Queer Theory a Biblical View
Text from GotQuestions
What is Queer Theory?
Queer theory, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is “an approach to social and cultural
study which seeks to challenge or deconstruct traditional ideas of sexuality and gender, especially
the acceptance of heterosexuality as normative and the perception of a rigid dichotomy of male and female traits.”
There is a push within our present culture to accept queer theory and a segment that promotes
the homosexual and/or transgender lifestyle as natural behavior. Many claim that some people
are born homosexual and/or transgender. Let’s look at what the Bible teaches about these issues.
Queer theory rejects clearly defined male and female traits, opting instead for elasticity in
gender and promoting the idea that there are many, many genders. But the Bible teaches that there
are only two genders: male and female. From the very beginning, God’s design for humanity was for
man and woman to be together in a marriage relationship (Genesis 2:18–24). In other words,
heterosexuality is the only sexuality chosen by God. Eve was created by God as the “helper suitable”
for Adam (Genesis 2:18). God did not make another man for Adam. He made a woman. This was His design.
God is the Creator of human beings. All of humanity is His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), and
God knitted each of us in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13–16). God designed each of us how He
wanted to, including the gender He assigned for each of us. Each person has meaning and worth, and God
has a good and perfect will for each of us. Those who reject their God-given gender have committed sin
against the very God who made them.
Queer theory posits that heterosexuality is not normative and should not be seen as such. It is undeniable
that the Bible presents heterosexuality as God’s design and in fact condemns homosexual behavior in both
the Old Testament (e.g., Leviticus 18:22) and New Testament (e.g., Romans 1:24–27;
1 Corinthians 6:9–11; 1 Timothy 1:9–11). In the Romans passage, homosexuality is described as
“degrading,” “shameful”, “unnatural,” and an “error.” To imply that God makes a person to be homosexual
would be to say that He acts contrary to His Word.
In rejecting the Word of God, queer theory attempts to “deconstruct traditional ideas of sexuality and
gender.” Dispensing with the divinely appointed instructions, advocates of queer theory draft their own
instruction manual for sexuality, based on their own ideas and preferences. Even if they are not LGBTQ
themselves, they are providing cover for those who live in rebellion against God and reject His design.
The foundation of queer theory is not love or tolerance or acceptance but the depravity of all human beings
(see Romans 5:12). From birth, each of us has a natural bent to do wrong, not right (Isaiah 53:6;
Romans 3:10–12). We are sinful beings enslaved to the lusts of our flesh, and our sin separates us
from God (1 Corinthians 6:9–10).
God did not make us sinners; rather, we have chosen to sin. The rejection of traditional/biblical sexuality
is a sinful choice that some people make for a host of reasons, but it ultimately appeals to the lusts of their
flesh. The ugly truth about our sin problem is hard to admit, but in admitting that we have a problem, we have
taken the first step toward the salvation we need. That salvation is offered freely to us through faith in
Jesus Christ (John 3:16 Ephesians 2:8–9).
Sin is deceptive. It is very much a part of who we are in our fallen condition (Ephesians 2:1–3)—so
much so that it appears to be right. If our conscience begins to bother us, we naturally begin to justify the
sin, often by saying that it makes us feel right, it makes us happy, or everyone else is doing it, too. When
family or friends, whom we love, openly engage in sin, we are pressured to compromise what we believe. This adds
to the social pressure and the drive for “tolerance.”
Queer theory is ungodly in that it portrays sin, as defined in Scripture, as acceptable and even laudable.
The current push to accept queer theory illustrates the words of Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way
that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” It may seem right to cast aside the “old” standards
of morality and pursue what feels right, but in the end God’s Word will hold true (see Isaiah 40:7–8 and Romans 3:4).
Christians are called to live by and obey the Word of God, not by the ever-changing philosophies and theories of man.
Verses in Order of Listing
Genesis 2:18–24
18 And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a
helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the
field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them.
And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names
to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam
there was not found a helper comparable to him.
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one
of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God
had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
23 And Adam said:
“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
and they shall become one flesh.
Genesis 2:18
And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Psalm 139:13–16
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
Leviticus 18:22
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
Romans 1:24–27
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies
among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature
rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use
for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned
in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves
the penalty of their error which was due.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous,
nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you.
But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by
the Spirit of our God.
1 Timothy 1:9–11
knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the
ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for
manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any
other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which
was committed to my trust.
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all
men, because all sinned
Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Romans 3:10–12
As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
1 Corinthians 6:9–10
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous,
nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life.
Ephesians 2:8–9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not
of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:1–3
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons
of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Proverbs 14:12
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
Isaiah 40:7–8
The grass withers, the flower fades,
Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.”
Romans 3:4
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:
“That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”
