Forthright Magazine http://www.forthright.net Straight to the Cross COLUMN: Fidelity Did Jesus Ever Condemn Homosexuality? by Mike Benson Question: "Is there any place in the New Testament where Jesus actually condemned homosexuality? If so, I have not been able to find it. ... It seems to me that if the Savior didn't say it was wrong, then neither should we." Answer: While it is true that there is no New Testament record of where Jesus explicitly stated that homosexuality is wrong, he did, in fact, condemn the behavior. A careful study of the Bible will bear this out. Please read the following Bible passages and then consider the questions which follow: 1. And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?'" (Matthew 19:4). Questions: What did Jesus say about God's creative work? Did he make Adam and Joseph? Did he create male and male, or did he create male and female? According to this passage, what has been God's plan for sexual union (one flesh) since the beginning of time? Was his plan for a male partner to be joined to another male partner, or was it for a husband to be united to his wife? According to this passage, is a man to cleave to his male partner, or to his spouse? Consider: Since Jesus approved of his Father's plan (i.e., one man, one woman, one flesh,) could we correctly say that Jesus condemned homosexuality? 2. "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" (John 5:46,47). Questions: What law was Jesus born under? What law did He live under? Answer: The Law of Moses (cf. Galatians 4:4.) Did Jesus endorse and follow the Law of Moses? What did the Law of Moses say about homosexuality? (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Deuteronomy 23:17). Consider: Since Jesus was born and lived under the Law of Moses, and since he endorsed the Law of Moses, and since the Law of Moses explicitly condemned homosexuality, then could we correctly say that Jesus also condemned it? 3. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for he will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you" (John 16:12-15). Questions: What did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would do for the apostles? Answer: Guide them into all truth (v. 13.) When/as the Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all truth; would he speak on His own authority? Answer: No, he would speak on the authority of Christ (v. 14.) What did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would do in verse 14? Answer: "He (i.e., the Holy Spirit) will take of what is Mine (i.e., Christ's) and declare it to you" (i.e., the apostles). Consider: Since 1) the apostles would be guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit, and since 2) the Holy Spirit would not speak on his own authority but instead would speak on the authority of Christ, and since 3) the Holy Spirit would take of what was Christ's and declare it to the apostles, then by WHOSE AUTHORITY would the apostle's speak/write/teach when the Holy Spirit guided them into all truth? Answer: Christ's. Question: What did the apostle Paul (by Christ's authority) say about the practice of homosexuality? (Romans 1:26,27; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10.) Yes, Jesus did condemn homosexuality in his Word. The good news is, ... "there is hope for the homosexual; he has reason to believe there is hope for a brighter future. Paul states that some at Corinth had engaged in homosexual acts, but they had been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The same can happen today. As anyone who repents of a sin, the homosexual can be forgiven. He can experience the same freedom and joy that any other sinner knows when he becomes a Christian. The Bible condemns homosexual sex but clearly states that non-practicing homosexuals can be saved" (Doug Sensing, "Christian Response To Homosexuality," Gospel Advocate, April '93, Vol. CXXXV, No. 4, 12). ---- What's your reaction to this article? Tell us here: http://www.forthright.net/fidelity/did_jesus_ever_condemn_homosexuality.htm ---- You can help us get the word out. Here's how: http://www.forthright.net/editorial/lend_a_hand.htm