Listening to the Bible, LGBTQ People, and Scientists

Are you a good listener? Listening well is one of the hardest things to do. My goal below is to try and listen well to the Bible, LGBTQ people, and scientists, while providing resources for further study.

But why bother listening to all of these voices? We should listen for two reasons. First, we should listen because we want to learn. This is a complex topic that requires a nuanced approach. How can anyone think they have all the answers when professors who have spent decades researching human sexuality admit that they don’t have all the answers? Original research is being conducted in this area and that includes research by Christian psychologists. Don’t you want to hear the results? In addition to listening to researchers, we need to listen to proponents on all sides of this issue.

Second, we should listen to show love. How can we love our neighbors as ourselves if we don’t listen to them? Listening to our neighbors, whoever they may be, is essential to fulfilling the greatest command. So the two key qualities—humility and love—guide us to listen.

Before I begin let me say that this is my attempt to understand the major issues involved in the LGBTQ movement in light of the Christian faith. I am not, however, a scientist or an expert on gender so I may have missed a thing or two. I am also not trying to solve any controversies. I am a teacher with a modest goal: to give an overview while allowing different voices to be heard.

Now we can begin.

First, we should acknowledge that gay people are human beings and all human beings have inherent dignity. Gay people are not less than human. Every human being is important and deserves respect. Support for that assertion is found in the Bible and the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Second, if we take the time to listen, we will learn that LGBTQ people have a wide range of stories and experiences. (LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other variations of sexuality and gender. Queer was added for those who are questioning their gender or sexual orientation. NYU says that using gay as an umbrella term for the entire group may now be offensive.) It’s unfair to stereotype millions of individuals by thinking that they all have the same story or live the same way.

Third, what people mean by gay or homosexual varies. (Note: the term homosexual is being replaced by lesbian, gay, queer, or LGBTQ). Gay can refer to:

1. a person who has experienced same-sex attraction
2. a person with same-sex orientation, which is a set pattern of attraction
3. a person who accepts a gay sexual identity

Fourth, claiming to be gay does not indicate anything about sexual behavior just as claiming to be heterosexual does not indicate anything about sexual activity.

Fifth, this subject is complicated because it’s often linked to a number of other issues:

• homophobia – the fear and hatred of gay people because they are gay
• discrimination
• hate speech and free speech
• nature vs. nurture
• gender identity
• marriage
• parenting
• tradition vs. change
• interpreting Scripture

Since not everyone believes the Christian Bible is the Word of God, let me proceed by listing points which I believe are generally agreed upon then I will consider the biblical data.

Sociology, Psychology, Biology, and Religion

• The majority of people are heterosexual. According to a 2018 survey in the U.S., 4.5% of the population or about 11.3 million people identify as LGBT.
• The majority of people are cisgender. Cisgender is the opposite of transgender. A cisgender person accepts their sex assigned at birth as part of their gender identity. According to the Williams Institute, .6% of the U.S. population or about 1.4 million adults identify as transgender. Among the transgender population, 35% or 490,000 adults identify as nonbinary or neither male nor female.
• Throughout human history, the majority has misunderstood and mistreated the minority. Thus it should come as no surprise that LGBTQ people have been mistreated. Some of this abuse has come from “religious” people. For instance, one church is known for protesting against gay people at funerals and graduation ceremonies.
• Science has not determined the cause(s) of sexual orientation. According to the American Psychological Association, experts do not know what shapes our sexual orientation, but they believe it is influenced by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Perhaps these factors vary for each person. Whatever the causes, the APA concludes, “most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation.” Think back to when you had your first crush. How old were you? Was your crush on someone of the opposite gender? Did you wake up and decide, “Today, I will have my first crush”? There’s a mystery to attraction and many gay people say their first crush was on someone of the same gender and they have never been attracted to a person of the opposite sex.
• LGB youth are almost five times as likely to attempt suicide compared to heterosexual youth. Among transgender youth, the rate of attempted suicide is also alarmingly high. Many link the higher suicide rate to higher verbal and physical abuse.
• Recent studies have shown that change therapy has low success rates in converting sexual orientation. Karen Keen writes, “even an optimistic view suggests that nearly 80 percent of gay people will not experience a change in sexual orientation despite years of actively attempting to do so” (74). In addition, many believe conversion therapy has caused psychological harm so it is opposed by the APA and banned in some places. Alan Chambers used to lead Exodus International, the largest ex-gay ministry, but he closed the organization because he concluded it was causing harm. According to studies led by Mark Yarhouse, a Christian psychologist at Wheaton College, while certain therapies may reduce same-sex attraction, they are unlikely to convert someone to opposite-sex attraction.
• Some who reject conversion therapy still claim to have experienced a change in lifestyle and orientation through the love and presence of Christ. (See here and here.) Desert Stream Ministries and Restored Hope Network are two Christian ministries that seek to help people with unwanted same-sex attraction. 
• Since transgender focuses on how a person views their gender, it is separate from sexual attraction, orientation, or identity. A person can be transgender and straight or transgender and gay. Some transgender people seek medical treatment. Transsexual people undergo sex reassignment surgery. The difference between the two seems to be the emphasis—transgender focuses on the psychological aspect while transsexual focuses on the physical aspect.
• Like sexual orientation, science has not determined the cause(s) of gender identity disorder.
• While the data is limited, one study found “substantially higher rates of overall mortality, death from cardiovascular disease and suicide, suicide attempts, and psychiatric hospitalisations in sex-reassigned transsexual individuals compared to a healthy control population.” In particular, “mortality from suicide was strikingly high among sex-reassigned persons.”
• Some transsexual people regret their sex reassignment surgery and de-transition.
• Sexual organs begin to be formed when the fetus is 7 weeks old. Some disorders of sex development come from variations in prenatal hormone levels.
• A small percentage of people are born intersex, meaning their gender is not clear at birth. This can be due to variations in chromosomes, hormones, gonads, or genitals. Some intersex babies have surgery to define their gender. Some intersex people do not find out their biological variation until later in life. For instance, a man who had surgery for a kidney stone learned that he had internal female sex organs.

Marriage and Parenting

• Throughout human history, marriage has been viewed primarily as a permanent relationship between a man and a woman.
• Having and raising children has been viewed as one of the main purposes of marriage. And procreation can only happen within a heterosexual relationship.
• Beginning in 2000 with the Netherlands, countries began legalizing same-sex marriage. Currently, 30 countries have legalized same-sex marriage. In addition, many countries have established antidiscrimination laws to protect gay citizens.
• The debate over gay marriage includes:

1. 1. the purpose of marriage—reproducing and raising children vs. love and exclusive commitment between two people
   2. equality for all
   3. the government’s role in recognizing marriage
   4. the rights of children—children need their biological father and mother vs. children only need a loving household, no matter the gender of their parents.

Morality and Religion

• Our desires or feelings do not necessarily determine right and wrong. There are many things we want to do that we shouldn’t do.
• Our feelings and actions are interrelated. Repeatedly engaging in a behavior affects how we feel about it and those feelings influence our future actions.
• Our view of ourselves is not always accurate. We can be self-deceived. People may have distorted or false ideas about their weight, attractiveness, intelligence, importance, and identity.
• All civilized and sane people think certain sexual acts are inappropriate, unhealthy, or even criminal. Such acts include one or more of the following: adultery, prostitution, rape, incest, polygamy, pederasty, necrophilia, bestiality, etc.
• Traditional Jewish, Christian, and Muslim views of homosexual activity regard it as sinful. These faiths affirm heterosexual marriage as the only legitimate setting for sexual activity. At the same time, each faith acknowledges that only God is perfect so we are all dependent on God’s mercy.
• Religious adherents who affirm the traditional view of marriage (heterosexual) do so primarily because of what is written in their sacred Scriptures.

The Bible: God, Love, Sin, and Forgiveness

• God is love and he loves the world (John 3:16; 1 John 4:16).
• Every human being is made in God’s image and, therefore, has inherent dignity and deserves respect (Genesis 1:27). Our identity and value are much bigger than our sexual orientation.
• According to Jesus, the most important command in the Bible is to “love the Lord your God” and “love your neighbor as yourself.” The command to love is not limited to a certain type of neighbor. Christians are commanded to love whoever is their neighbor (Mark 12:29-30; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14).
• Jesus loved the sinners and outcasts of society and he demonstrated that love by eating with them (Mark 2:13-17; Luke 19:1-10). And God loved us even while we were sinners (Romans 5:8).
• Jesus was hardest on the religious people of his day (Matthew 23) not those considered to be sinners.
• God is holy and he wants all of us to repent or turn from our sins, be forgiven, and become new creatures (Romans 3:23; John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17). In other words, we are all walking away from God, but he calls us back to himself.
• Being tempted to sin is not the same thing as committing sin. Temptation continues throughout the believer’s life. Therefore, gay people who trust in Christ may continue to be tempted to engage in sexual sin.
• Although Christians continue to sin, they continually repent and seek to live free from sin with Christ’s help. Therefore, gay people who trust in Christ may fall into sexual sin, but they will subsequently repent.

The Bible: Gender, Human Sexuality, Marriage, and Singleness

• God originally designed human beings as male and female and commanded them to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28; 2:24-25).
• The only model for marriage in the Bible is heterosexual (Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:1-9; Ephesians 5:21-33).
• People who get married should not get divorced (Matthew 19:1-9).
• People are not required to get married. Celibacy is an option (Matthew 19:11-12). Both Jesus and Paul were single.
• The Bible refers to males, females, and eunuchs. Eunuchs were men who had been born with damaged or missing testicles, men who had been castrated, or men who chose not to engage in sexual activity. Basically, it refers to men who would not or could not have sex and procreate. Jesus said, “For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can” (Matthew 19:12). Some see eunuchs as a type of third gender or nonbinary person in Scripture. The idea of changing genders, however, is not in the Bible. 
• The Christian’s primary identity is not based on gender or sexual orientation, but rather on Christ. Paul writes, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
• The New Testament emphasizes the importance of sexual purity or sex only within marriage. Note the statements below are addressed to followers of Christ.

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NIV)

But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (1 Corinthians 7:2-5)

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. (Ephesians 5:3-7)

See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. (Hebrews 12:16-17)

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. (Hebrews 13:4)

• Many Jewish and Christian interpreters believe the Bible prohibits gay sex. The following biblical statements have been used to support this view.

Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable. (Leviticus 18:22 NIV)

If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:13) (*I do not know of any Jews or Christians today who believe the death penalty should be the consequence for homosexual behavior.)

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:26-27)

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine. (1 Timothy 1:9-10)

Christian Views on Same-Sex Marriage and Transgender People

• The majority of Christians (along with orthodox Jews and Muslims) throughout history have upheld the traditional view of sexuality and marriage. For example, consider the position of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and most Protestant denominations.
• The majority of Christians today (along with orthodox Jews and Muslims) uphold the traditional view of sexuality and marriage. Most, however, do not believe that homosexual behavior is the worst sin or that gay people deserve special punishment. Also many do not believe that same-sex attraction is a sin. Instead they view gay sex as immoral. Some who affirm the traditional view would still consider attending a gay wedding for a close friend. Recently, the United Methodist Church voted to uphold the traditional view of marriage. Books by the following authors defend the traditional view: Robert Gagnon, Sam Allberry, Wesley Hill, and Preston Sprinkle. For a summary of the conservative arguments see this document. This perspective offers three options to the gay believer:

1. 1. celibacy
   2. a mixed-orientation marriage (i.e., heterosexual with homosexual)
   3. a change in sexual orientation

• A minority of Christians believe that life-long, faithful homosexual relationships are acceptable. Several who hold this view used to affirm the traditional view. Getting to know gay people has caused some Christians to change their perspective, from non-acceptance to acceptance of gay marriage (e.g., David Gushee, Adam Hamilton). Some denominations support gay marriage, such as the PCUSA. Affirmative Christian authors include David Gushee, Matthew Vines, Justin Lee, and Colby Martin. Proponents of this perspective explain the biblical prohibitions in one or more of the following ways:

1. 1. The biblical authors do not address the situation of consensual, covenantal, life-long loving relationships between gay people. Instead when they denounced gay behavior, they were thinking of common ancient and abusive practices, such as gang rape, pederasty—men having sex with their boy slaves, or temple prostitution.
   2. The biblical authors were not aware of homosexual orientation or the idea that people could have this innate tendency.
   3. The biblical authors prohibited homosexual activity, but the Spirit and the church’s deliberative process is now leading us to accept committed gay relationships. This is similar to the process in Acts 15, where the early church decided to remove the dietary restrictions found in Leviticus. Along these lines, Karen Keen argues that we should not require gay people to be celibate because it is better for them to marry or be in partnerships than to “burn with passion” (1 Cor. 7:9). 

• No Christian leader argues that Christians have the right to have promiscuous heterosexual or homosexual sex. The debate is over sex within marriage. The difference has been dubbed Side A or Side B Christians. Side A believes gay sex within a monogamous life-long covenantal marriage is acceptable. Side B believes various sex identities should be accepted, but sex should be reserved for heterosexual marriage.
• Christians have different views on gender dysphoria. Mark Yarhouse and Austen Hartke have written about the Christian faith and transgender people from different perspectives. Here are three ways Christians see the transgender issue:

1. 1. the struggle or transition is sinful
   2. the struggle is a disability
   3. the difference is a sign of God’s creative diversity and, therefore, a cause for celebration

• Most Christians recognize that they cannot force outsiders to abide by the requirements of their faith. Paul writes, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside” (1 Corinthians 5:12-13). Consequently, some Christians who reject same-sex marriage for Christians, believe countries should allow it for the wider society.

Les Bridgeman

After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. For a deep dive into church history and the character of God, see my book Surprised by Hell.