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Romans 1:26-27Interpretation by religious conservatives Sponsored link.
Overview:Religious conservatives frequently focus on Verses 26 to 28 as a -- perhaps the -- main anti-homosexual passage in the Bible.
One reason is that these verses are the only ones that refer to same-sex behavior by both men or women.
Conservatives generally condemn all homosexual behavior as an unnatural, abnormal perversion. They frequently consider
homosexuality as chosen, changeable, and related to childhood sexual abuse or inadequate parenting, Some feel that it is
further linked to all types of evil behavior up to and including suicide. Some quotations:Almost all Evangelical Christian writers speak with a common voice about
same-sex behavior: condemnation:
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David Griffiths writes: "One of the consequences of
refusing God's plan for life is homosexual activity which is condemned
by the Scriptures (Romans 1:26-28; Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13 ),
and is contrary to the gospel. (1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10 ).
But homosexuals can be saved through faith in Christ and can know
deliverance like other sinners. (1 Corinthians 6:11 )." 1
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A. Mohler said: "The passage makes it clear that homosexuality is ultimately a
rebellion of human nature against the divine creator. It deals with the heart of
homosexuality, the passion of man for man or woman for woman." 2
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Frontline Christian organization states: "The 'natural
use' would be the use of sex between a male and female who are
married. Intimate affections between two of the same gender are here
called unnatural.... Homosexuality displays clearly how utterly
perverse man's desires are." 3
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David O. Dykes, Pastor "...in this passage, the Bible says
homosexuality, number one, is unnatural. Number two, it is called 'a
perversion.' ...Note: God created sex for a man and a woman who are
married to each other. ALL other sexual practices are a perversion of
Godâs good plan." 4
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Drew Worthen writes: "...when people willfully dishonor
the One true God, God may very well turn people over to their own sins
where they are dishonored. In the case before us it involves sexual
perversion. Now I'm not going to spend a lot of time getting too
specific here as this kind of behavior is very unnatural and not a
very pleasant subject. But the gist of it all is that God is
addressing the perversion of lesbianism among women and homosexuality
among men." 5
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Dave Armstrong writes: "...the contrast is between
natural and unnatural, and also between heterosexual and homosexual
sex. Paul is not merely saying that the 'inflamed passions' are what
is sinful, but the very concept and practice of homosexual relations,
which goes against nature. The documented medical consequences of
engaging in such unnatural and unhealthy sexual practices bear this
out. Since it is "unnatural" for men to be (sexually) with men, and
women with women, according to the Apostle (and God, since the Bible
is God-breathed), he describes the sexual acts as 'shameless' and
'error.' There is no qualification here for things like rape or
promiscuity or uncommitted, manipulative sex (that is the desperate
eisegesis [sic] of those who already believe the Bible is neutral on
the issue - itself an absurd proposition, in my opinion). St. Paul
makes an argument from nature. He is saying that the very notion of
homosexuality is disordered and unnatural." 6
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Dan Hill writes: "The 'natural' use is the relationship of
man and woman. The use that is 'against nature' is lesbianism. This is
the female expression of degrading passions....Paul affirms that male
homosexuality is also unnatural and then goes a step further in saying
that it consists of indecent acts. It is an error or aberration and
receives due penalty: The word DUE PENALTY involves justice, receiving
what one deserves....Christians are very good at becoming hate
mongers, and we must not allow that to happen. There are many
homosexual men and lesbian women who are very aware of their lack of
fulfillment and are receptive to the truth of God if it is expressed
with the love of Christ." 7
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Jonathan D. Inman writes: "There is no indication
whatsoever that any of the sins mentioned in Romans 1:26-32 --
homosexuality or greed, murder or gossip (among others) -- would be
acceptable under any circumstances. Such a distinction is a
far-fetched fiction, based on impressive sounding speculations that
lack any demonstrable factual basis....In Romans Paul teaches that
homosexuality is absolutely wrong, that it is coincident with and on a
par with all kinds of other sin, and that God forgives people of all
kinds of sin, including the sin of homosexuality." 8
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ChristianAnswers.Net writes that "For the
bible-believing Christian, there can be no doubt that homosexuality is
a grievous sin in the sight of God. The awful catalogue in the first
chapter of Romans of the sins practiced by the ancient pagan world
began with this sin." 9
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Bob Harbison writes: "The popular view is that
homosexuality is just as natural for the homosexual as heterosexuality
is for the rest of us, and that it is actually harmful for one to
suppress his natural sexual inclinations. Is this a natural, inborn
trait? Does the Bible address that question?....(Romans 1:26-27).
There may be physical or sociological factors which make the
temptation to be homosexual stronger for some people, but there is
nothing natural about it! If someone convinces us that there is, it
becomes easier to accept the sin." 10
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Manfred Brauch writes: "The point, it seems to me, is that same
sex relations are a specific falsification of God's intention for
human sexual intimacy, emerging out of the general falsification of
right thinking about God, idolatry. Paul is not talking about
individuals who deny their true nature, that is, heterosexuals
committing homosexual acts, but about humanity that both in general
idolatry and in specifics in morality, has replaced the truth about
God and the truth about God's creative design with error." 11 |

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About the words "natural" and "nature:"Romans 1:26-27 says, in part: "...their women did change the natural use into that which is
against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the
woman, burned in their lust one toward another...." Many religious liberals accept the findings of human sexuality researchers
that there are three normal and natural sexual orientations among humans and all
other mammals: heterosexuality among the majority and bisexuality and
homosexuality among minorities. Thus, some liberals do not interpret the terms "natural"
and "nature" in this passage as absolute terms. They believe that it is
normal for a heterosexual person to be attracted to a person of the opposite
gender, just as it is normal for a gay or lesbian person to be attracted to a
person of the same gender. They consider abnormal sex to involve sexual activity
which is in violation of a person's basic nature -- something that goes against
their sexual orientation. Most religious conservatives reject this belief. They refer to Genesis 3
which describes the actions of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They
interpret that chapter as describing the fall of
humanity -- the time our original parents disobeyed God and caused sin and
death to enter the world for the first time. As Ben Witherington III writes: "Christian
theology demands that we distinguish God's original design for creation from the
effects of the fall: we can't assume that ' whatever is, is right.' Not
all forms of sexual sharing, even between consenting adults, can be affirmed as
either good or 'normal', however 'natural' certain desires may seem. When nature
is out of joint, it can not serve as a clear barometer of what is good." An alternative belief:One conservative Christian group has a different interpretation:
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National Gay Pentecostal
Alliance (NGPA): They note that Paul's epistle was written to the
Christians in Rome. They were surrounded by the Roman culture which
expected people to engage in sex with both men and women. The majority of
people, then as now, have a heterosexual orientation. Thus, to participate
in same-sex behavior, and to meet society's expectations, they would have
had to disregard their sexual orientation. They would have gone beyond
their own nature. "The resulting activity was "unseemly" and an "error"
only because the men were heterosexual by orientation. Again, it was their
attempt to violate their own nature, that is, their attempt to alter the
orientation God created them with, that Paul was addressing...The bottom
line is, God created each of us with a sexual orientation. To attempt to
change it is, in effect, telling God that He created us wrong. The
creation (us) does not have the right to "re-create" itself." 12
The situation to the ancient Romans is similar to the situation that
homosexuals find themselves in today: society expects them to be
heterosexual, and to engage in sexual activity with persons of the
opposite gender -- even to marry. And so, many gays and lesibans go
against their nature and try to pretend to be heterosexual.
The NGPA also notes that Paul referred to this as an "error:" a
mistake, not a sin. |
 References:
- David Griffiths, "2.1. Gentiles are lost sinners (Romans 1:18-32),"
at: http://4-11.org/books/
- Fred Tasker, "What does the Bible say about homosexuality?",
Philadelphia Inquirer, 1997-JUL-13. The article was based on an earlier survey of
religions opinion of 6 theologians and religious leaders covering the range from
conservative to liberal thought. Included was R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Seminary.
- Frontline Christian web site, "Exposition of Romans 1: 26-32,"
at: http://www.frontlineweb.8m.com/
- David O. Dykes, "Homosexuality: Lifestyle or Deathstyle? Romans
1:26-27," Green Acres Baptist Church, at: http://thevillage.cc/support/chapel/
- Drew Worthen, "ROMANS 1:26-32 "God's Grace Is Greater Than The
Vileness Of Sin. Praise God!" at: http://www.cyberstreet.com/calvary/rm12632.htm
- Dave Armstrong, "St. Paul's Argument From Nature Against
Homosexuality (Romans 1)," at: http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZ336.HTM
- Dan Hill, "Romans 1:22-32," at: http://www.realtime.net/
- Jonathan D. Inman, "Homosexuality and the Scriptures: A Survey of the
Central Texts," http://www.harvestusa.org/romans.htm
- "What should be the attitude of the church toward homosexuals and
homosexuality?" ChristianAnswers.Net, at: http://www.christiananswers.net/
- Bob Harbison, "What Does The Bible Say About Moral Issues? -
Homosexuality," at: http://www.rome4christ.com/biblstud/mhomo.html
- Manfred Brauch, "Created Order and Divine Purpose: Genesis 1-3; Romans
1:26-27," at: http://www.bridges-across.org/ba/brauch2.htm
- The National Gay Pentecostal
Alliance (NGPA) is at: P.O. Box 20428, Ferndale, MI. 48220. Phone: 248-544-4442. They have an Internet presence at
Yahoo Groups, at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianandGay/ Teir essay on Romans 1 is at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
- The NGPA has merged with Apostolic Intercessory Ministry; both
groups are now known as Apostolic Restoration Mission. See: http://www.apostolicrestorationmission.4t.com/
 Copyright © 1996 to 2013 by Ontario
Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2013-FEB-16
Author: B.A. Robinson 
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