Our, ‘What About?’ series, aims to answer the most common questions we get asked as a Christian Church in Texas.
Watch the sermon or read the manuscript to find out where we stand on Homosexuality.
What About, Homosexuality?: Sermon Manuscript
This morning we are continuing our series called, “What About?” You can look through the devotional to see where we are going over the next 2 weeks.
The first week we talked about the role of women, then we talked about abortion, then we talked about those who have never heard about Jesus, sex before marriage, racism, and last Sunday we talked about American Christianity, all of which you can find on our YouTube Channel, and this morning we are talking about Homosexuality.
Listen, I understand this conversation is really complicated and uncomfortable. It’s complicated because we all have unique sexual desires. There is nobody in this room that has 100% the same sexual desires as someone else in this room, and that makes the communication really complicated.
What one person finds desirable, another person might find objectionable, and visa-versa, because our sexual desires are different. We feel different things, we are attracted to different people, and that makes it impossible to capture this conversation completely in 30 minutes.
In addition, this conversation is really uncomfortable. It’s uncomfortable, because historically followers of Jesus haven’t done a great job of engaging any conversation around sexuality.
It’s uncomfortable because we have friends and family members who are living in homosexual relationships, and we are terrified on how to talk about this conversation.
It’s uncomfortable because our culture has connected this conversation to the Civil Rights Movement, which makes this conversation even more complicated, because it has a connotation of racism and slavery and responses like, “You don’t want to be on the wrong side of history, do you?”
It’s uncomfortable for me personally, because I have sat down with a number of men and women who have given me the honor of hearing their journey with homosexual desires, and each story is unique, but generally speaking they share stories of frustration, shame, judgment, fear, and in no way do I want to add to their pain this morning.
Therefore, as we enter into this conversation I want to remind us of our conversation about “Sex before marriage” just a few weeks ago, and in that conversation we identified 3 values our culture rallies around when it comes to the conversation of sex:
- One may not criticize someone’s sexual choices.
- One may not coerce or cause harm to others.
- One may not engage in sexual relationships without consent.
Listen, God’s Word affirms points 2 and 3, but God’s Word absolutely speaks into our sexual desires, including homosexuality and my hope this morning isn’t to push a particular view, but more so frame the conversation for us this morning, and then invite us to wrestle with God’s Word, so that we are going to focus on three sub-points; 1. Define the Conversation. 2. How Does God’s Word Respond? 3. What Are The Objections? Let’s look at our first sub-point; 1. Define the Conversation.
- Define the Conversation.
I realize that there are many conversations we could explore this morning on homosexuality, but we only have so much time, and at the heart of many of our conversations today is the question, “Is it possible to have homosexual desires, and still call yourself a follower of Jesus?”
Just like in many of our conversations throughout this series it is easy for words to get lost in translation, so in an effort to help us all stay on the same page we want to begin with some definitions.
Follower of Jesus: A follower of Jesus is someone who sees Jesus as Lord over every area of our, someone who has decided to turn from sin, to trust and obey Jesus by grace through faith.
This is important to clarify. I am not using the word “Christian” intentionally. Someone might call themselves a “Christian” if they are American, attend Baylor University, grew up in a Christian home, or even attend a local church, but I am using the phrase “follower of Jesus” because when we ask this question, we are talking about someone who is a disciple of Jesus.
In addition, when I say “homosexuality” I am talking about this specific definition.
Homosexuality: When a person is attracted to a person with the same sex. Importantly, the physical act of two same sex people having sex is the expression of homosexuality, not necessarily the sum total of the person.
This distinction is important as we get into the conversation, because many times when we hear the word “homosexuality” we tend to zero in on the sexual behavior of homosexual desires, instead of the description of a desire that a person has toward the same sex. Does that make sense?
We will continue to draw out that distinction as we go through our message this morning, but when we ask the question, “Is it possible to have homosexual desires, and still call yourself a follower of Jesus?” we need to know there are generally two responses that we see made available today:
There are some who look at God’s Word and conclude that homosexuality needs to be absolutely rejected. Some would conclude that homosexuality is unnatural, immoral, and as followers of Jesus we should be intolerant and condemning in every way.
In contrast there are others who say, “No, God’s Word completely accepts and supports homosexuality.” As a result, there are gatherings of people on a Sunday morning who will teach that the Bible supports homosexuality, and some will even claim Jesus Himself was a homosexual man, so that today, as a follower of Jesus, we can find this conversation really confusing. Are we to reject and condemn? Or are we to accept and embrace?
This morning I want to offer a third option when we ask this question, “Is it possible to have homosexual desires, and still call yourself a follower of Jesus?”
In this third option there are large numbers of men and women who are followers of Jesus (as we discussed earlier) and hold to the truth that all of humanity has sexual desires, and as a follower of Jesus we are submitting those desires to Jesus as Lord as Scripture makes it clear that sexual relationships are to take place between a husband and a wife in marriage.
So, the answer to the question, “Is it possible to have homosexual desires, and still call yourself a follower of Jesus?” is yes!
Genesis 1 and 2 make it clear that all of humanity and all of our sexual desires were created to be perfect, but because of our sin (Genesis 3) all of humanity and our sexual desires have been damaged and broken.
I can’t stress this damage and brokenness enough. All of humanity is created to be aligned with the God of Scripture, but in our sin there is a fracturing that takes place in our spiritual desires, social desires, and our sexual desires, and that applies to all people, so that all people will show sexual desires either multiple partners, polygamy, pornography, or homosexuality, and Jesus has come to show us our brokenness, and invite us to turn to Him and find life in Him.
I heard one person say it this way, “The invitation of Jesus to the person with homosexual desires is not to become heterosexual.” Does that make sense? The invitation of Jesus is to be holy, and that applies to all people!
In addition, what sets this third group of people apart from the first two groups is that it is never okay to mistreat people who have embraced those homosexual desires.
God’s Word makes it clear that He is grieved and angered and outraged at the oppression the homosexual community has experienced throughout history.
In 2020 17% of all hate crimes were based on sexual orientation, and those numbers are rising. That’s not okay. In 2019 studies show almost 70% of the LTGBQ community has experienced harassment in the workplace. That’s not okay.
Therefore, if you want to be in step with God’s Word on homosexuality then speak out against homophobia. As we “Look Around” for others we aren’t making jokes, mocking, and condescending people for sexual desires, but instead we are extending friendship where we are clear on the conviction of God’s Word, but we also value them because they are created in the image of God. Let’s look at God’s Word:
- How does God’s Word respond to homosexuality?
Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 6. The Corinthian church is absolutely in the middle of a culture that was indifferent towards Jesus. If you read this letter on your own you will see a people with damaged sexual desires, and you will see people who are learning to submit those sexual desires to Jesus.
You will see people getting drunk at communion, abstaining from sex in marriage, having sex with their mother-in-law, and in verses 1-8 we see the Apostle Paul admonishing the Corinthian church to stop taking one another to court. Let’s look at verses 7-8:
1 Corinthians 6:7-8, “7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather suffer the wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 On the contrary, you yourselves do wrong and defraud. And this to your brothers and sisters!”
This might seem out of place for our message this morning, but it’s important to see the pattern of God’s Word speaking into every area of our lives, not just our sexual desires.
It is because of our sin we are spiritually broken, socially broken, sexually broken, and Jesus has come to invite us to find life in Him.
A number of years ago there was a cruise ship that got stuck off the coast of Italy, and eventually turned on its side while passengers were still aboard. In order for the passengers to exit they had to walk out of the ship sideways!
They had to walk on walls, climb through windows, step over doors, but the passengers said, “In the beginning it was awkward, but eventually it felt normal to go through the ship sideways.
That’s a little bit of what life is like after Genesis 3. We think the world of hurt, pain, and brokenness is normal, and sometimes we are trying to convince ourselves, “See, it’s normal” but Jesus has come to put back into place that which He intended from the very beginning.
Listen to me, I am not just telling you that. I have personally experienced that in my life. Let’s look at verses 9-10:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
I am not sure why but for some reason we tend to focus on the word “homosexual” but again the list is to highlight our spiritual brokenness (idolatry), sexual brokenness (adultery), and social brokenness (greed).
Therefore, for me it’s important to place our focus on the highlighted word “the unrighteousness will not inherit the kingdom of God” because that doesn’t apply to some people, but all people.
Romans 3, “None of us are righteous, none of us understand the glory of God, none of us seek God,” and the gospel is Jesus coming to say to all people, “Do you see the brokenness, turn to Me and find life!” It isn’t to become heterosexual, but to become holy by grace through faith in Jesus.
In addition, did you notice those words refer to lifestyles. As followers of Jesus, we all have desires that pull us away from Jesus, we all have longings, and thoughts that are anti-thetical to God’s Word, so that there is a big difference for the follower of Jesus who has the desire, and the one who makes that desire their lifestyle. Does that make sense? Look at James 1:
James 1 says, “Blessed be the man who perseveres under trial…no one is to say when tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’ for God cannot be tempted by evil…but each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then, when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin.”
This is why we can have homosexual desires and still call ourselves a follower of Jesus. Absolutely! Consider this diagram:
Studies show that a large part of the population can acknowledge the same sex is attractive. I can look at Brad Pitt, and acknowledge, “That’s a good-looking guy.” We have some similarities.
Within that circle is another population of people who not only acknowledge the same sex is attractive but has sexual thoughts about the same sex. And within that circle is another population of people that not only acknowledges, has thoughts, but acts on those thoughts and desires. Does that make sense?
I think this diagram is helpful, because sometimes we think of ourselves as either 100% homosexual acting desires, or zero, and not take into account that our sexual desires might be all over the place as we grow, mature, and submit them to Jesus as Lord. Let’s talk about the objections:
- What Are The Objections?
- Jesus never spoke out against homosexuality? While it’s true Jesus is never recorded saying the word “homosexuality” but it’s not true that Jesus never spoke to our sexuality.
In Mark 10 we see Jesus’ reference Genesis 1, and in Genesis 1-2 we see Adam was with God, and yet described as being “alone” so that the solution wasn’t an animal to bring to Adam, it wasn’t another man to bring to Adam, but it was a woman created from the man to become one flesh in marriage, so that Jesus does speak to our sexuality.
- What about the Old Testament laws we don’t follow? It is common for people to say, “We don’t follow some Leviticus laws? We don’t see followers of Jesus making a big deal about eating pork, shellfish, wearing garments that are woven with two types of material, but just seem to focus on homosexuality.
In the Old Testament Israel is set apart to be a people that usher in the savior. That’s the big picture. As Israel is established as a nation, they are given Civil Laws, Ceremonial Laws, and Moral Laws.
When Jesus comes to make us new people in Him, we no longer apply Civil Laws (We’re not a nation), and we no longer apply Ceremonial Laws (Jesus died and rose), but the Moral Laws (How we treat one another, and how we live) still apply.
- It was promiscuous homosexuality that was rejected, not committed homosexual relationships. The argument is that God’s Word isn’t speaking against homosexuality as long as two people are in a committed, caring relationship.
Scripture affirms Genesis 1-2, husband and wife in marriage over and over, so to say, “Well it never was specific about the types of homosexuality” is like saying, “Well, Scripture says we are made in God’s image, but it never says we can’t trip people” so that’s okay.
- I was born this way. There is debate that homosexuality is the result of nature, how we are born, or the result of nurture, how we are influenced, and the reality is that it is probably some combination of both, but for the follower of Jesus, this objection doesn’t carry any weight.
All of humanity is born with broken sexual desires, Genesis 3, and by grace through faith in Jesus, we are all turning from how we were born and / or influenced and submitting our lives to Jesus as Lord.
- Are homosexuals really welcome at North Village Church? There are two kinds of people at North Village Church: attenders and partners. Those who are attending are investigating our church family but have not officially locked arms with us through partnership. The door is wide open to explore and investigate.
The partner at North Village Church is a follower of Jesus who is submitting their desires to Jesus as Lord over every area of our lives as we live a life of confession and repentance until we are face to face with Him in eternity, and that is a pattern we apply to all partners.
Gospel: Let me close with a reminder of why Jesus is so important. We didn’t look at 1 Corinthians 6:11, but in that same passage as earlier we see the Apostle Paul list off all these desires, and then writes:
1 Corinthians 6:11, “11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
The Apostle Paul helps us to see that the church at Corinth was made up of people who had engaged in the lifestyles of adultery, idolatry, homosexuality, greed, drunkenness, and then in verse 11 says, “Such were some of you, but you were washed, sanctified, justified in the name of Jesus.”
So that the Corinthian church was made up of men, women, and children who turned from the broken desires of this world and submitted those desires to Jesus as Lord of their lives so that they became ex-adulterers, ex-idolaters, ex-homosexuals. It is because Jesus changes lives!
Hebrews 4 teaches us in Jesus we have someone who can not only sympathize with our weakness, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Sit in that for a minute. Take all those desires that we have been thinking and talking about for a minute, and consider Jesus is the only One in eternity who can say to you, “I understand that desire and temptation.”
Therefore, if you are here today with any sexual desires that are not of Him, then He turns to us and says, “I understand you. I love you.” Turn to Jesus. Find life in Him.
We will have people at the front to pray for you. If you have questions, please don’t sit in this conversation alone. Turn to the body of Christ, so that we might confess our brokenness to one another, and be reminded of the hope we have in Jesus. Will you pray with me?
North Village Church
This sermon is brought to you by North Village Church, a non-denominational church in Austin. established in 2009 and built around Jesus and Bible teaching.
Are you looking for a church in Austin? At North Village Church we put Jesus at the center of our church family. We worship together every Sunday at 10:30am, encourage Christ centered fellowship through groups, and host special events such as Bible studies and Theological Training, to ensure that we are rooted in in God’s Word. We also serve our local community in association with several Austin based organizations.
North Village Church is made up of professionals, married couples, singles, and families who are wanting to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus. If you are a family with children or teens, we can support you with either or both our Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry.
Check out our North Village Church calendar highlights such as our Christmas Eve Service and Easter Sunday Service.
You are welcome to contact us if you would like more information.
NVC Online
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