The question of whether people are born gay remains one of the most debated topics in both the church and culture.
During a recent conversation with podcaster Ruslan KD, former gay men and Christian leaders Reginald Robinson and Zaire Willis offered a nuanced response rooted in their understanding of Scripture, human brokenness and the process of sanctification.
Robinson said the discussion must begin with humanity’s fallen condition.
“I think many of us agree that we are all born into a sin nature,” Robinson said. “When Adam fell, humanity fell. We all fell. And so we were born inheriting that sin nature.”
He distinguished between what he called a “sin nature” and “sin expressions,” describing homosexuality as one of many ways a fallen nature can manifest itself.
“Nobody gets to go to the sin market and choose what sin they’re going to have,” Robinson said.
While noting that Scripture does not explicitly state that someone can be born gay, Robinson said he believes some people may be born with a predisposition toward same-sex attraction.
“We’ve journeyed with over 100 men and we realize that though that may be a familiar story for many, it’s not the story for all,” he said. “There are some who were never abused. There are some who have families in their lives. There were some who were raised in church, raised to love God, they were trained up in the right way, but all of a sudden this expression came out of nowhere.”
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At the same time, Robinson rejected the idea that such attractions reflect God’s original design.
“What we’re not saying is that this is God’s divine design,” he said. “We’re not saying that God made you this way. We’re saying that this is due to the fallen nature.”
Willis said the church has often overlooked people whose experiences do not fit common explanations centered on trauma or family dysfunction.
“One of the disservices that we’ve done in this conversation is ignore the one who says, ‘I have never been abused. I don’t have trauma. Both my parents are in the household,'” Willis said.
However, he emphasized that the book’s central message is not about proving how someone became same-sex attracted.
“No matter how you believe you were born, we are all called to be born again,” Willis said.
Addressing the question of whether same-sex attraction always disappears after conversion, Willis said experiences vary. While some report immediate freedom, he said many believers experience transformation through a longer process of sanctification.
“It’s not that the temptation goes away. It’s not that the pull goes away. It’s that you now are able to say no to a thing that you couldn’t say no to before,” Willis said.
He added that the ultimate goal of the Christian life is not heterosexuality but obedience to Christ.
“The goal is not heterosexuality. The goal is not to have a wife and children. The goal is submission to Christ. The goal is holiness,” Robinson added.
For both men, the debate ultimately points beyond sexual identity and toward the transforming work of Jesus Christ.
“No matter how you believe you were born,” Willis said, “we are all called to be born again.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
