Same-Sex Attraction Assignment
CHPL 615: Chaplain Ethics for Advisement and Pastoral Care – Dr. Gregory Stephens
February 10, 2025
Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................1
The Christian Perspective of Marriage & Sexuality...................................................................1
How to Minister Correctly – A Biblical Response.....................................................................3
How to Minister - A Humane Response...................................................................................5
Limits to The Ministry.............................................................................................................6
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................7
Bibliography............................................................................................................................8
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Introduction
The world is constantly changing in a multitude of different ways. What was acceptable 15-20
years ago may not be as acceptable today. What was not acceptable 15-20 years ago may in fact
be acceptable today. Same-sex attraction has existed just about as long as human beings have
existed here on earth. In the not-so-distant past, same-sex attraction/marriage was generally
not accepted openly by society and was often hidden from public view by those who practiced
the belief. Same-sex attraction/marriage has undergone a dramatic shift within the United
States and the world at large within the past few years. While many parts of the world have fully
embraced and accepted same-sex attraction and same-sex marriage as normal, it is still a sinful
behavior in the eyes of God and is not consistent with the Christian lifestyle. To properly
minister to a person who holds these beliefs, a chaplain must be able to offer a coherent
rationale based on scripture as to why same-sex attraction/marriage does not glorify God while
also being respectful and compassionate to the person who holds these beliefs.
The Christian Perspective of Marriage & Sexuality
Understanding the Christian perspective of sexuality and how God intended for humans to
act sexually is essential for any person who wants to enter the ministry. The scriptures have a lot
of information that addresses sexual relationships. Genesis 1 gives the reader an introduction to
creation at large by God, while Genesis 2 introduces both man and woman and their unique
relationship to each other and to God.1 Genesis 2:18-25 gives a very good introduction to the
notions of sex and marriage.2 Some scholars contend that Genesis 2:24 is the very first biblical
reference to the institution of marriage. This is because it is quoted several times within the
1 Scott B. Rae, Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics, Third Ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009),
271.
2 Ibid.
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New Testament such as in Matt. 19:5 and Eph. 5:31 which indicates that it was originally
intended for married couples.3 Another reason is that the meaning of “one flesh” appears to
involve a sexual unity, and it is shown several times throughout the Scripture that sex is to only
be conducted inside the boundaries of marriage.4
There are four unique purposes related to marriage according to the scriptures. It is, “for the
mutual help of husband and wife, for the increase of mankind with legitimate issue, and of the
church with a holy seed; and for the preventing of uncleanness.”5 It is shown in Genesis 2:18-24
that God observes that it was not good for Adam to be alone in the garden which leads to the
creation of Eve.6 For the second purpose, it is shown that God gives them the command to “be
fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:27-28). This task wasn’t only given to Adam and Eve, but the
entire human race.7 Marriage and childbearing are important to believers and unbelievers alike.
Because of this, marriage between two unbelievers is no less valid in the sight of God than that
of two believers.8
The third purpose, the provision of the church with a holy seed, deals with the fact that
believers have the distinction of bearing children who become members of their local church
which contributes to the ongoing growth and prosperity of the Christian community.9 Without
this important third purpose, the growth of the church and Christian community could be
3 Rae, Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics, 272.
4 Ibid.
5 David VanDrunen, Bioethics and the Christian Life: A Guide to Making Difficult Decisions (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway, 2009), 97.
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid.
8 Ibid., 98.
9 VanDrunen, Bioethics and the Christian Life: A Guide to Making Difficult Decisions, 98.
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severely stagnant. The final purpose, to prevent uncleanness, relates to the fact that human
beings are sexual creatures in nature who not only seek to express sexuality for the purpose of
procreation, but for its own sake as well.10 The term “prevent uncleanness” is an allegory to
Paul’s instruction for married couples to not refrain from normal sexual intercourse, “because of
the temptation to sexual immorality” (1 Cor. 7:1-9).11 The important thing to note here is that
sexual relationships are not a bad thing. God did in fact create humans as sexual creatures and
He wants them to express that aspect of themselves in the confines of an exclusive, life-long
commitment between one man and one woman.12 As Jones articulates, “The essential moral
problem with nonmarital sexual intercourse is that it performs a life-uniting act without a
lifeuniting intent, thus violating its intrinsic meaning.”12 It is known from the scriptures that God
did intend for one man and one woman to become “one flesh,” but this loses its meaning when
two members of the same-sex attempt to become one. This was not God’s original intention for
marriage at all.
How to Minister Correctly – A Biblical Response
The world’s attitude towards same-sex attraction/marriage has shifted dramatically. On June
26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples have the right
to marry in all 50 states. This monumental decision legalized same-sex marriage and required
states to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages. Even in the entertainment industry, it is
10 Ibid.
11 Ibid.
12 Ibid.
12 David Clyde Jones, Biblical Christian Ethics (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1994), 158
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very easy to spot homosexual characters compared to previous years where they were difficult
to spot.
No matter if it’s television, movies, books, or video games, same-sex attraction is very present in
all forms of media being consumed today. There are even some churches today, such as the
Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), who say that same-sex attraction/marriage is
acceptable in the eyes of God if they love each other and love God as well. They claim that
homosexuality is not at odds with Christianity and that homosexuality fits with their own
interpretation of the Bible.13 With same-sex attraction/marriage being so widely accepted within
society today, how can someone correctly minister to someone who holds these beliefs?
It is important to remember that when approaching this sensitive topic as a chaplain, one
must exercise caution and respect when talking about the topic of same-sex
attraction/marriage. A chaplain must also know the biblical response to same-sex attraction and
marriage, so they know how exactly to approach the topic. Paul addressed homosexuality in
Romans 1:24-27 which is seen as a central scripture within the New Testament.14 Paul
references that male and female were originally created with an innate attraction towards the
opposite sex, but because of the fall of man and sin, humans begin to burn with lust towards
their own sex. Because of the nature of sin, everyone can have the potential for homosexuality
like how they can also potentially commit any other sin.15 Some have tried to make the
distinction between homosexual attraction and homosexual relations. While there is a clear
difference, it is important to note that in many cases, one can lead to the other. Homosexual
attraction may not be a sin, although it is not in line with God’s intended order. When the
13 Rae, Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics, 279.
14 Ibid., 282.
15 Ibid.
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attraction leads to lust, and then sexual activity, then it becomes a full-fledged sin.16 During the
first century, Paul warned the church of the dangers of sexual sin in any capacity (1 Cor. 6:9-20;
Eph. 5:3; 1 Thess 4:3; 1 Tim. 3:2).17 This is in line with how the Christian community views
heterosexual relations in general as well, especially outside of the bonds of marriage.
How to Minister - A Humane Response
It is always important to remember that even though someone is caught in sin, they are still
worthy of God’s compassion and mercy just like everyone else. Rae adds, “it is important that
the church not view homosexuals as somehow outside the boundaries of God’s grace. The
church needs to be a place where those struggling with their sexual identity can come and
receive grace, truth, and compassion.”18 One of Jesus’ central teachings was about compassion
and mercy. Throughout the gospels, it is shown several times of Jesus being overwhelmed with
compassion and mercy on the people he encountered. In Mark, Jesus tells someone, “Go home
to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had
compassion on you” (Mark 5:19). Just as Jesus had done, likewise, the church should also take a
compassionate and merciful approach when it comes to sin, while not trying to justify it. A
chaplain must keep their demeanor and words in check when attempting to minister to
someone with homosexual beliefs. There are many instances of chaplains and ministers having
“holier than thou” attitudes which can cause those they are attempting to minister towards to
turn away. This does nothing to help at all. A chaplain who wants to minister to them must
approach them with a humble attitude and a gentle spirit. Too many people have walked away
from the church because of having the feeling of being marginalized. There is a right and a
16 Rae, Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics, 283.
17 Joe E. Trull and James E. Carter, Ministerial Ethics: Moral Formation for Church Leaders, Second Edition
(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004), 163.
18 Rae, Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics, 283
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wrong way to minister to someone who is struggling with sin. The wrong way is to show
contempt and
hostility to someone who you are supposed to be showing compassion towards. The right way
involves being led by the Holy Spirit and letting Him speak through you when discussing why a
homosexual lifestyle does not glorify God nor follow the Christian lifestyle. A chaplain must
minister to someone the same way they would like to be ministered to. When trying to talk to
someone about a sin they may be committing, ask yourself, “Am I speaking to them the same
way that I would like to be spoken to if I was in this situation?” Doing this will allow a chaplain
to minister in a way that is both sensitive to the needs of the person while also remaining
respectful to the individual being ministered to.
Limits to The Ministry
Ministering to someone regarding same-sex attraction/marriage was somewhat easier
twenty years ago since it was not widely accepted within society. In today’s very different world,
ministering to someone who holds those same beliefs is a lot more difficult because it is more
socially accepted compared to years past. Acknowledging homosexuality as a lifestyle that does
not glorify God can get a person labeled as a bigot or as a judgmental person. No matter how
polite and respectful you are, some people have simply decided that their lifestyle is good
enough for them and there is no changing that. They want to be free to love whomever they
want to love, and society has told them that is alright. Sometimes, your ministry efforts will fall
on deaf ears no matter how pure the intent is.
As a chaplain, it is your job to comply with all laws and regulations as a minister while also
not violating your right to free religious expression. This means that while you are free to
disagree with the lifestyle of homosexuals, that does not mean you can discriminate against
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them in any way, shape or form. You are still free to minister to them, but that does not mean
that you must abandon your own values as a believer in Christ. Jesus sat and ate with sinners
while ministering to them, and you are called to do the same. As a Christian, it is important that
you stand up to sin and ideas and beliefs that lead to sin. It doesn’t matter what the world says,
if God says it is wrong, then it is wrong.
Conclusion
As long as human beings exist on the earth, sin will be present. Attitudes and beliefs towards
different traditions change drastically as the years go by. Homosexuality was once viewed
negatively by society at large, but that has changed dramatically within the past few years. Even
before the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in 2015,
homosexuality was becoming more and more acceptable in the eyes of the public. Regardless,
same-sex attraction/marriage is a distortion of God’s intended will for humanity. God created
male and female to be with one another and to procreate within the bonds of marriage. It is
shown through the scriptures that God intended design was good and natural, but due to the
fall of man in Genesis, human beings became sinful. Homosexuality is a result of the fall of man
and is something that has only spread since the fall. As Christians, it is important to remind the
world that no sin is acceptable in the eyes of God, no matter how mainstream it may become.
Christians are called to stand up and run away from sin, not embrace it because the world does.
You do not have to treat people with same-sex beliefs as less than, but you also don’t have to
accept their lifestyle just because the world tells you to.
Bibliography
Jones, David Clyde. Biblical Christian Ethics. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1994
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Rae, Scott B. Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan,
2009
Trull, Joe E. and Carter, James E. Ministerial Ethics: Moral Formation for Church Leaders, Second
Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004
VanDrunen, David, Bioethics and the Christian Life: A Guide to Making Difficult Decisions
Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2009.
