Why is being ‘Gay’ viewed by Christians as a sin?
This question really has two parts. The first is what is sin? The second is what does being gay involve? Is being gay a mindset, an attitude, or a behavior? Now sin is simply breaking any of God’s laws in word, thought or deed. What is important to understand is that it’s not how Christians view sin but what God views as sin. The condition of being gay suggests an unnatural intimate relationship with a person of the same sex. Note that it is the practice of homosexual activity, not same gender attraction, that is a sin.
So, let’s see what God has to say about homosexual activity. In the Bible book of Leviticus 19:22 it is called an abomination. It does not get more explicit than that. In the book of Genesis chapter 19 we find that God totally destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their unnatural homosexual desires and practices. It is easy to see that God detests homosexual activity because it breaks God’s order about the relationship between a man and a woman.
In Genesis 1:27 we find that, “God created man in his own image; in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.” Further on we read,” man shall become one flesh with his wife and be fruitful and multiply.” God’s intention is for mankind to be joyful, healthy, safe, to love and to be loved. It is also for the forming of families in which to raise children where godliness can be learned and practiced. Now to be clear, it is not just homosexual behavior that God calls sin, but all sexual activity outside of the marriage between one man and one woman. Just think how much emotional, spiritual and physical pain would be eliminated if mankind followed God’s plan for human relationships.
When one’s life is surrendered to Jesus, one of the great things that happens is that God’s Word in the Bible certainly makes sense. We often wonder how they were so blind to the truth the Bible contains. God’s Word has the power to cause one to pause and reconsider what he or she may have believed before; and now to seriously doubt what the culture is proclaiming today.
Accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord allows the power of the Holy Spirit to begin the process of overcoming temptations and transforming behavior. If the idea of a life lived according to God’s Word is appealing to you, why not ask Jesus into your heart and begin this wonderful journey into the newness of life today.