While watching TV with a group of fellow college students, my roommate declared, "I think it's ridiculous that people think that someone can't be a homosexual and a Christian!"

"Wait, what just happened?!" was the initial thought that came to my mind when my roomie made her surprising proclamation. I was somewhat blindsided and taken aback by the randomness and, more importantly, the biblical inaccuracy of her statement. Before I could figure out what prompted her comment, she continued with, "Sure, homosexuality is a sin. But we are all sinners!"

She was definitely correct in noting that we all are sinners. The apostle Paul stated that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, English Standard Version throughout). But I also knew that this principle didn't mean that Christians can do as they please—that people would be accepted by God as they lived ongoing lifestyles that blatantly went against His clear instructions. Somewhere I knew there had to be a misunderstanding. 

As I further pondered this incident, I found that the heart of the matter lay in a distorted view of what it means to be a Christian. God's Word tells us that to be a Christian one must not only believe in the existence of the Son of God but he or she must also follow His commands (Matthew 7:21). Merely understanding that Jesus Christ exists is not sufficient. James addresses this issue, stating that mere belief is not sufficient because "even the demons believe—and shudder!" (James 2:19). Based on this passage, we'd have to conclude that if simply believing in the existence of Jesus Christ was sufficient, then the demons would be Christians too!

So, when it comes to following God's commands, what does the Bible say about those who continue to lead sinful lives? Paul addressed this issue with the Christians in Corinth, stating, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality...will inherit the Kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, emphasis added).

Was this just Paul's personal opinion? Of course not. He told the Corinthians in the same letter that he was "called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:1) and stated that he was appealing to them "by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (verse 10). So he spoke with Christ's authority.

Paul also refers to homosexuality in the same way in 1 Timothy 1:9-10 and Romans 1:24-27 (including female homosexuality, verse 26). These New Testament prohibitions are firmly based on similar statements found in Old Testament law (Acts 24:14; 17:11; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13). Homosexuality and other forms of sexual immorality, such as adultery and premarital sex, are indeed sins.

Now let's revisit my roommate's finishing remark, "But we are all sinners." Again, while this is clearly true, how can we reconcile this with Paul's instruction?

The answer is simple. It comes down to one word: lifestyle. What is the overall objective in one's lifestyle? Can a professional hit man be a Christian? Can a priest in a temple of Zeus be a Christian? Can a strip club owner be a Christian?

These issues have easy answers. If one repents of his or her sin and no longer lives or promotes that sinful lifestyle, the answer is yes, one can be a Christian. If one doesn't repent and change his or her disobedient lifestyle, absolutely not! So, should continuing to embrace and practice homosexuality, a lifestyle that is in clear violation of God's commands (just as murder, idol worship, and fornication are), be treated differently? No, because all "sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4).

While Christians will at times succumb to temptation and sin, they ask God for forgiveness when they do and then strive to forgo their sinful behavior (1 John 1:8–2:1). Put another way, we can't deliberately continue unrepentant in a lifestyle of sin and be Christians at the same time. Instead, Christians lead a life of repenting of their sins and striving, with God's help, to change their ways. Some sinful habits may take time to completely eradicate, but the heart and intent of Christians is that they continually strive to be like Jesus Christ. VT