Christian Ethics and Homosexuality: Theology and Church Practice

This entry is part 5 of 5 in the series Christian Ethics and Homosexuality

In the last three entries in this series, I examined what Scripture has to say about homosexual behavior, and concluded that: 1) the Old Testament forbids all homosexual behavior among God’s people, 2) we have no reason at all to think that Jesus would have been in favor of modifying this Old Testament teaching, and … Read more

Christian Ethics and Homosexuality: The Teachings of Paul

This entry is part 4 of 5 in the series Christian Ethics and Homosexuality

The majority of Christians who believe that the Church should approve of homosexual behavior acknowledge that the apostle Paul teaches the homosexual behavior is wrong; they argue that, for other biblical and theological reasons, the Church should now approve of homosexual behavior in spite of this.[1]See, for example “Homosexuality and the Bible” by William Loader, … Read more

Christian Ethics and Homosexuality: The Teachings of Jesus

This entry is part 3 of 5 in the series Christian Ethics and Homosexuality

It is very common for Christians who believe that the Church should approve of homosexual behavior to point to the teachings and example of Jesus in support of their position.  Jesus, they argue, never said anything about homosexuality being wrong.  Therefore, the Church should not condemn it.  Furthermore, Jesus did not condemn tax collectors, prostitutes, … Read more

Christian Ethics and Homosexuality: Clarifying the Issue

This entry is part 1 of 5 in the series Christian Ethics and Homosexuality

In recent years, the ethical status of homosexuality has become one of the most controversial theological issues in the Western Church.  In spite of the Church’s longstanding traditional teaching that homosexual behavior[1]Some advocates of traditional Christian sexual ethics prefer to use the terminology of saying that “homogenital acts” are sinful.  This is because “sexuality” encompasses … Read more