Does God Hate Homosexuality? This is one of the most emotionally charged and culturally sensitive questions Christians face today. And for many, it feels like a dividing line between faith and compassion, truth and love. So how do we answer this question honestly, clearly, and graciously?
Before we address it directly, we need to lay two important foundations. These provide the framework for a deeper understanding of what God says about sexuality and why it matters.
God Designed Sexuality with a Purpose
From the very beginning, the Bible teaches that our sexuality isn’t random or meaningless—it’s designed by God. In Genesis, we see that God created human beings as male and female and called them to become one flesh in marriage. Within this design, sex was given by God for three good and beautiful purposes:
- Pleasure: God didn’t make sex dull or mechanical. He designed it as a joyful gift between husband and wife—something that brings delight, connection, and intimacy.
- Procreation: Through sex, human beings—made in God’s image—multiply and fill the earth. This isn’t just biology; it’s a sacred act that extends life and reflects the creativity of our Maker.
- Unity: Sexual intimacy joins two lives together in a powerful way. It’s more than physical; it’s relational and spiritual. The Bible often compares the faithfulness between a husband and wife to God’s covenant love for His people.
In short, sexuality was created for our good and for God’s glory. It’s meant to build love, commitment, and life. It’s not arbitrary or open to redesign. Like everything God made, it has a purpose.
Our Sexuality, Like Everything Else, Is Fallen and Sinful
But we also know that something has gone terribly wrong. The Bible is clear that sin affects every part of us—including our desires and relationships. And we see the results all around us.
Sex, which was meant for unity, is often used for exploitation. Instead of self-giving love, we see lust, manipulation, and abuse. Adultery, pornography, sexual assault, and trafficking are just a few examples of how broken our world is when it comes to sexuality.
What is more, this broken sinfulness affects everyone. We all fall short of God’s design and desire for sexuality. Whether we struggle and wrestle with lust, unfaithfulness, same-sex attraction, or sexual pride, the truth is that we are all sexual sinners in one way or another. The problem isn’t just “out there” in someone else’s life. It’s in us and our sexuality is affected.
So, Does God Hate Homosexuality?
This is where the conversation often gets misunderstood. The Bible does teach that same-sex sexual activity, desire, and affections—like all sexual expression outside God’s design—is sin. This includes adultery, sex outside of marriage, and lustful thoughts. Jesus himself taught that even internal desires can violate God’s standard for purity and faithfulness (see Matt. 5:27–28).
In that context, homosexual behavior and desire fall outside the boundaries God has given. It does not reflect the procreative and covenantal unity between a man and woman in marriage. That’s why Scripture consistently and clearly names it as one form of our fallen sexual natures (see Rom. 1:26–27, 1 Cor. 6:9–11).
But it’s incredibly important to say what this doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean God hates people who experience same-sex attraction. It doesn’t mean people with those struggles are worse sinners than anyone else. And it absolutely doesn’t mean that God’s grace is out of reach.
In fact, Scripture is clear that God loves sinners—and all kinds of sinners. He sent his Son, Jesus, to rescue us not because we had it all together, but precisely because we didn’t. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Paul writes, “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:23–24).
God doesn’t divide humanity into “straight people” and “gay people.” He sees all of us—every one of us—as sinners deeply in need of his mercy and power to heal. And that’s what the gospel is all about.
What Does Jesus Offer?
Jesus doesn’t just forgive sin. He also gives us the power, by his Spirit, to fight sin and grow in holiness. When we come to him in faith, he meets us in our broken sexuality. He begins restoring and changing us—our hearts, our relationships, and yes, even our sexuality—to reflect his purposes.
For some, that journey may include a change in desires. For others, it may mean a lifetime of trusting God in celibacy. But for all, it means a growing experience of his love, his presence, and his freedom. God calls us to something higher than just “being true to ourselves.” He calls us to become more like Christ—because that’s where true freedom and joy are found.
So, does God hate homosexuality? Yes, because he hates sin—because it harms us, enslaves us, and keeps us from knowing him. But he loves people—no matter their background, orientation, or past. And through Jesus, He offers all of us the hope of forgiveness, healing, and new life.
