One of the many ways God has demonstrated His love toward us is by giving us freedom of will. Each of us has freedom to choose which way to go in life. God also lovingly made known His will so we could decide to follow the directions to His blessings and care. He did this by giving us His Word, which provides a knowledge of Him and all things that pertain unto life and godliness. This includes an understanding of His will regarding homosexuality.
In society today, there is a growing belief that homosexuality is genetic, that a person’s sexual orientation is something they are born with and not their choice. This assumption causes confusion in the hearts of many people, including Christians, because the Bible clearly teaches that homosexuality is sin, grouping it with behaviors of lust and error.
Romans 1:27:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
If homosexuality were genetic and not a person’s choice, then a homosexual would be destined by God to a lifetime of error and sin. Acts 10:34 tells us that “God is no respecter of persons”; therefore we know that He would not give one person an advantage over another by giving the one free will and the other no choice.
God set the pattern for sexual orientation with the first man and woman.
Genesis 2:24:
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
God’s truth is that a man should “cleave” unto his wife. God also wants a man to live joyfully with his wife.
Ecclesiastes 9:9:
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
Part of living joyfully as husband and wife is having a sexual relationship.
Proverbs 5:18,19:
Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
True sexual fulfillment is found only within the boundaries of God’s Word; however, the Devil, who is the father of lies (John 8:44), is a parasite. He leeches off of the good that God set up for true blessings in life. God made man and woman with a desire for companionship and for sex. The adversary tries to use those desires to entice people away from God and His design for sexual relations.
Romans 1 groups homosexuality with idolatry.
Romans 1:25-27:
Who [unrighteous and ungodly men] changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
The expression “gave them up” in verse 26 means “turned them over to the power of another.” When men and women choose to turn from the truth of God’s design for sexual relations, they become ensnared by the Devil in an “alternative” lifestyle contrary to nature. At this point, they may begin experiencing no sense of choice at all regarding their sexual orientation, for they are taken captive by the Devil at his will. God makes available freedom of choice; the Devil controls and ensnares.
II Timothy 2:26:
And that they may recover [wake up to sobriety] themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Those who have been ensnared can submit themselves to God, and they can resist the Devil, and he will flee from them (James 4:7). God gives all of us the ability to control our thinking and overcome negative thoughts and influences.
II Corinthians 10:5:
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
The Devil’s methods are not new. First-century Corinth was a city notorious for its sexual immorality.
I Corinthians 6:9,10:
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
In verse 9, the Aramaic-English Interlinear New Testament translates “nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind” as “nor corrupt [ones] nor homosexuals.” These Corinthians had chosen a lifestyle of idolatry, sexual lust, and the error of homosexual relations. Yet, as we see in verse 11, some changed direction and chose God’s way of forgiveness and sanctification.
I Corinthians 6:11:
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Such were some of them, but they changed. They were spiritually cleansed and changed their thinking to the truth of God’s Word regarding their sexual orientation. All things were become new for these Corinthian believers.
II Corinthians 5:17:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Homosexuality is not genetic; it is a person’s freewill choice. God gives everyone the freedom to choose the direction they want to go, and He lovingly keeps His way of abundance and power open for travel!