Is Celibacy Viable For Most Homosexuals?

Among a number of Christian denominations in America, including some Adventists, celibacy has been recently argued as the only moral lifestyle for the homosexual.¹⁰¹  As it is for some heterosexuals, celibacy as a sexual behavior is a viable choice for some gays/lesbians--and may be affirmed for those special individuals.  However, lifelong celibacy is not a viable behavior modification for the majority of homosexuals (or heterosexuals).  The basis for the lifelong celibacy belief system is generally claimed to be biblical, but scriptural investigation reveals that biblical directives to homosexual celibacy are inferred rather than explicit.  The early Christian church emphasized and supported sexual activities leading to procreation as a matter of survival.  While procreative sexual behaviors remain important for many, sexual behavior has also been linked to other goals including love, intimacy, sharing, pleasure, and respect.  In twentieth-century Christian America, sexually expressed intimacy is a celebration that may or may not include procreation as its primary goal, whether among heterosexuals or homosexuals.

Studies of homosexuals do not reveal that celibate homosexuals live fuller, richer and healthier lives than gay men and lesbian women engaged in committed loving sexually intimate relationships.¹⁰²  And there is evidence to suggest that homosexuals involved in committed long-term relationships live longer and healthier lives than their single peers (which is similar to studies of heterosexuals).¹⁰³

At the present time, some lay members of the Adventist church advocate lifelong celibacy for the homosexual as a condition for church fellowship.^30,76  Current church policy does not explicitly permit the inclusion of celibate homosexuals.  As a position of compromise, some deem celibacy the moral position necessary for salvation and required for any involvement in the Adventist church community beyond simply sitting in the church pew as a guest or observer."¹⁰⁴  While this may eventually be a step forward for the Seventh-day Adventist church, current church policy does not acknowledge the concept of sexual orientation nor does it invite celibate homosexuals fully into the church.

Furthermore, an insistence on lifelong celibacy as routine for the homosexual still alienates thousands of souls from Adventism and its basis in scripture invites further debate.  There would also be ticklish issues regarding the boundaries of celibacy: would celibacy vows be violated by hugging, kissing, holding hands?  That homosexuals loving one another in voluntary committed long-term intimate relationships would constitute a moral threat worthy of eternal damnation and expulsion from active participation in an Adventist church community seems contradictory to many Christian principles.

Coming to intimately love another human being is a powerful example of the Savior's love, and serves to teach humans about the nature of God's steadfast commitment through the metaphor of a loving relationship.  Committed long-term intimate gay/lesbian relationships may exemplify the love of Christ and is a spiritual cornerstone for the Christianity of many homosexuals.  The spiritual dynamic is not unlike committed long-term heterosexual relationships.  That gays/lesbians might be denied an opportunity to intimately love each other thwarts and impedes a deeper relationship with the Savior.  Furthermore, given the difficult issues of gay/lesbian persons coming to terms with sexual orientation in homophobic settings, a successful committed long-term gay/lesbian relationship is usually cause for a great celebration among the individuals involved.  That so many heterosexual Christians would find a "union" between two consenting gay/lesbian adults to be immoral when many of these couples believe themselves to be blessed by God in simply finding each other usually creates an irreconcilable conflict between gay/lesbian couples and institutional Adventism.

Finally, for Christian denominations advocating lifelong celibacy for every gay/lesbian person, what will these faith communities be willing (or able) to substitute for physical expressions of love in sustaining the Christian experience for gay/lesbian members?  How will the institutional church reconfigure to provide mature, effective, and daily support for celibate homosexuals in their lifelong journey of sexual abstinence?  How will the institutional church bring "wholeness" to gays and lesbians denied the lessons that would have been derived from committed long-term intimate relationships?  That lifelong celibacy might be seen as the answer and solution to any number of moral issues regarding the homosexual Christian experience seems rather simplistic and naive.

Gays/lesbians should not be passively denied the possibility of God-given love and intimacy by Christian denominations--though they might be crippled at times in their efforts to build love without the support of a Christian faith community.  Christian communities that continue to denigrate intimate homosexual relationships do little for the mental, spiritual, and physical health of the gay/lesbian community or the Christian community at large.  Gay/lesbian love is real and is sacred in its own right.  Such commitment, love and responsibility deserves further thoughtful review by institutional Adventism.  The higher moral plane might suggest that committed long-term gay/lesbian relationships are preferable to a lifetime without integrated personal intimacy or the desperate clandestine promiscuity that often develops when lifetime celibacy (or "no accommodation") becomes unsustainable.  The higher moral plane might suggest that gay/lesbian relationships be subject to the same criteria applied to heterosexual relationships--both based on Christian principles.  The higher moral plane might suggest that loving takes a pre-eminent position to judging.