Journal: Masters Seminary Journal
Volume: TMSJ 11:2 (Fall 2000)
Article: Homosexuality And The Church
Author: Alex D. Montoya

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MSJ 11:2 (Fall 2000) p. 155

Homosexuality And The Church

Alex D. Montoya

Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministries

Developments in the secular society in its acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle have put pressure on the evangelical church to respond in some way. Homosexual spokespersons have advocated varying principles of interpretation to prove from the Bible the legitimacy of their lifestyle. They have resorted to either subjectivism, historic-scientific evolving of society, or cultural biases of the biblical writers to find biblical backing for their position. Scripture condemns homosexuality is such passages as Genesis 19; Lev 18:22; 20:13; Rom 1:18–32; 1 Cor 6:9; 1 Tim 1:10; 2 Pet 2:7; and Jude 7. The true biblical teaching on the subject requires the church to condemn the sin of homosexuality, convert the homosexual, confront erroneous teaching, and cleanse itself. The church must be careful not to adopt the customs of the world.

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Is homosexuality condemned or condoned by the Holy Scriptures? Are homosexuals guilty of practicing a sinful lifestyle, or are they simply living out their God-ordained functions? Are homosexuals to be excluded from the church, or should they be included in the assembly of God’s people?

These are questions facing the evangelical church today.1 Secular society has more or less capitulated to the pressure from the gay and lesbian community to accept homosexuality as a viable and legitimate lifestyle. Aligning themselves with Blacks, Hispanics, women, and the disabled, the homosexual community has won over large segments of society to their side. In fact, as this article is being written, the three big automobile manufacturers in America just voted to recognize gay unions as legitimate for the purposes of granting spousal rights. All this simply puts more pressure on the evangelical church to yield to its secular counterparts.

The evangelical church must take a courageous and intelligent stand on this vital moral issue, and thus halt the erosion of morality in the church. Unfortunately, some evangelicals have already embraced the gay lifestyle. Others have affirmed their right to exist as practicing homosexuals while still claiming to be Christians.

MSJ 11:2 (Fall 2000) p. 156

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