Christianity,  Theology/Bible

The Gospel and Homosexuality

This past weekend, I spoke to college students attending the “Give Me an Answer” conference on the campus of Southern Seminary. My topic was “The Gospel and Homosexuality,” and after my talk the students were eager to find resources to help them think more biblically about this issue. I told them that I would provide a short list here, and what follows is the fulfillment of that promise. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it will get you started. Four questions about the gospel and homosexuality are below, and each resource is listed under the question that it answers.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” -1 Corinthians 6:9-11

How do I address the gospel to homosexual friends and family members?

Book: Mark A. Yarhouse, Homosexuality and the Christian: A Guide for Parents, Pastors, and Friends (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2010).

Are there any Christians who struggle with homosexuality and yet are still seeking to follow Christ?

Book: Wesley Hill, Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010).

Book: Christophey Yuan and Angela Yuan, Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God. A Broken Mother’s Search for Hope (Colorado Springs: Waterbrook, 2011).

What does the Bible say about homosexuality?

Article: Denny Burk, “Why Evangelicals Should Not Heed Brian McLaren: How the New Testament Requires Evangelicals to Render a Judgment on the Moral Status of Homosexuality.” Themelios 35.2 (2010): 212-26.

Article: Thomas Schreiner, “A New Perspective on Homosexuality,” Themelios 31 (2006): 62-75.

Book: Robert A. J. Gagnon, The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 2001).

[This book is very technical and therefore isn’t for everyone. It is, however, the most definitive work on the Bible’s teaching about homosexuality.]

What is the natural law case for traditional marriage?

Article: Robert George, et al., “What Is Marriage?” Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy 34. 1 (2010): 245-287.

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