Homosexuality, like any other practice of sexuality outside of marriage, should be condemned for two reasons. First, at one level, it falls short of God’s intended ideal as we discussed in the previous essay. Therefore the experience will be, at best, diminished. At worst, it can be physically, spiritually or emotionally damaging. Second, homosexual sex, like other sin, is a bold attempt to dethrone God. The willful practice of sin says to God, "I am in control and I know what is best for me, regardless of what you say." Of course, this very attitude was at the root of Adam and Eve’s sin and Satan initiated the thought.

Sexual sin is unique because, as we have seen through examining the primary characteristics of the Trinity in whose image humanity is fashioned, we see that intimacy is eternal and at the very core of who we are as persons. There is very little that runs deeper into the innermost parts of our being than our sexuality. Therefore, when things run askew in our sexual lives, the impact and implication of that sin runs deep into the most secret parts of our beings, consequently off setting everything at that innermost level. Consider the way Eugene Peterson translates 1 Corinthians 6:16-20:

There’s more to sex than mere skin to skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in the Scripture, "The two become one." Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever – the kind of sex that can never "become one." There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for "becoming one" with another… Don’t you see that you cannot live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works.¹ 

The Personal Consequences of Homosexuality

Christians should condemn homosexuality and other forms of sexual sin because they fail to measure up to God’s ideal for humanity. This is a vitally important concept to understand for all Christians. But what about our neighbors who do not care about what God says about sexuality? They do not recognize the same authority that we do. They serve a different master who usually causes them to ask, "What does this mean for me?" For them, we must show them from a compassionately humanitarian point of view the natural consequences of disobeying God’s Word. After we have made our case, we should show them the source of this wisdom – God’s Word. We must start where they are and bring them to where they need to be. Given that, let us examine the question: Is homosexuality good for the individual and humanity?

The Physical Health Risks

HIV is the most notable infection associated with homosexual sex and other promiscuous behaviors, but it is important to realize that this is only part of the problem. Professor Thomas Schmidt, in his excellent study of homosexuality, Straight & Narrow?, explains, "Doctors who work with homosexual men are now trained to look regularly for at least 15 common afflictions apart from HIV/AIDS and we could double or triple the number by taking into account less common problems."² 

Diseases such as hepatitis, Kaposi’s sarcoma, anal carcinoma and rectal infections involving gonorrhea, herpes simplex, syphilis and human papillomavirus are disproportionately seen among homosexual men when compared to heterosexual men and women. These diseases are extremely rare among married, monogamous men and women. In addition, because of the extremely high rate of incidence among homosexuals, a group of rare intestinal diseases have been grouped together under the title "gay bowel syndrome."³  It appears that at least 75 percent of homosexual men have a history of at least one sexually transmitted disease.⁴  This is significantly higher than the heterosexual population of which less than one in five is infected with a sexually transmitted disease.⁵ 

One of the key reasons for the significant risk of disease and physical trauma associated with homosexual sex is due to the design of human anatomy and how this anatomy is used in various sexual experiences. It is really quite simple. The body was designed for and thrives under monogamous, heterosexual sexuality. Conversely, it suffers under every other type of sexual practice because it was not designed for these. As Dr. Winnifred Cutler, a leading authority on sexuality and human biology, explains, "Biology does not condone promiscuity." She adds that sex within in a permanent, monogamous hetereosexual relationship actually enhances a person’s health in many ways.⁶ 

Conclusion

We now have what we need to think and act well regarding homosexuals and homosexuality. We are to love the homosexual person and concern ourselves with their well being because they are fellow image bearers of God. However, we must condemn homosexual behavior and all forms of heterosexual sin because they fail to measure up to God’s ideal for sexuality and as a consequence, they hurt the people who engage in them.

ENDNOTES
1 Eugene H. Peterson, The Message (Colorado Springs, NavPress, 1994).
2 Thomas E. Schmidt, Straight & Narrow? Compassion & Clarity in the Homosexuality Debate (Downers Grove, InterVarsity Press, 1995), p. 116.
3 G. E Hastings and R. W. Weber, "Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Part I, Clinical Features and Diagnosis," American Family Physician, 1993, 47:598-608.
4 Schmidt, 1995, p. 118.
5 "Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States," Facts in Brief, Alan Guttmacher Institute, September 1993, p. 1.
6 Winnifred B. Cutler, Love Cycles: The Science of Intimacy (New York: Villard Books, 1991), pp. 4, 5, 35.

Return to Sexuality Topics Page