Why is the Bible Against Homosexuality & How Should Christians Treat Gay People?

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who have sex with men”
1 Corinthians 6:9

Dealing with the subject homosexuality in the modern day, is often a complicated and sensitive subject. Feelings of people are easily hurt, and people’s feelings in these times do not have a high threshold for patience in regard to what is seen as mere “outdated and ignorant prejudices”.

This is why so many churches have decided to accept homosexual behaviours or lifestyles in their congregations, and have declared it not to be a sin. Afterall, it is reasoned that we are not living in the year 1 C.E anymore. And we understand today that there those who are perhaps quite literally biologically born with such sexual orientation as opposed to having “chose” to be gay, just as those of us who are straight have not “chosen” our own orientation.

These are indeed all very valid points, and play very important parts to the way we as Christians should treat those who are gay.

Yet, what is undeniable, that according to the Bible, the holy texts containing the words of God and his prophets, which we as Christians adhere to, states that unchangeable the law of God requires that people must strive to not live a homosexual life style, that being “men who lie with men” and “women enaging in unnatural acts” (Romans 1:26-27).

It is described in the Bible as being “unnatural and sinful” even if an inborn trait, just as it is with some of those who are biologically born with a sexual attraction to children (who some of which end up becoming pedophiles and molesters), or those who are sexually attracted to animals (some of which end up committing acts of bestiality) are regarded as having “unnatural sexual orientation” despite being born in such a way.

Of course this is a hard pill to swallow, and when being born and raised in a modern society with modern understandings of the mind and brain, is it any wonder? Today, homophobia is comparable to racism (and I would in fact say, rightly so), yet God’s word does not change, and He has stated homosexuality to be a sin which one can be judged for at the end of all things, and because it is said to be the word of God, that’s not something I as a believing Christian can argue against.

However… I do think it is something to be “properly understood”.

To truly understand the “Biblical crime” of homosexuality, and to best explain it to people of the modern day, especially to those who they themselves are gay, it must be looked at in the ‘historical’ context, as to why and how these laws and commands came to be.

The Historical View

All the laws of God are said to based upon “love”, aka “benefits” (1 John 4:8, Isaiah 48:17). And this of course, also includes the prohibtions against homosexuality.

Today of course, this statement on the surface seems absurd to those of a gay orientation, considering their very “born identity” is put on trial by God, and this is a more than understandable feeling. Afterall, why would God want to destroy or punish people, merely for being born feeling a sexual or romantic attraction to another individual of a certain sex? How on earth in any sane person’s mind can this be considered a “law based upon love”?

To understand what’s actually going on here, we have to take a closer look to the time period and world people lived in when those words were first penned into the scriptures, and why these laws and stances were catergorised as “positive”, “protective” and “loving”, as opposed to intollerant, ignorant, and homophobic.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

One of the major reasons homosexualilty was frowned upon in the ancient world was the spread of disease.

In this respect, homosexual relations were seen as comparable to acts of fornication between straight people. In an historical context, fornication (sex outside of marriage) was bad, why? Because they had no contraception like today, and survival was based upon the existence of the family unit in society back in those times.

As a result of fornication, many fatherless and motherless children would be walking the streets homeless, as men traditionally were the “bread winners”.

A broken family was seen to be a shameful thing which had real effects on a child’s life.

But besides the suffering, shame and drama of a broken family, there were additionally recognisable STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases), which would have spread rapidly from person to person, causing multitudes of early, painful deaths, including the deaths of babies (especially if a man was living an adulterous bisexual lifestyle – which many men did in the ancient world, particularly in Greece and Rome where it was a secular practice for married men to be able to have young male sex slaves to demonstrate their “dominant masculinity”).

“Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are as old as mankind and epidemics are mentioned already in the Old Testament… In the medieval ages, the relation to sexual activities was recognized… In the late 15th and 16th century a presumably “new plague” had been imported to Europe and was rapidly spread by soldiers”. – History of sexually transmitted infections (STI), G Burg, NIH 

“The history of herpes begins as early as ancient Greek times. Hippocrates speaks of the condition in his writings. Even the word “herpes” is a Greek word that means “to creep or crawl” which is the way that the Greeks described the way that skin lesions spread. In Roman times, the emperor Tiberius tried to stop an outbreak of mouth herpes by prohibiting kissing at public events and ceremonies”. – What is The History of Herpes and How is it Spread? Sheldon Miller

Without medication or condoms, likewise to fornication, rampant disease was the consequence (much more so in fact for homosexual relationships, just as it is today). As such, ancient people would have considered the Biblical law in such a time and context to be a protection.

Abiding by laws which forbade homosexual sex, particularly for men, would have been a preventative measure against the breeding of STDs.

General Health Concerns

Besides STDs, the consequences of gay sex, though not spoken of too often publically, can either result in many other health problems. In addition, more evidence is mounting up to show that homosexual behaviours or orientations may even be a result ‘of’ many precurring neurological (mental) diverse conditions.

On the physical side, this might include damage to the bodily organs and excretal infection (predominantly in anal sex between men – and such consequences being just as equally a health risk factor in male to female anal sex). And homosexuality, along with other alternative sexual orientations, have also been linked intrinsically with anxiety, depression, or conditions such as bipolar and autism.

“Gay men and other men who have sex with men may be at an increased risk of depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety…. Gay men also are more likely to have body image problems and eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, than are other men…. Gay men are more likely to deal with alcohol use disorder than are other people…

Lesbians and other women who have sex with women are more likely to have alcohol use disorder and use illegal drugs than are other people”. – Mayo Clinic

“…autistic people may experience hypersexual and paraphillic fantasies more frequently than allistic people…. The link between autism, sexual orientation, and gender identity is unclear, but there appears to be a connection“. – Psych Central

“In a survey of nearly 2,400 adults, researchers found that those with autism were three to nine times more likely to identify as homosexual, asexual or “other”. – Department of Psychiatry

“Anal intercourse is a common practice among both heterosexual and homosexual couples where at least one of the partners is male… little is known about the impact of anal intercourse on fecal continence… [Test] results provide initial epidemiologic evidence supporting a link between anal intercourse and FI among both men and women…

-Women and men who practice anal intercourse have higher rates of fecal incontinence.

–Men who practiced anal intercourse had higher odds of having fecal incontinence than women“. – Anal Intercourse and Fecal Incontinence: Evidence from the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

“Rectal problems are common in men who engage in anal intercourse…. Problems, such as severe piles (haemorrhoids) and fissures…” – NetDoctor

With mental and physical health consequences like these in mind, and connections between homosexual behaviour being possibly instrinsically linked with other neurodiversities, this would have been another likely factor in contributing to the perception of such relationships “being less than ideal”, a “result of mental sickness” or “unnatural”, resulting in the desire to control or supress such things in ancient society.

Of course, this is not to say that conditions such as autism, bipolar, and other neurodiversities are to be demonised in themselves, or that all people with said conditions are to automatically assumed to be of “alternative sexual orientations”. (I confirm this myself as someone on the Autism & ADHD Spectrum). No, this is not a condoning of Ableism.

Rather, the connection made between sexual orientation and said neurodiversities are merely something noteworthy to take into consideration, in that mental divergences from what is commonly now referred to “neurotypicalness” often can result in more “eccentric” or even socially unacceptable behaviours, depending on the neurodiverse individual.

In this respect, homosexuality would from the view point of the ancient world, would be catergorised as “deviance from the norm”, and might be a result of neurodiverities which also often result in many other would-be considered “unnatural” or otherwise “unhealthy behaviours and thought patterns” – as demonstrated by the physical consequences resulting from the homosexual behaviours.

Population Maintenance

Another reason homosexualilty was frowned upon, was the need for populous tribes and civilisations for suvival. In a kill or be killed world, having numbers for both resources and protection was vital.

In addition to babies being diseased by parents who had engaged in either homosexual or adulterous conduct, gay relationships do not produce offspring. Hence, if people in ancient times were performing homosexual acts to satisfy their sexual cravings, it would have been seen as a threat to that society’s population growth, and in turn, their security and existence.

It was for this reason also in fact, why in some societies, contraception was banned.

“The emperor Augustus (31 BCE-14 CE) imposed a number of pieces of legislation that provided benefits for marriage and childbirth within the Empire, while penalizing bachelors for not contributing to society. In 17 BCE, Augustus quoted an earlier Roman censor of 131 BCE and told the Senate that though wives were a hassle, “We must plan for our lasting preservation rather than for our temporary pleasure’“. – Forbes, The Debate Over Contraception Has An Ancient History

Human Rights

Another factor of ancient reason, surprisingly also may have been a form of human rights.

This of course sounds very surprising for people today, as the ‘acceptance’ of homosexuality today, is based upon that exact premise. However, what must be recognised, is that homosexual culture in the ancient world, was not back then what it is today.

Ancient homosexual culture, predominantly did not revolve around loving, consensual relationships. Rather, the great majority of homosexual behaviour and culture reolved around the practices of sex-slavery, rape, domination and pederasty. This is even demonstrated in the account of Sodom and Gommorah at Genesis, where the men of the city attempted to rape two angels and Lot:

• “…and they shouted for Lot, saying: ‘Where are the men who came to your home this evening? Send them out to us, so we can [have sex] with them!’ Well, Lot went out on his porch, shut the door behind him, and said: ‘Absolutely not, my brothers! Don’t do this wicked thing! I have two daughters that have never [had sex] with a man. I’ll bring them out to you and you can do whatever you want with them. However, don’t harm these men! It was to avoid such a thing that [I brought them] under the shelter of my roof!’ But they replied: ‘Get out of the way! You came here to live among us, and [now, do you think you] have become our judge? We’re going to do more harm to you than we’ll do to them!’”. – Genesis 19:5-9

Therefore, the laws against homosexual behaviour, also would have largely revolved around the general digust of these kinds of cultures, and acted a protection for those who would have otherwise become victim to sex-slavery or rape culture. – Not too dissimilar to acts of same sex activty in the animal kingdom, where some animals engage in such acts to make themselves pack leaders, or to declare ownership of their territory, or even to win the mate that they were competing for.

“[The ancient Greeks believed that] a man who likes to be anally penetrated by another man is a pervert, a source of potential social unrest, and he should be treated like a woman whose role he takes”. – Eros: The myth of ancient Greek sexuality

“Few records of homosexuality exist in Egyptian mythology, and the written and pictorial works are reticent in representing sexualities. The sources that do exist indicate that same-sex relations were regarded negatively, and that penetrative sex was seen as an aggressive act of dominance and power, shameful to the receiver (a common view in the Mediterranean basin area)”. – Wikipedia, LGBT Themes in Mythology

Hence, having laws against homosexual behaviours back then, very much likely included the consideration of that culture along with it. Which is why ancient people didn’t even have a word for “a homosexual”, beyond its catergorsation with these activities.

Why it was seen as a Crime

To fully grasp why things such as fornication and of course, homosexuality, were considered “crimes”, and were listed next to things such as theft and murder in the Bible, lies in the understanding of ancient society as a whole in itself and its justice system.

Homosexuality in ancient times was seen as a crime, not in all, but in many societies. There were of course some societies, such as the Canannites, Greeks, Aztecs, and the later stages of ancient Rome, where homosexuality was “accepted” or practised…

But as aforementioned, even in those societies, the man or woman in the “receptive” homosexual role was often looked down upon. The times when homosexuality was typically seen as more acceptable was when it was done by someone either in a lower class role (such a slave), or when it was done as a form of religious fertility ritual, as opposed to a daily lifestyle or typical relationship as it is in the modern day.

As mentioned previously, in most ancient contexts, the homosexual act was typically associated with rape and pederasty.

Homosexual acts in ancient times were punishable by the same measure as murder and theft in some of those societies, even in ancient Israel (Leviticus 20:13). Such laws were likely formed in the ancient world on the basis of the natural consequences in nature that such lifestyle entailed (of which spread disease, suffering, and death to others).

In a sense, it could be seen from their point of view as the principle of “an eye for eye” (Leviticus 24:17-22) which was practised throughout the ancient world.

It was likely understood in ancient Israel and other similar ancient societies, that a homosexual person’s actions were unnatural, against the physical biological design, was associated with rape culture, and that it spread disease and death to others. Therefore, they were likely given death or imprisonment in turn, as an attempt to “match the punishment to the crime”.

We also have to consider that homosexuals in those times did not have the luxury to say “I was born this way, I’m not hurting anyone, leave me alone”, for in fact… they ‘were’ hurting people, either directly or indirectly, and the ancient people were aware of it.

It was in fact the gradual acceptance of mass sexual immorality in general (including orgies, fornication, homosexual relations, etc) which in part contributed to the downfall of Rome’s society and Empire, as disease began to spread like wildfire.

“Imperial Rome had many more noteworthy afflictions, ranging from sexually transmitted diseases to catastrophic plagues” – Disease in Imperial Rome, Wikipedia

“One thing is well known about Ancient Rome – it was a sexually free time, where Emperors had mind-boggling orgies, sex competitions, and halls and vases were covered in erotic artwork…” – Sex in Ancient Rome: Behind the Tales of Wild Eroticism, a Different Truth

Thus, we are to understand the historical precedent for anti-homosexualilty was not merely from unfounded predjudces in those times, but rather, there was a practical reason, and explains largely to a degree, why homosexual relations were frowned upon so strongly. It is that they were seen as “unloving” relationships due to the consequences involved, both societally, and individually.

In similar stead to modern times, if a pedophile today says; “I was born this way, leave me alone”, the reactions sparked are often outbursts of disgust and anger, even amongst the LGBT community. Even though they ‘are’ born that way, it is on the basis that they hurt children, that there is a 99% global agreement that sex with children is wrong.

“By studying the brains of convicted child sex offenders, neuroscientist Doctor James Cantor claims to have uncovered an important – but uncomfortable – fact: Paedophiles are born, not made…. Dr Cantor told 60 Minutes he’d studied MRI scans of convicted child sex offenders, and found a dramatic cross-wiring in the connective tissue of their brains”. – 9News, 60 Minutes

“Evidence is increasingly showing that both nature and nurture play a role in the genesis of pedophilia. Some neuroscientists claim to have demonstrated by brain imaging studies that the brains of pedophiles are wired differently to non-pedophiles. An individual’s environment, particularly when they themselves are still a child, can also affect whether they later develop pedophilic urges…”. – Psychology Today

In turn, same sex relations in ancient times, whether a result of an inborn orientation or not, were likely viewed in that exact same light before the advancement of modern medical means. In ancient times, to act on gay impulses was seen to be a crime of unnatural selfish perversion and spreading of disease, fit only for slaves, victims of domination-rape, or those in decedent societies.

Thereby, the consequences of such relationships and the practical results, took precedent in the judgement of homosexual behaviour, over that of the consideration of in-born nature.

Ancient Societal Paradigm: Why anti-gay laws weren’t Considered “Homophobic”

One might be curious as to why anti-gay laws had mass acceptance in ancient times. Of why there were no ancient “LGBT rights movements” to support those who may have been born such a way.

One of the most likely major reasons this did not happen, is that those who were born gay would have grown up in an anti-gay society from birth, combined with the immoral culture and clear manifestation of the physical consequences such a life style entailed as aforementioned.

Thus, a homosexual would have been both psychologically and socially comparable to a person in our modern day who is born with the sexual orientation of a pedophile.

He or she would grow up within that mass society knowing that his or her actions, even if they were an in-born impulse, would be universally seen as morally wrong by everyone around them, and could have dire consequences on a person’s health. They would feel the same sense of shame, moral responsibility and guilt as a modern day pedophile would.

Those going out and actually committing the act, would be ones choosing to have the reputation of either a pervert, slave, or criminal.

In societies where such actions were fully illegal, it was to truly “be a criminal”, as the idea of gay sex being an “evil crime” would have been as strongly implanted in a homosexual’s ‘own’ head from birth, just as much as it was in everyone else’s head from birth in those ancient societies (some of which still retain this cultural outlook today, such as isolated tribes, or some Middle Eastern cultures).

This is why the laws against homosexuals, in both society and religion, were not seen as some evil intolerant regime at the time, either by those holding to those laws, or those who were victim to the punishments of those laws.

Most if not all homosexuals in those days would have been ‘self professed’ “criminals and perverts” due to knowing no other way of life or society, just as a pedophile today would admit they were a self professed criminal for acting on ‘their’ in-born impulses, because of the society ‘we’ exist in.

We must strive to understand that we are dealing with two completely different social paradigms, where we can barely even begin to understand or empathise with what it would have been like to live back then, where such laws were seen as “normal”.

How Homosexuals Were To Be Treated in Early Christian Congregation

On the contrary, however, even in ancient society where homosexualilty was frowned upon, it is important to know that homosexuals were not punished or abused in the early Christian Congregation.

Whereas in previous laws and socieites, homosexuals would be punished, beaten or even killed, Christians were not to act in such a way. Gay people were not being beaten, slapped, cursed at, imprisoned or put to death by the earliest Christians. Rather, gay members of the Congregation were simply told “don’t do it”, and the matter ended there.

If a practising Christian committed such acts without repentance, the worse one could receive was excommunication from the congregation (which simply means not being able to go to church anymore or have spiritual fellowship with the congregation), and it was left to God and Yeshua to ultimately judge that individual, but a certain level of interaction with the individual was still permitted (Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).

There is no doubt of course, that people’s “views” (even if not their actions) of homosexuals in general society back amongst Christians in those times, would perhaps have been somewhat homophobic by today’s standards. Afterall, such people were outright labelled as “obscene” and “unnatural”, even in the Christian texts (such as Paul’s letters).

But again, we must understand that this was on the basis of the global atmosphere of the time, and how most people saw and openly spoke about gays, as well as the general ancient culture that revolved around it – that being lust, slavery, pederasty and rape.

Hence, such a view and opinion of homosexuality, was all very much normal.

How Should We View Homosexuals in Modern Society?

Empathy Toward The Inner Person

Because society is now different, upon the basis of the Biblical Christian teaching of empathy and mercy based upon “ignorance”, we must strive for a loving understanding of the inner person’s heart over his or her outward appearance, or in this case, actions and lifestyle (1 Samuel 16:7).

An example is the Apostle Paul, who was shown mercy after he stoned Christians to death because he genuinely felt it was the morally right thing to do (Acts 7:58). We must bear in mind what Yeshua said to the Pharisees, that “those who are blind commit no sin” (John 9:41) and that today the world is being “blinded” by the wicked one who controls it (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Today, a person who is gay may be anti-Christian because they believe it is the morally right thing to do from a good place in their heart. In that stead, we today understand people are born a certain way, that society is different (of which people are born into), as are the modern implications of living a homosexual life, and those acting on homosexuality are not all “evil perverts”.

In fact, many if not most homosexuals today are law-abiding and morally upstanding people in society, who often care greatly for the wellbeing of others, in the manner that Yeshua teaches us to be. All they often express a desire for, is to be allowed to have a consenual romantic or sexual relationship with another of the same sex in peace and without judgement or abuse.

We must also keep in mind the principle; “consider what is right in the eyes of all men” (Romans 12:17), and today all or most men (and women) do not see homosexuality as unnatural, perverted or as a crime. And certainly, we don’t see a culture of gay rape or domination revolving around homosexuality today either (at least, outside of prisons, but that’s a totally different subject).

Separating the Sin from the Sinner

Of course, this does not suddenly mean, we are free to teach that acting on gay urges or preferences is “acceptable for a Christian”. The scriptures are quite clear on this matter.

But the point to take away is, we should be not be harshly condemning of such people. Just as in the first century, all that can be said is merely; “God said don’t do that”, and if we can we must do our best to lovingly and empathetically explain why that is (just as I am aiming to do my best to in this article).

Christian counsel and teaching in this respect should never be coupled with homophobia, but rather, understanding and mercy.

Homophobia (abusing, mocking, insulting, outcasting, dehumanising) is as wrong as racism is today, even by a Christian standpoint, in fact no… ‘especially’ by a Christian standpoint.

Yeshua (of whom himself when on Earth ate with tax collectors and sinners – perhaps some of which were even gay themselves), by God’s decree, will be the one responsible for reading people’s hearts and judging the everlasting fate of all individuals at the end. He will know the situations of all individuals, and takes into account the world and societies we live in, just as God did with the ancients, such as when He tolerated mankind’s practices of idolatry (Acts 17:30), or when He overlooked polygamy (Matthew 19:8).

There is no need to “dehumanise” gay people. Rather, we should just treat them normally as any other individual, as anyone who might have a weakness or proneness to a certain sin. We should not make it uncomfortable or frightening for a gay person to confess to us. If it is, then it means our Christian love is lacking.

It is well known that many gay people who are “in the closet” commit suicide or develop many emotional and mental health problems ‘because’ of the fact they they feel they have to hide how they feel inside from others – and so it’s important that homosexual people can feel safe and at ease in revealing to their brothers and sisters, of how they are truly feeling inside regarding their sexuality, without judgement.

The principled love of our Lord teaches us, that we shouldn’t make anyone feel that way (Matthew 5:44-46, Jude 1:22, James 5:16), especially if they are genuinly born that way and cannot help the sexual orientation or feelings they have.

When a straight couple commits sexual sin, we do not suddenly view them as “freaks”, to be victim to… “fornicaphobia” (just to make up a word on the spot to get the point across), rather, they merely committed a sin of which they have chance to repent, and it should it be viewed the same was as it is with those who are gay.

However, at the same time, we cannot announce the ‘practice’ as “not being a sin anymore”, and as scripture clearly says, nor should such ones who promote or willingly practice such a lifestyle be in teaching positions in congregations (1 Timothy 3:1-10), as crude or “politically incorrect” as it may sound to others.

This is not to say that a man or woman born gay, or has a history of homosexuality cannot be a Christian teacher or hold a church position. It is only the one without repentance, the one who “willingly practices and promotes” such things, who is to be seen as unsuitable for such a position in the Congregation.

But this here lies the fault of many modern churches, who either go to one extreme, and throw stones (sometimes literally) at homosexuals, or those who go to the other end of the spectrum by changing God’s written laws to suit themselves.

The churches of many denominations now, are accepting the very open practice of homosexuality, and are appointing their various priests or ministers who are openly in such relationships.

This is the extreme where “understanding and tolerance” (not bad things in themselves, as I have aforementioned) have overtaken God’s objective authority on the matter, for people are polarised in their mentality and cannot separate “conscientious conviction to law” against “prejudice”, and as such, it has sadly blinded them into the acceptance of sin in the congregations.

It is the responsibility of the Christian Congregation not to tolerate “wilful and unrepentant submittance” to these forbidden sexual urges by ‘practising members’, that is, believing Christians who fully accept God’s word as law, just as much as the Congregation would not tolerate the sexual sins (such as fornication or adultery) of a heterosexual (straight) couple.

We cannot be ‘assumptive’ and change the commands of God to say it’s “ok” now. We cannot argue that “what God says is unnatural is now not a sin in his view because we put a bandaid on it to prevent the natural consequences”.

Indeed, though we might understand that God “put up with” and even made arrangements to try and “control and regulate” certain practices in ancient times which came to be later condemned in the Christian teachings when Yeshua gave us God’s revelations (i.e; Polygamy and Divorce – Matthew 19:8, Luke 16:18), God’s laws are changed, adjusted or clarified in ‘his’ time, and at ‘his’ decree, not ours.

Make no mistake, I have nothing against anyone who is gay, for their lifestyle is not my business, I live my life, and they live theirs. I have associates and friends who are gay, and as a matter of fact, I will go as far to even admit to you that I have even once fell in love with a woman who was bisexual (but now gay), and she is one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever known inside and out.

If God said tomorrow “being gay is no longer a sin” I’d have no prejudice to overcome, I’d be happy for gay people… But this of course is not the case, and as a loyal man, son, worshipper, and preacher of God, I can only relay what He has established, and trust that as a “God of love”, He has reasons for everything He does and says, will make fair judgements, understanding our hearts, minds and circumstances.

I pray for the mercy and salvation of our God through means of his Son, Lord Yeshua, on all men and women, gay, straight, or otherwise.

“Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Genesis 18:25