Expert: Carl Fuglein - 11/28/2008

Question
Hello. :)
I just had a question about homosexuality and Christianity.

My grandmother is a very devout Christian. She attends a pentecostal church and is very active in it. When I was little I used to attend church with her, but the church she attended at that time shut down and for many years she stopped attending - while still actively worshipping, mind.

After my grandfather left her a couple years ago she has began attending the church I already spoke of. While not religious myself, I don't follow any religion, I do attend sometimes - particularly for special events like mother-daughter game night, barbecues, mother's day, etc.

One time when I was attending a mother-daughter get-together the women convinced me to attend a youth conference with a few of the girls. I knew a couple of the girls from my school, and the other girls said it was really fun and since they were around my age I decided to go.

I also figured that if I enjoyed it enough I might even consider being a Christian. Well, I liked service on the first day but on the second day the youth pastor touched a very sensitive subject for me - homosexuality...and he wasn't very nice about it.

He went on about how there was this boy who came up to him one day, saying how he liked men but he didn't want to anymore. This pastor went on to reenact what had happened, while claimimg he was casting demons out of this boy. Demons? I thought. Since when are gay people posessed by demons? I thought that was a rather bold claim and I got so mad that I almost left the service.

So my question is - Does homosexuality actually go against the bible? Why? Could I be a Christian and get into Heaven, despite the fact that I am bisexual? Isn't God supposed to love everybody? Just my opinion, but banishing someone from Heaven because of their preference isn't a great way to show love.

If you could answer these questions for me I'd ber very grateful, and sorry if I ever came off a bit rude.

Answer
Chelsea-

Thanks for writing and trusting me with this sensitive issue.

Homosexual sex, a man having sex with a man, or a woman having sex with a woman, is banned as an abomination in the Bible.  

(Lev 18:22 NNAS)  'You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.

(1 Cor 6:9-10 NNAS)  Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

It is unfortunate, but there are many churches, such as the one you attended, that focus their attention on this one sin, to the exclusion of others.

Let me reiterate - the act of sex between two individuals of the same sex is the sin; actually being homosexual or bi-sexual is not a sin - you are what you are.  If you are celibate, then you are not sinning.

I personally hate such churches that condemn homosexuality as being such a horrible sin - there are many other sins as well, and I think that we as Christians need to concentrate on loving one another, and accepting one another as sinful beings - we are all sinners, we all fall short of the glory of God, no matter what the sin.

Will you, as a bisexual, be banned from heaven?  No, no more than anyone else - we all need to accept God's grace and forgiveness and try very hard not to sin again.

I hope this helps,

hugs,
carl