I originally wrote this article on homosexuality for a course I was studying and I chose the topic because it is one which has undergone much debate both in Christian and non-Christian arenas recently, and is of particular relevance in a university setting:
I will begin by examining secular attitudes to homosexuality and exploring what it means to be a self-defined homosexual. I will then look at how the church has often mishandled the issue of homosexuality and examine some non-Christian perspectives on the church's treatment of gay people. I will then consider what the Bible has to say about the practise of homosexuality before looking at how the church might adapt its approach to homosexuals in order to be both Biblical and sensitive. I aim to show that struggles to come to terms with identity, particularly sexual identity, can only be overcome when we bring them to the foot of the cross. I will argue that we only find our true identity in Jesus Christ, by being the people he created us to be, which includes refraining from practising homosexuality.
In examining secular attitudes towards homosexuality we can see that in the politically-correct atmosphere of the 1990's homosexuality is generally seen as something to be positively celebrated (as in the case of the huge Gay Pride marches or our very own Queer Up North festival), or at least tolerated and condoned. There are very few people under the age of 30 who would view it as immoral. In today's social climate it is increasingly unfashionable to be anti-gay. Every soap opera is careful to include a token gay couple, and the media is increasingly willing to give the gay community a voice. The very concept of a 'gay community' is a relatively new one. Toffler speaks of "the rapidity with which homosexuality is winning respectability in the techno-societies" , and it is only in the post-industrial modern era that institutionalised homosexuality has been recognised. Now there are even magazines like 'Diva' and 'The Gay Times' exclusively aimed at that community, and it would be difficult to find any university that does not have a Lesbian and Gay society. It is interesting to note that the heterosexual world seems to have become increasingly fascinated with the homosexual lifestyle. Indeed, 'lesbian chic' is a term that was coined to encapsulate one facet of this infatuation. So in our 'sexually liberated' times we can see that the barriers are being pushed further and further back and taboos are being broken daily. Sex is increasingly talked about, thought about, written about and portrayed on television. As Stafford notes, "Sexual pleasure is treated almost as a god in our time, and certainly as a nonnegotiable right.". It is hardly surprising, then, that many reject the Biblical notion of sexuality, which I will be discussing shortly. I will now look briefly at a study undertaken by Kitzinger which identified five main lesbian identities. Group 1 had rejected a heterosexual lifestyle and showed a clear distinction between the conformity experienced before that decision and the freedom experienced afterwards. Being 'lesbian' was essential to their identity. Group 2 tended to have good interaction with men and saw themselves as bisexual. Group 3 saw lesbianism as a small part of who they are and emphasised their other personal qualities. They were unhappy about being labelled 'lesbian', although they believed that they were born that way. Group 4 tended to be radical feminists who had chosen to be lesbian and disliked men. And Group 5 saw lesbianism as a 'cross to bear' They were generally unhappy with being different and thought that relationships with their parents had largely formed their sexual orientation. So it is clear that homosexuality, and sexuality in general, is not a simple matter of preference, but rather a complicated notion by which we define ourselves and seek to forge our own identity.
I will now discuss some of the ways in which the Church has dealt with the issue of homosexuality. Sadly, the church's attitude towards people with homosexual feelings has tended to be rather polarised, in that it is either too dogmatic and unloving or too lenient and compromising of Biblical standards. Even in churches that do get the balance right there tends to be a lack of support for people struggling with homosexual feelings and wanting to change.
Sprecher defines homophobia as, "negative and/or fearful attitudes about homosexuals or homosexuality." and I would argue that there is unfortunately much homophobia in church, largely due to a fear of the unknown and ignorance about homosexuality. Many Christians are too shockable and regard homosexuality, and sexuality in general, as a taboo subject. Indeed, it is easy to be left with the impression that homosexuality is somehow worse than other sins. This closed attitude, or "Disgusting 'respectability' and judgementalism about the churches" has often caused many people to reject the church altogether. Interestingly, it is not just the church's approach to homosexuality that serves to ostracise lesbians in particular:
"Feminism is often of crucial importance to lesbians of Christian heritage...Whereas for gay men the primary root of their alienation from the church is likely to be its attitude to their sexuality, for women...the crucial factor is generally the church's attitude towards them as women"
The other extreme is that, in an effort to be loving towards and inclusive of homosexual people, many churches have compromised Biblical standards and condoned the practise of homosexuality. I would argue that this tolerance of homosexual acts rests on a misinterpretation of key Biblical passages.
So what does the Bible have to say about homosexuality? Although there are relatively few passages dealing explicitly with the topic, every time it is mentioned it is listed as a sin. Homosexual acts are clearly prohibited in the Bible. The passage round which most of the debate centres is Romans 1:26-27. Gay Christians argue that this passage refers to specific Romans who had abandoned the heterosexual desires which came naturally to them and had turned to practising 'unnatural' homosexual acts, rather than people for whom homosexual feelings come naturally. However, I think it is clear that this passage is much wider in scope and refers to humankind in general. As a consequence of the fall, mankind has rejected the natural pattern of sexual relationships, ie heterosexuality, and turned instead to homosexual liaisons. Homosexuality may feel natural to some but, as Stafford points out, "People born in sin will not necessarily feel its unnaturalness" . Just because a desire comes to us naturally does not make it right. This is obvious in the case of, say, the desire to steal from someone, so why should sexual desires be any different? To determine what is the natural pattern for sexual relationships we must look at how they were before sin came into the world and tainted them, namely in the Genesis account.
I believe that the church should deal with the matter of homosexuality by setting it in the context of the Biblical pattern for sexuality in general. As well as stressing that homosexuality is wrong, we also ought to show why heterosexuality is right. Genesis 2:24 clearly shows that the only Biblical setting for a sexual relationship is within a loving marriage between a man and a woman. It is important for Christians to 'speak the truth in love' when broaching the subject of homosexuality and separate the sin from the sinner. More openness and honesty would be welcomed, and groups such as True Freedom Trust are especially important in providing the support and prayer needed. Jones issues this challenge to us:
"Are you willing to pray with, eat with, hug and comfort, share life with a woman or man who has homosexual feelings?"
I also believe that the church needs to change its attitude to singleness and eradicate sexism (without compromising the Biblical standpoint on the role of women) in order to help people overcome homosexual feelings. Singleness and celibacy is seen as a positive thing in scripture and we would do well to recognise it as such instead of listening to the world's voice that it is a failure or a state to be pitied. As Jones point out:
"While one ideal, heterosexual marriage, is not an option for the homosexual Christian, without a large dose of divine healing, the other ideal, chaste singleness, is open and accessible."
I would add a note of caution here in that I do not believe all ex-homosexual Christians are called to lead a single life and I do believe that God can and does heal a broken sexuality, making marriage possible for some people.
To conclude, I believe that the way to overcome homosexual temptation, as with all temptation, is to find one's identity in Christ. As Martin Hallett makes clear , we ought not to label ourselves, especially not in terms of our sexuality. If we label ourselves according to some characteristic of our sinful nature, then we will struggle with our identity when we become a Christian. The only answer is to surrender that sinful nature to Christ and then we will be free to be who God created us to be . Our sexuality doesn't make sense until we begin to see ourselves as God sees us, created by him for his purposes. As one lady searching for a lesbian identity said:
"I want to find out what it means to be me."
I believe that we can only discover that if we find our identity in Christ.
© Anne Witton 2001. No part of this article may be copied without my permission.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hallett, Martin I am Learning to Love 1990
Jones, S L The Gay Debate Inter Varsity Press, 1994
Kitzinger, Celia The Social Construction of Lesbianism SAGE, 1987
Lewis, C S The Four Loves Fount, 1960
Sprecher, S and McKinney, K Sexuality SAGE, 1993
Stafford, Tim Sexual Chaos Inter Varsity Press, 1993
Toffler, Alvin Future Shock Pan, 1970
Webster, Alison Found Wanting Cassell, 1995
Winterson, Jeanette Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit Vintage, 1985
Holy Bible, New International Version Hodder and Stoughton,1991
For information and support with homosexuality and related issues, contact True Freedom Trust.
You can also listen to a talk I gave on homosexuality here.
