Same-Sex Temptations in the Church: An Interview with Robert Gagnon

Authors on the Line

Dr. Robert Gagnon is a professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a man who has for many years bravely addressed homosexuality from a biblical and theological perspective. In 2002 he published a 500-page book The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics. I put Dr. Gagnon on the line, peppered him with the following questions, and he kindly responded to each of them.

  • What role does the Church play in demythologizing sexuality in modern culture?
  • In the life of a professing Christian, what makes homosexual practice “an act of unbelief”?
  • Should we be okay with a professing believer who self-identifies as “a celibate gay Christian”?
  • What advice do you have for Christian parents who are fearful that their children will experience same-sex attraction in the teen years?
  • What are churches doing well in engaging those who struggle with same-sex attraction? What are churches doing poorly?
  • What guiding principles will help us to love and reach out to our homosexual neighbors?