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Homosexuality, A Biblical View
Bahnsen steps out of the political, legal, and social maelstrom into which Christians have been pulled and returns to the central What does the Bible really say? He answers accusations that the historic Christian response is judgmental and bigoted and offers a pastoral view of the Church's responsibility.
152 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1978
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117 people want to read
About the author
Greg L. Bahnsen
68 books144 followersGreg L. Bahnsen was an influential Calvinist Christian philosopher, apologist, and debater. He was an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and a full time Scholar in Residence for the Southern California Center for Christian Studies.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 3, 2021
Relevant as ever.
Although written decades ago this book demonstrates that the fundamental arguments and precepts at stake have not changed at all. Novelty in ethics is oxymoronic. God's immutable word and character remains the only legitimate standard for justice and ethics. May the Lord's church find her confidence in the gospel and Jesus's absolute universal kingship.
Although written decades ago this book demonstrates that the fundamental arguments and precepts at stake have not changed at all. Novelty in ethics is oxymoronic. God's immutable word and character remains the only legitimate standard for justice and ethics. May the Lord's church find her confidence in the gospel and Jesus's absolute universal kingship.
May 28, 2019
The best book on the topic of homosexuality I've read from a Christian Theonomic perspective. Times have definitely changed since the penning of this book so many people today will find the conclusions difficult to relate to because let's face it the church and society have changed and people are more desensitised and open to accepting sin while rejecting biblical law. I wish Dr Bahnsen were still with us today to give his persecute on current events because everything predicted in this book has become a reality.
June 4, 2023
I didn't know what to expect in terms of relevance since this was written in 1978, but Bahnsen is so biblically-centered and gospel-centered that it is just as applicable today as it was then, and perhaps even more so because now we see the results that Bahnsen was predicting would happen when man ignores God's law and biblical morality. At the same time Bahnsen was very clear that sin is sin, and the church should be gracious in accepting repentant sinners and encouraging them in their sanctification.
June 11, 2012
Originally published in 1978, I wondered if some of the arguments would be out-of-date. But really the arguments haven't changed that much from those who are in the homosexual community. "Oddly enough" God's word hasn't changed since 1978 either. ;)
That being the case, this book is still a valuable resource and is helpful in providing a solid understanding to the discussion of homosexuality and the Christian church. Bahnsen's work on the topic is up to his normal standard: exegetically sound, well researched, and comprehensively woven together with airtight logic. He makes his case unapologetically using God's Word as the standard, and presses the reader to undertake the same task.
While homosexuality is a hot button today and the church is sometimes afraid of what to do about it, Bahnsen provides clear answers as well as cogent defenses to those who would try to persuade people otherwise. He makes clear distinctions in his vocabulary and is careful not to come across as legalistic or tyrannical; yet the reader comes away wondering how anyone could ever see the Bible endorsing or approving homosexuality, which is so often claimed today.
The two most helpful chapters to me were the last two, the response of the church and response of society. The church is not called to attack homosexuality as if no other sin is worth calling people to repentance. So toward the those participating in homosexual sin, the church is to respond to them as to any other unbeliever - call them to repentance. The civil magistrate on the other hand, so long as it is under the authority of God, needs to be clear on what is a civil crime and what is not - and then uphold justice accordingly. Now, Bahnsen is a theonomist, so he argues from the Old Testament that homosexuality is in fact not just a sin against God but also a crime against society. While it's hard emotionally/psychologically to reach the conclusions he does, it's also very hard Biblically/logically to refute his argument. Either way, it will make people think much deeper on the topic than they probably have previously; and it will make them evaluate their own thoughts in light of Scripture.
Clear and insightful, over 30 years old and still a good resource on the topic for understanding the arguments from the homosexual community for acceptance and the response of God's Word for obedience. As with any sin, the only way out is through the grace of our Lord and Savior who provides richly to any and all who call on Him. May he use this work to help strengthen His church in this understanding, and to call unbelievers to repentance.
That being the case, this book is still a valuable resource and is helpful in providing a solid understanding to the discussion of homosexuality and the Christian church. Bahnsen's work on the topic is up to his normal standard: exegetically sound, well researched, and comprehensively woven together with airtight logic. He makes his case unapologetically using God's Word as the standard, and presses the reader to undertake the same task.
While homosexuality is a hot button today and the church is sometimes afraid of what to do about it, Bahnsen provides clear answers as well as cogent defenses to those who would try to persuade people otherwise. He makes clear distinctions in his vocabulary and is careful not to come across as legalistic or tyrannical; yet the reader comes away wondering how anyone could ever see the Bible endorsing or approving homosexuality, which is so often claimed today.
The two most helpful chapters to me were the last two, the response of the church and response of society. The church is not called to attack homosexuality as if no other sin is worth calling people to repentance. So toward the those participating in homosexual sin, the church is to respond to them as to any other unbeliever - call them to repentance. The civil magistrate on the other hand, so long as it is under the authority of God, needs to be clear on what is a civil crime and what is not - and then uphold justice accordingly. Now, Bahnsen is a theonomist, so he argues from the Old Testament that homosexuality is in fact not just a sin against God but also a crime against society. While it's hard emotionally/psychologically to reach the conclusions he does, it's also very hard Biblically/logically to refute his argument. Either way, it will make people think much deeper on the topic than they probably have previously; and it will make them evaluate their own thoughts in light of Scripture.
Clear and insightful, over 30 years old and still a good resource on the topic for understanding the arguments from the homosexual community for acceptance and the response of God's Word for obedience. As with any sin, the only way out is through the grace of our Lord and Savior who provides richly to any and all who call on Him. May he use this work to help strengthen His church in this understanding, and to call unbelievers to repentance.
May 17, 2024
THE CHRISTIAN RECONSTRUCTIONIST STRONGLY REJECTS LGBT RIGHTS
Greg L. Bahnsen (1948-1995) was a Calvinist philosopher, apologist, Christian Reconstructionist, and skilled debater. He was an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and a full time Scholar in Residence for the Southern California Center for Christian Studies.
He wrote in the Preface to this 1978 book, “opposition to homosexuality is not a sure sign of a bigoted, improperly judgmental, or legalistic attitude. It is rhetorical terrorism to charge otherwise. Tactics may persuade the unwary, but they cannot annul or disprove convictions rooted in the revealed Word of God. Our responsibility, of course, is to be sure that our attitudes do accord with Scripture and are not simply reflecting past tradition or mimicking present prejudice.” (Pg. 9)
He states, “This creation of sexual differentiation by God from the beginning established heterosexuality as the normative direction for the sexual impulse and act. God the Creator gives created things their essential identity and function and defines man’s proper relationships.” (Pg. 28)
He asserts, “Homosexuality is presented in God’s just law as worthy of death. Now with other capital crimes the law of God draws important ethical distinctions relating, for example, to the offender’s motivation or the circumstances are relevant in evaluating the crime, God lays them down for us and does not leave them to speculation and later historical research. But no excuse, amendment, or circumstantial consideration mitigated the prohibition or punishment of homosexuality.” (Pg. 46)
Bahnsen (who was a Theonomist) argues, “we must remember that the Jewish law of the Old Testament is still normative for the modern world. It was not intended as an ethical eccentricity of the Israelites but is manifest in the hearts of the Gentiles, stands as an ideal and standard for all nations, shows how God’s kingdom comes and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Pg. 55) Later, he adds, “God’s revealed Word condemns homosexual DESIRE itself, seeing it as sinful as well as homosexual ACTS.” (Pg. 67)
He contends, “It is an unacceptable rationalization for a man to plead, ‘I am a constitutional adulterer, my lustful imagination is involuntary, and thus my misdeeds must be excused.” (Pg. 81-82) Later, he adds, “if homosexuality should become a nondiscrimination right in society, it would be at the cost of DEPRIVING Christians (and others) of their right to shun contact with moral perversion. Now if someone feels that Christians are wrong to feel such aversion to practicing homosexuals and that, therefore, they must be compelled by civil law to refrain from discrimination, he will be imposing his own moral principle or conviction on them.” (Pg. 103)
He says, “A homosexual’s sanctification need not be complete to qualify for entrance to the church of Christ, but by God’s grace he must be resolved to avoid the sin completely---just as the sorcerer must renounce his magic, the heathen his idols, the murderer his violence. The point is that the same requirements are to be laid on the homosexual who becomes a Christian as are laid on the homosexual who becomes a Christian as are laid on every other converted sinner.” (Pg. 95-96)
He contends, “it is shortsightedness that leads some social theorists to think of homosexuality has no ill effects on society. If homosexual relations are tolerated by civil law… the state allows a progressive degradation and permissiveness toward sexual matters. This is detrimental to the society’s moral stability, the dignity of human beings, the attempts of people to live… chaste lives, and the monogamous function that has been found crucial in all civilized societies.” (Pg. 110-111)
This book may appeal to some theologically-conservative Christians. (Although his Reconstructionist/Presuppositionalist/Postmillennial views will not commend his other works to many of them.)
Greg L. Bahnsen (1948-1995) was a Calvinist philosopher, apologist, Christian Reconstructionist, and skilled debater. He was an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and a full time Scholar in Residence for the Southern California Center for Christian Studies.
He wrote in the Preface to this 1978 book, “opposition to homosexuality is not a sure sign of a bigoted, improperly judgmental, or legalistic attitude. It is rhetorical terrorism to charge otherwise. Tactics may persuade the unwary, but they cannot annul or disprove convictions rooted in the revealed Word of God. Our responsibility, of course, is to be sure that our attitudes do accord with Scripture and are not simply reflecting past tradition or mimicking present prejudice.” (Pg. 9)
He states, “This creation of sexual differentiation by God from the beginning established heterosexuality as the normative direction for the sexual impulse and act. God the Creator gives created things their essential identity and function and defines man’s proper relationships.” (Pg. 28)
He asserts, “Homosexuality is presented in God’s just law as worthy of death. Now with other capital crimes the law of God draws important ethical distinctions relating, for example, to the offender’s motivation or the circumstances are relevant in evaluating the crime, God lays them down for us and does not leave them to speculation and later historical research. But no excuse, amendment, or circumstantial consideration mitigated the prohibition or punishment of homosexuality.” (Pg. 46)
Bahnsen (who was a Theonomist) argues, “we must remember that the Jewish law of the Old Testament is still normative for the modern world. It was not intended as an ethical eccentricity of the Israelites but is manifest in the hearts of the Gentiles, stands as an ideal and standard for all nations, shows how God’s kingdom comes and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Pg. 55) Later, he adds, “God’s revealed Word condemns homosexual DESIRE itself, seeing it as sinful as well as homosexual ACTS.” (Pg. 67)
He contends, “It is an unacceptable rationalization for a man to plead, ‘I am a constitutional adulterer, my lustful imagination is involuntary, and thus my misdeeds must be excused.” (Pg. 81-82) Later, he adds, “if homosexuality should become a nondiscrimination right in society, it would be at the cost of DEPRIVING Christians (and others) of their right to shun contact with moral perversion. Now if someone feels that Christians are wrong to feel such aversion to practicing homosexuals and that, therefore, they must be compelled by civil law to refrain from discrimination, he will be imposing his own moral principle or conviction on them.” (Pg. 103)
He says, “A homosexual’s sanctification need not be complete to qualify for entrance to the church of Christ, but by God’s grace he must be resolved to avoid the sin completely---just as the sorcerer must renounce his magic, the heathen his idols, the murderer his violence. The point is that the same requirements are to be laid on the homosexual who becomes a Christian as are laid on the homosexual who becomes a Christian as are laid on every other converted sinner.” (Pg. 95-96)
He contends, “it is shortsightedness that leads some social theorists to think of homosexuality has no ill effects on society. If homosexual relations are tolerated by civil law… the state allows a progressive degradation and permissiveness toward sexual matters. This is detrimental to the society’s moral stability, the dignity of human beings, the attempts of people to live… chaste lives, and the monogamous function that has been found crucial in all civilized societies.” (Pg. 110-111)
This book may appeal to some theologically-conservative Christians. (Although his Reconstructionist/Presuppositionalist/Postmillennial views will not commend his other works to many of them.)
June 7, 2024
A bit of mixed bag. There's a lot Bahnsen gets right, especially in the first few chapters on sin, the church, and exegeting specific passes of scripture which pertain to homosexuality. Most of my disagreements with Bahnsen would ultimately stem from our differing views on natural law and theonomy.
February 15, 2017
A great example of what philosophically rigorous thinking grounded in good theology can do for a complicated issue. The chapter on the Act/Orientation distinction was simply fabulous, tremendous, astounding, plus whatever other superlatives I am forgetting.
March 16, 2019
In no way shape or form has this book aged poorly. (sarcasm)
November 1, 2022
Overall, it is excellent.
Note to self: Re-read “The Response of Society: Homosexual Acts as Criminal” and apply to SG context.
Note to self: Re-read “The Response of Society: Homosexual Acts as Criminal” and apply to SG context.
February 22, 2023
Bahnsen's predicitons on the depravity of man were spot on. Great book.
January 7, 2024
A straightforward treatment of homosexuality that is thoroughly biblical, yet remains uncompromising towards the modern objections and backlash from the unbelievers and wolves within the church.
How homosexuality relates to Christian Law is something that is taboo to speak of unless brought up to ridicule the Bible, but Bahnsen consistently applies all of God’s Law at every point of the book while preaching redemption from the grievous sin of homosexuality.
How homosexuality relates to Christian Law is something that is taboo to speak of unless brought up to ridicule the Bible, but Bahnsen consistently applies all of God’s Law at every point of the book while preaching redemption from the grievous sin of homosexuality.
December 24, 2015
A valuable resource that deals carefully with the legal aspects of God's moral and civil law regarding homosexuality, as well as remembering God's grace for sinners including homosexuals. The bulk of the book is still useful and relevant, in spite of its being written long before the age of Obergfell v. Hodges.
April 13, 2012
Biblical, theological, dated, not receivable by someone outside of presuppositionalist/conservative circles
January 28, 2014
There are more helpful points in this book than not, although some material is pretty outdated.
April 16, 2022
Excellent book, a well developed and explained argument.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews