Is Homosexuality Compatible With Christianity?
by Jeff Reed
Many people are talking about the news that Phil Robertson was discriminated against by A&E in suspending him from the television show “Duck Dynasty” based on his religious views that homosexuality is a sin. A&E stated, “His personal views in no way reflect those of A&E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community. The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely." A spokesman for GLAAD, a homosexual advocacy group, said: ”Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil's lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe. He clearly knows nothing about gay people or the majority of Louisianans — and Americans — who support legal recognition for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples.”
The question arises, “Is practicing or supporting homosexuality compatible with Christianity?” The spokesman from GLAAD indicated that “true Christians” support homosexuality. I could give you my own opinion, but I’d prefer to look at what the Bible has to say about this topic. Phil Robertson paraphrased 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 in his controversial GQ interview. It states, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (emphasis added). There are quite a few more sins listed than homosexuality, but it is definitely part of that list.
We are all guilty of sin. “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one’” (Romans 3:10). As Christians we are forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus, but we are supposed to stop sinning. Notice what we are told in Romans 6:1-4: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
There are numerous other passages that define homosexuality as a sin. One of the clearest is in Romans 1:26-32. It states:
“26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (emphasis added).
Not only is the practice of sin (including homosexuality) deserving of death, but also those who approve of sin. So the answer to the question, “Is practicing or supporting homosexuality compatible with Christianity?” is absolutely no, it is not.
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