I conducted further research into homosexuality, which I gave to Kellie to write a proposal.
The Christian stance
What the Bible says about homosexuality
Old Testament Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable (Lev. 18:22).
If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads (Lev. 20:13).
New Testament The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. . . . For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. . . . Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. . . . Because of this, 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 indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion (Ro. 1:18–19, 21, 24, 26– 27).
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral not idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders . . . will inherit the kingdom of God (I Cor. 6:9– 10).
All arguments for or against homosexuality get down to the question of ethics. The naturalistic world view says, “What is, is. There is no ‘normal’ or ‘moral,’ for those terms presuppose some kind of standard. Therefore, homosexuality is just as viable a sexual orientation and lifestyle as any other.”
The Christian world view says, “God has spoken in absolute terms about homosexuality. He says it is a perversion and a sin. God has also spoken in absolute terms about mercy. He says He is a God of compassion, and He extends mercy to those caught in sin. That is why Christ died.”
Is homosexuality natural or unnatural?
In light of what God says in Romans 1, we must conclude that homosexual desires, which feel natural, are actually unnatural. All three parts of us–spirit, soul, and body–were warped in the Fall. Much of what feels or appears natural in this post-Fall world is not what God originally created.
Some people point to apparent homosexual behaviour in the animal kingdom as proof that homosexuality is natural. However, in animals, this behaviour is either a display of aggression and dominance, to secure the top place in the animal society hierarchy, or it is playfulness. It is never a homosexual lifestyle, and when a female is available for mating, males will always choose a female over a male.
Is homosexuality moral or immoral?
There are forty-four references to fornication (sexual immorality) in the Bible. All sexual activity outside of marriage is fornication. Therefore, any form of homosexual activity, whether a one-night stand or a long-term monogamous relationship, is immoral.
Is homosexuality an orientation God intended for some people, or is it a perversion of normal sexuality?
If God had intended homosexuality as a viable sexual orientation for some people, He wouldn’t have condemned it as an abomination. Homosexuality is never mentioned in Scripture in anything but negative terms, and there is nothing in the Bible even hinting at commendation or instruction for homosexual relationships. Some gay theology attempts to make David and Jonathan’s relationship (1 Sam. 18–20) a homosexual one. Their deep friendship, however, was not sexual, but one of godly emotional intimacy that truly glorified God.
God’s plan is holy heterosexuality: “In the beginning the Creator made them male and female. For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” (Matt. 19:4).
The importance of the created order of male and female in union with each other is a reflection of how the marriage relationship is an illustration of the relationship between Yahweh and His people, between Christ and the Church. The union of two utterly different people (male/female) is an earthbound illustration of the mystery of the union between the amazingly “otherness” of Christ and His bride. A male/male or female/female union cannot reflect the “unity in otherness” that marks either the earthly or heavenly marriage.
-A Christian Perspective on Homosexuality. Date accessed: 3rd Oct 2011
The Liberal Stance
The liberal stance on homosexuality is a much more welcoming and accepting one as it focuses its arguments on a basic human need – love. From this perspective, homosexuality is something one is – an orientation that is not chosen. The argument for this lies in the explanation that homosexuality is genetically predetermined and that unknown environmental factors in early childhood affects certain genes, causing one to be homosexual.
It is not sinful to be a homosexual according to the liberals, if it is safe, consensual and committed in terms of a relationship. It is normal and natural to have these feelings and live this lifestyle, since sexual orientation is fixed and cannot be changed – thus, not curable, as the conservatives claim it is. Therefore, the children of homosexual parents will not be subject to homosexual traits as homosexuality is indeed individual The children of homosexuals will most likely be heterosexual themselves and be less judgmental and more accepting of other lifestyles and ways of living.
-Suite 101.com, Homosexuality, a Lifestyle Repressed by Religion. Date accessed: 3rd Oct 2011
