What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality?
Summary
TLDRIn this discussion, John Piper addresses the issue of homosexuality from a biblical perspective. He argues that it is wrong based on biblical teachings, specifically citing Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 6. Piper explains that homosexuality distorts God's design of sexuality, which is meant for a man and a woman. He also suggests that same-sex attraction is a form of idolatry, where self is prioritized over God. Despite his stance, Piper empathizes with those struggling with homosexuality, acknowledging brokenness in all individuals and encouraging them to seek God's guidance in overcoming sin.
Takeaways
- 📖 The Bible explicitly states that homosexuality is wrong, which is the primary reason to avoid it.
- 📚 Romans 1:24-29 clearly mentions that homosexuality is wrong and should be avoided, according to the teachings of Paul.
- 👑 In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul states that those who practice homosexuality, among other sins, will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
- 👫 God designed sexuality to be between a man and a woman, forming one flesh, and any deviation from this is considered a distortion of God's creation.
- 🔄 Homosexuality is viewed as a corruption and dysfunction of the natural order established by God.
- 🛐 The act of homosexuality is linked to idolatry, where individuals exchange God's glory for self-worship, leading to same-sex attraction.
- ⚠️ Same-sex attraction is considered a dysfunctional form of idolatry, though it is not the only manifestation of self-idolatry.
- 💔 Struggling with homosexuality is seen as part of the brokenness of humanity, not necessarily the worst sin imaginable.
- 💪 Individuals struggling with same-sex attraction have the choice to either sin or seek to overcome their brokenness.
- 🙌 The speaker emphasizes empathy for those struggling with homosexuality and acknowledges that everyone has their own forms of brokenness to deal with.
Q & A
Why does John believe homosexuality is considered wrong according to the Bible?
-John believes homosexuality is considered wrong because the Bible explicitly states it as a sin, particularly in passages like Romans 1:24-29 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. He views these scriptures as authoritative and sees them as clear directives from God to avoid such behavior.
What does John suggest is the simplest reason to avoid homosexuality?
-The simplest reason John suggests to avoid homosexuality is that the Bible explicitly says it is wrong. This, for him, is a fundamental reason and a starting point for understanding why it should be avoided.
How does John interpret Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 regarding homosexuality?
-John interprets Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 as stating that those who practice homosexuality, along with other sins like greed and covetousness, will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He emphasizes that knowingly persisting in such actions indicates a rejection of God's authority.
According to John, how does the Bible define God's design for sexuality?
-John believes that the Bible defines God's design for sexuality as the union between a man and a woman, who are created to complement each other. This union, where they become 'one flesh,' is seen as the correct and intended expression of sexuality.
What does John mean when he says homosexuality is a 'dysfunction' of God's creation?
-John refers to homosexuality as a 'dysfunction' of God's creation because he views it as a distortion or corruption of the natural order established by God, where sexual relationships are intended to be between a man and a woman.
How does John connect idolatry with homosexuality in his interpretation of Romans 1?
-John connects idolatry with homosexuality by suggesting that when people exchange the glory of God for idols, they often end up idolizing themselves. He sees same-sex attraction as a manifestation of this self-idolatry, where the love for one's own sex reflects a deeper exchange of God for the self.
Does John believe that homosexual temptations are unique in terms of idolatry?
-No, John does not believe that homosexual temptations are unique in terms of idolatry. He acknowledges that other forms of self-idolatry exist and that homosexuality is just one way this idolatry can manifest.
What advice does John give to those struggling with homosexual temptations?
-John advises those struggling with homosexual temptations to recognize their feelings as a form of brokenness rather than sin itself. He encourages them to choose not to act on these temptations, seeking to be chaste and to move towards God's design for their lives.
How does John compare his own struggles with sin to those experiencing homosexual temptations?
-John compares his own struggles with sin, such as anger and self-pity, to those experiencing homosexual temptations. He views all these tendencies as forms of brokenness that can either lead to sin or be managed in a way that avoids sin.
What is John's overall message to people wrestling with their sexuality?
-John's overall message is one of empathy and understanding. He acknowledges that everyone has brokenness, including himself, and emphasizes that it is not sinful to feel broken. However, he encourages people to navigate their brokenness in a way that aligns with God's teachings and avoids sin.
Outlines
📖 Understanding the Biblical View on Homosexuality
In this paragraph, John discusses why homosexuality is considered wrong from a Biblical perspective. He begins by stating that the Bible clearly identifies homosexuality as a sin, citing passages from Romans 1:24-29 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. He emphasizes that if someone knowingly engages in what the Bible describes as sinful behavior, such as homosexuality, it is an indication of not being aligned with the Kingdom of Heaven. He also explains that God designed sexuality to be expressed between a man and a woman, and any deviation from this design is viewed as a distortion of God's intention. John further reflects on Romans 1, suggesting that homosexuality may be a form of idolatry, where individuals prioritize their own desires over God. He concludes by acknowledging that there are likely other reasons why God disapproves of homosexuality, but the primary issue is its association with self-idolatry.
💔 Addressing Brokenness and Sin in Sexuality
This paragraph focuses on the distinction between brokenness and sin in the context of sexuality. John empathizes with those who struggle with homosexual temptations, acknowledging that feeling broken in one's sexuality is not inherently sinful—it is a result of living in a fallen world. He explains that while being broken is not a sin, acting on these broken desires in a sinful way is a choice. He compares it to his own brokenness in other areas, such as anger and self-pity, which he believes are partly genetic and partly influenced by family. He stresses that individuals, whether they struggle with homosexual or heterosexual temptations, have the choice to either sin or strive to live in a way that aligns with God's design. John concludes by encouraging those who feel broken to navigate their struggles in a way that avoids sin and seeks to do good for others.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Homosexuality
💡Sin
💡Bible
💡Romans 1:24-29
💡1 Corinthians 6:9-10
💡Idolatry
💡Brokenness
💡Sexuality
💡Kingdom of Heaven
💡Authority of Scripture
Highlights
The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is wrong and to be avoided.
Romans 1:24-29 explicitly mentions that homosexuality is offensive to God.
Paul lists homosexuality alongside other sins such as greed and covetousness in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
Those who continue to knowingly engage in these behaviors risk not entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Bible's stance on sexuality starts with the concept of one man and one woman becoming one flesh.
Sexuality is God's creation, and deviations from this pattern are viewed as distortions.
Paul in Romans 1 suggests that exchanging God for idols can lead to same-sex attraction.
Same-sex attraction is seen as a dysfunctional form of idolatry according to Paul.
Homosexual temptations are not unique but are one way self-idolatry can manifest.
The concept of 'exchange' is a key idea in Romans 1, relating to both idolatry and same-sex attraction.
Homosexuality is viewed as part of a broader spiritual and emotional brokenness.
Being broken in one’s sexuality is not inherently sinful, but acting upon it is.
Individuals struggling with same-sex temptations have the choice to resist and pursue chastity.
The speaker empathizes with those struggling with same-sex attraction, acknowledging that everyone has their own brokenness.
The speaker acknowledges personal brokenness in areas such as anger and self-pity, linking it to genetics and family history.
Transcripts
John why is homosexuality
wrong with every uh sin there are
multiple levels
of why it's uh offensive to God and to
be
avoided um the simplest is clearly to
say the Bible says it is and and we
should start there and if we can go
deeper that's that's good uh I think
it's implied clearly it's spoken clearly
in Romans
1 uh
24-
29 that it is wrong and to be avoided
and I think Paul in uh 1 Corinthians 6:
9 to1 lists an very unusual phrase about
homosexuality where he says those who do
such things he lists it along with
greed and covetousness and other sins is
not unique by itself in this those who
do such things will not enter the
Kingdom of Heaven in other words if if
you know that it's wrong and you say I
don't care that it's wrong I don't care
what God says I'm going to do that thing
that's an indication that you're not
going into the kingdom of heaven now
that that's just the it's wrong don't do
it Authority answer the question
why would the bible say that is also
multi-layered number one um the Bible
sets up at the beginning a man and a
woman become one flesh and that's God's
way of doing sexuality sexuality is
God's idea and we should learn from God
what it is and it's a man uh and a woman
created a in beautifully complimentary
ways so that they form one flesh and to
try to do it another way is a distortion
it's a corruption it's a dysfunction of
the way God made it that's number two
number three and this is probably the
only other one I'll give is that as I
reflect on Romans
1 and the way Paul
unpacks uh the problem with
homosexuality it appears to me that Paul
Paul is saying something like like this
um when you exchange the glory of God
for
Idols the main one that you exchange the
glory of God for is
yourself the idol that you have is
yourself well what sex is
yourself your sex is your sex self my
self is male if you're a woman watching
this your sex is
female and he seems to draw out the fact
that in exchanging God for our most
cherished Idol which is usually self we
are prone to fall in love with the same
sex so implication same seex attraction
is a
disfunctional form of
idolatry now there are other kinds don't
don't hear me saying that homosexual
Temptations are the only way that kind
of self- idolatry emerges but I think if
you if you go to Romans 1
24- 29 and just think that through
yourself ask how how verse 23 the
exchange of of God for created things
relates to the exchange they exchange
the N nature for the unnat these same
words exchang are used right through
that passage and so um the deepest thing
I've ever ever hit upon for Why God
would disapprove of this is not just
that the Bible says don't do it not just
that God created male and female but
deep down there is a kind of of idolatry
involved in samesex relationships that
is very profound and I'm sure there are
other reasons why it's uh bad for us and
God loves us and so he calls us not to
do it so but before I turn away from
that question let me just say to those
of you who struggle with this this is
not not hard for me uh to to empathize
with or imagine I I I just I I don't
want those of you who are wrestling with
this to feel like oh this this is just
the worst possible thing imaginable I
don't feel that way what I feel is if
you set your face to say my heart is
broken and I weeping that for reasons I
don't understand I am broken in my
sexuality I'm broken I wish I
weren't I can choose to turn my
Brokenness into sin so I don't think
it's sin to be broken it's the result of
sin to be broken but to just be that way
to feel this way I don't think is any
more sin than my feeling
heterosexual it's unnatural it's broken
but now I I have the choice with my
heterosexuality to make it sin or to
make it
a person who wrestles with homosexual
Temptations desires uh has the same
choice to sin with it or to be chased
and to seek to overcome and to move into
something more God appointed so don't
don't hear me isolating it as uh the
worst of all sins it is part of a
Brokenness that I share I think John
Piper's personality is broken and I
could give you specifics but they they
would have to do with anger they would
have to do with
self-pity um I'm just wired to like
certain sins a lot I think it's partly
genetic I saw it in my grandmother and
my mother uh I think it's partly uh
family based and it's just me I'm
broken so I can I can choose to let that
Brokenness govern me and turn it into
sins or I can choose to say I'm going to
deal with what the Brokenness I have and
uh try to steer my way through my my
Brokenness to do as much good for others
and avoid as much sin as I
can
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