Examine and comment on Christian beliefs about homosexuality

    Many Christians believe there is evidence enough is the story of Sodom to show God’s disapproval of homosexuality (Genesis 19:12-13).  Hence the term of sodomy.

    If you followed these texts closely you would take the view that homosexuality is wrong. There is enough evidence within the Bible to suggest God condemns it and therefore it is sinful and should not be done.

    The Protestant Church believes from a Biblical stance that homosexuality is wrong; thus condemning the activity.

    The Anglican community is unsure on their stance on homosexuality, they are torn between the script and word of the Bible and today’s modern society. They also are currently debating whether to condone gay priests and gay marriage.

    The United Methodist Church instructs “homosexual persons are no less human than heterosexual persons, as individuals of sacred worth…although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with the Christian teaching.” (Ethical Studies Second Edition, Robert Bowie, 2004) They represent the liberal view.

    These different approaches to homosexuality and different interpretations to the Bible have left a divide within Christianity. To return to the earlier example of Gene Robinson shows this. In 2003, in New Hampshire, USA, the Anglican Church chose Robinson, an openly homosexual man, to become a bishop within the state. This led to a crisis meeting for archbishops and highlighted media courage.

    It was also stated about how this could split the communion. The result of the crisis meeting was that Robinson could continue to preach and work as a bishop, and to this day is a popular church leader who supports younger Christians in their uncertain decisions over sexuality.

    This decision by the Anglican Church to allow Gene Robinson to continue preaching shows how the religious acceptance of homosexuality is slowly changing through the denominations.

    The Roman Catholic views on homosexuality are summarised in the catechism paragraphs (2357-2359). They believe there is no sin involved in an inclination towards a member of the same sex. This is because this is not freely chosen. However their belief is that the sinful act is committed when you partake in homosexual sex.

    The Roman Catholic website instructs that homosexuals should be treated with respect and sensitivity and should not be unjustly discriminated because of their sexuality.

    The Roman Catholic Church teaches that homosexuals are called to ‘chastity’ (remain celibate) with the help of prayer and grace to help them achieve Christian perfection. (Ethical Studies Second Edition, Robert Bowie, 2004)

   “Homosexual Acts are sinful because of Biblical condemnation of homosexual acts as depraved and intrinsically disordered’ (Congregation for the doctrine of faith, Persona Humana, 8)

    Thomas Aquinas’ natural law theory prohibits actions depending on whether they advance or inhibit their purpose. This states sex that doesn’t allow for reproduction as unnatural and wrong. Therefore, homosexual sex is wrong. This natural law passes no comment on homosexual inclinations, this is mainly because science today swings towards providing evidence that we don’t choose our feelings. These beliefs are grounded in their concept of natural law. The church once taught that the sole purpose of sex and marriage was procreation. They have modified this stance in recent decades by admitting that it also has a unique function; it bonds married couples closer together and strengthens their relationship. But, since the Church still regards the main purpose of sex to be procreation, they insist that any sexual act must be open to conception in order to be ethical. On this basis, they do not condone the use of artificial methods of birth control, and consider any sexual behaviour other than intercourse between a husband and wife to be a grave moral sin. Forbidden practices include masturbation, pre-marital sex, post-marital sex, extra-marital sex and all same-sex behaviour. (AS Religious Studies Sarah K.Tyler and Gordon Reid)

     However, they believe that there are other forms of discrimination against gays and lesbians, which are just. Access to marriage and the formation of sexually active committed non-marital relationships are not options that they consider open to gays and lesbians. The church teaches that persons with a homosexual orientation "are called, like other Christians, to live the virtue of chastity." To gays and lesbians, this means a lack of sexual intimacy; to most, it requires a life of loneliness. (A Slippery Slope? R T France, 2000)

     The Roman Catholic Church believes sex is not the be all and end all, so if you are truly in love with someone, sex is not the only way to express how you feel for someone. Celibacy, for instance, calls both homosexuals and heterosexuals, which does not mean by being celibate they are leading any kind of inferior life because of their sexuality. The Roman Catholic Church is welcoming to people with a homosexual orientation and recognizes the considerable numbers that have to go through the ordeal of life with various kinds of discrimination. (Ethical Studies Second Edition, Robert Bowie, 2004)

    Kate Saunders and Peter Stamford wrote ‘Catholics and Sex’ in1992. This shows views from the Catholic cardinals and at the time one of the cardinal’s view of homosexuality came from Cardinal Ratzinger who is now Pope Benedict XVI.  Pope Benedict and various other cardinals fuel the intolerance of homosexuality. He said, “The practice of homosexuality may seriously threaten the lives and well being of a large number of people”. (Tomorrow’s God, Neale Donald Walsch 2004)

    While the church advocates tolerance and understanding, it discriminates against homosexuals in cases like adoption and teaching. It is estimated between 150 and 200 gay men are murdered each year because of their sexuality in Italy. (Ethical Studies Second Edition, Robert Bowie, 2004)

    The Church of England was created from the Roman Catholic Church in the 1530s when Henry VIII fell out with the Pope. The worldwide Anglican Communion consists of the Church of England, the Episcopal Church in the U.S., the Anglican Church of Canada, and affiliated faith groups around the world. Their bishops attend the Lambeth Conference in London every 10 years to coordinate policies. One of these conferences was mentioned earlier.

    The Church of England allows the ordination of homosexual priests as long as they are celibate. In 2003, Canon Jeffery John was appointed as Bishop of Reading. Canon John is well known among the Anglican community for his pro-gay views. He made it clear that he was celibate, but has never discussed his own sexuality in public.

    His appointment along with the appointment of Gene Robinson prompted an international examination on the rights of homosexual clergy.

    In the 1950s, the Church of England’s moral welfare council was one of the major influences that led to the setting up of the Wolfenden commission, supporting its recommendations to abolish the law against male homosexuality. The Church of England between 1970 and 1987 produced three reports on homosexuality.

    The mind of the church has been expressed formally on two occasions. On the 11th November 1987, the general synod passed by 403 votes to 8, “That this synod affirms that the Biblical and traditional teaching on chastity and fidelity in personal relationships in a response to, and expression of, God’s Love for each one of us, and in particular affirms: that sexual intercourse is an act of total commitment which belongs properly within a permanent married relationship. Secondly that fornication and adultery are sins against this ideal, and are to be met by a call to repentance and the exercise of compassion. Thirdly, that homosexual genital acts also fall short of this ideal, and are likewise to be met by a call to repentance and the exercise of compassion and finally that all Christians are called to be exemplary in all spheres of morality, including sexual morality; and that holiness of life is particularly required of Christian leaders.”

    Furthermore, in 1991, the House of Bishops endorsed the traditional Christian belief from the teaching of the Bible – that hetreosexual marriage is the proper context for sexual activity between two people. In this document, it went on to show what it called a ‘homophile’orientation and activity could not be endorsed by the church as:

'... a parallel and alternative form of human sexuality as complete within the terms of the created order as the heterosexual. The convergence of Scripture, tradition and reasoned reflection on experience, even including the newly sympathetic and perceptive thinking of our own day, makes it impossible for the Church to come with integrity to any other conclusion. Heterosexuality and homosexuality are not equally congruous with the observed order of creation or with the insights of revelation as the Church engages with these in the light of her pastoral ministry.'  

     However, the Church of England do aim to respect those who enter into homosexual relationships, and that the Church “must not reject those who sincerely believe it is God’s call.” ( - commended by the House of Bishops in 2003)

     Evangelical Christians say that monogamous hetreosexual marriage is the only form of partenship approved by God for a full sexual relationship. They agree that God’s love and concern spreads over every inhabitant of earth, including homosexuals, but believe homosexual practice is a sin in the eyes of God. (Fate, Hope and Homosexuality, Evangelical Comission, 1998)

     They recognise everybody is a sinner, and that the only hope for all sinful persons whether homo or hetreosexual is to believe in Jesus Christ. They do not believe however active homosexuals should become priests, and oppose other dominations that allow this to happen. They commend homosexual Christians who have commited themselves to chastity and celibacy. They believe these homosexuals are worthy and eligible to become priests and become ordained.

     The Evangelical Council calls upon evangelical congregations to welcome and accept sexually active homosexuals, but to do so with the expectation that they will come in due course to see the need to a change of lifestyle in accordance with Biblical teachings. They say habitual sexual homosexual activity without repentance will lead to them taking away the homosexual’s Church membership, and where a homosexual is promoting sexual practice within a congregation, they will make a case for taking more disciplinary action.

      Finally, the Evangelical Church resists Church services of blessing for gay partnerships as it is unbiblical. (Fate, Hope and Homosexuality, Evangelical Comission, 1998)

      The Methodist ‘Liberal’ Church is the fourth largest Christian Church in Britain, after the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches and the Church of Scotland. The Methodist Church is traditionally known as non-conformist because it does not conform to the rules and authority of the established Church of England.

      The Methodist view on homosexuality is mainly concerned with the moral issues that are involved in being homosexual. They believe it is the quality of life that is most important and not specifically whether it is a hetero or homosexual relationship that determines the moral values. They challenged the Biblical teachings about homosexuality as well as the natural law towards the Christian ethics. Methodists believe the Bible scripture that we are all made ‘in the image and likeness of God’.

      Therefore, if God creates man and women as homosexuals, then that must be natural and an inclination. The argument to whether you are born gay however still stands when questioning if homosexuality is a sin or not. In 1993, Dean Hamer published research that seemed to prove that homosexual orientation could be genetically transmitted to men on the X chromosone, which they get from their mothers. However when this study was duplicated it did not produce the same results. A second study which Hamer worked on also failed to reinforce his earlier results. In April 1999, research published by George Rice and George Ebers cast doubt on Hamer's theory. Rice and Eber’s research also tested the same region of the X chromosone in a larger sample of gay men, but failed to find the same 'marker' that Hamer's research had produced. Claims that the part of the brain known as the hypothalamus is influential in determining sexual orientation, have yet to be proved.  At the moment it is generally thought that biological explanations of sexuality are insufficient to explain whether you are born gay or you become homosexual later on in life.

     The Methodist Church try to have an inclusive attitude towards homosexuals, they positively seek to make room for the marginal and outcasted in society.

     At the annual Methodist Conference in 1993, the Methodist Church considered the issues of human sexuality and within the discussion of homosexuality. From this conference, the Church made a series of resolutions known as ‘the 1993 resolutions’.

     These resolutions set to make sure everybody that came to the Church was assured of God’s undying love for them, and that his love flows through us whatever our sexual tendiences are. It, therefore, welcomes the serious and prayerful consideration given to this by parish members.

      They also stated all practices of sexuality, which are promiscuous, exploitive and demeaning in any from are unacceptable and contradicts God’s purpose for us all. This is not singling out homosexuals but in fact joining them with heterosexuals. The third resolution is that the Church will not turn a person away on the grounds of them being homosexual, in itself. (Taboo or not Taboo, Ilona N. Rashkow, 2000)

     The Conference reaffirms the traditional teaching of the Church on human sexuality; namely chastity for all outside marriage and fidelity within it. The conference directs that this affirmation is made clear to all candidates for ministry, office and membership, and having established this, affirms that the existing procedures of our church are adequate to deal with all such cases.

     The conference also said they would not act on events of a homosexual nature that had happened before the conference and resolutions had been made. The conference recognised, affirmed and celebrated the participation and ministry of lesbian and gay men in the Church. The conference called on the Methodist people to begin a pilgrimage of faith to combat repression and discrimination, to work for justice and human rights and to give dignity and worth to people whatever their sexuality.

     The outcome is that within the church, there is a diversity of interpretations and a range of undestandings about intimate relationships. The conference encourages Methodists to continue to discuss these differences in a spirit of openness and love. Their shared ambition is to combat repression and discrimination, to work for justice and human rights and to give dignity and worth to people whatever their sexuality may be.

      Finally they believe a constant fully positive view on homosexuality requires a re-evaluation of scripture in assumptions of nature law. (What is the Christian View towards Homosexuality? Nicky Gumbel, 2002)

     

       In summary, the Old Testament and parts of the New Testament says, homosexual acts were crimes and homosexuality were considered a mental illness and homophobia exists in the Bible too. The Bible appears to prohibit homosexual acts. In Genesis, God destroys Sodom; maybe this was because of his displeasure of homosexuality. St Paul describes people engaging in same sex relationships as ‘dishonouring their bodies’ and having ‘unnatural relations’ is a ‘shameless act’. Biblical scripture has been used as a basis for the condemnation of homosexuality, and homosexual acts in particular. (Ethical Studies Second Edition, Robert Bowie, 2004)

      Protestant Churches have a Biblical basis for their teaching on homosexuality, which leads them to condemn the activity. (Do Morals Matter? Ian S. Markham, 2007)

     

      The Church of England do aim to respect those who enter into homosexual relationships, and that the Church ‘must not reject those who sincerely believe it is God’s call.’

      Because the Church of England views sexual intercourse as an act of total commitment between married couples, the acceptability of homosexuality is a matter for great debate. It is felt that homosexual acts fall short of this ideal and are therefore sinful. The Church of England does not condone any kind of hatred towards homosexuals. ( A church at war: Anglicans and Homosexuality, Bates 2004)

      The Roman Catholic Church believes that homosexual inclination is not a sin., but the acts of homsexuality are. Homosexual acts don’t proceed from a genuine affection and sexual complementarity, are depraved and intrinscally disordered. Therefore no life can come from it. Critics of the natural law approach to homosexuality argue that the unitive act between a loving couple is a good enough purpose for sex, as many sexual acts can’t lead to pregnancy. To condemn people for using their sexual organs for their own pleasure reveals prejudices and irrational thoughts from our society today. Some denominations, such as Methodists, argue that the Roman Catholic view of homosexuality fuels intolerance. (Ethical Studies Second Edition, Robert Bowie, 2004)

       Methodists argue that the quality of the relationship determines its moral value, not whether it is heterosexual or homosexual. They challenge the Biblical basis of operation to homosexuality and the natural law approach to Christian ethics. Methodists believe we are all created in the ‘image and likeness of God’ and so if he created homosexuals it cannot be sinful. (The Way Forward? Christian Voices on Homosexuality and The Church, Timothy Bradshaw, 2003)

      There is a general Christian view for an inclusive attitude towards homosexuals because Christianity is a religion that positively seeks to make room for the marginalised and outcasted within society. The Methodists believe a truly positive view on homosexuality would require a look at their lifestyles, a re-evaluation of scripture and a change in assumptions about natural law.

     To conclude, God loves all people regardless of race, colour, background or sexuality – the Christian community needs to show understanding towards people who are gay, because some denominations of Christianity do not show God’s undying love towards homosexuals, and God loves everyone equally.
   Is anyone prejudice enough to say left-handed people are wrong because Jesus was right-handed? If a homosexual couple stay away from homosexual sex and involve God in their relationship and it works out then surely God is happy with it?
   Paul clearly disapproved of homosexuality. However, he was not without sin so what right does he have to say it’s wrong? Nowhere in the Bible does it condemn homosexual orientation or homosexual feelings or homosexual temptation. Temptation is not sin. However, homosexual sex is not the worst sin, and it’s not unforgivable. (What is the Christian View towards Homosexuality? Nicky Gumbel, 2002)

“Peter said to them, ‘You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean’” (Acts 10:28).  The challenge to leave the familiar, to journey and to find God there ahead of us runs through the Bible and the history of the Church; Christians believe the Spirit continues “to guide us into all the truth” (John 16:13).  A theology of inclusion is not in opposition to a theology of conversion and sanctification.  Inclusion means that Christians recognise that God desires salvation for followers, and that he has given leadership gifts to women as well as men and that we are called to use and celebrate those gifts; that we are all called to lives that are faithful, honest, other enriching and socially responsible regardless of our sexual orientation. (Lesbian and Gay Christians- Rev. Mary Gilbert, February 2006)

   

Bibliography

• The Oxford Study Dictionary, Oxford, 1991
• The Bible, The Church and Homosexuality, Nicholas Coulton, 2005
• Ethical Studies Second Edition, Robert Bowie, 2004
• The Way Forward? Christian Voices on Homosexuality and The Church, Timothy Bradshaw, 2003
• What is the Christian View towards Homosexuality? Nicky Gumbel, 2002
• Do Morals Matter? Ian S. Markham, 2007
• The Church and Homosexuality, John J. McNeil SJ, 1977
• A Slippery Slope? R T France, 2000
• God, Gentiles and Gay Christians, Andrew Goddard, 2001
• Sexuality Issues, Craig Donnellan, 2001
• Debating Homosexuality, Dave Leal, 1996
• Theology and Sexuality, Eugene F.Rogers Jr, 2002
• Taboo or not Taboo, Ilona N. Rashkow, 2000
• AS Religious Studies, Sarah K.Tyler and Gordon Reid
• Fate, Hope and Homosexuality, Evangelical Comission, 1998
• A church at war: Anglicans and Homosexuality, Bates 2004
• Lesbian and Gay Christians- Rev. Mary Gilbert, February 2006

Websites

•  - 18 November 2007
•  - 19 January 2008
•  - 20 October 2003
•  - 18 February 2008
• http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/socialpublic/marriagefamily/humanrelationships/humansexuality/ - 21 January 2008
•  - 20 June 2003
•   - 20 October 2003
•  - 18 February 2008
•  13 January 2008
•  -14 January 2008

   

   

---