Biblical Debates: Is Homosexuality Considered a Sin?

Introduction: Finding God’s Peace in a Tough Question

God wants you to live with a heart full of peace and understanding! Sometimes, questions come up in life that can feel heavy, that can really weigh on our spirits. The question of whether homosexuality is a sin is one of those. It’s something that touches so many lives, so many families, and our church communities. It can bring up big emotions – maybe some pain, some confusion always a deep desire to know God’s truth and feel His love.

I want you to know this journey we’re about to take is one of kindness and seeking. It’s not about pointing fingers or making anyone feel bad. It’s about walking together, hand in hand, through what the Bible says, what wise believers in the past have taught, and how different folks today understand this very personal subject. Our goal, is to help you find understanding and give you good, solid information if you’re looking for answers.

We’re going to look at God’s Word, see how Christians through the ages have understood these scriptures, and listen to the hearts of believers today, especially those who have walked this path personally. Let’s believe together that God will guide us to wisdom and grace. When people search online about this, it’s often more than just wanting to know a rule. It’s about real life – maybe you’re figuring out who you are, or you want to love and support someone dear to you, or you’re a leader wanting to guide your flock, or you just have a heart that’s curious for God’s ways. That question, “Is homosexuality considered a sin?” it’s a big one behind it are real people, real stories, looking for answers with hope and faith. So, let’s approach this with a tender heart, knowing God cares about every single person.

Section 1: What Does the Bible Really Say about Homosexuality? Let’s Look Together

for every believer, the Bible is our roadmap, our guide for living a life that honors God. When we face those tough questions, we turn to its pages, hoping for clear answers. The Bible talks a lot about how we should live and love when it comes to what we today call “homosexuality,” there are just a few specific mentions. And how to understand those passages? Well, that’s where good, faithful people have some heartfelt discussions.

It’s so important to know right from the start that wonderful Christians, people who love the Bible with all their hearts, sometimes see these things differently.¹ This isn’t because some don’t care about scripture; it’s often because they understand the history, the culture, and the ancient words in different ways. Some believers feel the Bible clearly says that all same-sex actions are not God’s plan.¹ Others believe those Bible verses were talking about certain old practices, maybe things that were harmful or tied to idol worship, and not the same as the loving, committed same-sex relationships we see today.²

At the heart of this are a few key verses, sometimes called “clobber passages” because they are used so strongly.³ These are the main verses that support the traditional view that homosexual acts are considered sin. And, on the other side, new ways of looking at these same verses are what people who support LGBTQ+ Christians often talk about. Because these verses are so important, we need to look at them with care and an open mind.

Section 2: Exploring the Old Testament: Ancient Laws and God’s Heart

The Old Testament, has laws and stories that are a big part of this conversation. To really get what they meant back then and what they mean for us today, we’ve got to look closely at the words and the world they were written in.

2.1: The Laws in Leviticus: What Does “Abomination” Mean for Us?

Are Old Testament laws about homosexuality (like in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13) still rules Christians have to follow today?

You’ll find two verses in Leviticus that are really central here. Leviticus 18:22 says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination”.³ And Leviticus 20:13 says it again and adds a very serious consequence: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death”.⁴

That word “abomination,” or to’evah in Hebrew, is a key word. It could mean something that was unclean in the special culture of ancient Israel, or it could mean something that’s just plain wrong in God’s eyes, always and forever. Often, this word was used for things connected to idol worship or actions that broke Israel’s special promises with God.⁷

The traditional way of seeing it is that these verses are God’s clear, unchanging rule against all male homosexual acts, showing His moral law and how He created things to be.⁶ From this viewpoint, these rules apply to everyone, everywhere.

But, there are other ways to understand this, looking at the context:

• Part of a Special Code: Some smart folks and theologians say these laws were part of what’s called the Holiness Code (that’s in Leviticus 17–26). This code had lots of rules to help ancient Israel be different from the other nations around them, nations that sometimes worshipped false gods with practices like temple prostitution or strange rituals.⁵ So, the question becomes: do these specific rules, from that particular time and culture, apply directly to us Christians, who aren’t under all of the old Jewish laws?² The Old Testament itself tells them not to copy Egypt or Canaan 5, which makes you think some rules were about avoiding those pagan ways.
• About Incest or Harmful Acts? Other folks look at what’s written right around these verses in Leviticus 18. A lot of it is about sexual relationships that were forbidden, many of them being incest.³ Some who study the old Hebrew language think Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 might have been talking about male incest or other harmful sexual acts, not every kind of same-sex behavior.³ This often comes down to a really close look at the original words.
• Not for Christians Today? A more direct idea, from groups like The Reformation Project, is that Christians were never meant to follow all of the Old Testament laws.² Just like we don’t follow the old dietary rules or animal sacrifices, they say these specific rules about same-sex acts also don’t directly apply to us.

This brings up a big question for all of us as Christians: how do we know which Old Testament laws are God’s timeless truths (like the Ten Commandments) and which were for that specific time and culture? How we answer that really shapes how we see these Leviticus laws. The world back then, the Ancient Near East (ANE), was very different. These laws were given to God’s people to help them be separate. Knowing what ANE practices they were turning away from helps us see why those things were a problem for Israel’s special relationship with God. Some scholars believe Hebrew law on this was unique and seen as going against God’s design 8, while others think the rules were more about stopping pagan worship or acts that hurt their society.

2.2: The Story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19): What Really Happened?

What was the big sin of Sodom and Gomorrah? Was it mainly about homosexuality?

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 is another one that often comes up. In the story, Lot welcomes two angels (who look like men) into his home. Then, the men of Sodom surround the house and demand that Lot bring out his guests “so we can have sex with them” (or “know them,” which in the Bible often means sex).⁴ After this, God destroys the cities.

The traditional understanding is that the main sin of Sodom, the reason it was destroyed, was homosexual desire and the terrible attempt to gang rape Lot’s visitors. This is seen as God showing how much He disapproves of such acts.⁴

But, there are other ways to see this story:

• Being Cruel and Violent: Many scholars, and even some old Jewish teachings, say the biggest sin of Sodom wasn’t consensual homosexual acts terrible unfriendliness, pride, not caring for the poor, and being violent—specifically, trying to gang rape strangers who should have been protected.² Even the Bible, in other places like Ezekiel 16:49-50, says Sodom’s sins were “arrogance, too much food, and easy living; they didn’t help the poor and needy…and did detestable things before Me,” without saying same-sex acts were the only or main reason for God’s judgment.
• About Rape, Not Who You Love: Even if the attackers wanted sex, what they tried to do was violent gang rape. That’s a world away from the idea of a loving, consensual same-sex relationship like we think of today.² So, some say it’s not right to condemn all homosexuality based on this story.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is definitely a tough one, showing many kinds of sin, like being terribly unwelcoming and violently aggressive. Figuring out exactly what it means for us today is still something people discuss with strong feelings.

Section 3: Jesus, Paul, and What the New Testament Teaches

the New Testament gives us more to think about when it comes to living right in our relationships. What Jesus taught and what the Apostle Paul wrote are super important.

3.1: What Jesus Said About Love and Purity

Did Jesus talk about homosexuality or how we should live sexually?

Jesus never directly mentioned homosexual acts in any of the Gospels. This “silence” is seen in different ways. Some think that because He didn’t talk about it, it wasn’t a big issue for Him, or maybe His silence means He wasn’t condemning it.

Others believe Jesus supported the traditional Jewish understanding of how we should live sexually by pointing back to the Genesis story of creation, where marriage is between a man and a woman. For example, in Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9, when people asked Him about divorce, Jesus said, “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?”.⁹ By saying this, some believe Jesus was saying that’s the only pattern for sexual union. His teachings about lust and adultery (like in Matthew 5:27-28) also call us to a high standard of purity, which many understand to be within that male-female marriage picture.

But beyond specific rules, Jesus’ biggest message was about love, having a heart for those who are pushed aside, and strongly speaking against pretending to be holy when you’re not. How these amazing core teachings of Jesus apply to LGBTQ+ people today is a really important part of how Christians think about these things, no matter how they understand other specific verses.

3.2: Paul’s Letters: Understanding the Words and Times

What did Paul mean in his letters (Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 1:9-10) when he talked about same-sex acts?

The Apostle Paul’s letters have the most direct things to say in the New Testament about same-sex behavior. These verses are deep and have been discussed a lot.

Romans 1:26-27: “Unnatural” Acts?

This passage says: “For this reason God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error”.⁴

The traditional view sees this as a very clear message against all homosexual acts, for both men and women. These acts are called “unnatural” (the Greek word is para physin), and seen as something that happens when people turn away from God (idol worship), and are just wrong in themselves.¹

Other ways of seeing it bring up a few points:

• What does “unnatural” (para physin) mean? This is debated. Some say “natural” means having the ability to have children, so any sexual act that can’t lead to children is “unnatural.” Others think Paul was talking about people leaving their usual heterosexual desires for something different, maybe because of too much lust or because they were part of pagan temple rituals that were common back then, not condemning people who naturally feel attracted to the same sex.²
• Idol Worship and Lust: Paul clearly connects these behaviors to worshipping false gods and “shameful lusts.” Some scholars believe Paul was condemning harmful, lust-driven, or pagan temple sex practices that were all around at that time, rather than loving, committed same-sex relationships – which wasn’t the main way people thought about same-sex interactions back then.² Someone named Sarah Ruden, for example, says Paul wasn’t talking about homosexuality as we understand it today, because the culture back then was very different, often with power imbalances in relationships and no idea of a “gay culture” like we have.¹¹

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 & 1 Timothy 1:9-10: Understanding Arsenokoitai and Malakoi

These verses have lists of behaviors that Paul said don’t fit with God’s Kingdom. In these lists are two Greek words, malakoi (μαλακοί) and arsenokoitai (ἀρσενοκοῖται), and these words are a big part of the discussion.

The traditional view understands these words to be talking about men who engage in any homosexual acts. Malakoi is often thought to mean the passive partner in a male same-sex act, sometimes translated as “effeminate” or “male prostitutes.” Arsenokoitai is seen as the active partner, translated as “homosexual offenders,” “sodomites,” or “men who practice homosexuality”.⁴

Other ways of seeing it offer different ideas based on studying the language and history:

• Malakoi (μαλακοί): This word literally means “soft ones.” It could mean a few things: just being generally effeminate, not having strong morals, or more specifically, the younger, passive partner in a pederastic relationship (that’s when an adult man had sexual relations with a boy), or a male prostitute.¹² Some think it means being morally weak in a general sense, not just about sex.¹⁵
• Arsenokoitai(ἀρσενοκοῖται): This is a Greek word made of two parts, arsen (male) and koitē (bed, often meaning sex, like “to lie with”). Many scholars think Paul might have made up this word, maybe based on the Greek version of Leviticus 18:22 (“you shall not lie with a male”—meta arsenos ou koimēthēsēi koitēn gynaikos) and Leviticus 20:13.¹² What it exactly means is really debated:
  • It could just mean any man who “beds” or has sex with another male.
  • Or, it could be talking specifically about harmful kinds of same-sex acts that were common and often criticized in the Greco-Roman world. These included pederasty, sex with male temple prostitutes, or other kinds of sexual violence or using people for money.² The Reformation Project, for instance, suggests arsenokoitai means sexual exploitation.² The fact that these words are in lists with sins like being unfair in business or exploiting people leads some to think arsenokoitai is probably about those kinds of harmful sexual acts, not all same-sex acts.

Understanding Paul’s World: A Different Time

It’s so important, to think about the Greco-Roman world Paul was writing in. The kinds of same-sex behavior common back then often involved big power differences (like masters and slaves, or adult men with boys in pederasty), lots of prostitution (both male and female), and sometimes rituals in pagan temples.¹⁰ These are very different from how we think of equal, loving, committed same-sex partnerships today. Some argue that Paul was likely speaking out against these specific, often harmful and idol-worshipping, ways of same-sex activity.

A really key thing here is how different their understanding of sexuality was from ours. The idea of “sexual orientation” – that who you’re attracted to is a natural, lasting part of who you are – that’s a newer idea from psychology and how we study society.² The Bible writers, and most people back then, didn’t think that way. They usually saw same-sex acts as choices made because of lust, going too far, turning away from what was “natural” (which often meant having babies or what society expected for men and women), or as part of pagan worship, not as something coming from a deep, unchanging part of a person.² Bible writers were talking about actions they saw in their world, not an identity like “homosexual person” as we often mean it today. Trying to put our modern ideas of sexual orientation onto these ancient texts can cause confusion. This big difference in how they saw things makes it tricky to directly apply these Bible verses to LGBTQ+ people today, especially when we’re talking about relationships built on love, commitment, and equality.

Table 1: Key Biblical Passages: What They Might Mean

Scripture Reference	Traditional/Non-Affirming Idea (Summary)	Alternative/Affirming Idea (Summary)	Important Notes on Words/Times
Leviticus 18:22, 20:13	Says all male same-sex acts are an “abomination,” against God’s moral law.	These rules were about specific old practices (like temple prostitution, incest, harm) or part of old laws not for Christians.	To’evah (abomination) often tied to idol worship/uncleanness. Part of rules to keep Israel separate from Canaan.3 Some word studies suggest incest.3
Genesis 19 (Sodom)	Main sin was homosexual desire and attempted gang rape, showing God’s anger.	Main sin was being unwelcoming, proud, violent (attempted gang rape), not loving same-sex relationships.	Ezekiel 16:49-50 lists Sodom’s sins as pride, not helping the poor. Focus on violence, not orientation.2
Romans 1:26-27	Says all homosexual acts (male and female) are “unnatural” and come from idol worship.	Talks about harmful, lustful, or pagan acts; “unnatural” means leaving heterosexual norms or acts that can’t make babies.	Para physin (“against nature”) meaning is debated. Linked to too much lust and idol worship in that old culture, not necessarily loving relationships or who you naturally are.2
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 1:9-10	Arsenokoitai and malakoi mean men doing any homosexual acts (active/passive).	Arsenokoitai and malakoi mean specific harmful acts (pederasty, prostitution, sexual violence) or general moral weakness.	Malakoi (“soft ones”) could mean effeminate, passive partner in harmful sex, or moral weakness. Arsenokoitai (“male-bedders”) maybe a word Paul made up, possibly about harm, not all same-sex acts.12

Section 4: Wisdom from the Past: What Early Church Leaders Taught

What did the early Church Fathers (like John Chrysostom, Augustine, Tertullian) say about same-sex relationships?

The teachings of the early Church Fathers – those wise leaders and thinkers in the centuries right after the New Testament – have really shaped Christian thought. When we look at what they wrote about same-sex acts, we see a pretty consistent pattern: they condemned them.³

Big names like John Chrysostom (back in the 4th century) said very strongly that homosexual acts were worse than murder, an insult to nature, and a terrible punishment.¹¹ Augustine of Hippo (4th-5th century), who was a giant in how the Western church thinks, condemned “sodomy” as something against nature that hurt our relationship with God.²⁰ He was one of the first big voices to connect the destruction of Sodom specifically to homosexual acts, even though earlier folks often focused more on them being unwelcoming.²³ Augustine’s ideas about sex were also shaped by an old philosophy called Stoicism, which was all about controlling your passions and saw luxuria (too much desire) as bad.²⁴ Tertullian (2nd-3rd century) called same-sex acts “monstrosities” that went against nature’s laws.¹¹ You can find similar things from other early leaders too, like in the Didache (an early Christian guide), and from Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, and many others, all the way to later thinkers like Peter Damian and Thomas Aquinas.³

Understanding Their World

It’s good to remember the world these Church Fathers lived in. It was the Greco-Roman world, and certain kinds of same-sex behavior were around often they involved harm or unfairness, like pederasty (adult men with boys), sex with prostitutes (male and female), sex between masters and slaves, or things linked to pagan temples.¹¹ The Fathers were right to speak against those harmful and idol-worshipping practices. Also, how they understood sexuality was often very focused on having children. They mostly saw the main good reason for sexual activity as making babies within marriage. So, sexual acts that couldn’t lead to children were often called “against nature” (in Latin, contra naturam).²⁰ Just like the Bible writers, the Church Fathers didn’t have our modern idea of sexual orientation as something you’re born with. They usually saw same-sex acts as choices coming from lust, twisting natural desires, or moral weakness.

While some scholars, like the late John Boswell, have suggested history is a bit more complicated, saying maybe the condemnation wasn’t always the same or that some kinds of same-sex unions might have been around and accepted at times 11, most scholars today agree that the Patristic writers who talked about it directly did condemn same-sex erotic acts as sinful.²⁰ Sarah Ruden, while not agreeing with all of Boswell’s ideas, also says that Paul’s writings can’t just be directly applied to condemn modern, loving homosexual relationships because the culture was so very different.¹¹

The Idea of “Against Nature”

That idea that same-sex acts are “against nature” is a strong theme that you see from Paul’s letter to the Romans, through what the Church Fathers wrote, and even in many traditional arguments today.¹¹ This idea of contra naturam was even around in some pagan thinking, like in Plato’s writings.²⁰ Understanding what “nature” meant to them is really important. For many Church Fathers, “natural” sex was tied to making babies within a male-female marriage. Things that were different from this, or that seemed to blur what they saw as God’s plan for male and female roles, were often called “unnatural.” This old understanding of “unnatural” might be very different from how we use or hear that word today, especially when we bring in our modern understanding of being born with a certain sexual orientation. Back then, they were mostly looking at the act itself and how it didn’t fit the baby-making norm, not so much at the person’s inner nature or orientation.

Section 5: The Church Today: So Many Different Beliefs and Ways

the Christian world today has a whole rainbow of views on homosexuality. There’s no single “Christian” position that everyone agrees on. Different denominations, and even different churches within them, believe and do different things when it comes to LGBTQ+ individuals and their place in God’s family.¹

5.1: What Different Churches Believe: From No to Yes

How do different Christian churches and groups (like Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) see homosexuality today?

• Catholic Church: The official teaching of the Catholic Church is that homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered” and against natural law, so they’re considered sinful. They make a difference between having homosexual feelings (which they say are “objectively disordered” but not a sin if you don’t act on them) and homosexual acts. Everyone who isn’t married, no matter who they’re attracted to, is called to live a chaste life. Although the Church teaches that people with homosexual feelings “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity,” and that we should avoid “every sign of unjust discrimination,” it holds that marriage is only between a man and a woman.¹ Just recently, a document called Fiducia Supplicans (in 2023) said priests can offer non-church-service blessings to couples in unusual situations, including same-sex couples, as a sign of God’s welcome. But this is very clearly not a blessing of their union as if it were a marriage, and it doesn’t change what the Church teaches about marriage.¹
• Eastern Orthodox Churches: Generally, Eastern Orthodox churches stick to the traditional view, saying homosexual activity is sinful and doesn’t fit with Christian teaching. They point to a long history of church teachings and laws that say this.¹ Some might welcome people with “homosexual feelings” to get spiritual help they usually don’t allow sacraments for those who say homosexual activity is okay or who engage in it.¹
• Mainline Protestant Denominations: This is a varied group many big Mainline denominations in North America and Europe have moved towards being more accepting of LGBTQ+ folks. Denominations like the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Episcopal the United Church of Christ, and most recently the United Methodist Church (which in 2024 voted to remove old bans on LGBTQ+ pastors and same-sex marriages) now allow LGBTQ+ clergy and/or perform same-sex marriages or unions.¹ These changes often came after a lot of study, discussion, and sometimes, sadly, division.
• Evangelical and Pentecostal Churches: Most Evangelical and Pentecostal churches around the world still hold the traditional view, believing homosexual behavior is sinful and against what the Bible teaches. They often stress the Bible’s authority and God’s plan for marriage as only being heterosexual.¹ But there’s a growing, though still smaller, group of evangelicals who are affirming, including churches and organizations. Some churches have a “welcoming but not affirming” stance. This means LGBTQ+ people might be welcomed to but their same-sex relationships aren’t affirmed, and they might not be able to be leaders if they’re in such a relationship.¹
• Historically Black Protestant Churches: Views in the Historically Black Protestant tradition are diverse and changing. While many churches and leaders have traditional views on marriage and sexuality, there’s been a noticeable increase in acceptance of homosexuality and support for same-sex marriage among members in recent years.¹
• Other Groups: Groups like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Jehovah’s Witnesses generally have non-affirming views on homosexual acts, teaching that sexual expression is only for marriage between a man and a woman.¹

5.2: Hearts Opening Up: What the Numbers Show

Are more Christian communities becoming accepting of LGBTQ+ individuals?

Recent studies, especially from places like the Pew Research Center, show a big shift in how U.S. Christians feel about homosexuality and LGBTQ+ folks over the last 20 years or so.²⁶

• The Big Picture: More U.S. Christians are saying society should accept homosexuality. Back in 2007, 46% of religious adults said this; by the 2023-24 study, it was up to 59%. Support for legal same-sex marriage among Christians has also grown, with 55% of Christians saying they’re for it in 2023-24, up from 44% in 2014.²⁶

Different Churches, Different Views on Acceptance:

• Acceptance is highest among Catholics (70% were for same-sex marriage in the 2023-24 survey) and Mainline Protestants.²⁶
• Among members of Historically Black Protestant churches, 56% were for same-sex marriage in the 2023-24 survey, a big jump from 40% in 2014.²⁶
• Evangelical Protestants are still the Christian group with the most opposition to same-sex marriage, with 62% against it in the 2023-24 survey. But even among evangelicals, younger folks tend to be more accepting.²⁶ A 2014 survey showed that 43% of white evangelical American Christians aged 18-33 supported same-sex marriage.¹
• Just to compare, Americans who aren’t religious show very high levels of acceptance of homosexuality and support for same-sex marriage (87% say society should accept homosexuality).²⁶

These numbers show that things are changing and moving within American Christianity. Although the theological discussions go on, the real-life experiences and changing views of many Christians are part of a bigger shift in society. This change isn’t the same in every and often younger Christians are more affirming. This suggests that the conversation and what different Christian groups believe might keep changing as younger generations, who’ve grown up with more LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance, become more active in their churches. Also, it seems that knowing LGBTQ+ people personally is helping some to see things differently, as theological ideas meet real human stories.

Table 2: What Major Christian Denominations Say (Examples)

Denomination/Tradition	Official View on Same-Sex Acts	Stance on Same-Sex Marriage/Unions	Ordination of LGBTQ+ Clergy (in same-sex relationships)	General Approach to LGBTQ+ Members
Roman Catholic Church	Sinful	Not Permitted (Non-church blessings for couples possible) 1	Not Allowed	Respect, compassion; chastity expected 1
Eastern Orthodox Churches	Sinful	Not Permitted	Not Allowed	Traditional/Non-Affirming 1
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)	Not Sinful (in committed relationships)	Permitted	Allowed	Welcoming & Affirming 1
Presbyterian Church (USA)	Not Sinful (in committed relationships)	Permitted	Allowed	Welcoming & Affirming 1
United Methodist Church (Global \- post 2024\)	Varies by area (bans lifted)	Permitted (local choice) 1	Allowed (bans lifted) 1	Increasingly Affirming 1
Southern Baptist Convention	Sinful	Not Permitted	Not Allowed	Non-Affirming 1
Assemblies of God	Sinful	Not Permitted	Not Allowed	Non-Affirming 1
Episcopal Church (USA)	Not Sinful (in committed relationships)	Permitted	Allowed	Welcoming & Affirming 1
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints	Sinful	Not Permitted	Not Allowed	Welcoming if celibate 1

Note: These views can be complex and might have details not fully shown here. Some churches allow for local differences.

Section 6: Living Our Faith: With Love, Belief, and Personal Journeys

beyond all the theological talks and church rules, this question about homosexuality and sin touches the very heart of how God calls us to live and love. Trying to match our personal beliefs with God’s great command to love our neighbor – that’s a big challenge for many of us.

6.1: God’s Call to Love: Beliefs and Compassion Together

How can Christians show love and kindness while staying true to what they believe the Bible says on this?

The most important thing Jesus taught us is to love God with everything we’ve got, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). This command to love is for everyone, and it has to include all people, no matter their sexual orientation or how we understand certain Bible verses about this.⁹

For Christians who believe homosexual acts are sinful (non-affirming views), the challenge is to share this belief without causing unnecessary pain or pushing people away. The Bible tells us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). This means no harshness, no judging people, no unfair treatment.¹ The Catholic for example, while saying homosexual acts are sinful, also says that people with homosexual feelings “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity” and we should avoid “every sign of unjust discrimination”.¹ The idea is to love the person, even if you can’t agree with certain actions.

For Christians who believe same-sex relationships can be blessed by God (affirming views), this call to love often means speaking up for full acceptance, dignity, and fairness for LGBTQ+ individuals in the church and in the world. They do this because they deeply believe that everyone is a beloved child of God and that God’s Spirit gives gifts to all.

The “Welcoming But Not Affirming” Path

The idea of being “welcoming but not affirming” can be pastorally tricky. Although It’s meant to be a middle way – welcoming people without changing church teachings – it can feel painful and not enough for LGBTQ+ individuals who are looking for a true home, a place to fully belong and live honestly in their faith community.¹ Many say that this kind of stance still makes them feel like a core part of who they are isn’t okay.

It’s true, that feeling rejected, condemned, or hearing non-affirming messages can cause real harm – emotional, mental, and spiritual – to LGBTQ+ individuals and their families.² This shows how much churches need to be places of real kindness, healing, and bringing people together. Many Christians, when they think about theological ideas, look at the “fruit” they produce in people’s lives (Matthew 7:16: “By their fruit you will recognize them”). Affirming folks often point to bad outcomes—like sadness, leaving the faith, and broken families—that can come from non-affirming teachings as “bad fruit”.² On the other hand, groups that share stories of people finding freedom from unwanted same-sex attractions and finding wholeness in Christ see these changes as “good fruit”.²⁸ This looking at real-life experiences and results is a big, though personal, factor in how many believers try to understand God’s will. It shows how important caring for people and their well-being is in our theological thinking, while also knowing it’s hard to agree on what “good fruit” is when experiences and Bible interpretations are so different.

6.2: Real People, Real Stories: Hearing from the Heart

What are the personal experiences of LGBTQ+ Christians and those who say they’ve left an LGBTQ+ identity because of their faith in Christ?

Personal stories, are like windows into the human side of this big theological discussion. They remind us that these aren’t just ideas on paper real, deeply felt experiences that shape people’s faith, who they are, and their relationships.

Stories of Affirmation / LGBTQ+ Christians:

Many LGBTQ+ individuals who are Christian tell of their journey wrestling with the Bible, their identity, and their faith, and eventually finding a way to bring them all together. Some talk about feeling a deep sense of God’s love and acceptance for them just as they are, which brings them peace and helps them accept themselves. They often find comfort and a true home in affirming church communities where their relationships are celebrated and their gifts for serving God are welcomed.¹⁸ For example, one young woman shared that after struggling with feeling like her faith and her lesbian identity didn’t fit, she realized she could still hold onto her faith in Jesus’ teachings even if she left a church that didn’t fully accept her.²⁹ Another story is about a trans man who, after a hard time hiding who he was and feeling far from God, found acceptance and had his baptism affirmed in his correct name in a traditional Anglican church. He said it was an “incredible boost”.²⁹

But many LGBTQ+ Christians are in churches that aren’t affirming. Their experiences can be filled with pain, feeling like they have to hide a big part of themselves, and fearing judgment or rejection if people find out who they are.²⁷ Some talk about the constant stress of hearing their identity called sinful while trying to keep their faith and their church connections. Yet, some choose to stay in these places for different reasons, like family ties, feeling called to be a bridge, or finding small groups of understanding and support.²⁷

Stories of Change / “Ex-LGBTQ+” Testimonies:

There are also people who share stories of having identified as LGBTQ+ in the past through their Christian faith, they’ve experienced a big shift in their identity, who they’re attracted to, or how they choose to live out their sexuality.²⁸ These stories often talk about finding freedom in Christ from unwanted same-sex desires or confusion about their gender. Testimonies from groups like the CHANGED Movement tell of journeys of transformation, embracing a heterosexual identity, choosing to be celibate, or finding healing from past hurts they believe played a part in their previous LGBTQ+ identification.²⁸ For instance, Heather O’Brien shares that Jesus asked her to follow Him, and “as I walk with Him, He changes what needs to be changed”.²⁸ Simon Noel talks about finding his “true identity” after giving his life to the Lord.²⁸ Some, like Erin Everitt, share how their transgender identity was connected to past trauma, and finding healing in Christ helped them see themselves differently.²⁸ These stories often highlight a deep, personal encounter with God that led to a new direction in their lives and desires.

It’s so important to hear all these different stories with respect, knowing that each person’s experience is sincere. They show us the many ways people walk with God through their faith, sexuality, and identity. They remind us that for so many, this isn’t just an intellectual debate a very personal and spiritual journey.

Conclusion: Moving Forward with Faith, Hope, and Lots of Love

this question of whether homosexuality is a sin in Christianity is, without a doubt, a deep one. Sincere, Bible-loving Christians see things differently, and each person’s view comes from their careful study and understanding of God’s Word, Christian tradition, and what they feel in their hearts. This journey through the scriptures and history shows us there are no easy answers that make everyone happy. That’s why it’s so important to be humble, knowing that no one person or group has a perfect understanding of all of God’s mysteries or the full depth of His Word.

No matter what we conclude about this specific issue, God’s call to love one another is crystal clear. Christians are called to show kindness, to listen with respect even when we disagree, and to look for unity in Christ whenever we can, even when our beliefs are different. This discussion has caused, and still causes, a lot of pain for many people and families. There’s a deep need for the in all its forms, to try to be a place of grace, understanding, and healing for everyone.

The conversation about faith, sexuality, and LGBTQ+ inclusion in Christianity isn’t over; it’s still happening and changing. New studies come out, cultures shift, and the personal experiences of believers keep shaping how we think about theology and how we care for one another. The changes in attitudes we’ve seen in recent years suggest this will keep being an area where the Church is seeking God’s wisdom. As we all walk forward, let’s commit to praying and studying, to listening with open hearts to the Holy Spirit and to each other. Our ultimate hope, is in God’s never-ending wisdom, His unfailing love, and His faithful guidance for all His children as we try to follow Christ in this beautiful, complex world. God bless you!