Tupper’s ‘Homosexuality and the Church’ option (1of4)

Option 1. The Rejection of God’s Design for Creation: Homosexuality as a “Perversion’-
The proponents of this historic but fundamentally negative understanding of homosexuality demonstrate the complete rejection of homosexual activity as well as the homosexual person, because a person is bound together with and cannot be distinguished from his or her behavior. Since God’s design for creation is the marriage of one man and one woman for life, marriage is a relationship of covenantal union that endures until death.  (Genesis 1-2).

Since male and female are complementary physically and otherwise, such sexual complementarity essential for the blessing of the children through the union of marriage, same sex relations are contrary to the intention of God in creation and must be repudiated as an abomination (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13).

Human rejection of God in idolatry occasions innumerable kinds of depravities, but the lust for sexual gratification through the manipulation of homoerotic coupling remains the most obvious and vivid (Romans 1:18-32).

Homosexual behavior is contrary to nature…God’s natural design for human sexual relationships in creation.  It is not a variation in creation, but contrary to creation.  This unnatural behavior abrogates God’s purpose in the creation of marriage between man and woman.  It is a rejection of the goodness of human creation as male and female as well as a perversion of the complementarity between male and female (Romans 1:26-27).

Some forms of sexual activity violate the integrity of personal relationships, e.g., adultery, incest, bestiality, and homosexuality.  Since all these forms of sexual expression undermine the goodness and sanctity of marriage and constitute a perversion of healthy interpersonal relationships, they are evil and must be repudiated in the life of the church (1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 6:9-10, 12-20).

The form and content of the traditional prohibition of any homoerotic or homosexual activity is well-known. However, one other factor must be noted in the contemporary discussion: The Bible speaks with different voices on the role of women in the church, but the Bible speaks with one clear voice on the question of homosexuality.

NOTE: each of the four options posted are attempts to artuclate the perspectives on thier own terms and do not represent any particular individual’s view.  Details can be found here.