What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?

Kevin DeYoung is a really smart guy. I don’t just mean that he knows a lot of things really well, but also that he understands how to deliver his message in the most clear, straight-forward and winsome manner. Over the years, he has consistently proven that he is a masterful writer, cogent thinker, and orthodox Christian teacher. This book continues in that same line of well-conceived, carefully-delivered books on this controversial topic. With the recent cultural landscape lighting up like a blowtorch, this book couldn’t have come at a better time. While it is not surprising that the church is facing opposition regarding its stance on homosexuality, the real challenge has come due to the infighting among those who bear the name of Christ. These days, everyone has a blog, therefore everyone has an opinion. With so many words and feelings zipping around cyberspace, it can be hard to wade through the issues. Enter Kevin DeYoung. While others have written convincing and valuable volumes on the topic (no doubt the most definitive of those being Robert A.J. Gagnon’s The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics), DeYoung enters into the discussion with a potent overview—a summary book, if you will—that is faithful to Scripture and church history, yet it written and packaged for all audiences. He proves that you can bake your cake and eat it, too. The book is short; only 158 pages, and it is divided into chewable chunks, marked out by three sections. Now, he breaks it down into “Part 1: Understanding God’s Word” and “Part 2: Answering Objections”, but if you follow the flow of the book, the three appendices feel like a new section. In his introduction to the book, he is careful to state, “This is a Christian book, with a narrow focus, defending a traditional view of marriage.” (15) But then, he identifies his potential audience: the convinced, the contentious, and the confused (17-19), and appeals to each of them reasonably. I found his tone to be tender yet firm, loving yet definitive. In Part 1, he addresses five main texts (Gen. 1—2; Gen. 19; Lev. 18, 20; Rom. 1; 1 Cor. 6, 1 Tim. 1) dealing with the topic of homosexuality. In chapter 1, he approaches the Creation narrative of Genesis 1—2, discussing God’s original design for human sexuality and marriage between one man and one woman. He rightly argues that this is the starting place of this discussion. He makes no bones about referencing a healthy amount of Scripture, and while a disagreeable reader might shrug it off, DeYoung is careful to present the position carefully and scripturally. Chapter 2 deals with the infamous cities of Sodom and Gomorrah; cities which have the reputation for sexual immorality, and he argues that biblical history maintains a wholly negative assessment of the cities (38). This is an opposition to the contention that the city of Sodom should only be stigmatized for abuse and rape, not sexuality in general. He approaches the ever-challenging book of Leviticus in chapter 3, dealing specifically with the two explicit verses regarding homosexuality: 18:22 and 20:13. Leviticus is difficult for Christians, let alone non-Christians, and DeYoung does a good job of explaining the Holiness Code and why sexual purity was so essential. He successfully deals with the various functions of Old Testament law, noting the relaxing of some of the more civil commands (e.g. eating shellfish), while the commands for sexual purity remained unbroken throughout the New Testament (46-47). Chapter 4 deals with the famous first chapter of Romans, in which DeYoung does a light passage-by-passage exposition for the reader, ushering them into an understanding as to why God brings about judgment for sin, and in this context, represented by homosexual behavior. Chapter 5 deals exclusively with two Greek words: malakoi and arsenokoitai. One would never expect to find a Greek word study in a book with this intended audience, but DeYoung is careful to show that words matter, especially Bible words! In the end, he is able to identify that the words used in Scripture of homosexuality are not specifically describing abusers, but all persons who practice homosexual acts. Part 2 deals with seven common objections, which DeYoung addresses fairly and faithfully: “The Bible Hardly Ever Mentions Homosexuality” “Not That Kind of Homosexuality” “What about Gluttony and Divorce?” “The Church Is Supposed to Be a Place for Broken People” “You’re on the Wrong Side of History” “It’s Not Fair” “The God I Worship Is a God of Love” Without rehearsing and exhausting a discussion of his treatment of each of these, it’s important to note how DeYoung is so effortlessly able to weave in biblical theology to answer each of these questions. (His exploration of theology proper during the last objection is very well done.) The three appendices are worth mentioning: a brief discussion of the same-same marriage issue, an approach to counseling those with same-sex attraction, and a word about how the church should believe and act toward the issue. While this is a book that not only every Christian should read, but any reasonable, thinking non-Christian curious about the Christian position should read as well. But through it all, Kevin DeYoung maintains a firm stance. In the closing pages, he issues this entreaty: “Now is not the time for fuzzy thinking. Now is not the time to shy away from careful definitions. Now is not the time to let moods substitute for logic. These are difficult issues. These are personal issues. These are complicated issues. We cannot chart our ethical course by what feels better. We cannot build our theology based on what makes us look nicer. We cannot abdicate intellectual responsibility because smart people disagree. And we certainly cannot keep our Bibles closed. We must submit ourselves to Scripture and let God be true even if it means every man a liar (Rom. 3:4).” (126) In the end, you will find Kevin DeYoung’s book clear, helpful, charitable, light-hearted, and biblical.

What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoung is a great basic book on a biblical Christian view of homosexuality. In light of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling regarding homosexuality and marriage, it is very important for Christians who believe that homosexuality is not God’s design and is, therefore, a sin to have a good, loving, well-reasoned, and ultimately biblical explanation for why they believe the way they do. I believe that DeYoung’s book will go a long way toward helping Christians articulate their views. In the Introduction, DeYoung explains that while the Bible does talk about homosexuality, in reality it is a very small part of what the Bible is about. DeYoung does not say this to downplay the importance of the topic in our current culture, but to remind us that there is a larger storyline in Scripture, and its comments on homosexuality fall into that larger storyline. He also very clearly states up front that “this is a Christian book, with a narrow focus, defending a traditional view of marriage” (p. 15; italics in original). The book does not cover every possible nuance of the discussion, and it is does not intend to. For those interested in studying deeper, DeYoung includes a brief annotated bibliography in the back. He also emphasizes that “If you walk away from this book angry and arrogant, disrespectful and devoid of all empathy, someone or something has failed. I pray the failure is not mine” (p.18). DeYoung’s point in writing the book is not to hate or bash anyone, and he states that very clearly. I also believe he does a great job of maintaining a straightforward yet loving tone throughout. He also does not want his readers walking away with anything but a loving concern for those who deal with same-sex attraction. The book is then broken into two parts. Part one is “Understanding God’s Word,” and it deals with the major texts in Scripture relevant to the discussion of homosexuality: Genesis 1-2; Genesis 19; Leviticus 18, 20; Romans 1; and 1 Corinthians 6 and 2 Timothy 1 (together). In each chapter, DeYoung examines the biblical text and responds to common objections or reinterpretations of the text. For a book of this size (150 pages, not including the bibliography, acknowledgements, or Scripture index), DeYoung does a great job of laying out a basic understanding of the issues. He is a careful exegete, and remains faithful to the text as his final authority. Part two is titled “Answering Objections,” and this part deals with extra-biblical objections to a traditional Christian view of homosexuality. The objections he answers are “The Bible Hardly Ever Mentions Homosexuality,” “Not That Kind of Homosexuality,” What about Gluttony and Divorce,” “The Church Is Supposed to Be a Place for Broken People,” “You’re on the Wrong Side of HIstory,” “It’s Not Fair,” and “The God I Worship Is a God of Love.” Each of these objections are truly relevant in our current culture, and again, for a book of this size, DeYoung does a good job of responding to each one. The conclusion explains the importance of the topic by reminding us that several things are at stake in the debate: “the moral logic of monogamy,” “the integrity of Christian sexual ethics,” “the authority of the Bible,” and “the grand narrative of Scripture.” DeYoung ends by reminding us that we all need Jesus and His grace in our lives. There are three appendices in the book. Appendix 1 deals with the question of same-sex marriage. Appendix 2 discusses a Christian view of same-sex attraction. Appendix 3 ends with a call to 10 commitments Christians and churches should make when dealing with the issue of homosexuality. This includes commitments like #2 “We will tell the truth about all sins, including homosexuality, but especially the sins most prevalent in our community,” and #8 “We will ask for forgiveness when we are rude or thoughtless or joke about those who experience same-sex attraction.” DeYoung also encourages us to do everything in love in the 10th commitment. If you are looking for an easy yet helpful read regarding the issue of the Bible and homosexuality, Kevin DeYoung’s book is a great place to start.

Don't let the size of this book fool you. It may be small, but the treatment of the subject matter is certainly not. DeYoung has done the church no small favor by providing such an accessible, pastoral, and convincing assessment of the Bible's teachings on homosexuality. Of particular note in DeYoung's writing is his ability to display compassion towards those who experience same-sex attraction without minimizing the force of what the Bible has to say to them. DeYoung is very upfront about his stance on this issue from the very beginning of the book and leaves the reader with no doubt whatsoever about what they will find in the book. He addresses several of the most prominent texts pertaining to this discussion and provides much needed and hard to refute clarity regarding their meaning. DeYoung also provides very helpful guidance on some very difficult pastoral questions and situations regarding how to minister to those who experience same-sex attraction. DeYoung did something in this book that I am so thankful for: he framed the discussion of homosexuality as one that exists within the greater framework of redemptive history. In other words, DeYoung doesn't begin the book by asking "what does the Bible really teach about homosexuality", but instead he asks "what does the Bible teach about everything?" The most prevalent error in most modern discussions of homosexuality is that those discussions take place in a forum that is compartmentalized from the greater worldview of the Bible. DeYoung corrects this error by providing a concise biblical theology that explains the grand narrative of scripture and then proceeds to discuss homosexuality within that narrative. What we're left with is a treatment of homosexuality that is devoid of any sloppy proof-texting, as each text is discussed within its proper context and setting. This is an invaluable characteristic of this book. DeYoung's work provides a great introduction to the issue of homosexuality that all Christians should read. This issue is especially prevalent in our society and will only become more so with time.

What does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? Is a great new book by Kevin DeYoung. This book really breaks down into four parts: 1) an overview of the big storyline of the Bible, 2) a quick exegetical walk through of the passages in the Bible that deal with homosexuality, 3) a look at the most popular objections to what the Bible says about homosexuality, 4) and some appendices that deal with cultural issues in and outside the church as a well as a great bibliography with notes for further research. In part one Kevin DeYoung walks through all of the passages in the Bible that deal with homosexuality. These include: Genesis 1-2, Genesis 19, Leviticus 18, 20, Romans 1, 1Corinthians 6, and 1Timothy 1. What the reader will find here is an unapologetic and thorough exegetical study of these important passages. DeYoung’s conclusion concerning the Bible’s message about homosexuality is clear, “the Bible places homosexual behavior – no matter the level of commitment or mutual affection – in the category of sexual immorality” (17). But DeYoung also believes that all sexual sin, including homosexuality, is not beyond the reaches of the redemptive powers of the Gospel. If you are a Christian or a non-Christian that wants to better understand what the Bible says about homosexuality, Part I of DeYoung book is a great, quick summary of the pertinent passages. This does not mean you will like what he has to say, but he is unapologetic about what the Bible says. DeYoung affirms “there is nothing ambiguous about the biblical witness concerning homosexual behavior. Even many revisionist scholars acknowledge that the Bible is uniformly negative toward same-sex activity” (73). Further more DeYoung boils the arguments against the Bible down to brass tacks when he says, “no positive argument for homosexuality can be made from the Bible, only arguments that texts don’t mean what they seem to mean, and that specific texts can be overridden by other considerations” (74). One exercise I have done with younger members in my congregation that are struggling to understand this issue from God’s perspective is to walk them through each passage that deals with homosexuality in the Bible and let them tell me what each passage says. Unanimously they agree that the Bible speaks negatively about homosexuality. It is plain and obvious. Many Christians and non-Christians alike know this about the Bible. What DeYoung does in Part II of his book is then to walk through the cultural arguments and objections to what the Bible says. It is this section of DeYoung’s book that shines and is a must read for Christians and non-Christians alike. What is so important with the second half of DeYoung’s book is that he answers many of the popular objections to the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality, and he does it by exposing the faulty thinking that these objections or questions spring from. In Part II he deals with the following objections and questions: Chapter 6 - “The Bible Hardly Ever Mentions Homosexuality,” Chapter 7 - “Not That Kind of Homosexuality,” Chapter 8 - “What about Gluttony and Divorce?,” Chapter 9 - “The Church Is Supposed to Be a Place for Broken People,” Chapter 10 - “You’re on the Wrong Side of History,” Chapter 11 – “It’s Not Fair,” Chapter 12 – “The God I Worship Is a God of Love.” With each objection or question DeYoung shows us why we are even asking these questions and why the Gospel meets us with a different and better solution. If you are a Christian you need to read these chapters so that you can actively engage in careful conversation with your friends on the issue. If you are a non-Christian, you need to engage with these chapters to better understand your own thinking and reactions to the teaching of the Bible, whether at the end of the day you agree with the Bible’s teaching or not. In the short appendices that follows the two main parts of DeYoung’s book, he gives a couple of pages to the issues of gay marriage and same sex attraction. DeYoung does a good job summarizing the issue of gay marriage as more than just about who you can marry, but includes other issues such as the state suddenly having the power to decide what is marriage, which is a ceding to the state vast amounts of power that it has never had (137-140). The state has always recognized marriage as an institution, but has never had the power to define it. DeYoung’s second appendix deals with the growing debate in Christian circles over whether same sex attraction is a sin in an of itself. Sam Allberry deals with this issue in his book, Is God Anti-Gay? And Other Questions About Homosexuality, the Bible, and Same-Sex Attraction. I have a review of Sam’s book HERE, that previously has appeared on www.entrustedwiththegospel.com if you would like to hear a little of what Sam has said. As a sidenote, Denny Burk, has recently, published an article in JETS on the topic entitled, “Is Homosexual Orientation Sinful?” You can read it HERE. DeYoung notes that all misplaced sexual desires are a product of the fall and in need of redemption. Finally in a third appendix DeYoung gives “Ten Commitments” that the church should make as they deal with homosexuality. And they are all good. DeYoung’s book is a great resource for knowing what the Bible says about homosexuality. But more than that, it is a great resource for a carful look at the questions Christians and the wider culture are posing as they wrestle with what the Bible has said. The book by its own admission is not meant to be a pastoral resource on how the church should gracefully deal with the issue, but wants to make the underpinning of the issue clear. The debate in the church over homosexuality and its acceptance is at its core a debate over biblical authority. Will the church accept the Bible’s teaching or find a way around it to indulge in sin. If you want more resources on the debate, DeYoung has included a great bibliography with notes on each book listed for further study. He includes books that will help pastors and churches minister to those of the LGBT community, as well as works arguing in favor of homosexuality if you want to read counter arguments. I would also encourage you to read one of several blog posts from Kevin DeYoung that have appeared on the Gospel Coalition’s website dealing with the issue of homosexuality. This review originally appeared on www.entrustedwiththegospel.com 4/30/2015.

Facebook Family: I have received a substantial number of private messages in the wake of the SCOTUS decision on its same-sex marriage decision. I would say that the messages have fallen into three categories: (1) professed Christians who hold to the inerrancy of the Bible and its teaching on marriage and sexual sin; (2) professed Christians who have decided that parts of the Bible are no longer relevant and that we are “out of touch with the times;” and (3) Non-believing friends who are incredulous at the idea that I believe the Bible and its teaching on marriage and sexual sin. I’ve read all of the messages, but have not responded until today because I was on vacation and because I wanted to give a meaninful response. My response is this: all of you should get a copy of Kevin DeYoung’s book, “What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality?” I believe it to be an excellent book because it addresses all three of the groups listed above. For those professing Christians who believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, DeYoung’s book provides you with information to strengthen your faith. For professing Christians who think we’re out of touch, the DeYoung book argues simply, but persuasively, why that assertion is patently false. Finally, for my non-believing friends, even if in the end we continue to disagree, the DeYoung book will give you a comprehensive explanation of why I believe what I believe. For the record, I do believe the DeYoung book is the correct Biblical interpretation of the Bible on marriage and sexual sin and I adopt it as my official position on the matter because I wholeheartedly agree with what Pastor DeYoung has written. I specifically adopt this book because it is written with a pastoral tone and a pastoral heart. For those of you who end up reading it, I hope it helps. I continue to pray that we are able to discuss these issues in a spirit of love and care, even if we disagree.

Kevin DeYoung is the senior pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan. He is a prominent blogger and author. Many of his articles can be found on The Gospel Coalition's website. His books are well-known and available on our church's online bookstore and at Amazon. His latest book delves into a topic that not that long ago seemed to be far on the back burner of church and cultural life and now has become an issue not to be ignored. The culture shift in the west, especially in the United States, on the subject of homosexuality, LGBT lifestyles and same-sex marriage has been dramatic, to say the least. Those on both sides (and in the fuzzy grey areas in the middle) of the debate on Christianity and homosexuality and all that comes with that agree that the culture shift is real. DeYoung's book What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? (Crossway Books, 2015) seeks to speak into the issues with a winsomeness and truthfulness without just echoing the words and arguments that are little more than reactionary. In all candor, I land with DeYoung in his assertion of homosexuality and the Gospel. I found myself highlighting numerous sentences and paragraphs, to the point of realizing that if I highlight everything, it does no good to highlight anything. DeYoung's introductory section that backs up from the question presented in the title, gives foundational footing for a discussion much deeper than the subject of gender and attraction. The title of the Introduction is "What Does the Bible Teach About Everything?" It is wise to read the Introduction, for in these thirteen pages, there is value and substance that gives strength to the subject at hand throughout the remainder of the book. I share this because I know there are many who skip Forewords and Introductions to get to the "meat" of a book. I caution you to not do that in this case. There are numerous books flooding the online and physical stores about the subject of Christianity, the Bible and those who identify as LGBT. Many are what have been categorized by DeYoung and others as "revisionist theology." The title is self-explanatory. Yet, these writers have influence and make strong points in their books, blogs and speeches. The audience in America is clamoring for these versions of truth. DeYoung references numerous revisionist writers and even some self-declared LGBT writers in a way that is not dehumanizing and actually is complimentary of writing style and research. In fact, there are occasions when DeYoung agrees with some of the revisionist theories. Furthermore, there is nothing ambiguous about the biblical witness concerning homosexual behavior. Even many revisionist scholars acknowledge that the Bible is uniformly negative toward same-sex activity. The gay Dutch scholar Pim Pronk, after admitting that many Christians are eager to see homosexuality supported by the Bible, states plainly, "In this case that support is lacking." (page 73) Of course, there are far more instances where DeYoung disagrees with the revisionists and he answers the objections clearly and concisely in this book. As is the case with many books like DeYoung's the reader comes in with a preconceived idea of what he/she already believes about the subject at hand. This is true for me. I cannot say that I was opinion-less on this subject. - See more at: http://getreal.typepad.com/get_real_with_david_tarki/2015/05/book-review-what-does-the-bible-really-teach-about-homosexuality.html#sthash.L4D99lZs.dpuf

Released just over two months ago, "What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality" is a timely review of scripture and the call of Christians to repentance and to the spread of the gospel message. In the first part of the Book, Kevin DeYoung, the Senior Pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, walks the reader through scripture to see what the Bible says regarding homosexuality. Whether it's Genesis, Leviticus, Romans, 1 Timothy, or Jesus' own words, there is a consistent message that this is not was God intended for creation. From the beginning scripture to the end, in context, and in the original language, human sexuality, for the Christian, is to be demonstrated through male and female marriage. In the second part, DeYoung logically rebuffs arguments about shellfish and "love is love", hopefully leaving Christians with rainbow-adorned profile pictures taking another look at God's word. DeYoung's writing is both kind, yet straight forward on the topic. Clocking in at 150 pages, "What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality?" is a great read for all Christians. It can serve as an excellent tool for pastors teaching their congregations on this sensitive topic, and for Christians not sure where they stand on the issue. Hopefully, those adamant that "love is love" and will read this book with an open mind and an honest heart and reconsider why it is they believe what they do. Scripture does not support it.

I really liked how the author does not capitulate, but explains all the Bible passages like Romans 1, Genesis 1-2, and Matthew 18/19. I am a college student and I found it extremely readable. Part 1 is these Bible verses in context and how the church has interpreted them. Part 2 are modern rebuttals. I read the book in the course of 2 days, over 3 hours roughly. DeYoung approaches the Greek words, mala something and arkenekoite (men and bed), and discusses how Paul and the church assumed that sexual immorality and homosexuality encompassed more than Greek men sleeping with boys. He goes through Revelations (just Thyatira and some other church), on the acceptance of Jezebel. Also, I really thought the last chapter was AWESOME!!! I would not have any problem explaining this to a friend and highly recommend it to anybody searching for wisdom on this topic. It is the author’s (and every Christian’s) will that if anybody hurt by Christians read this will find healing in Jesus and walk as a new creation. Yet the author also does not capitulate on the matter of repentance and the traditional view of marriage and sexuality. May all who read this come to know Jesus personally as a God who does not leave us without answers as people anticipate “anti gay” when they talk to a Christian.