Christian Response to Homosexuality

(This article was written in July 2007. It is posted here because of interest arising from current events.)

Caught in the Middle: Homosexuality

Amendments to the Penal Code will soon to be debated in the Singapore Parliament. This includes Section 377A, which deals with ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature’.This section criminalises homosexual acts. Many pro-gay groups are taking this opportunity to lobby for homosexual acts to be decriminalised. This has lead to widely publicised comments from journalists, MPs, Ministers and a former Bishop of the Methodist Church who openly declared their support for homosexuality and homosexual acts.

The Minister Mentor has been quoted as saying, ‘homosexuals are mostly born that way’. A senior journalist wrote, ‘Two factors would favour homosexuals in the long run: One, the growing evidence that homosexuality has a genetic basis. And two, the growing cosmopolitanism of Singapore….homophobia renders Singapore a less attractive place to the talented and creative, both local and foreign…There is a reason why some of the most creative cities in the world - San Francisco, Boston and London - are also among the most accepting of gays.’1

These assumptions are widely embraced, especially by youths. The Singapore Polytechnic survey involving 800 people between 15-29 years old reported that 44% of male respondents and 57% of female respondents found homosexuality acceptable. Unfortunately these views are not limited to unbelievers. There is a homosexual ‘christian’ group in Singapore contradicting the evangelical Christian view. The former Methodist Bishop is an honorary pastoral advisor to the group. We are caught in the middle!

Is homosexuality a sin?
The biblical basis for rejection of homosexual acts can be found in the following scripture passages: Gen1: 27-28 describes God’s design for humankind – male and female. Gen19 described the homosexual perversion and destruction of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lev18: 22 and 20:13 record God’s injunction against homosexual acts. Rom 1:26-27 described homosexuality as a manifestation of God’s wrath as the result of man’s rejection of God and God’s abandonment of man to their own devices. In 1Cor 6:9 Paul described homosexual offenders (Gk: arsenokoitai - arsen = male, koite = bed, i.e ‘a male bedding a male’) as one of those who are wicked and will not inherit the kingdom of God. In 1 Tim 1:10 arsenokoitai (translated homosexuals in NASB and perverts in NIV) is described as the antithesis of a righteous person.

Homosexual acts are condemned in the scripture (as are adultery, fornication and other sexual immoralities). Hence, Christians cannot support groups that condone or seek to promote this behaviour in the name of tolerance or progress. However, we do not despise the homosexual person. Jesus included into his sphere of friends, prostitutes and tax collectors. The church necessarily must extend her love to the homosexuals so that they may turn away from the sin of homosexual behaviour.


Is homosexuality genetic/biologically determined?
Proponents of this theory imply that homosexuals are ‘born that way’ and they have no choice in their sexual orientation and change is not possible and should not be pursued. This impression popularized by the media can’t be further from the truth. Science is politicised for a homosexual agenda.2

The fact is that homosexuality is influenced by genes as much as playing basketball is. If you have a height gene that makes you tall, you may make a good basketball player but the gene does not turn you into a basketball player. You can choose to play volleyball. Genes are but a facilitating factor, interacting with other psychological, social and environmental factors, that ‘opens the door’ for some into homosexuality. A boy born with a sensitive temperament and a less athletic physique, subjected to peer isolation, a dominant maternal figure, an absent or abusive paternal figure may develop homosexual orientation. This effect is different from proclaiming that homosexuality is genetic in the way genes affect our inheritance of black instead of blonde hair and brown instead of blue eyes.

Homosexual orientation can be treated and corrected.3 Homosexual act is a choice, just like adultery and fornication for the heterosexuals. Our genes don’t make us do it.

How should we response?
We need to view the issue of homosexual orientation seriously and with compassion. During a small group prayer meeting in my university days, a brother requested prayer because he was struggling with ‘an affinity for someone of the same sex’. I was thrown off. I don’t think any of us in the group took him seriously. “He was such a devout Christian. He will get over it.” I thought. I chanced upon this brother two weeks ago after about 15 years. I praise God that he is still in church and although our conversation was brief I sense that he still has the struggle. Few of us know how to minister to such a person because we fail to appreciate their struggle.

We need to prevent homosexuality. No one is born gay. Experts believe there are early signs of a pre-homosexual child and intervention will prevent the inclination.4

We must not allow our society to evolve into one where homosexual behaviour is endorsed, encouraged and promoted as an acceptable lifestyle. We do this by first educating ourselves, our children and our church.

We need to pray for our leaders, our country, our community, our children.

Reference:
1. Janadas Devan. Can mum, mum and kid make a family? 7 July 2007, Straits Times.
2. W Byne, E Stein. Ethical Implications of Scientific Research on Causes of Sexual Orientation. Health Care Anal. 1997; 5:136
3. R Spitzer. Can Some Gay Men and Lesbians Change Their Sexual Orientation? 200 Participants Reporting a Change from
Homosexual to Heterosexual Orientation. Arch Sex Behav 2003; 32:403
4. J Nicolosi, Linda A Nicolosi. Preventing Homosexuality. IVP