What does the Bible say about cross-dressing / transvestism?
Deuteronomy 22:5 deals with the issue cross-dressing / transvestism (men dressing in women’s clothing and vice versa). In this passage God commands that a woman is not to wear that which pertains to a man and a man is not to wear that which pertains to a woman, for all that do so are an “abomination.” The Hebrew word translated “abomination” means “a disgusting thing, abominable, in the ritual sense (of unclean food, idols, mixed marriages), in the ethical sense of wickedness.” Therefore, this is not simply God addressing the fact that a woman might put on a man’s garment or vice versa. Also, this is not a command that a woman should not wear pants/slacks as some use this passage to teach. The meaning here is that this “cross-dressing” and transvestism is done in order to deceive, or to present oneself as something that he/she is not. In other words, this speaks to a woman changing her dress and appearance so as to appear to be a man and a man changing his dress and appearance so as to appear to be a woman. This is the definition of cross-dressing or a transvestism.
We can also reason that the dynamic behind this is the leaving of what is natural and taking on that which is in God’s Word called unnatural (Romans 1:24-27). Paul tells the Corinthian church that the way a woman wears her hair is a reflection of God’s order, and therefore a woman who cuts her hair to appear as a man or a man who wears his hair long to appear as a woman brings shame to them (1 Corinthians 11:3-15). The issue here is the motive and attitude of the heart that is evidenced in the choice to rebel against God’s standard for obedience.
These are principles we can use to reason an application. Whatever the prevailing custom, men and women should wear gender-appropriate clothing, dressing decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40). To apply the principles, the Bible calls cross-dressing or transvestitism a choice that is a demonstration of unbelief and rebellion against God and His order.
Homosexuals in the church, what does the Bible say?
The issue of homosexuality and its place in the church has become one of the most contentious topics within modern Christianity. As society increasingly accepts and even celebrates same-sex relationships, many churches face pressure to conform to these cultural shifts. However, the Bible provides clear guidance for those who hold to the authority of Scripture. The goal is maintaining a strong, biblically based stance while simultaneously extending truth and grace to individuals.
The Bible unequivocally condemns homosexuality as sinful. This is not a matter of cultural interpretation but a consistent biblical teaching throughout the Old and New Testaments. In Leviticus 18:22, the Law of Moses explicitly states, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination” (ESV). The term abomination in this context indicates something deeply offensive to God’s established order.
The apostle Paul reiterates this stance in Romans 1:26–27, where he identifies homosexual acts as “dishonorable” and “contrary to nature.” These behaviors are, therefore, not only against God’s commandments but also against His natural order.
The consistency of the Bible’s message is further seen in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, where Paul warns, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (ESV). Those who engage in unrepentant sin, including those who commit homosexual acts, are excluded from the inheritance promised to believers.
Given the clarity of Scripture on this issue, the church must not compromise. Accepting homosexuality among church members is a direct challenge to the authority of the Bible. Allowing such behavior to go unchecked or celebrated within the church undermines the church’s witness to the world and distorts the gospel. The gospel calls all people to faith and repentance. God loves us, and His commands are given in love. Faith accepts that and is content (Galatians 2:20).
Pastorships, elderships, deaconships, and other positions of authority require blamelessness and holiness (Titus 1:6–9). Anyone in such a role must be a man who is “faithful to his wife” (1 Timothy 3:2, 12). Practicing homosexuals are thus disqualified from holding leadership roles in the church.
It is essential to distinguish between the sin of homosexuality and the individuals who struggle with same-sex attraction. The Bible calls for Christians to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). While the church must stand firmly against homosexuality, it must also be compassionate to those who struggle with this sin.
Jesus provides the perfect model of approaching sinners with truth and grace. In John 8:3–11, the Pharisees brought before Jesus a woman caught in adultery and sought to condemn her according to the law. Jesus, however, responded with both compassion and a call to repentance. He told the woman, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11, ESV). Jesus did not condone her sin, but neither did He reject her. Instead, He offered her a path to a new, sin-free life.
The church must adopt this same approach toward those who struggle with homosexual attraction. It must affirm the biblical teaching that homosexuality is sinful and incompatible with Christian life while also extending grace to those entangled in this sin. Galatians 6:1 instructs believers, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (ESV). The goal is always restoration, not condemnation.
The church must emphasize the power of the gospel to transform lives. First Corinthians 6:11 follows Paul’s list of sins that exclude people from the kingdom of God with a powerful statement: “Such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (ESV). Some of the Corinthian believers had once been involved in the sins that Paul condemns, including homosexuality. But through the power of Christ, they were changed. The church must offer this hope to all sinners, including those struggling with homosexuality.
The Bible mentions bestiality in four different passages. Exodus 22:19 says, “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal must be put to death.” Leviticus 18:23 declares, “Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.” Leviticus 20:15-16 commands, “If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal. If a woman approaches an animal to have sexual relations with it, kill both the woman and the animal. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” Deuteronomy 27:21 agrees, “Cursed is the man who has sexual relations with any animal.” From these verses, it is abundantly clear that, according to the Bible, bestiality is a horrible, unnatural, and abominable sin.
Why is bestiality condemned so strongly? First, it is an unnatural perversion. Clearly, human beings were designed/intended to mate with other human beings, not animals. In the creation account, none of the animals were “suitable” for Adam (Genesis 2:20). Second, bestiality represents the ultimate of sexual deviancy. The fact that the animal was to be put to death (Leviticus 20:15-16), despite the fact that it would be “innocent,” indicates how wickedly perverse bestiality is. Third, and perhaps most importantly, bestiality essentially denies the uniqueness of humanity which God created in His image (Genesis 1:27). Bestiality lowers humanity to nothing more than an animal, a beast which is unable to distinguish right from wrong, natural from unnatural, love from lust.
The New Testament nowhere mentions bestiality by name, but that should not be interpreted as an allowance for bestiality or a weakening of God’s moral standards. Bestiality is by definition included in Scripture’s many prohibitions against sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:19; Colossians 3:5; Hebrews 13:4).
