Is same sex attraction sin or is it only same sex behavior?
A pastor who’s my friend & straight is a solid Christian, he loves Jesus more than anything and treats the Bible as God’s words. He believes that same sex attraction is not sin, only the behavior, which includes the lust that attraction can become. I get that the bond between two guys who are close is not sinful, of course it isn’t, guys who are straight enjoy that. Tbh, it’s what being brothers in the Church should be that it often isn’t for a lotta guys.
Maybe it would help more saying same sex sexual attraction. Then the bond between guys who like each other can be seen for the healthy thing it is. We’re made for that kinda connection with others. For guys like me, that connection can become sexualized, often for reasons that have nothing to do with sex.
So, is same sex attraction sin or is it only same sex behavior?
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been all over the map finding my way with this. How can the desire for something sinful be anything but sinful? That makes sense, it’s the traditional view I’ve grown up with, but it leaves you without much hope dealing with something both unwanted and unasked for that for many never goes away. It’s just not helpful when “same sex attraction is sin” is the final word and the end of discussion.
My pastor friend would answer that having an attraction is not sin. Altho he’s married, he says that being married doesn’t mean that other women stop being attractive, that the attraction only becomes sinful when it becomes lust. For him, being attracted to women is how he is built and is not a question of sin or guilt, and in the same way, guys who are attracted to other guys bear no sin or guilt if it doesn’t become lust. That makes sense too.
When he said it, my reaction was that his attraction to women is morally miles apart from my attraction to guys, that his attraction is God given, mine couldn’t be. But as I’ve thought about it, my views have changed, not so much changed as deepened. And neither of the views take into account the side A belief that a committed relationship between two people of the same sex not only is allowed by God, it honors God, which deserves its own post.
In some ways the discussion seems like an intellectual exercise miles removed from real life, like one of those late night talks you have about election or predestination. But how you view it really does affect the way that you live with same sex attraction as a believer following Christ.
If you’re a Christian, how do you answer the question: is same sex attraction sin or is it only same sex behavior?
I’m gonna add a disclaimer for something I hope is obvious, these views are my own. I know what it is to be blind to what’s true and only see things partially. But I also know that Christ is the Truth, and it’s in the reality of being in Christ that this journey makes sense. These posts are observations along the way, if what’s written doesn’t lead you to love God’s truth in Christ, leave them behind.
