Today, it is conventional wisdom in the broader secular culture that people have the freedom to choose their identity and expression. Proponents of bodily autonomy and the LGBTQ movement have promoted this cultural mantra, and the messaging has become all-pervasive. Elementary-aged schoolchildren are indoctrinated with this cultural dogma; this ideology colors college curricula, and employment opportunities are often predicated on an applicant’s willingness not simply to tolerate alternative gender lifestyles but to encourage and promote them.
This is not merely an issue of secularism in the unbelieving world. Many religious denominations have adopted not only the ideas and language of the sexual revolution but have also embodied them in practice. Gay clergy, transgender priests, and openly homosexual pastors—once unthinkable—are now regarded as badges of cultural virtue signaling in many denominations throughout America. Because of these radical changes, both in the broader culture and within the church, it is appropriate that we review the simple biblical argument that Scripture does not legitimize lifestyles that deviate from God’s design, commands, or demands. Furthermore, especially for our younger people, we must equip the saints to defend the faith and to pull down ideological strongholds that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. We must also acknowledge that all of this must be done in the spirit of Christ and in a manner that reflects His attributes of justice, hope, and mercy.
What Is Homosexuality According to Scripture?
Biblically speaking, a homosexual is anyone who “exchanges natural relations with a woman for relations with a man.” It is a sexual identity expressed through attraction to members of the same sex. However, sexual identity is not simply a matter of outward action. It begins in the mind, in the way a person thinks. Thus, we may define a homosexual as someone whose thinking and behavior are shaped by the belief that same-sex attraction and same-sex sexual activity are morally permissible. In this sense, homosexuality involves not merely conduct, but a worldview that departs from the teaching of Scripture.
What About Same-Sex Attraction?
A more recent discussion concerns same-sex attraction itself. Some Christians argue that temptation is not itself sinful. They point out that Christ was tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). From this perspective, the experience of unwanted same-sex attraction is viewed as a form of temptation that must be resisted, much like other sinful desires that arise from our fallen nature.
Others contend that same-sex attraction should not be viewed merely as temptation, but as a manifestation of indwelling sin. They argue that because sinful desires originate in the heart, the attraction itself reflects the corruption of human nature, even if the individual does not act upon it. While these believers distinguish attraction from behavior, they nevertheless regard the attraction itself as something sinful that requires repentance and mortification. Despite these differences, both positions generally agree that Christians must not indulge, celebrate, cultivate, or act upon same-sex desires.
A Biblical Framework
At Anchored Bible Church Modesto, we strive for theological clarity, doctrinal conviction, and scriptural fidelity. This leads us to a compelling conclusion and a clear admonition. The conclusion is that all of us, and all that we are, must be submitted to Christ. There are no carve-outs for "untoward temptations" or cherished sins. Temptations reveal the desires of the heart and are outward manifestations of inward thinking. As such, same-sex attraction must be addressed in the same manner as any other sinful desire: through repentance, mortification, and conformity to Christ.
We reject the argument advanced by some modern theologians that Christians may continue to identify themselves according to persistent sinful desires while claiming that their identity is fundamentally rooted in Christ. The Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians that various sinful lifestyles had once identified some of them; however, they had been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11). The Christian's fundamental identity is therefore not found in temptation, inclination, or past behavior, but in Christ Himself.
In our view, the contrary position confuses categories by failing to account for the radical transformation that takes place in regeneration. Scripture declares, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The dominion of sin is broken at conversion. While we readily acknowledge that the habits and patterns of sin may take time to overcome through the process of sanctification, we do not believe that a Christian should regard persistent sinful desires as a defining characteristic of his identity.
To argue that a believer may comfortably identify with same-sex attraction as a continuing category of self-understanding is, in our estimation, to adopt a framework that Scripture does not provide. Christians certainly struggle with remaining sin, but they are called to wage war against it rather than incorporate it into their identity. Through the ordinary means of grace—prayer, confession, repentance, the ministry of the Word, fellowship, and faithful obedience—believers are progressively conformed to the image of Christ.
We believe that the most compassionate thing we can do is tell people the truth, guide them toward godliness, bear patiently with their weaknesses, and encourage them in their growth. At the same time, we must hold both ourselves and others to the standard of God's Word, which calls us corporately and individually to "grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ" (Ephesians 4:15). As we grow upward into Christ, we inevitably leave behind those earthly identities, desires, and patterns that once defined us apart from Him.
