Is It Possible to be Both Gay and a True Christian?

At the heart of every Christian journey lies a steadfast faith in the divine nature of God and the teachings of the Bible.

The intersection of homosexuality and Christianity prompts continuous debate and introspection, raising questions about their compatibility.

Questions like, “Will being gay send me to hell?” and “Can a Christian struggle with homosexual temptations?” frequently arise, fostering deep reflection within individuals.

Thus, is it possible that as believers, we might have misinterpreted Scripture regarding salvation?

Could there be a new perspective on the Bible that would enable us to affirm committed, same-sex relationships?

Here’s my answer.

It is really not that difficult to grasp!

What Does the Bible Say About This?

God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalms 119:105).

It is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

God’s word is the ultimate guide for Christian living, reflecting God’s heart and will.

It is unchanging. Everything written in it remains constant…forever.

The Bible forbids homosexual practice! Therefore, its testimony about it remains unchanged!

Homosexuality is immoral and unnatural.

The Bible unequivocally prohibits all forms of homosexual practice, a stance acknowledged by some prominent gay and lesbian theologians who recognize that embracing “gay Christianity” involves rejecting the full authority of Scripture.

Whether someone is a Christian or not, it is possible to experience desires or attractions to the same sex for several reasons. However, the Bible is explicit that engaging in gay sexual activity is deemed sinful, and Christians are advised against participating in such actions.

The Old Testament, in Leviticus 18:22, refers to same-sex activity as “detestable,” and the New Testament similarly characterizes it as sinful.

Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.

Leviticus 18:22

In the biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah, God, disturbed by the widespread wickedness in the cities, decides to bring judgment upon them.

In Genesis 19, two angels, appearing as men, visit the cities. Lot encounters them in the city square and invites them to stay at his house, which they agree to.

The Bible subsequently exposes the sinful nature within the hearts of the Sodomites: “Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them”.

The angels blinded the men around Lot’s house, urging his family to escape the impending divine wrath. As Lot and his family fled, burning sulfur rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah from the heavens.

According to the Scriptures, the cities’ sin encompassed homosexuality, evident in the men of Sodom and Gomorrah seeking to engage in such acts with Lot’s visitors.

Homosexuality wasn’t the sole reason for God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, but it played a role in the overall judgment.

God’s Foundational Design for Sex is Male and Female

God’s foundational design for sex revolves around the complementarity of male and female, an enduring truth since the dawn of time.

In Genesis Chapter 2, Eve is formed from Adam, establishing a unique complementarity between them.

When Adam sees Eve, his helper and counterpart, he exclaims in recognition of their harmonious connection, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man” (Genesis 2:23).

And this is what we cannot miss: it is because the woman was taken out of the man that the very next verse says this: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24).

The Bible teaches that, as the woman is taken from the man, they are intricately rejoined in marital union, each uniquely complementing the other.

This union is specific to a man and a woman, as it’s founded on the essential aspects of sameness and difference that are not shared in the same way by a man with a man or a woman with a woman.

A man who has lived as a homosexual throughout his life, now past 70, and recently embraced Christ, expresses, “Even an atheist can recognize the absence of anatomical complementarity and hence biological purpose in same-sex relationships.”

To everyone who professes to be a gay Christian, I ask you to consider spending time in reflection with God, asking whether you believe you were created to be with the same sex or the opposite sex.

The Gospel Brings Good News

Gay theologians argue that the traditional gospel message yields negative outcomes like depression and apostasy among the LGBTQ+ community.

However, this is far from the truth as the gospel offers nothing but forgiveness, unconditional love, freedom, righteous rebuke, hope, and deliverance.

Many ex-gays, who no longer practice homosexuality and are now followers of Jesus, testify to finding wholeness and satisfaction in Christ, even if their sexual desires haven’t changed.

According to Sam Allberry, a British pastor who experienced same-sex attraction but embraces celibacy and now leads a holy life, “Every Christian is called to costly sacrifice. Denying yourself does not mean tweaking your behaviour here and there. But it means saying ‘No’ to your core identity in deference to Christ, akin to taking up a cross – a profound surrender of the life you’ve known. It’s acknowledging that your life isn’t truly yours; it belongs to Jesus, its creator.

The gospel requires total commitment. If someone believes it seamlessly integrates into their life without significant changes, probably, they probably haven’t truly begun to follow Jesus. And just as the cost is the same for all of us, so too are the blessings.” [Purcellville, VA: The Good Book Co., 2013]

So, is it possible to be both gay and a true Christian? The answer is no.

To those experiencing same-sex attraction, the advice is not to define oneself by desires but to focus on knowing the Lord, and avoiding reinterpretation of the Bible to fit one’s attractions.

Instead, trust in God’s goodness and mercy, relying on its transformative power to rescue you from every form of evil.

Uphold a steadfast biblical stance, recognizing it as the truth that brings freedom, today, tomorrow and always!

‘Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’

John 8:32