This is one of the most sensitive and debated topics in the modern church. It is essential to approach it with both biblical fidelity and genuine compassion. Here is what the Bible says.


Old Testament Passages

- Genesis 1-2: God's original design for marriage is presented as one man and one woman: 'A man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh' (Genesis 2:24).

- Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13: Same-sex sexual activity is listed among prohibited sexual behaviors. Some argue these laws are part of the Mosaic purity code that no longer applies, but they are listed alongside prohibitions (incest, adultery, bestiality) that are universally recognized as still binding.


New Testament Passages

- Romans 1:26-27: Paul describes same-sex relations as 'contrary to nature' in the context of humanity's rebellion against God.

- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: Lists 'men who have sex with men' among those who 'will not inherit the kingdom of God.' But verse 11 immediately adds: 'And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.'


What the Bible Consistently Teaches

1. God's design for sexual intimacy is within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.

2. Same-sex sexual behavior is consistently presented as outside God's design.

3. Same-sex attraction itself is not presented as a sin — it is the acting on it that is addressed.

4. Homosexual sin is never singled out as worse than other sins. It appears in lists alongside greed, gossip, pride, and idolatry.


The Call to Compassion

While upholding biblical teaching, the church must also reflect the character of Christ, who was known as a 'friend of sinners' (Matthew 11:19). Every person — regardless of their sexual orientation — is made in the image of God, loved by God, and invited into relationship with God. The church should be the safest place for anyone to wrestle with hard questions, not the most hostile.


The Tension

Faithful Christians must hold two truths simultaneously: (1) God's sexual ethic as revealed in Scripture, and (2) the unconditional love and dignity owed to every human being. This tension is not easy, but it is the path Jesus modeled — full of both truth and grace (John 1:14).