What are the different christian attitudes to homosexuality?

Answer 1

There are some so-called Christians who will judge (against Christ's teachings) all homosexuals as deviant perverts who should be damned to hell. Yet the 'condemnation' of homosexuality in The Bible is confined to just a few lines of scripture written by Paul - but Jesus himself had absolutely nothing to say about homosexuals.

The belief that homosexuality is wrong is a misinterpretation of a few verses written by Paul in one of his letters. Sadly, some hard line fundamentalist Christians seem to forget the Christian truth that all are created in the image of God and that we are to love each other just as Christ loved us -warts and all - and whatever our background, creed, colour, race or sexual orientation. Instead, they seem to single out homosexuals and treat them in the same way as they would treat murderers, rapists or predatory paedophiles, forgetting that the vast majority of homosexuals live in monogamous. committed, loving relationships.

The verses in question are uttered by Paul who was speaking to a particular church at a particular time. He does have a go at what the bible refers to as 'homosexuals' but in the same verses he also indicts gluttons, greedy people and slanderers (surely we all fit into one of these categories?). More to the point, however, is that the word used for homosexual in this context (in the original Greek of Paul) is categorically not what we understand by the word 'homosexual' today.

In the passages in question, Paul is not referring to homosexuals in a committed relationship (as we would understand today) but is actually referring to those men who have sex with pagan male temple prostitutes - a practice that was rife in the pagan worship of multicultural and multifaith Corinth. He wrote his letter to the Christian church there warning them of becoming involved in such pagan practices and did not indict homosexuals themselves as we would understand them, for all time. Indeed the Greek word that Paul uses for 'homosexual' is categorically reserved for pagan homosexual prostitutes rather than just homosexuals- which is a totally different word in the original Greek. In English, of course, there is no distinction between the two (just as there is one English word for 'love' as opposed to several in Greek) and so those fundamentalists who have adopted an English version of scripture as their 'god' rather than what a God of love has actually revealed, primarily through their own ignorance of actual Biblical truth, have totally missed the point.

Sadly, as with many things, there are those who would use scripture out of context and twist and warp the true meaning so as to be able to back up their own bigoted viewpoint. A simple tip in all this is to ask what Jesus would have said or did. As someone who spoke out against hypocrisy, and who loved people for who there were from the hated Samaritan or the tax collector right through to the common prostitute, I know categorically what he would have to say about it.

Answer 2

The attitudes that exist in Christianity are the attitudes and the characteristics Jesus has. For example kind,tenderhearted, forgiving, loving, merciful stuff like that. To be a christian means to be Christ like. But to be a christian you must be saved.

Answer 3

he Bible's attitude toward homosexuality depends completely on the interpretation of the reader. For example, most Jews read Leviticus 18:22 as a prohibition against rape and/or sexual humiliation of men. Jews also do not believe the story of Sodom and Gomorrah talks about homosexuality.

in fact, even the most conservative viewpoints of the Bible say that it only mentions specific acts, and nothing about nature of sexual orientation.

BIBLICAL-Interpretive Answer

Let theBible interpret the Bible: What doesGodsay about homosexuality?

1. God unequivocally forbids homosexuality:-

Leviticus 18:22 MKJV

(v.22) You shall not lie with mankind as with womankind. It is abomination to God.

2. God condemmed Sodom and Gomorrah for their homosexuality. It is sin:-

Genesis 18:20-21 NET

(v.20) So the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so blatant

(v.21) that I must go down and see if they are as wicked as the outcry suggests. If not, I want to know."

3. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their unrepentant homosexuality:-

Genesis 19:4-5

Genesis 19:4-5 NET

(v.4) Before they could lie down to sleep, all the men - both young and old, from every part of the city of Sodom - surrounded the house. (v.5) They shouted to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!"

Genesis 19:24-26

Genesis 19:24-26 NET

(v.24) Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah. It was sent down from the sky by the LORD.

(v.25) So he overthrew those cities and all that region,7including all the inhabitants of the cities and the vegetation that grew from the ground.

(v.26) But Lot's wife looked back longingly and was turned into a pillar of salt.

4. The example of Sodom and Gomorrah is given as a warning for people of all ages. God holds homosexuals fully accountable for their sin:-

2 Peter 2:6, 9-10 NET

(v.6) and if he [God] turned to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when he condemned them to destruction, having appointed them to serve as an example to future generations of the ungodly,

(v.9) - if so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials, and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment,

(v.10) especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority.

Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones,

Jude 6-7

Jude 1:6-7 NET

(v.6) You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain2but abandoned their own place of residence, he has keptin eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day.

(v.7) So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

5. God's wrath is revealed against all of the godlessness and wickedness of men - this includes homosexuality:-

Romans 1:24, 26-27, 32 NET

(v.24) Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.

(v.26) For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones,

(v.27) and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

(v.32) Although they fully know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them.

6. Paul describes homosexuality as a perversion of God's gift:-

Romans 1:26-28 NET

(v.26) For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones,

(v.27) and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

(v.28) And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done.

7. The wicked - including homosexuals - will not inherit the kingdom of God:-

1Cor 6:9-10

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NET

(v.9) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals,

(v.10) thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive,7 and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God.

BUT

8. There ishope for homosexuals - God forgives and cleanses persons of this sin:-

1Cor 6:11

1 Corinthians 6:11 NET

(v.11) Some of you once lived this way. 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.

1 Corinthians 6:11 CEV

(v.11) Some of you used to be like that. But now the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of God's Spirit have washed you and made you holy and acceptable to God.

NB

Jesus is the God of the Old Testament

Colossians 1:15-17 CEV

(v.15) Christ is exactly like God, who cannot be seen. He is the first-born Son, superior to all creation.

(v.16) Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God's Son, and everything was made for him.

(v.17) God's Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together.

John 10:30-33 NET

(v.30) [Christ said]The Father and Iare one."

(v.31) The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death.

(v.32) Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?"

(v.33) The Jewish leaders replied, "We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God."

John 8:57-59 KJV

(v.57) Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

(v.58) Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

(v.59) Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 1:1-14 KJV

(v.1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(v.14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, ...

John 20:28 KJV

(v.28) And [Doubting] Thomas answered and said unto him [the resurrected Jesus Christ],My Lord and my God.

In the Beatitudes Jesus explained that all physical sin actually begins in the mind, so acceptance of homosexuality by 'straight' people is just as bad as if they were homosexuals themselves.

Upon REPENTANCE, ALL sins WILL be forgiven, and that INCLUDES homosexuality.

Answer 4

The Bible's attitude toward homosexuality depends completely on the interpretation of the reader. For example, most Jews read Leviticus 18:22 as a prohibition against rape and/or sexual humiliation of men. Jews also do not believe the story of Sodom and Gomorrah talks about homosexuality.

in fact, even the most conservative viewpoints of the Bible say that it only mentions specific acts, and nothing about nature of sexual orientation.