By Rev. André Muller, Reforming Church, South Africa

Translated by Chris de Beer

At some stage, every gay Christian is confronted with the so-called “Clobber Texts”. These are: Gen 19:5-9; Lev 18:22 and 20:13, Judges 19:16-26; Rom 1:18-32; 1 Cor 6:9 and 10:1; 1 Tim 1:9, 10. If these texts are read out of context, it certainly looks as if the Bible is dead against gay people.

Firstly, you need to know that churches and theologians are not at all of the same opinion that these texts are to be interpreted as referring to gay people. What is clear, though, is that modern translations of these passages are not true reflections of the original Hebrew and Greek texts. The translators unfortunately allowed their preconceived ideas to glimmer through, and in the process, they’ve added a new accent to the Bible – which wasn’t part of the original meaning. I refer specifically here to the modern Bible translations that refer to “homosexuality”.

My considered opinion is that nowhere does the Bible refer to being gay, as we understand it today. The “clobber texts” stand in judgement or condemnation of certain vulgar or repulsive forms of sexual behaviour, like “degradation, domination and belittling someone” (Gen 19 and Judges 19), idolatrous rituals of some fertility cults (Lev and Rom 1) and pederasty (1 Cor. 6) – a form of prostitution in the Greco-Roman civilisation where older, married men had sex with young boys. As a gay minister, I also strongly condemn these practises, and want to emphasise that these forms of sexual activities, have nothing to do with what we describe, today, as a gay orientation!

To be gay is not a sin. When you apply your sexuality in repulsive, animalistic, promiscuous ways, it does not correspond with the Creator’s plan for it; to be something that should be practiced in the context of love, between only two people, and then it BECOMES sin.

When, as a gay Christian, you love the Lord, and His Word is important to you, and you have an inner desire to live for the Lord, YOU ARE IN THE WILL OF GOD. Sin is to shy away from God, and to cut Him out of your life, and to forget about Him as if He doesn’t exist. This is why you must not allow people to tell you that you are sinning, just because you are yourself. (If you are a gay UNBELIEVER, who isn’t interested in God and just run after your lusts and passions, and your lifestyle consists of promiscuous sex . . . Then I have an obligation before God to tell you straight that what you are doing is sin, and you are heading for hell, if you do not change the way you are living, and are saved!)

When people bombard you with Bible verses that leave you feeling guilty, or make you doubt (because texts like these are so clearly from the Word, and they make you feel as if it is God speaking to you) . . . remember that the Lord Jesus was attacked in the desert by Satan – also with Bible verses (Matt 4)!

His answer to Satan was every time:” It is ALSO written . . .” and then He countered with another piece of Scripture. You should also apply this principle. I believe that when people attack you with verses from the Bible, your conduct should be like that of Jesus.

Underline the following Texts of Grace in your Bible, read each one in its greater context, and try to memorise as many of these as possible! You should be in a position where you can also counter any attack, and say: “Yes, I hear what you are telling me, but it is ALSO written . . .”

(All texts are from the New International Version NIV)

John 1 ¹²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Here this is clearly being referred to ALL, without any exception. When you as a gay person receive the Lord, and believe in Him, you have the right to be a child of God.

John 3 ¹⁶For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Without any distinction or discrimination, we have this promise: whoever believes in Him – this includes you as a gay believer!

John 3 ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned
Applied to the situation this means, the gay unbeliever stands under the judgement of God, and is condemned; but the gay believer is acquitted, and is no longer condemned.

John 3 ³⁶Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life . . .
Yes, you are gay . . . but that is not the question here! The question put to you by God, is if you believe in the Son. If you believe in Him, you HAVE eternal life – regardless of what people have to say about it!

Acts 2 ²¹And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Everyone. Not only some. Not just the straight, but EVERYONE.

Acts 4 ¹²Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
If people tell you that you have to change before you can be saved, they really mean that you must save, or redeem, yourself, and nullifies Jesus’ salvation role! Remember that He is your Saviour – not yourself.

Acts 10 ²⁸He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean."
Acts 10 ³⁴Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism."
Peter first believed that people of other nationalities could not be allowed to become Christians – in similar manner that many devout believers today believe that people of other sexual orientations, also cannot be allowed. But in a vision, God made it clear to Peter, that NO person can be seen as unacceptable.

Acts 13 ⁴⁸. . . and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
From this we learn that if you believe in the Lord, you believe because God chose you. (And if God chose you, no human being has the right to question this.)

Acts 15 ¹¹No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.
The message that some “church people” are conveying to gay people is that you will be saved if you change your orientation. This is something that they make up themselves, because the Word does not agree. It is through grace alone.

Romans 2 ¹¹For God does not show favouritism.
God does not give someone the advantage just because they are straight!

Romans 8 ¹Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Well-meaning churchgoers that don’t know better will allege that you are rejected and condemned by God. Do not listen to them – listen to God’s Word! If you believe in Jesus Christ, He will NOT judge and condemn you.

Romans 8 ¹⁵For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
When you call God your Heavenly Father, it is proof that the Holy Spirit dwells in you – even if you are gay.

Romans 8 ¹⁶The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
Do not allow other people to let you believe that you are not a child of God, while in your innermost being you are convinced that you are one of His children – listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit inside of you.

Romans 8 ²⁸And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
As a gay Christian, the road will not always be easy, but as one of God’s chosen children, you can know that everything will work out in the end.

Romans 8 ³³Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
If you believe in Jesus, it is proof that you are chosen.

Romans 9 ¹⁵For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
People want to make decisions on God’s behalf, but He is Almighty. He can make His own decisions about who He wants to be compassionate to. We now live in an age in which the broader Christendom must take cognisance of the fact that God also takes pity on gay people. Humans do not have the right to make decisions of God’s behalf.

Romans 9 ²⁰But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"
You did not choose to be gay, just as a clay pot does not choose its form. According to this scripture, the pot is not allowed to question the potter that made it. The potter is free to do as he pleases. In the same way, God, in his omnipotence, created some people different to others. Accept that God has made you the way you are – don’t be dissatisfied with His handiwork.

Romans 10 ¹Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. ²For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. ³Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. ⁴Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
The church folk around you will try to insist that you are saved their way, that you as a gay person must change and become straight if you want to be saved . . . while God doesn’t require this anywhere! God’s way of redemption is that you believe in Christ as your Saviour.

Romans 10 ⁹That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
It is difficult to find a clearer promise from God! It does NOT SAY: “and you have to get rid of your gay orientation and become straight.”

Romans 10 ¹¹As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." ¹²For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
For Jewish Christians in the first century it was unthinkable that Greeks could also be saved and belong to God, but the Word clearly states that it’s not a problem for God. For Christians in our time it is in a similar way unthinkable that straight and gay people can all belong to God . . . but God does not differentiate. Note again that little word “everyone”. Everyone that worships God WILL be saved. No exceptions are made.

Romans 11 ²⁹for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
If you accepted Christ when you were younger (and maybe not so aware of your gay orientation) you do not have to worry, and think that He will now reject you, because you have now realised that being gay is not a mindset that you can change as you like!

Romans 13 ⁸Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
The most important thing God expects from you is not to be / become straight, but to love your fellow man. To be a loving fellow man to others, is your highest calling on earth, so much so, that the Word says it is equivalent to the fulfilling of the Law!

Romans 14 ⁵Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
¹³Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
²²So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.
Be prepared for the fact that you will not be able to convince everyone around you that you, as a gay Christian, have peace with God and that you are sure of your salvation. In this case, the Scripture says that you just have to have that assurance in your own mind and heart. Ultimately, that is what faith is . . . inner conviction.

1 Corinthians 15 ¹⁰But by the grace of God I am what I am.
Just like Paul you should also declare to all who want to know, that it is by grace, that you are who you are. As a youth, under peer pressure, I always believed that I should change, and I was very unhappy, and discontented with myself. Gradually the Peace of God came over me, and after I made peace with myself and with God, I’m now also at peace with the people around me. The fact that I’m gay is no longer a problem for me – even though I understand that it is still a big problem for others. But, it is their problem, and a road that they have to walk to sort it out. If they are children of God, He will lead them and give them the necessary strength to be able handle their problem with me.

2 Corinthians 1 ³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles
Even if you struggle in an uncomprehending world, to live fully as a gay Christian, just remember that God provides deliverance, and will help you.

2 Corinthians 5 ¹⁶So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
Read this text again, and again, and again! Realise anew that even when people close to you judge you, because they don’t want you to be gay, it is with their worldly standards they are judging you. It boils down to the fact that they don’t want a gay child / brother / friend. They do not picture themselves in your position, but are only thinking of themselves. What I know about real friendship is this: A true friend will accept you for who and what you are. Remember that you are reconciled with God, THROUGH CHRIST and not because you become straight.

Galatians 2 ¹⁶[We] know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.
This scripture again confirms Romans 3:21. You are not saved because you fulfil certain “rules”, but through your faith in Jesus!

Galatians 3 ¹⁰All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
This is another confirmation that a “legalistic faith” is not what God prescribes. The whole drift of this text in Galatians is that you have to make a choice: Either you are saved by Jesus, and you trust Him 100%, or you save yourself, and bypass Jesus. If you chose the latter, you are in for a tough time, because now you cannot just follow a few of the laws, but have to strictly follow 100%. If you manage 99%, you will still be under the curse of God, because He requires 100%. Because of this, the “I’ll-save-myself” option is not the best choice, because who can manage 100%? This is why God’s way of salvation is so unbelievably FANTASTIC – He knew that no human is capable of upholding the law 100%, and this is why He sent His Son, to uphold the law 100%, on our behalf!! When you believe in Christ, in God’s eyes it is as if YOU comply with the law 100%.

Galatians 3 ²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
This text could just as well have said that it doesn’t matter if someone is straight or gay! Through Jesus, you become a child of God and become part of His chosen people.

Galatians 5 ⁴You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
These are serious words! If you, as a gay Christian, would be swayed by the demands that people make, that you first DO something to fulfil a requirement (= law) that you have to become / be straight . . . YOU ARE ALIENATING YOURSELF FROM CHRIST, because now it is no longer about pure faith in Christ, but belief in yourself, because now you believe YOU have to do something to be saved.

Ephesians 1 ⁴ . . . In love ⁵he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
God chose you a long time ago to belong to Him!

Read with me my favourite portion of Scripture: Psalm 139
It says that God knows everything about you – even long before you were born. As a matter of fact, He decided that there needs to be someone like you! As a gay person, you are no “mistake” or “misfit”, but perfect according to God’s will here on earth!

Philippians 2 ¹³for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
If you make yourself available to God, it isn’t because you are such a “nice” person of yourself, but because God is working in you! In this godless world where people want nothing to do with God, a gay person who believes in God, and wants to be in His service, is not to be taken lightly. It is proof that God is in your heart – and has therefore accepted you (even if other humans still have trouble doing it!)

1 Timothy 1 ¹³Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
Due to dejection, and the rejection by church and churchgoers, many gay people turned their backs on the church, and might even have said or thought dreadful things about God – maybe you too? God understands . . .

2 Timothy 2 ¹⁴Warn them before God against quarrelling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
A person can be so on the defensive that you are in constant arguments, and bickering about words. Don’t. Rather focus on your faith and relationship with Christ.

2 Timothy 3 ¹²In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
This is an unavoidable fact of life, which many martyrs throughout the centuries have had to experience. This is something that you will not be able to avoid as a gay Christian. Strange, when you are a gay unbeliever, they leave you alone . . . but just dare to stand up with the testimony that you as a gay person want to be a Christian, and they tackle you from all sides!

Titus 3 ⁵he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
You cannot do anything on to earn your salvation. So forget about it if people first expect you to become straight, and THEN you’ll get saved.

Titus 3 ⁹But avoid foolish controversies . . . arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
This goes hand in hand with 2 Tim 2:14 above. Deliver your testimony that you are gay and a Christian when someone asks you about it, but don’t start fighting tooth and nail, and get into all kinds of arguments. You attain nothing that way.

Hebrews 10 ¹⁴because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
The one sacrifice refers to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. This was a one-time sacrifice. It was a perfect sacrifice, to which we cannot add sacrifices of our own. And yet some churchgoers expect gay people to sacrifice their gay orientation—and THEN they’ll be saved!

Hebrews 11 ⁶And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
If you as a gay person seek God, He will not turn you away, but reward you for it.

James 4 ⁸Come near to God and he will come near to you.
If you, a gay person, draw close to God, He will not turn you away, but also come near to you.

1 Peter 3 ¹⁵Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Know that people are going to malign and slander you, but give your testimony when someone asks you. Let your life be a testimony as a (gay) Christian, and eventually they will be ashamed that they said these things.

1 John 5 ¹³I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
You can have absolute assurance of your faith, and know that you have everlasting life, if your convictions are built on the Word of God.

Revelation 3 ²⁰Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
God’s invitation is open to all people. He gives the absolute promise that if anyone opens the door—even the gay person—then He will enter that person’s life.

May God bless you, and may these Scriptures be an encouragement to you.