the Holy Spirit.

This deliverance for many means the complete freedom from even the tempting thoughts and desires for homosexual relations because they are replaced with heterosexual thoughts and desires, which can be fulfilled in the context of marriage.

Fifth, heterosexuality and homosexuality being equally sinful. This is because while we recognize all sins are sinful according to Scripture, we also recognize that all sins are not equal in their degree of sinfulness (Matt 11:20-24; John 19:11). I think the following indicates that homosexuality is more sinful than heterosexual sexual sins. Even though both are sufficient to separate a person from God for eternity.

It is not a sin to identify as heterosexual or to have heterosexual desires for sexual intimacy so long as they are for one’s heterosexual spouse in marriage (Gen 1:22; 1 Cor 7:1-5). In contrast, all homosexual activities, desires, and proclivities are sin.

Homosexuality is a violation of God’s divine order in two ways in contrast to heterosexual sin, which violates God’s created order in one way. The heterosexual sin of lusting for a person who is not the person’s marriage partner (adultery or fornication) violates God’s created context for sex, whereas the same desire for one’s spouse is not sin.

In contrast, homosexuality always violates God’s context for sexual activities or desires since definitionally marriage requires a heterosexual relationship (Gen 2:18, 20-25; Matt 19:4-6). Additionally, homosexuality also violates God’s design for a suitable partner (Gen 1:26-28; 2:18, 20-25; 1 Cor 6:9-10).

Therefore, while heterosexual thoughts and deeds outside the bonds of marriage are sinful and demand repentance and salvation (1 Cor 6:9-10), homosexuality is a greater corruption of God’s divine order. Finally, we must reject the previously mentioned adjectival designations and attempts to minimize the clear and ubiquitous condemnation of homosexuality in the Scripture without equivocation. Nevertheless, we must be equally clear about God’s love and desire to save every person, whether they are homosexual or heterosexual.

Posted in

Ronnie W. Rogers