Biblical Perspective on Homosexuality

Soulforce, a gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender advocacy group, plans to visit Bethel University’s St. Paul campus on Tuesday, April 18. During a bus tour called Equality Ride, the organization intends to challenge “discriminatory practices” of targeted Christian institutions of higher education.

The truth is that Bethel prohibits sexual activity for all single students, staff, and faculty. Our “Covenant for Life Together” reflects the biblical principle that sexual intercourse and other forms of intensely interpersonal sexual activity are reserved only for monogamous, heterosexual marriage.

Though professing to be Christian, Soulforce espouses an interpretation of biblical teaching about homosexuality that is radically different from ours. Before this issue is framed by media coverage of Soulforce’s visit, Bethel wants our alumni and friends to know firsthand our biblical position on human sexuality. Heart & Mind is grateful to seminary professors Mark Strauss and Peter Vogt for the outstanding presentation of biblical truth they offer on the pages that follow.