The question, “is homosexuality sinful” is not asked or questioned as much now in your regular Starbucks time with your typical Sunday “Christian” friends because it is overwhelmingly stated in the Holy Scripture. It is really difficult to twist Scripture when it says “homosexuals will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9).
The issue of same-sex attraction is not as clear for some. But, this is an issue that every thinking Christian should have a Biblical answer.
And I do believe that the Scripture is clear about the issue.
Romans 1:26 speaks of this attraction. The clause “degrading passions”, “vile passions”, “dishonorable passions” and “shameful lust” speaks to same sex attraction. The context and the following verse speaks about homosexual relation. Even the attraction that has yet to physically materialize is unnatural. Verse 27 states that they will receive the due penalty of their error.
Paul does not diminished the seriousness of this error. This error will lead to eternal punishment. Friends, this is a costly error to make.
For a detailed write up, see this paper that was presented at Evangelical Theological Society.
The Domain for Truth 
Sinful practice begins with sinful desire. The desire is as corrupt as the act because this the seed which germinates into a harvest of corruption. This is true of lustful and adulterous desires for the opposite gender as well as same sex attraction.
I used to employ that distinction between “attraction/desire” and action. I know lots of other believers who do as well. Homosexual acts are condemned, but not the homosexual desires. Sure, the lifestyle is sinful, no doubt. But the attraction?
Then I read ‘Homosexuality: A Biblical View’ by Greg Bahnsen. My thinking did not survive the encounter.
Bahnsen goes directly at this view, specifically in chapter 3, “The Act/Orientation Distinction and Causes of Homosexuality”
“We are told that the Bible’s condemnation of homosexuality pertains only to outward acts, since it does not isolate and discuss the inward orientation. However, one should draw the opposite conclusion: if Scripture does not distinguish between orientation and act, the distinction is not morally relevant. Under the category of homosexuality, Scripture is to be understood as condemning both orientation and act, for there is no need in ethics to distinguish them.” —pg. 64-65
He addresses the question of desire directly, here:
“Moreover, the fact is that God’s revealed Word condemns homosexual desire itself, seeing it as sinful as well as homosexual acts.
To maintain that a person is not sinful for having homosexual attractions, feelings, or erotic orientation overlooks the clear biblical teaching that it is not only evil to do immoral acts, it is also evil to desire to do immoral acts: e.g., devising wicked plans or evil against your neighbor, anger leading to violence, malice, envying dishonesty, planning deceit, loving false oaths, coveting. God’s Word forbids sinful activities, but it equally forbids fleshly lusts or evil desires.” —pg. 67-68
Bahnsen then cites Jesus saying one who lusts in the heart has already committed adultery, and Paul in Romans 1 not only talking about practices but desires (exactly what you cited in your blog post). Bahnsen then concludes:
“Therefore, it is plainly incorrect to hold that Scripture speaks only of homosexual acts and not of the homosexual desire and inclination. In forthright language Paul holds men and women morally responsible and under God’s wrath for burning with homosexual desires, which he ethically describes as vile affections. The act / orientation distinction, then, does nothing to mitigate the Bible’s censure of homosexuality. We cannot agree with those who claim that Scripture knows nothing of sexual inversion, nor with their baseless judgment that a homosexual disposition is morally neutral.” —pg. 68-69
As I reflect on this common view/question, I don’t think we distinguish between desire and action with any other sin. Just this one.
Is the desire sinful? Well, is the desire to have your neighbor’s spouse sinful? Is the desire to take your neighbor’s property sinful? Is the desire to murder someone sinful?
And juust because it’s so good, I’ll add Bahnsen’s concluding paragraph of chapter 3, where he is quite presuppositional. Notice how it applies to the question at hand.
“In summary, scholars with a naturalistic bias are in conflict over the homosexual’s inner abnormality, cause, and cure. In the current discussion, divergent answers are guided by each scholar’s particular presuppositions (e.g., his view of man, his criterion of normality, what he takes as warranting hope). This is true for the Christian as well. He has distinctive presuppositions derived from the revealed Word of God. They are the basis and guide for his view of homosexuality. With respect to the nature of man, the Christian sees him as a creature of God, given his definition and direction by the Creator, and thus always accountable to the Lord for the use of mind and body. With respect to a criterion, the Christian is firmly committed to the ethical standards of God’s Word, and thereby sees homosexual desires and deeds as rebellion against the will of God. With respect to hope, the Christian looks to God’s grace and power as able to change sinners and release homosexuals from the guilt and power of their willful perversion. These presuppositions, over against those fostered outside of commitment to God’s Word, settle the issues pertaining to homosexuality’s abnormality, cause, and cure for the Christian.” —pg. 84
Maybe I’ll make this comment a post on my blog 😉
Thanks Nate for the quote from Bahnsen. Right, most folks do not distinguish desire and action with other sins. Thumbs up my friend!
I’m still confused about this topic. God in the older testament was a bit harsher in my opinion and had a bit more different ideals. For example he took away the lives of kids of anyone who wouldn’t mark their doors with blood from the sea (which obviously turned into blood). In New Testament Jesus says we must love thy enemy. So maybe his ideals about homosexuals changed as well?
Why would God create homosexuals if only the purpose was to keep them away from heaven? Doesn’t God want as many people to join him? Gays are born with these conditions. You could also question terrorist, killers, rapists, but those are choices. Some people are born not right in the head when it comes to these crimes, so were those people born just to go to hell?
Notice how there is no mention of gays going to hell. Is there maybe another place we don’t know about where people born with sinful conditions go to?
Olaf, the conjecture that he took away lives of kids is a fallacy. The blood on the doorpost is not from the sea. Your first paragraph contained false information and fallacies. Try reading the book of Exodus again.
Second paragraph problem. Homosexual lifestyle is a choice. There is no scientific proof that one is born with this lifestyle.
Third paragraph, did you even read the SHORT blog post that you commented on????? 1 Corinthians 6:9 states that homosexuals will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Did you ever watch the animated film Prince of Egypt? Isn’t that movie based on the bible?
Yes, I did read the post which is why I pointed out Old to New Testament God’s ideas changed.
You are born homosexuals and there have been studies to support that. It’s why it used to be considered a mental disease. Of course that doesn’t stop people from pretending to be gay.
Olaf, you cannot watch a movie and accept its accurately based on the Scripture. btw, the blood is from the animal and not from the sea.
you said, “Notice how there is no mention of gays going to hell.”
The blog post stated that homosexuals do go to hell in 1 Corinthians 6:9.
Thanks, Andy. It’s just I thought it was based on it and that if it got most parts right then it would get everything right.
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Simiple answer yes it is.