That is terribly unfair of God! How can He create a person to be a certain way and then cast them into the flames of hell because they are doing exactly what He created them to do? If this is the God of Christianity – then I don’t want to get to know that God!
This was the kind of question recently posed to me. I was only too happy to answer it. The reason why I was so happy was because it gave me the opportunity to address what I believe is a misconception about God.
Sadly, many seem to think that God is looking for reasons to judge people. They picture God as an angry person who enjoys sending people to hell and just needs to find a way to make that happen. As soon as He finds someone doing something that is on His list of no-nos, He points an angry finger to the red door leading to the flames and has them ushered out.
No picture of God could be further from the truth. Even in the Old Testament (which many people wrongly think portrays a continually angry God) we have many passages that highlight God’s mercy, kindness, patience, and willingness to wait for people to change their minds and ways. (See Psalms 103:8, Joel 2:13 & Deut. 4:13, to name just a few.)
In God’s famous lament to His own people in Isaiah 5, He begs to know what more He could have done to help them do the right thing (verse 4). He had provided them with every advantage, yet they continued rebelling against Him. They had pushed Him to the very end. The only option, it seemed, was to bring judgement to them. Yet, God was wiling to wait just a little longer as He sent Isaiah to make one final call for repentance. It couldn’t be more clear: He was not looking for a way to punish His people, He was looking for a way to save them.
As the prophet Ezekiel wrote, God takes “no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezek. 33:11). Instead, He desires to see them turn from what is wrong.
So, let’s get back to our instant question, “How can God send someone to hell because of their sexual orientation?”
I am pretty familiar with the Bible. I have read it cover to cover several times and spend much of my free time studying it. That has not made me an expert, but it does allow me to say some things about it with some confidence.
First, let me say that the Bible nowhere says that God is going to send people to hell based on their sexual orientation. Nowhere. There is no judgement scene described in which God is found separating people who had heterosexual feelings from those who had homosexual feelings. There is no passage that would lead us to believe that God is using sexual orientation as the standard by which to condemn or glorify. None. If someone has told you differently, than that person is simply wrong. You should insist that they show you the passage they are referring to and/or have them contact me. I would really like to know which passage they are talking about.
Sure, there are lists that describe the types of sin that people engage in by which they will not be permitted to enter the Kingdom of God. For example, in 1 Cor. 6, we read, 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. (vs. 9 & 10). Someone might says, “there’s the passage!”
It’s obvious to me that Paul is not giving us a comprehensive list of sins in 1 Cor. 6. For example, I think we all can name a few things that might seem worse and should have made the list. Therefore, I don’t believe that he is suggesting that this is the dividing list of sins. Rather, I think Paul is naming a few things to back up his leading thought: the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. I believe his point is that God will discern between the righteous and unrighteous people. In any event, this passage says nothing about a person’s sexual orientation being the tipping point. In fact, Paul even reminds his readers that they used to be involved in those types of sins (vs. 11). In other words, some of them may have been so oriented.
As I understand Scripture, the only reason why God would condemn a person to hell is because that person has a rebellious heart against Him. Their rebellion prevents God from doing a work of righteousness in their hearts. As a result, they cannot be saved – whether homosexual or heterosexual. If, on the other hand, a person is not rebellious against God, but has a heart open to Him, then that person can be saved from judgement. Sexual orientation has nothing to do with it.
Some questions to ask yourself that are far more important than your sexual orientation are: do I have a heart that is rebellious toward God? Or, do I have a heart that is open to know God’s will for me? Have I hardened myself against God so that I don’t care to know Him?
If after examining yourself you find that you are receptive to the righteousness of God and have a heart open to Him, then you are doing well. If, however, you discover that you have a rebellious heart toward God and are not interested in pleasing Him, then your future is bleak. Things won’t go well for you – regardless of your sexual orientation.
I’d be willing to bet that hell will include people who had heterosexual orientation, while heaven will include those who had homosexual tendencies. Orientation will not have anything to do with why they are in those locations. It will be decided by how rebellious to God they remain.
In my opinion, the answer to the questions concerning the state of your heart with God is far more important than any other question you may ask.
Peace,
dane
Dane Cramer is a backpacker, Christian blogger, jail chaplain, amateur filmmaker, and author of two books: Romancing the Trail and The Nephilim: A Monster Among Us.