The contemporary acceptance and endorsement of homosexual marriage by some churches have sparked significant theological and moral debates.
The heart of this debate is whether these churches can genuinely claim to know and follow God’s Holy Spirit. The biblical teachings on sin, holiness, and the character of God’s Spirit are highlighted in this article as it examines the relationship between God and churches that support same-sex marriage. Churches that conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies and offer support to the LGBTQ+ community are perceived to be incongruent with traditional religious beliefs, as they are associated with concepts of sacredness, illumination, and purity.
God’s Nature and the Holy Spirit
God is Light
1 John 1:5 declares, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him, there is no darkness at all.” This scripture underscores God’s purity and holiness. Any association with darkness, which symbolizes sin, is entirely contrary to God’s nature. Therefore, a church that endorses what the Bible categorically calls sin, such as homosexual marriage, is walking in darkness and cannot claim fellowship with God.
The Holy Spirit and Holiness
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, often described as the Spirit of holiness. Romans 1:4 refers to Jesus being declared the Son of God in power ” according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.” The Holy Spirit’s primary role includes
- convicting the world of sin (John 16:8),
- guiding believers into all truth (John 16:13), and
- sanctifying them (1 Peter 1:2). Therefore, by biblical teachings on sin and righteousness, a church that is genuinely under the guidance of the Holy Spirit would strive for holiness and purity.
Biblical Teachings on Homosexuality
Old Testament Condemnation
The Bible explicitly condemns homosexual acts in several passages. Leviticus 18:22 states, “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.” Similarly, Leviticus 20:13 declares, “If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. There will be blood all over their heads when they are executed. It is clear from these scriptures what God thinks of homosexual behavior.
New Testament Condemnation
The New Testament contains passages that condemn homosexual acts. Romans 1:26-27 refers to people engaging in “shameful lusts” and describes both men and women exchanging natural relations for those that are “contrary to nature.” 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 lists “men who have sex with men” among those who “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” These passages affirm homosexual acts are considered incompatible with Christian holiness.
The Call to Holiness
As it is written, “Be holy because I am holy,” 1 Peter 1:15–16 exhorts believers to act holy in everything they do, just as he called them to be. Promoting sin cannot coexist with this call to holiness. A church that condones same-sex unions is supporting a behavior that the Bible calls immoral, and as such, it is not upholding the call to holiness.
The Incompatibility of Sin and the Holy Spirit
The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
For believers, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a sign of being born again. John 3:5–6 states, “Jesus answered, ”Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit.’”‘” The Holy Spirit leads believers into truth and away from sin. Galatians 5:16 says, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
The Fruit of the Spirit
The evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in a believer’s life is shown through the fruit of the Spirit, as listed in Galatians 5:22–23.: “Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These manifestations of a Spirit-transformed life that aspires to avoid sin and abide by God’s will contradict a church endorsing sin, such as homosexual marriage, which contradicts this transformation and the Spirit’s sanctifying work.
The State of Churches Endorsing Same-Sex Marriage
Spiritual Deception
Churches that endorse same-sex marriage may be experiencing spiritual deception. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, they will gather many teachers to suit their desires and say what their itching ears want. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” Endorsing homosexual marriage may be a sign of conforming to societal pressures rather than adhering to biblical truth.
Lack of True Knowledge of God
1 John 2:3-4 states, “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, ”I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.” Churches endorsing same-sex marriage are not keeping God’s commands regarding sexual purity and, therefore, cannot claim to know Him honestly.
God’s Rejection of Sin
Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear.” Sin creates a barrier between humans and God. Churches endorsing homosexual marriage are embracing sin, which separates them from God. They cannot claim to represent Him when they condone practices He condemns.
Conclusion
The relationship between homosexual marriage-endorsing churches and God, the Holy Spirit, is fundamentally flawed. The Bible unequivocally condemns homosexual acts as a sin, and God calls His people to a standard of holiness and purity. Churches that support and officiate same-sex marriages are walking in darkness, contrary to the light of God’s truth. They cannot assert that they are following the Holy Spirit, who convicts of sin, leads people to truth, and sanctifies believers.
As 1 John 1:6-7 reminds us, “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” Churches must return to biblical teachings, repent, and seek to live in the light of God’s holiness, rejecting practices and endorsements contrary to His word.
