A Christian Perspective of Homosexuality and Decriminalization of Homosexuality in Malawi

Author: Johnson Lyndon Nyirenda (BTh, M.Th)

 

INTRODUCTION

First, let me start by giving the background of criminalization of LGBT sexual activities. As bonafide Malawians, most of us know that Malawi is not a Christian nation.  We are governed by the government constitution and not the holy books that religions have. This constitution was borrowed from nations which were once very religious, for instance Britain, which colonized Malawi. When Britain colonized Malawi and other African territories, they brought with them their laws and used them on local natives. Their laws were Bible based so to say, and these laws criminalized homosexuality. So we inherited the criminalization of homosexuality into our Constitution based on the Bible. This was taken wholesale from the British constitution, but, as a nation we have not voted about being a Christian nation.

 

 

Second, let me give the back ground of the denunciation of homosexuality in Christianity. Christianity, using the Judeo-Christian scriptures condemned homosexuality completely. No homosexual was allowed into the assembly of the holy. In Judaism they could even be stoned to death. By around the early 300’s AD Christianity formed the center stage of worship in the Roman Empire. The only thing that I find plausible is the maximum jail term of 14 years. That is what the government should consider and lower it but not to scrape it off.

 

BIBLICAL CONDEMNATION OF HOMOSEXUALITY

The Bible doesn’t speak of homosexuality very often. But when it does, it condemns it as sin. Let’s take a look:

• Leviticus 18:22, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” Leviticus 20:13, “If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their blood is upon them.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
• Romans 1:26-28, “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28, And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.”

 

BEFORE CHRISTIANITY IN ROMAN EMPIRE

Before the influence of Christianity, the Olympian religion was the official religion in the empire. In the Olympian religion, homosexual activities were not only allowed but encouraged. Most of them were bisexual. It seems that the Olympian gods enjoyed such relationships. Gods had their own homosexual relationships in the pantheon. They, thus, encouraged the citizenry to do the same. So, the sharp contrast that came with Christianity made the empire to act against homosexuality and begun to criminalize it.

 

SHOULD MALAWI DECRIMINALIZE HOMOSEXUALITY?

From such a background on the issue of LGBT, it is safe for a Malawian government not to decriminalize it. The reasons are as follows:

1. While the government is not religious, it is governing almost 80% of its population that are Christians, and as we have learned, their religiosity, will not accept dissenting sexual practices.

 

Additionally, Islam which begun 600 years after Christianity followed the teaching of Christianity and Judaism on homosexuality and also criminalized homosexual activities. And more than 15% of Malawi population are Muslims who reject homosexuality. This means that about 95% of Malawian population would not accept homosexuality. 

 

1. The constitution of the government, while secular, is based on religious beliefs of the founding fathers of both the colonizers and the colonized. Even in their countries, they have not changed the constitution. What they have done is only to use an executive order. Mostly, they are following international articles of governance. They have only suspended the issue for the sake of their relationship with other nations. In a good democracy like ours, let the government ask the people what they want not executive orders.

 

1. It seems like this issue is a pressurized topic from the donors. Let Malawi make its own agenda and not deal with external issues that are of less concern like the lesbian and homosexual acts. The society and the nation at large has more pressing issues to deal with.

 

1. If pressure continues, let the leaders call for a national referendum. In Slovenia they voted against it last week.  Not all states in the US accepted it. A lot of demonstrations are still happening there where they champion democracy. Many other countries both in Africa and elsewhere are still discussing it. So, let our leaders consult with their constituents and follow their people’s advice and not forced by donors.

 

CONCLUSION

1. Malawi is a sovereign state and therefore must do what is right for its people. From the biblical perspective, Homosexuality, bestiality, lesbianism (or gayism as people are calling them) are sins that everyone involved has to ask for forgiveness from God.  God is still in the business of loving sinners and calling them to repentance.

 

1. Homosexuals who feel cannot engage in heterosexual activities within the confines of marriage must ask for the spiritual gift of celibacy rather than engage in homosexual activities. If homosexuality is your portion, then it is your cross. Carry it with honor as 1 Peter 4: 19 puts it. If not, marry someone of opposite sex. That is what God designed.

   

1. There is no sin that is higher than the other. Homosexuality, stealing, drunkenness, swindling are viewed the same in God’s sight. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, says “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” So instead of celebrating homosexuality we should fight it with all zeal as we do cash-gate, corruption, polygamy, polyandry, incest, fornication and adultery and indeed any other sins that are institutionalized in our societies.

 

1. Let there be separation of church and government. Christianity and Islam and indeed African Traditional Religion (ATR) cannot be dragged into the battles of the government. The only way there can be less conflict is when these institutions will work separated and independent of the other. Unfortunately, separation is not in the dictionary of democracy. Democracy recognizes that church should make its own contributions to the constitution of the nation. So, we still have these issues hovering high.

  

I, therefore, urge the religious communities to love the LGBT and show them the right way. In our faith communities, let us continue praying for the homosexuals. God loves them too just as he loves the straight.  God in his holy books has already shown us how to live. While we do that, let us continue saying NO to homosexual activities. Homosexual people maybe there, but their homosexual activities should not be allowed.