Some who profess Christianity and affirm homosexuality have argued that when the Bible was written the idea of sexual orientation was unknown, therefore any condemnations of homosexuality in the Bible cannot be a condemnation of homosexual orientation. Is this true? Is the Bible silent on orientation and consequently unable to address the questions of sexual orientation raised today?

Sexual orientation is defined by GLAAD as, “an person’s enduring physical, romantic and/ or emotional attraction to another person.” A key component in this orientation is the persistence of desire. Orientation is not defined by a momentary attraction, by a sexual experience or even by repeated homosexual experiences. Orientation is understood to be a continued attraction regardless of sexual experience or activity. The ancient world does not seem to have had a particular category of people who were known to be persistently homosexual.

Homosexual behavior was common in the Greek and Roman cultures but it was not viewed a defining feature of someone’s life. The ancient Jewish culture knew and practiced homosexuality within the context of idol worship, but nothing suggests that homosexuality was widely practiced by individuals in Israel outside of pagan worship. None of the major cultural influences on the Biblical authors viewed homosexual activity, even persistent homosexual practice, in the modern sense of orientation. Thus, the claim is likely true that the Biblical authors did not consciously address the concept of sexual orientation. Though ancient cultures may not have viewed homosexuality as an orientation and the Biblical authors were not intending to address modern understandings of sexual orientation, this does not necessarily mean the Bible’s teachings about sexuality have no application today to those who have a homosexual orientation.

The Bible is the Word of God inspired by Him in His infinite knowledge, wisdom, holiness and justice. The human authors may not have known of homosexual orientation, but everyone can be certain the Divine Author was fully aware of 21st century views about homosexuality when He directed the prophets and apostles to write as they did. To assume God’s Word does not apply to modern views of homosexuality assumes either the Bible is not truly God’s Word or God failed to address an incredibly significant area of modern life.

The Bible consistently condemns sin even if it is a persistent desire or orientation. In fact, the Bible presents the sin nature as an inborn, enduring desire for that which is contrary to God’s glory and commands. Sin is not jut something a person does, but the expression of a natural orientation of heart. All people possess an inherent, intense desire for that which dishonors God. Orientation toward sin does not justify sin, but proves its severity.

The Bible does not need to specifically condemn homosexual orientation because it condemns all desire for behavior that is contrary to God’s Word, regardless of the intensity or longevity of that desire. Homosexual orientation is condemned in the same way that Scripture condemns all sinful orientations.

Such condemnation does not abandon a person to an unfulfilled life of disappointment and defeat. A proper understanding of the Biblical condemnation of the sin nature points all to the Savior. Jesus forgives all sin and transforms the forgiven person from the inside out. Thus, the Bible’s message is a hopeful one of victory over sin. “Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more.” (Romans 5:2)

Even if a person never gains complete freedom from unwanted sinful desires the Bible promises eternal reward to those who are faithful to the Lord. A lifelong struggle against all sinful desires will be seen in Heaven to be worth all the pain and heartache suffered in this life. The affliction of sinful desire in this life is producing in the faithful Christian a far greater, eternal glory in the life to come. (2 Corinthians 4:17)