Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

A Brief Letter About Homosexuality

This is an e-mail that I wrote to a visitor to our web page . . . Dr. Bucher

Thanks for your question. You ask, "What is the Lutheran Position (i.e. tolerance level) for same sex partnerships within the parish (not clergy)?" In responding to this I'll do my best to give you the short answer this time around. If you would like to know more about our position (e.g., why we interpret certain passages of Scripture as we do, answers to specific gay community interpretations, etc.), let me know and I would be happy to comply.

First, let me hasten to say that the position I am giving here is that of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, my church body.

(1) In ascertaining one's Christian position on any topic of moral or doctrinal significance one must begin by wrestling and coming to grips with God's Word. What does the Bible say on this topic?

(a) The Old Testament not only prohibits homosexuality, it classes it along with bestiality and it was punishable by death:

• Leviticus 18:22-24a - "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. You shall not have sexual relations with any animal and defile yourself with it, nor shall any woman give herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it: it is perversion. Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways"
   
• Leviticus 20:13 - "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them."

(b) Since the Old Testament is only binding upon Christians insofar as the New Testament confirms it, let us press on to the New Testament witness:

• Romans 1:26-27: "For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error."
   
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites [Greek, "arsenokoitai" - homosexuals] thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers--none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."
   
• 1 Timothy 1:9-10: "This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, fornicators, sodomites [Greek, "arsenokoitai" - homosexuals], slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching."

(2) Some observations follow:

(a) Clearly, these NT references categorically condemn the homosexual lifestyle; the Romans passage singles out homosexual acts and describes them as "degrading passions," "unnatural," "shameless acts," and "error." The other two passages are interesting because of the other "sinners" that surround homosexuals. Homosexuals are classed with "thieves," "male prostitutes," "adulterers," "robbers," and even "those who kill father or mother," and "murderers" just to name a few.

(b) Why is homosexuality singled out for such condemnation? First, the Romans passage presents same sex relationships as the result and conclusion of rebellion and idolatry against God: "because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions" (Romans 1:25-26). Seen in this context, same sex relationships are viewed as an example of, and the perverse conclusion of, idolatry and rebellion. Any student of Scripture knows that rebellion and idolatry are roundly denounced from beginning to end. Second, homosexual sex is called "unnatural" [actually, "against nature" in the Greek], that is, it flies in the face of God's procreative order, thus endangering that order.

(c) The 1 Corinthians passage shows that, far from being tolerated by God, homosexuals "will not inherit the kingdom of God." They will not inherit it, just as the others mentioned will not. It is interesting that, Paul immediately adds, "And this is what some of you used to be, but you were washed, etc." The Corinthians that Paul refers to have given up these lifestyles (including homosexuality) and have been washed/forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ. I bring this up in response to those who claim that they are homosexuals by birth or genetically and that they cannot change. IN JESUS CHRIST ANYONE CAN CHANGE AND HAVE NEW LIFE!

(d) Though Scripture doesn't speak as clearly on all ethical topics, it speaks very clearly on the topic of homosexuality. Once we hear its witness, we have several options open to us. We can say that (i) "though true in the 1st Century, times have changed, and we are no longer bound by these passages"; or (ii) "Scripture is only one authority available to Christians today - and where Scripture contradicts culture or current science, it must be revised to be sensitive to the times"; or (iii) "Scripture is God's timeless Word and therefore declares the truth about homosexuality also in our day." Lutherans take the third option. Our positions on doctrinal and ethical matters are taken from and ultimately formed by the Old and New Testaments (though we certainly look hard at religious and social history, current cultural thought, true science, philosophy, etc.)

The bottom line is that our position on same sex relationships in the parish is that they are sinful in God's sight, harmful to those practicing them, and therefore we would lovingly, but firmly, urge those so involved, to repent and turn to Christ for forgiveness and new life. Hatred toward homosexuals (or anyone else) should not be tolerated! Rather there should be love and patience toward those in a same sex relationship. But ultimately, as Christians we dare not be tolerant where God is intolerant and intolerant where God is tolerant. We dare not be bullied into abandoning our teaching in the name of tolerance, equality, or any other wise-sounding deception.

These two that you are counseling will never find a relationship with God unless they remove the barrier that is keeping them from God. Their homosexual lifestyle is that barrier. God DOES love them with an incredible love, but they are keeping themselves from that love.

For your information, there is a Lutheran group called "Keys Ministry" that is dedicated to helping individuals and their families who are struggling with homosexuality. Their address is Box 97, Wykoff, MN 55990, phone: (507) 352-4110.