Some people use "homosexual" to mean: "a person who experiences same-sex attraction," whether or not they "identify as "gay", whether or not they seek same-sex romantic or sexual relationships, whether or not they see this as an unchangeable part of their personality.
Other people use "homosexual" to mean: "a man who has sexual relations with men, or a woman with women."
The first definition doesn't necessarily involve any kind of sin or rebellion. This "homosexual" could be a faithful, believing Christian, just like any other person who simply has a disorder of some kind.
A disorder in itself, is not a sin or a rebellion against God.
But the second sort --- the practicing homosexual who engages in behavior behavior that is forbidden by Divine and Natural Law---is not being a faithful Christian.
The second definition indicates prohibited actions. That's deliberate sin, and that's the problem.
The late PCA theologian Francis Schaeffer would distinguish by using the following terms: “homophile”(a person who deals with same-sex temptations and attractions) and “homosexual”(a person who engages in same-sex sexual acts). To quote Schaffer, “not all homophiles are necessarily homosexuals and not all homosexuals are necessarily homophiles.”
Regardless of one’s feelings, same sex sexual acts are always sin.
See, it seems like it depends on who one talks to. thanks
What so many people fail to realize is that temptation is NOT sin.
Temptation comes, but it’s what we do with the temptation. Do we resist it through the power of the Holy Spirit?
Or do we entertain and engage it and then end up falling into sin?
So being tempted by homosexual sin is not sin itself, nor is it any person’s identity. It’s simply an area where they are easily tempted and they struggle with it. I pity people who deal with that particular attraction because of the stigma attached to it. Nobody is as hard on people for being tempted sexually when it’s with members of the opposite sex, and yet it still is sexual temptation.
Praise God that He can deliver and free people from homosexuality.