Is being gay a sin? Before we say anything else, please know that “being gay” doesn’t send anybody to hell. God uses only one fact to judge the world and determine who is saved and who isn’t: faith in Jesus Christ.
What the Christian message is about
We are all sinners, but we can be forgiven and born again through faith in Christ.
Here’s the bad news: We all deserve to go to hell.
When it comes to what we do and the way we’ve lived our lives, everybody stands condemned — whether they identify as gay or straight, liberal or conservative, religious or not. And everybody stands condemned, whether they are male or female, black or white, old or young.
- We read in Psalm 14:1-3, “There is none who does good, not even one” (ESV).
- And the apostle Paul — who calls himself the “worst of sinners” — says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ESV).
But the good news is that God loves us in spite of our sin, and He sent His Son Jesus Christ to purchase our redemption. The Bible tells us:
- “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:12, ESV).
- “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:17-18, ESV).
With those things in mind, we think your question really boils down to, “Is it possible to believe in Jesus and be homosexual at the same time?”, “Is it possible to be gay and a Christian?” And the answer, as we see it, is both yes and no.
Is Being Gay a Sin
Here at Focus on the Family, we take the view that there’s an important difference between homosexual feelings and desires and acting on those feelings and desires.
As with any sinful behavior, it’s not about being tempted, but about willfully engaging in activity that goes against God’s law.
So to answer the question: Can you be gay and a Christian? Yes– You can be a Christian and, at the same time, struggle with same-sex attraction. But no — you can’t be a faithful, obedient Christian while willingly involving yourself in homosexual acts.
Anybody who wants to follow Jesus Christ needs to make it their goal to stay away from sexual practices that the Bible says are sinful. Consider the great mystery of the Christian life: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27, ESV). Not next to you, not over you, but in you. That’s the deeper reason why a practicing homosexual cannot be a practicing Christian.
The same would go for anyone engaged in any sexual sin — just as Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Certainly not!” (1 Corinthians 6:15, ESV)
When we accept Christ as Savior, we also make a decision to live the way He wants us to live — righteously by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Want to talk about it?
We know this is a complicated and personal subject. Would you let us come alongside you?
Call us for a free over-the-phone consultation. Our licensed or pastoral counselors would welcome the chance to hear your story and talk with you in more detail.
In the meantime, you might want to dig into the recommended resources we’ve listed here.
Resources
If a title is currently unavailable through Focus on the Family, we encourage you to use another retailer.
The Gay Gospel? How Pro-Gay Advocates Misread the Bible
Referrals
Desert Stream Ministries
