What does the Bible say about same-sex marriage?

Question

What does the Bible say about same-sex marriage?

Answer

Before we look at same-sex marriage (gay or lesbian), we need to first of all look at what the Bible says about homosexuality.

The Bible consistently states that homosexual activity is a sin. For instance, in Genesis 19, Lot, who lived in Sodom, was visited by angels from God. Reading from verse 4 it says that before they went to bed for the night ‘the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, and said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly’, Gen. 19. 4-7. It seems that the whole city was taken up with this sin for verse 4 says ‘both old and young, all the people from every quarter’. Because of their wholesale wickedness, God eventually judges them with fire and brimstone, v. 24.

Again, in Leviticus 18 verse 22 God says, ‘Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination’. Coming to the New Testament, in Romans 1 verses 26 and 27 we read, ‘For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet’. Also, 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 9 states, ‘Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind’.

It is clear from these scriptures that God does not create a person with homosexual desires. A person becomes a homosexual because of a sinful nature and ultimately because of his or her own choice. A person may be born with a greater susceptibility to homosexuality, just as people are born with a greater tendency to other sexual sins. This does not in any way justify the person choosing to sin by giving in to their sinful desires. If a person is born with a susceptibility to have illicit sexual relations (sex outside of marriage) with a member of the opposite sex, does that make it right for them to give into those desires? The same is true in regard to homosexuality.

What we are also sure of is that homosexuality is as forgivable a sin as all other sins. God’s forgiveness is available to a homosexual as much as it is to an adulterer or murderer provided there is genuine repentance for the sin. God’s love reaches out to homosexuals as much as to any other sinner. Romans 5 verse 8 says, ‘But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’.

The Lord also promises the strength for victory over all sin, including the sin of homosexuality, for all those who will repent toward God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. John, writing to Christians in his first epistle, says, ‘Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them (the evil spirits): because greater is he that is in you (the Holy Spirit), than he that is in the world (the devil)’, 1 John 4. 4.

To give approval to homosexual marriage would be to condone behaviour which the Bible clearly and consistently condemns as sinful. Christians must therefore surely stand opposed to any idea of gay or same-sex marriage if they wish to honour God and His word.

Marriage is ordained by God to be between a man and a woman. The Lord Jesus said, ‘Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?’ Matt. 19. 4, 5. Homosexual marriage is a perversion of the divine institution of marriage and therefore an offence to God.

As Christians, we should seek to share the love of God and His salvation with homosexuals. We are to be as loving and kind to them as we would to any others who are involved in sinful practices, while at the same time not in any way approving or condoning their sinful lifestyle.