This is a loaded question. The same could be asked of drug addicts, thieves, liars, murderers, even child molesters.
So can someone who is homosexual be a Christina as well? I would say, “Yes,” however, allow me to clarify that answer. A person who is a homosexual can become a Christian, however once a Christian, the person can no longer continue to live as a homosexual.
Of course this question comes down to the debate of whether homosexuality is a choice or are gay people just born that way. Clearly the evidence weighs in favor of it being a choice.
To say someone was born “gay” is really to say that God made a mistake. “Ooops, that one was supposed to have a female body. Messed up there! Guess they will just have to be homosexual.” Do you really see God saying something like this? Of course not because God does not make mistakes. He is perfect in every way.
Therefore homosexuality is a choice. Now that choice may have had several elements that influenced it – sexual abuse as a child or the lack of father or mother role model are a couple of examples. In fact most gay people I have even met had one or both of these scenarios occur in their childhood.
Be that as it may, I know many more people who have experiences the same scenarios and did not turn out gay. So, clearly it is a choice.
This leads to the next question, “Is it sin?” While there are many scriptures in the Bible that confirm that it is, Romans Chapter One is one of the best examples.
(Rom 1:17-32 NASB) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” {18} For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, {19} because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. {20} For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. {21} For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. {22} Professing to be wise, they became fools, {23} and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. {24} Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. {25} For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. {26} For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, {27} and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. {28} And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, {29} being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, {30} slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, {31} without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; {32} and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
What can we pull from this portion of scripture:
1. The evidence of God’s existence is not only contained in nature itself but within our own being. {vs. 19-20}
2. Despite that evidence, mankind does not give glory to God nor honor Him as God but rather partakes in idolatry (worship of things, others or one’s self). {vs. 21-23}
3. Therefore God gives mankind them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator {vs. 24-25}
4. One of the things God gives mankind over to is homosexuality. {vs 26-27}
How anyone can read this portion of scripture and claim that homosexuality is alright with God is beyond me. It is a sin and just like any other sin, needs to be repented of if one is to follow Christ.
I personally know three people who were homosexuals but then found Christ, repented of homosexuality as well as other sins and today lead normal heterosexual lives. So homosexuals can become Christians as no sin is too great that God can not forgive. However the fact remains that homosexuals can not stay that way. They must repent and even though they may struggle against it the rest of their lives, the fact that they struggle rather than to give in is the act of repenting itself.
To simply claim yourself a Christian and yet embrace the sin of homosexuality (or any other sin for that matter) is to deny the power of Christ to deliver you from that sin. You can go to church and claim to be Christian all you want but in all reality, you are just spinning your wheels. It is not until we die to ourselves and allow Christ to live through us that we will advance in our relationship and progress with God.
I would like to say one final thing about homosexuality. The church has long garnished a phobia or even a hatred towards gays. We really need to lighten up. Not that I am saying we endorse the sin but recognize the fact that homosexuality is like any other sin.
We accept and embrace drug addicts, liars, adulterers, thieves, murderers, and the list goes on. The Church needs to accept and embrace homosexuals as well and show them by love, example and the power of Christ that they do not have to remain that way but can be free to live a Christ-like life.
David Wallace is a search & social media marketer who lives in Ahwatukee, Arizona with his lovely wife. Interests & hobbies include Christianity, musicianship, all things Disney, and roller coasters to name a few.
