Is homosexuality wrong? If you ask one hundred people, you would get some "Yeses," some "Nos," and some "Maybes." We can never get down to one ultimate answer among ourselves. Therefore, we must turn to the source that will pinpoint the absolute truths and standards that govern us: the Bible, which was written by our very Creator and Life-Giver, Jehovah God Almighty.

It is not for us to say whether homosexuality is wrong. Let us see what God's ultimate Word has to say about this crucial subject.

Homosexuality is forbidden in several Bible passages such as in Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13, but I would like to just focus on one passage that mentions both male and female homosexuality.

Apostle Paul wrote:

"For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting." (Romans 1:26-28, World English Bible)

Paul's letters represented God's thoughts, unless otherwise specifically stated by Paul. Therefore, in this passage, God clearly forbids homosexuality among both sexes. However, as obvious as this passage in prohibiting homosexuality is, many people still object to this censure, saying that Paul was not really condemning homosexuality. Here, I will touch upon the most common objections, with my response following each.

Objection: Paul's letter was addressed to people many centuries ago, so his letter is not relevant to us.

My response: "Envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty," and boastful were all unfitting and unacceptable behavior and actions in Paul's day (Romans 1:29-30). Does that mean these behaviors are fitting and acceptable today? What was wrong is wrong today and will be wrong tomorrow. God's morality is universal and timeless.

If you think that Paul's letter is not relevant to us, then you should also think that most of the Bible, especially the Old Testament, is not relevant to us; so why read the Bible in the first place? Why learn history? If the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, for example, only applied to people in those towns of that age, then why should we pay heed to the story? Why would Jehovah God include it in the Bible? As a matter of fact, the Bible says that what happened to the wicked cities is an example for us: "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, having, in the same way as these, given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire." (Jude 1:7)

We tell of our history in order to learn from it, to see what went right so we can mirror it, to learn what went wrong to avoid the same mistakes. So Paul's letter, although addressed to first-century Roman Christians, sets a guidance for sexuality to us as well. God does not need to write a new book about our times; His divine Word stands forever. Therefore, Biblical principles still apply to our life right now to time indefinite.

Objection: Paul was talking about only heterosexuals who turned to homosexuality, not people who started out as homosexuals.

My response: Paul's writing does not indicate so. However, even if he was referring to those who had turned from heterosexuality to homosexuality, it doesn't lessen God's prohibition of homosexuality. Would it be okay for me to start stealing now just because I never stole before? That would be absurd, wouldn't it? Regardless of how a person starts out, one should not turn to a homosexual lifestyle, or anything else that is not permitted, later in life. God let those people become homosexuals as "the due penalty" of their sins, namely their refusal to believe in God in spite of an abundance of evidences of His existence and their worship of the created rather than the Creator. If homosexuality is not wrong, then would God "give up" them to homosexuality? Would He punish people with something He condone? Would we punish people by giving them a roomful of gold?

God would not "give up" them to homosexuality if He approved homosexuality. Paul would not have used the term "gave up" for turning to homosexuality if God condone it. Paul used that term to indicate God's distaste of homosexuality. Homosexuality is clearly indicated as "vile," "inappropriate," and "against nature," diverting from what God has intended nature to be, and among "things which are not fitting." Anything that is "not fitting" remains "not fitting," regardless of whether you are ten, thirty, or eighty years old.

Objection: Paul did not say which homosexual acts are condemned.

My response: If I say, "Strawberries are not good for you," would you say, "I can drink strawberry smoothie since Shirley didn't say drinking strawberry smoothie is bad for me"? Likewise, Paul did not need to lay out the specifics. When homosexuality is not approved of, it means homosexuality in its entire sense, no matter how much or how little of it people practice, is not allowed. Above all, when Paul did not give specifics, it more clearly demonstrates that homosexuality in general is "vile" and "inappropriate."

Objection: Do not judge others.

My response: If your friend is considering using drugs, would you not warn them of the negative consequences? If we are true friends indeed, then we would not hesitate to rebuke a friend when they have done wrong. If you fell, would you not want a friend to pick you up? If you wish that a friend will pick you up when you make a mistake with temporary consequences, how much more should we help one another by picking one another up when we make a mistake that could result in eternal consequences (eternal death)!

If a police officer witnesses a crime in town, would he not go after the culprit? Well, if our society takes care to enforce human-made laws, should we not more so take care to enforce God's laws? Are God's laws less important than human laws?

Thus, informing people of what the Bible says and warning others of the consequences for rebelling against God's moral laws are not judging them. On the contrary, this is how we show our love among ourselves. I certainly don't want a "friend" who will not correct me when I do wrong! In fact, woe to us if we don't strengthen the diseased, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring back the driven, or seek the lost! (Ezekiel 34:4)

Therefore, when we know about something that will do others harm or bring displeasure to Jehovah, it becomes our duty to pass on the message to others to protect them and please our Heavenly Father (Ezekiel 3:18-21). Remember, "if any among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20)

Objection: Many homosexual situations are based on love. How could you forbid two consenting adults to love each other and get married like anyone else?

My response: "Straight people have the right to commit to one another in love, in marriage. Why can't we? It's unfair!" is the common protest from homosexuals.

"We also have love and want to show that love," says the homosexual community.

But that love is selfish love. While the love for one another may not be selfish in itself, it is selfish because it shows that you love yourselves and one another more than you love Jehovah. When we love ourselves more than we love our very Life-Giver, for whatever reason, we are selfish. Going against Jehovah's wishes is acting selfishly.

All the problems in our society are caused by selfish love. The Bible says no prostitution, no adultery, no fornication, no divorce (unless for marital unfaithfulness), no murdering, no greed, no cheating, no lying under oath, no false witnesses, no dishonoring parents, no cheating the government, no stealing...yet, we have broken all these commandments because we love ourselves more than we love God, who lovingly created us and prepared a wonderful planet for us to live. Sadly, we have polluted this Earth with our selfish love.

While I'm fervent for human and civil rights, we need to make sure whatever rights we advocate align with the will of Jehovah. No, we may not all agree with everything God commands us, as we all have fallen short of His glory, but we still have the duty to obey our Heavenly Parent in whatever we do, say, and think.

No child likes to listen to their parents in everything in life, but that child has the responsibility to do so as long as they are under their parents' care, as long as every order of the parents does not harm the welfare of the child. God is our ultimate Parent, whose rules are always for our benefits, even though we may not understand it or desire to accept it.

I repeat: everything God sets out is good. All of His laws for us are for our benefits, even if we cannot understand everything at this time. He made us, so He knows what is best for us, much better than we know ourselves. Would our very Life-Giver not have the right and obligation to set out standards to govern us?

In conclusion, God forbids both male and female homosexuality. Homosexuality may not be wrong in our eyes, but it is in God's eyes. God puts the sin of homosexuality on the same level as incest, adultery, and bestiality, and those who practice such abominations without true repentance afterward will not receive salvation. God's laws are what we need to live by—not our laws. We need to do our best loving what He loves and hating what He hates. It does not mean we are condemning people when we do not approve what they do; we have no right to condemn anyone as we are all sinners, every one of us. But when people refuse to heed God's warning, they are self-condemning themselves.

Remember: "Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God." (I Corinthians 6:9-10)

About the Author:

Shirley Cheng (b. 1983), a blind and physically disabled award-winning author with 26 book awards, motivational speaker, Summa Cum Laude (Highest Honor) graduate with Bachelor of Biblical Studies, poet, author of nine books (including "Do You Love Jehovah? God Almighty's Infinite Love & Wisdom to Propel You to Greatness"), contributor to 22, and a parental rights advocate, has had severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since infancy. Owing to years of hospitalization, she received no education until age eleven. Back then, she knew only her ABCs and very simple English; other than that, her book knowledge was non-existent. However, after only about 180 days of special education in elementary school, she mastered grade level in all areas and entered a regular sixth grade class in middle school. Unfortunately, Shirley lost her eyesight at the age of seventeen. After a successful eye surgery, she hopes to earn multiple science doctorates from Harvard University. Visit www.shirleycheng.com for more inspiration.

Do you have questions about the Bible? Something you don't understand? Do you need a bit of guidance in developing a relationship with Jehovah? Then Shirley would like to help you! Please contact her via her site at www.shirleycheng.com and she would be more than glad to do her best to answer your questions! Never hesitate to ask questions, for no question about the Bible is ever too small or stupid.