Evangelicals and Homosexuality

The recent controversy surrounding “Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson has exposed several common misunderstandings about evangelicals and homosexuality.  It must be admitted that, although some of Robertson’s statements represent an orthodox understanding of Scripture, his sweeping and coarse statements have brought little light to the discussion.  It is no less true that certain elements of the media and advocates for the homosexual community have also made statements in response to Robertson that are not helpful in furthering constructive discussion on this incendiary topic.  From my perspective, most of the confusion has been generated by three inaccurate assumptions made about evangelicals and their relationship to homosexuals.

My articulation of the evangelical position is I believe consistent with the majority of evangelical scholars who have written on this topic.  The first incorrect assumption is--evangelicals believe that homosexuality is, in itself, sinful.  This is simply not the case.  Homosexuality is a sexual orientation, not a sin.  God’s perfect plan as revealed in Scripture is heterosexuality as expressed within the covenant of marriage.  This relationship alone serves his ultimate purpose for our sexuality.  That is--to display the gospel through the husband-wife relationship within the life-long covenant of marriage.  However, we are all part of a fallen human race—things are not as they should be in our sin-stained world.

Our fallen condition manifests itself in several ways that run across the sexual spectrum.  The betrayal experienced through adultery and the reduction of women to sexual objects through pornography are only two examples.  Any sexual activity that idolizes pleasure and reduces sexual union to a recreational activity is also a product of our sinful world. Homosexual behavior is a mutation of God’s plan for sex that occurs within a fallen world.  Through Christ, this can be overcome just as other expressions of our sexual fallen-ness can be overcome.  As a pastor who has counselled those with same-sex attractions, I am not speaking theoretically.  When a person with same-sex attraction is placed within a loving Christian community that does not condemn his/her orientation and  loves them in the midst of his/her failures, I have seen the gospel do miraculous things in the lives of those who struggle in this area.  Men and women who have wrongly believed their only options are to 1. Give unabashed expression to their homosexual orientation or 2. Face the condemnation of their orthodox churches for their same-sex attractions have found genuine freedom and joy in Christ.

A second mistaken assumption is--evangelicals who disagree with claims of the propriety of homosexual activity are expressing hatred for homosexuals.  Again, false.  In our culture, even the most thoughtful and compassionate airing of the traditional position on homosexuality is by some summarily branded as hate speech.  Evangelical disagreement with the propriety of homosexual activity is an expression of a belief rooted in two millennia of established tradition and understanding of the Scriptures.  This simply does not in any way equate to using a racial slur to dehumanize someone for the color of their skin.  Jesus consistently affirmed his complete solidarity with all the Old Testament law and prophets and by implication, their condemnation of all sin (Matt. 5:17-18; John 10:34-35; Matt. 22:29; Luke 16:31).  Yet, few would think him guilty of “hate-speech.”  Though there are shameful examples of so-called “Christians” who openly condemn homosexuals (e.g. Westboro Baptist Church), genuine believers would rather suffer persecution than declare a religious jihad on homosexuals.  This is the way of Christ.  As a culture, we’ve come to a very bizarre and unhealthy place when honest, civil disagreements over moral and spiritual issues are classified as expressions of hatred.

A final mistaken assumption is--evangelicals who disagree with the popular culture on the rectitude of homosexual behaviors are judging those who engage in them.  This assumption is easily made because it is true that a judgment has been made in these cases; but the judgment does not originate from believers, but from God.  When a believer states his/her belief that homosexual activity is sinful, he/she is only declaring what God consistently declares in both Old and New Testaments.  No follower of Christ has the right to make independent moral judgments about anyone.  We are however, out of love for others commanded to relay God’s judgments on sin for the purpose of helping those who have been deceived by our sin-racked world.  What has admittedly in some instances been sadly lacking among evangelicals is our sinful failure to speak God’s truths with the humility Jesus commands—as those who have judged themselves first before removing the speck from someone else’s eye.  This is at the heart of Jesus’ prohibition against judging others.

It is unfortunate that some extemporaneous and indelicate comments made by Phil Robertson have been interpreted by some as an official evangelical position statement on this issue.  Perhaps they can however be used for the constructive purpose of clarifying what the Scriptures and orthodox believers say on this important cultural and spiritual issue.