What is homosexuality? Why do some people become homosexual? What should be the Christian's view on the subject?
Homosexuals fall into different categories: those who are militant, defensive regarding the issue; those who are homosexual but more passive about their defense of it; and those homosexuals who are seeking help.
What is homosexuality? It is the opposite of hetero. Hetero - "different" vs. homo - "same". It is the sexual preference for the same sex, not the opposite. Homosexuality is a perversion and needs to be recognized as such. Some claim that homosexuality results from our genetic makeup. This is not true - there is no evidence to support this idea. It is, rather, a learned behavior. In spiritual terms, it is essentially a part of the fallen state of man.
Before adolescence, it is possible for a child's sexual path to be adversely affected. In this case it would be a matter of being conditioned. A person is not, by nature, identified as homosexual. Rather, heterosexuality is the natural course. For homosexuality to result, there first has to be an exposure to it.
For the militant homosexual, not much can be done. They are unwilling to look at the error and danger of their lifestyle.
What does the Bible tell us about homosexuality?
Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Genesis 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Deuteronomy 23:17 There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.
Judges 19:22,23
22 Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth
the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.
23 And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.1 Kings 14:24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
1 Kings 15:12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
Romans 1:26,27
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error
which was meet.1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Timothy 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Homosexuality is sinful because:
1) Sex outside of marriage is fornication - it is sin.
2) There can be no marriage betweeen people of the same sex - the Bible stipulates it only between male and female.1 Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
