동성애에 대한 교회의 바람직한 태도

Abstract

This article intends to survey various ethical problems about homosexuality, and then propose a realistic solution from a christian ethical prospective. In the past most people held a strict attitude toward homosexuality. But today many people are changing toward acceptance and tolerance about homosexuality. Most homosexuals have been alienated in our society and couldn't find their place. Additionally homosexuals couldn't find their place even in most church communities due to discrimination against homosexuality. When we judge homosexuality from an ethical standpoint we must approach it from three different perspectives. First of all, we must keep in mind the distinction between homosexual orientation and homosexual activity. The first perspective is homosexual orientation. We can't morally judge this because this is an inward sexual condition. This is morally neutral. Therefore it is morally wrong when we condemn toward a homosexual orientation. The second perspective is homosexual activity. For this lacks both responsibility and sincerity, it is impossible to develop perfect and true love. Therefore we can condemn toward homosexual activity because it is morally wrong. The third perspective is human autonomy. If God permits human being's free-will, we can determine our sexual orientation ourselves. So homosexuality is not sin and is not morally wrong. In this respect a human's dignity, freedom and sexual orientation is self-determined. But according to the Bible, all human beings are created by God and are limited beings with a limiting self. Therefore humans accept their God-given sex and properly act according to that. I think that this is a properly responsible attitude. Churches are not only aware of the dangerous aspects of homosexual orientation and homosexual activity but also identify these as being strictly different. At the same time, churches respect a homosexual person's human dignity. There are three ways that a church can help homosexuals. The first way is that a church can help them to change their homosexual orientation if it is possible. The second way is that a church can help them to live alone and to try and maintain a sexually pure lifestyle. The third way is to have tolerance and acceptance for them. Therefore we must treat homosexuals with loving kindness instead of despise and prejudice. For they are the object of God's love, and we must care for them as such.