“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

-The Apostle Paul, to The Church at Corinth

It happens often enough. A Believer finds themself in the chair of the interviewee. It happens no matter the theology, as long as one wears the sash that reads “Christian”. The response to “Is homosexuality a sin?” usually creates from them some sort of non-answer. However, for the Believer that does not have a reputation, fame, and a hefty bank account to uphold, the answer is “Yes”. At least most of the time. However it is the follow up that causes Goliath to crush David.

“Why is it a sin?”

“God said it was. It is in the Bible.”

If this is your argument my dear believer… then stop speaking. Do Christianity as a whole a favor and go somewhere and take a nap. You have lost. It is self-defeating to use the “God said so” argument without giving reason behind the purpose. You are better off debating cinderblocks. This can seriously become a cumbersome task when those that follow The Alternative think of God as a Flying Spaghetti Monster and The Word as a fairy tale written by lucid men. As many of them do. But what do we do when we find ourselves not casting our pearls before swine? Let us instead try a different approach. Shall we add some basic biology with a dash of purpose?

The Alternative has existed since Sin entered the world, creating a war with The Natural. A perversion created by the mind of man. Adam served the purpose as an image bearer of The Father, overseeing creation and being a step above the animal kingdom. Eve was a helper, or better expressed, a companion, who also was created as an image bearer with the same purpose. In Genesis 1:28 God gives them a simple command: “be fruitful and multiply”. In verse 22 He gives the same directive towards the animal kingdom. This is why we have female parts… and male parts. Combined at the right time we get… more people and animals.

Physical relations between married people is both intimate and pleasurable. It certainly fulfills the “two become one” philosophy as they give to each other themselves. There is a certain connection that is not found within the animal kingdom. Being created as a dichotomy (or trichotomy depending on your view), we are more complex than instinct. Usually, with animals, the male jumps on the female with no introduction or courtship. Then he’s done. Goodbye! Mating season is over. A long and fulfilling life as a married couple is not in the program. Virginity is not viewed as something sacred. However, with each passing generation, people are reflecting more like wild beasts.

This is the relational connection that God has given to us within marriage and within sex. This, between two people that (should) love each other deeply and dearly. I have no doubt that it is possible for people in The Alternative to connect in this way. That they too can become “one”. On the surface we may say “Why not? If two people love each other then they should be together. No matter what they are (gender)”. And it does make sense if we look at it from a relational perspective. But it isn’t about love. The problem as to why The Alternative is a sin is because it is a break in God’s design and purpose for mankind.

Back to Genesis 1:28 we are told to multiply. At the beginning and the second beginning after the Great Flood. Twice! Men have one part of the puzzle, and women have the other part. They fit together and the result is multiplication. That’s why we, and animals, are designed to do this. Yes, sex is enjoyable. But that is a by-product of its intended purpose. Allow me to repeat- the purpose of sexual design is for multiplication, not pleasure. Otherwise pregnancy would not be the guaranteed outcome.

So then we return to our original question: Is homosexuality a sin? The answer is yes. Then why?

I have no doubt that couples that practice The Alternative can offer each other companionship. I have no doubt that they can truly love each other as a couple in The Natural. However, they cannot fulfill the role of God’s design in one way. They cannot procreate. They may be compatible relationally, but they are not compatible physically. All they can offer each other with their bodies is pleasure, which is not what God designed us to do. By His command, this is the purpose for sex. This is why The Word reserves this for the marriage bed. It is not meant for experimentation or carefree bliss. Because experimentation and carefree bliss with heterosexual people usually equals unwanted pregnancy. Which gives birth to abortion. It is only for a physically compatible couple that has become one and has made the decision to work toward multiplication. Even though fornicating heterosexual couples can procreate, they too are in the same boat as a couple in The Alternative that cannot procreate. Sex exists for the purpose of procreation. Procreation exists for the purpose of multiplication of people within the family. Man has perverted sex away from procreation within the marriage, and turned it into selfish pleasure. Created is the goal of sex without pregnancy. Abortion is the solution to failure.

One may say “Why harp on The Alternative? What about other sins?” This is so common. Yet we must remember that no other sin goes against God’s design and purpose for mankind. Drinking, lying, smoking, cursing. These are all habits. Murder and adultery are grave choices and selfish mistakes that can ruin the lives of others. However, all of these lack one thing. None of them are a lifestyle. None of them define the persona. None of them are passionately celebrated. None of them are weaponized against the nonconformist. None of them are the fire that seeks to burn down The Church.

The only way that one can justify The Alternative falling within the construct of God’s design is to pervert the truth into a lie. To call a woman a man, and then say with much foolishness “Ah ha! That gay man just impregnated that other gay man. So homosexuals can practice procreation!” To twist women into men and vice versa is a sin in and of itself. Even if one can justify these techniques for the creation of families within The Alternative, it still does not resolve the internal creation with men and women. A nurturer (the woman) is just as important as a provider and protector (the man). A simple observation of life will verify my claim. It is not a construct of man, for historically it has existed since the dawn of time. Both are needed pieces for the whole to raise a child. No matter how feminine a man may act, or how masculine a woman may strive to be, it, along with their perception of physical construct, goes against The Natural intended purpose of sex. One sin upon another sin does not eliminate all sin. But this I will explore more in Part IV.

“Be fruitful and multiply”

The only command given.

Anything else is a distortion of God.

Although biologically factual and Biblically grounded, do these truths mean that I, and others of The Way, hate the people of The Alternative?

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.”

-The Apostle Paul, to The Church at Rome

Authors Note: “The Alternative” is not meant to dehumanize anyone or to say that the people that practice such are a subspecies. It is a play on the alternate term for homosexuality, “alternative lifestyle”. “The Natural” is not meant to say that heterosexuals are above homosexuals. I use this term to describe the relationship between man and woman in the realm of procreation. A relationship that has been since creation and is the normative formula for the growth of families.