What is queer theory?

Answer  
  

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](homosexuality-Bible.html) and/or [transgender](transsexualism-gender-identity-disorder.html) 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](biblical-sexuality.html), 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](tolerance-vs-convictions.html).”  
  

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.  
  

