Are people gay because God made them that way?
It came as quite a shock when Pope Francis told a gay man, Juan Carlos Cruz, “God made you like this and loves you like this.”
This emerging belief that God made people LGBT+ is igniting passionate debates with many households and churches.
The "gay revisionist theology" movement aims to redefine LGBT as being sanctioned by God as a part of his plan for specific people and, therefore, morally acceptable. However, others disagree, especially in Catholic and Protestant communities. They believe being LGBT isn't what God intended and is a result of a fallen world.
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While the debate surrounding God's role in making people LGBT continues, it is essential for those within the Christian community to engage in respectful dialogue and to approach the topic with compassion and love.
When individuals in the LGBT+ community express that "God made me this way," it's important to understand their concept of God. Within discussions on LGBT+ inclusion, there is a tendency to interpret God and human nature solely through the lens of one's sexuality or personal inclinations. However, it's important to recognize that such an approach does not accurately reflect the nature of God in the Bible.
Despite some claims within the LGBT+ community, it's not accurate or appropriate to label God as "Gender Queer.”
God is not defined by gender. God, being a Spirit (John 4:24), is an eternal Supreme Being (Psalm 90:2) who exists independently of anyone or anything. God is absolute perfection and is free from sin (1 John 1:5). Although separate from the universe, God is intimately involved in it. In the Book of Genesis, God created males and females in His image to have a relationship with them as they ruled over the earth and established families. It's important to note that the idea of both men and women being created in the image of God doesn't necessarily imply that God has a gender or encompasses both genders. Instead, it suggests that the qualities and characteristics displayed by both men and women reflect aspects of God's nature.
Throughout the pages of Scripture, there is no mention of God creating or ordaining an individual who identifies as LGBT+ in a way that aligns with His intended purpose for humanity on earth. In Romans 1:27, the word "natural" refers to design, not desire, indicating that same-sex desires and relations are unnatural.
Thus, when someone identifies as 'gay,' 'bi,' or 'trans,' they are not defining themselves based on God or His natural design. They are simply expressing their desires, attractions, or feelings rather than explaining their identity.
Each person has been endowed with spiritual, emotional, and intellectual abilities that reflect God in unique ways. But in their own free will, each person decides whether to obey or disobey God. Ever since Adam's rebellion, humanity has been marked by the burden of sin, as stated in Psalm 51:5. This struggle with sin is a universal experience.
James speaks to how our own sinful desires (not caused by God) can lead us to sin and destruction:
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death (James 1:13-15).
Whether someone desires to have sex with someone they are not married to or has an attraction to the same sex, such sexual desires or attractions are considered sinful and do not honor God.
But thankfully, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are redeemed from sin, rescued from death, and called to no longer live in the desires of the world but to live holy lives before God (see 1 Peter 1:14-15).
Although every person is created uniquely by God, the experience of being LGBT+ is considered to be a result of the brokenness and imperfection that entered the world through sin. This Christian perspective does not intend to devalue or dehumanize individuals who identify as LGBT+. Instead, it seeks to recognize God's ordered creation and address the complexities of human desires and attractions in a world tainted by sin.
So, the next time you come across someone saying, "God made me this way," take the time to listen to their story and show them kindness. And when the moment feels right, share some of the biblical insights you've gained from this article.
Jason Jimenez is the founder and president of Stand Strong Ministries and is a respected Christian-worldview speaker, and faculty member at Summit Ministries. He is the best-selling author of Hijacking Jesus: How Progressive Christians Are Remaking Him and Taking Over the Church, Challenging Conversations: A Practical Guide to Discuss Controversial Topics in the Church, and Parenting Gen Z: Guiding Your Child through a Hostile Culture.
