–– Paul Schlehlein
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Storms are brewing in the African church over homosexuality. The United Methodists in Africa now welcome LGBTQ+ members, though Methodists in countries like Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe have protested. The 2025 Cape Town Pride Parade expects another big turnout, even while the Anglican Church of Southern Africa has voted against blessing same-sex couples.
“UNNATURAL” IN ROMANS 1
Romans 1:26 uses the word “unnatural” to describe romantic, same-sex attraction because this desire contradicts the original condition. “Unnatural” means contrary to the factory settings God installed at birth, such as a person’s sex.
It’s unnatural to graft orange tree branches onto an olive tree because it’s contrary to the original design (Rm. 11:24). Oranges will not grow on olive trees. Similarly, God hard-wired attraction to the opposite sex into all humans, making attraction to the same sex both “unnatural” and unfruitful, just as orange branches on an olive tree are unnatural and unfruitful.
But does Scripture condemn homosexual desires, or homosexual practices only? Evangelical statements of faith like the Nashville Statement imply actions are the issue. Article 8 says: “WE AFFIRM that people who experience sexual attraction for the same sex may live a rich and fruitful life pleasing to God through faith in Jesus Christ, as they, like all Christians, walk in purity of life.”
EIGHT OBSERVATIONS ON HOMOSEXUALITY
Along with a host of other passages, Romans 1:26-28 will help determine if Article 8 is correct. It is the most thorough treatment of homosexuality in the New Testament. Consider the following eight observations.
Sinful
First, homosexuality is sinful. Paul describes it as “dishonourable” (v. 26), a word meaning vile, disgraceful and degrading. Homosexuality isn’t neutral.
Mental
Second, homosexuality is mental. The romantic desire to be with someone of the same sex, if not vigorously repulsed, is sinful. Paul censures “dishonourable passions”, not just dishonourable actions. Scripture forbids the category of “gay but celibate” because both the act and the desire are sinful. Colossians 3:5 says to “put to death…sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire.”
Observing beauty in the same sex is not in itself sinful. A mother may tell her son: “Your wife is gorgeous.” A gentleman may tell his friend: “You’ve got some good-looking boys.” Moses called Joseph “handsome in form and appearance” (Gn. 39:6) as did Samuel of Saul (1Sm. 9:2), David (16:12) and Absalom (2Sm. 14:25). But romantic attraction is the natural impulse God gives to the opposite sex (Mt. 19:4). Today’s “same-sex attraction” is often “same-sex lust”, which Matthew 5:28 forbids.
Unnatural
Third, homosexuality is unnatural. No one is born gay. Romans 1:25 says a person has to “exchange” their natural attraction for the opposite sex. But if Sarah was born a homosexual, then there is nothing for Sarah to exchange. You don’t swap A for B if you already possess B.
Traceable
Fourth, homosexuality is traceable. The world presents homosexuality as “cool”, though in 1958 sodomy was a felony in all fifty U.S. states. As Romans 1 teaches, the root of this vice often stems from a series of cascading sins or circumstances that makes it easier to embrace—a broken home with no father, sexual molestation in youth, or effeminacy that was never rebuked (1Cor. 6:13) and grew into homosexuality. The movement in Romans 1 doesn’t begin with sodomy but progresses thus: fornication (vv. 24-25), then abomination (vv. 26-27), then celebration (v. 32). For those who grew up in immoral or effeminate homes, Christians should exercise patience with them, knowing that same-sex desires may tempt them more than the average person.
Abominable
Fifth, homosexuality is abominable. Leviticus 18:22 calls homosexuality an “abomination”, a word few people use today. It refers to something detestable, loathsome and abhorrent. It is not something to celebrate or have “pride” over. If the Creator hates it, then creatures must hate it. God’s wrath rests upon sodomy and so should the Christian’s abhorrence. Romans 12:9 says: “Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.” “Abhor” means to be repulsed, to hate or despise. This should be the emotional and moral posture towards homosexuality. It should make us sick.
Manageable
Sixth, homosexuality is manageable. Christians can fight homosexual desires and win. Though unrepentant homosexuals will not enter the kingdom of God (1Cor. 6:9-10), genuine Christians will battle all sorts of sins, like lying, cheating, pornography, drunkenness, or even homosexual desires. If they wage war against it, they will find victory over this sin.
We now return to Article 8 of the Nashville Statement: “WE AFFIRM that people who experience sexual attraction for the same sex may live a rich and fruitful life pleasing to God through faith in Jesus Christ, as they, like all Christians, walk in purity of life.”
This statement is misleading at best and untrue at worst. It should say: “We affirm that people who experience sexual attraction for the same sex may live a rich and fruitful life pleasing to God if they repent of these same-sex attractions… Or, “We DENY that a person experiencing same-sex attraction can live a life pleasing to God if he refuses to repent.”
Regarding Article 8, Presbyterian pastor and author Tim Bayly is correct when he says:
“The original statement fails to declare the sinfulness of same-sex attraction. The faithful Christian gladly submits both his heart and body parts to holiness and leaves no room for the enemy to gain a foothold. Further, no other form of sexual attraction (so far) is permitted a neutral zone where lust is silently condoned as long as there remains an absence of physicality. For example, no one would (yet) say people who experience sexual attraction to children (or animals or other people’s spouses) may live a rich and fruitful life pleasing to God . . . . The only remedy for such attractions, which merit God’s wrath and punishment, isn’t a silent truce, it’s repentance, mortification, and faith.”
Accountable
Seventh, homosexuality is accountable. “Born this way” shifts the blame. Instead, we must mortify this inordinate affection as Colossians 3:5 says.
Not all temptations are the same. First base temptations are not sinful, something blameless Christians face daily, like glancing too long at the model on the billboard driving to work. But third-base temptations are sinful because it takes sinful steps just to get there, like lusting after a woman in a strip club. As Doug Wilson says: “There are certain sins…that live at the end of a dead-end road, and it is a long and windy road, and it takes a while to get there.” Same-sex temptations don’t happen just out of the blue.
A father sympathizes with his twelve-year-old son when he’s tempted to steal chocolate cake. But if the boy confesses that he’s tempted daily to cannibalize his parents, or molest his sisters, the father knows there are serious moral problems inside his son. It takes a long time to arrive at certain temptations.
Forgivable
Finally, homosexuality is forgivable. Though homosexuality is unnaturally perverse, it is not ‘the unpardonable sin’. God can forgive. Homosexuals are not “just this way”. Paul told the Corinthians regarding their homosexuality: “Such were some of you” (1Cor. 6:11). Later, they found redemption through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Sum
Christians, love your gay neighbors. Pray for them and win them to Christ. But always speak the truth. Not only are homosexual acts sinful, but so are any kind of sexual or romantic desires for the same sex. Everyone has the duty to mortify these desires, a task Jesus will empower them to perform if they are willing.