What does the Bible say about homosexuality?

Question

Sun Myung Moon · Accepted Answer

The question of homosexuality within a faith context requires discerning truth from both biblical teachings and the clarifying insights of the Divine Principle. This dual perspective fosters both unwavering adherence to God's ideal and compassionate engagement with all individuals. The Biblical Foundation The Bible consistently addresses human sexuality within the context of God's created order. In the Old Testament, the book of Leviticus explicitly prohibits male homosexual acts, labeling them as "abominations": "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination" (Leviticus 18:22). Furthermore, "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them" (Leviticus 20:13). These laws are not merely limited to ancient cultic practices; the overarching Levitical purity laws reveal God's timeless standard for covenantal holiness through a clear injunction against sexual acts contrary to His design. The New Testament reaffirms and expands upon these prohibitions. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, describes same-sex relations as a manifestation of humanity's departure from God's design: "For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error" (Romans 1:26-27). Paul identifies these acts as "contrary to nature," stemming from a rejection of God. Additionally, passages in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy list specific behaviors that exclude individuals from inheriting the Kingdom of God, including homosexual acts: "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 men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Similarly, 1 Timothy lists "...for the sexually immoral, for those who practice homosexuality, for enslavers, for liars, for perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine" (1 Timothy 1:9-10). The Greek terms arsenokoitai (men who lie with men) and malakoi (effeminate or male prostitutes) in these verses confirm that homosexual practice is considered sinful within the biblical framework, which upholds heterosexual marriage as the divinely ordained standard for sexual expression. Divine Principle's Clarification The Divine Principle clarifies these biblical teachings by grounding them in God's Principle of Creation, which states that God created human beings in His image, embodying masculine and feminine characteristics. God's original ideal is for humanity to achieve individual perfection and, through the union of a perfected man and woman, establish the True Family, thereby fulfilling the Three Great Blessings. The ideal sexual relationship is therefore within heterosexual marriage, where a man and a woman unite to embody God's dual characteristics, centered on a loving relationship that fosters procreation and establishes a foundation of true love. This union represents the full expression of God's creative purpose for humanity. From this perspective, homosexual relationships deviate from this original design, as they do not align with the complementary union intended for procreation and the reflection of God's dual nature. The Principle understands that the Human Fall distorted humanity's original nature, introducing self-centeredness and leading to various forms of impure love and sexual distortions. The root of all evil lies in sexual immorality, a consequence of the Fall, which humanity has struggled to overcome. This is because it is deeply embedded in who we are as fallen beings. The Fall created a spiritual death—a separation from God and a cleaving to Satan—rather than a physical death, as physical death is a natural part of creation. Angels, created before humanity (Genesis 1:26), were intended to serve human beings, who have dominion over all creation, including angels. The Archangel Lucifer, the greatest among them, fell due to arrogance and self-centeredness, driven by a feeling of deprivation when God showed greater love to Adam and Eve. This event led to the Archangel becoming Satan, and many other angels following him, becoming fallen angels. This historical event underscores the profound impact of distorted love and self-centeredness on God's ideal. God’s ideal remains heterosexual marriage; however, the fallen world presents complex challenges such as diverse sexual orientations, which are manifestations of humanity's distorted nature inherited from the Fall. The Divine Principle fosters an understanding that while God's ideal is clear, all individuals are

What does the Bible say about homosexuality?

The Biblical Foundation

Divine Principle's Clarification

Living the Principle

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