In my previous post, I addressed three Bible verses that demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt that the Bible does not affirm same-sex relationships. Is this an unreasonable position? At least 10 arguments are frequently made today to say "Yes, you cannot trust the Bible because of its position on this issue." I will briefly state each of these and offer a response below each one.
1. "They are born that way"/"God made me this way."
First, Christians have often too quickly dismissed the idea of sexual orientation. An attraction to people of the same sex is often powerful, develops early in life, and is not something someone simply chooses to have one day. However, it is another leap to say that God has "made" a person this way. Studies on identical twins reveal that anywhere from 50% to 75% of a time one twin has a same-sex orientation, the other does not. That means without a doubt that you cannot explain sexual orientation primarily by genetics.
But could the cause be something beyond a person's control? Actually, yes. There may be a relationship between genetic factors, events during pregnancy, social environment, and traumatic events at an early age. However, none of these things mean that the Bible is unreasonable. The Bible itself teaches that we are born with a sin nature because of Adam, and that we live in a fallen world where sin is destructive and even warps our behavior.
In biblical thinking, having a same-sex orientation may be the result of having someone sin against them, their own sin nature (which everyone has) or even a medical issue during a pregnancy that is itself a sign of the sinful, fallen world we live in. The Bible gives a very realistic picture of the suffering that sin causes, and explains the causes. God did not design the world to be this way. The Bible does not always give the easy or popular answer, it seeks to truthfully tell us why things are the way they are. The Bible also points us toward the solution, and a reason to hope - Jesus Christ. People who have a same-sex orientation will have a certain set of challenges in living out the Christian faith, but so does everyone else who is seeking to live according to the Scriptures.
2. "Why would someone choose to be this way?"
Again, same-sex orientation comes with a set of challenges, but everyone goes through life with challenges. The Bible is God's gift to us to show us the right way to respond. God's instructions are loving, they show us the path to true success, happiness, and peace in life. Although someone may not choose their orientation, they can certainly choose what they will do with it. Disobeying biblical rules may help a person feel good for a time, but it will not ultimately be helpful. This is true with any sin.
3. "Animals do it."
I have heard this type of argument so many times. Really? Are we going to base our sexual morality on what animals do? I don't think I need to elaborate more.
4. "Love Wins"
What is your understanding of "Love"? Following biblical teaching does not mean a man cannot love another man. It means a man cannot have sex with another man. For the "Love Wins" argument to work, "love" has to be defined as synonymous with sex. The Bible gives us a much deeper understanding of love. Jesus loved us so much that he died in humiliation on a cross for our sins. This same Jesus taught that sex and marriage relationships should be between a man and a woman. I trust Jesus view on this issue, and that his view is the most loving view, than what "seems" right to our culture at this time.
5. "We cannot impose our morality on others."
Well, no. I cannot make someone be righteous. However, I am obligated at times to speak about what is right and wrong. If this statement is saying that our laws must endorse same-sex marriage, or relationships, then that is an entirely different matter. Just because I cannot prevent you from sin does not mean the government should support your sin by affirming it. See #6.
6. "This is a civil rights issue."
Since same-sex attraction is not genetic, it is not the same as race, something someone is clearly born with. But even if the attraction was genetic, the behavior is not. There are all sorts of behaviors that people may have a "genetic predisposition" toward. But no reasonable person would consider treating other behaviors by marking off a special class deserving of legal protection like race and gender.
The definition of marriage is not a civil rights issue. It is a definition of marriage issue. Before marriage was redefined by the courts, it was available to every person regardless of race or gender. The only thing that changed was what the definition of a marriage is. The Bible defines it as a life-long commitment between a man and a woman. The courts have now ruled that marriage is something different than that.
In a democratic republic like ours, people can have different views on this issue. Those who support same-sex marriage can elect officials who can pass laws to recognize same-sex marriage, and those who oppose it should have the right to seek legal means of opposing it. However, the Supreme Court by-passed this process. They based their decision on the assumption that homosexuality is not a behavior, but an essential part of who a person is, like a race. They did so not because of science or any secular field of study, but purely because of the political will to do so. Since the Bible says otherwise, that homosexuality is in fact a behavior and not at all like race, the Supreme Court had to essentially rule that the Bible is wrong in order to make the decision they made.
7. "You don't want to be on the wrong side of history."
Of course, if the Bible is right, affirming same-sex relationships is the wrong side of history. God's say in the matter is more definitive than where our culture is right now, or where it appears to be heading, because God has the final say on the matter.
8. "Do not Judge."
The kind of "judging" that Jesus has in view here is not the same kind of "judging" that people think of in a 21st century American context. In the same sermon, Jesus told his disciples they should "Watch out for false prophets...by their fruit you will recognize them" (Mat. 7:15-16). Jesus also frequently gave moral commands and even confronted many teachers of his day, calling them "hypocrites." The very command "Do not judge" shows that Jesus does not shy away from making absolute statements about morality. Jesus himself taught that homosexuality is wrong (see #9).
When you look at the context of Matthew 7:1-6, you can see that what Jesus is speaking about is holding others to a higher standard than you hold yourself to. See "Hard Bible Verses: Do Not Judge"
9. "Jesus never addresses it."
Maybe not directly, using the word "homosexual," but he made it clear what his position is on the issue. See my previous post.
10. "But how does it affect your marriage?"
I don't know of a single person who opposes same-sex marriage who argues that their marriage is going to be hurt. This is a straw man.
According to the Bible, marriage is a unique relationship created by God that is between one man and one woman for one lifetime. Jesus taught that only God can truly create this union (Matthew 19). Therefore, when the government declares a same-sex relationship a "marriage" it is declaring fiction. Only God can make it a true marriage, and his definition will not change. When the government recognizes marriage relationships, it must have a definition. That definition should be one that the people in that government reach an agreement on. Again, people may want to (wrongly) change the definition of marriages that the government will accept to include additional types of relationships beyond the biblical and traditional understanding of marriage. However, people who believe in the traditional view should have a right to support their view as well. Given that God warns of possible punishment for nations that embrace homosexuality (Leviticus 18 and Romans 1), this is an important political issue for Christians, regardless of the fact that there is no personal impact on our marriages.
Conclusion: Yes, our culture and the Bible are in conflict on this issue. Yes, from our culture's viewpoint, the Bible sounds unreasonable. Equally true, though, is that from the Bible's viewpoint our culture seems unreasonable. There is no argument advanced in support of same-sex relationships that should undermine the reasons for trusting the Bible. See How Do We Know the Bible is God's Word?
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