Expert: Tom Schott - 5/28/2004

Question
hi!

i understand that the traditional church teachings on the subject of homosexuality has been negative and it's considered as a sin. however, i've also read many alternative Christian views on the topic and some are more lenient. in fact i have some personal Christian friends who are very serious about their Christian faith and lives, only that they are convinced that the Bible doesn't condemn all homosexual acts but those which are promiscuous, abusive and selfish.

i would like to hear your views on those who are devout Christians but yet sincerely believe that the Bible doesn't prohibit faithful and loving monogamous homosexual relationships. Must they repent of their lifestyle before they can be rightly considered as Christians?

Even if we insist that such Christians are wrong, how serious is their sin? Will they lost their salvation and go to hell because of their convictions?

thanks.

Answer
Mary,

Can a practicing homosexual be a Christian? Certainly. We have always been taught by the church that the highest moral arbiter is our own well-informed conscience. Which means, if a person, after informing himself of the church's teachings and prayerfully considering them concludes the opposite of what the church teaches, he does not sin. So in fact, it does not matter if we insist such Christians are wrong. We will not be the ones to decide whether they saved or not. That job is God's.

As for the Bible, anybody can prove anything from the Bible, practically. People interpret language differently. So whether or not you support monogamous homosexual relationships or not, you can find support for your position in the Bible.

Deacon Tom