Did Jesus Condemn Homosexuality?

by Sebastian R Fama

In a recent internet meme, a well-known individual was quoted as saying: “Jesus never said a word about homosexuality … He never said gay people should be condemned.” While his statement is technically correct, the larger message he was trying to convey is false. And that is the idea that homosexual acts are acceptable to God. They are not.

It is true that Jesus did not come to condemn anyone, He came to save us (John 12:47). But save us from what? He came to save us from our sins (Galatians 1:4). Why? Because our sins can rob us of eternal life. In Matthew 18:8 Jesus said: “And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into eternal fire.”

What type of sins are we talking about? The apostle Paul gives us a partial list in 1 Corinthians 6:9 where he says: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor HOMOSEXUALS, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

At this point I am sure our internet friend would chime in and say: “But Jesus didn’t say it.” And by that he means: “If Jesus didn’t say it, it doesn’t count.” This of course is a warped view of Christianity. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would lead His Church into all truth (John 16:13). He also said anyone who rejected His Church would be rejecting Him and the Father (Luke10:16). Furthermore, the Bible is the Word of God. And Jesus is God. So, anything found in the Bible can be thought of as something that Jesus would say. Moreover, Jesus often quoted from the Old Testament. Leviticus 20:13 clearly condemns homosexual activity. Jesus never eliminated this teaching as He did with divorce (Matthew 19:4-6), nor modify it as He did with adultery (Matthew 5:27-28).

This teaching may be difficult for some to accept. But it is what Jesus and the apostles taught. So, what is the solution? In the same way that unmarried heterosexuals are called to be celibate, so too are homosexuals called to be celibate. And with God’s grace (Philippians 4:13), living chastely is an achievable goal. When we reject God’s grace, we condemn ourselves.

That having been said, homosexuals should be treated with the same respect that you would treat anyone. They should not in any way be persecuted. As Jesus said: “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). Respectfully disagreeing with someone is not persecution. It is an act of kindness. We preach the Gospel not to condemn, but to save.