Homosexuals in the church
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.
