Is it considered homosexuality?...?

Question

...if one is in a relationship with the same sex but the nature of it is platonic and not sexual? What if both are in a loving but celibate (no sex) relationship, are they still considered homosexuals (gay / lesbian)? For Christians, what are your opinions on this? What does the Bible say? Thanks in advance for your answers.

Answer 1

The Bible does not describe homosexuality as a “greater” sin than any other. Many Christians mistakenly focus on bisexuality and homosexuality as particularly evil sins. The Bible nowhere describes homosexuality as being any less forgivable than any other sin. All sin is offensive to God. According to the Bible, homosexuality is just one of the many things listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that will keep a person from the kingdom of God.

There is no easy way to answer your question. Because people can only look at you and give their opinion, but they don’t really know what’s in your heart. Only God does. I can never look at your life the way God can, for only He knows your circumstances, your heart’s desires, and your life. What may seem right to me may be wrong in His eyes. And what may seem wrong to me may very well be acceptable to Him.

Homosexuality is a sin according to the Bible (Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Leviticus 18:22 describes a person having sexual relations with the same sex as an abomination. Romans 1:26-27 condemns sexual relations between the same sex as abandoning what is natural. So that’s how I view homosexuality according to the Bible – when it involves sexual relations.

David and Jonathan shared a friendship that went beyond ordinary friendships (read 1 Samuel 19-20). Although their relationship wasn’t homosexual in nature, they both loved each other deeply and dearly.

2 Samuel 1:26 “I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women.”

The book of Ruth also tells of the relationship between Ruth and Noemi. Again, their relationship is not homosexual in nature, but the women “cleaved” to each other during very difficult times in their lives.

Ruth 1:16 “But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.”

Some people do have friendships that go beyond ordinary friendships. They remain and stay together in celibate relationships. What you do in secret will largely answer if your relationship is something the Bible condones or hates. You know what I mean. Only you can answer that.

I for one cannot say that the temptations in those types of friendships / relationships are greater than those experienced by married couples or single individuals. Everyone of us gets tempted, and we sin when we give in to our lusts.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! A cord of 3 strands is not easily broken.”

Answer 2

Scripture says of David that he loved Jonathan as much as a man loves a woman. This is not to say that he was gay in any sense! Merely it states that he was committed to and shared with him an intimacy that was deeper than that of just "guy friends" as today's society might view it.
You can have deep and meaningful relationships with the same sex. Father to son, God to man, man to man, without ever needing to feel that you are gay.
The defining measure might be, are you gay? If so, then your statement is a veiled attempt to generate a false idea of your relationship. Simply having no sex, but being gay regardless, does not change the nature of that type of relationship. Especially if by 'loving' you mean as a man and a wife....because this is not what was meant in David and Jonathan's case.

It is not the actions that God judges...He looks at the motivations of the heart, at the thought behind the actions....or the questions.

Answer 3

I'd say it's a homosexual relationship without the pleasure of sex, which makes things more difficult to bear. The Bible gives so much weigh to the inclinations of the heart that even adultery is considered as such whenever a person casts his/her eyes on somebody else's partner even before a word is crossed between them.
But, why celibacy? I'm a Bible believer and think that homosexuality is another expresion of love.

Answer 4

If you say there is no sex (for now) between them; I presently will take the asker's word)..
I may be contrarian on this point; (even with the new testament scriptures), condemning homosexual relationships; it also talks about the relationship between David and Jonathan (per David)as passing the love of women. (2 Sam. 1:26) Could that have included 'sex'; maybe. After all, per scripture (1 Sam. 16:7) man looks at outward appearances (who,what, when,where, how) but God looks at the heart (why).

Answer 5

I doubt that there are many people men or women women who would be in a same sex relationship and want to remain celibate. They have to go through a lot to be with the sex of person they want to be with anyway.

Answer 6

David and Johnathan were not homosexual lovers but the Bible says that their love for each other was stronger then that between a man and woman. You can love without being sexual.

Answer 7

If you have feelings for each other, if you consider yourselves to be more than FRIENDS, you two do no longer apply to be catholics, chastity does not prevent homosexuality, or homoeroticism. The Pope, though, says he can forgive you if you are chaste, according to the Wikipedia, but you are "intrinsically disordered". You must remember that sexual abstinence is anti-natural, and contradicts the Book of Genesis, while homosexuality is not

Answer 8

I once heard this..... If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it is probably a duck.......

I think the key word is "relationship"....... If they would live together, be emotionally attached to each other then I think it would pass the test of being a homosexual relationship....

The bible talks about man and woman should leave their parents and "cleave"...... "Cleave" has a deep meaning about becoming one..... Becoming one means many things.....singleness of purpose, goals, dreams, etc.... This special bonding, or cleaving is a special relationship that the bible only refers to as between a man and woman in the act of marriage......

Friendship is one thing, living to share expenses is one thing...... but living together to satisfy ones emotional needs crosses the boundary of what the bible would consider the sin of homosexuality.....That would be my opinion....

Answer 9

Hard to say...if it is platonic as you say, then it isn't homosexual. But if there are feelings toward the other person though not acted on...then it could be and some deep prayer is required and some spiritual help is needed.

Answer 10

1 Corinthians 6:9