May 14, 2025
Many churches today are attempting to accommodate sin, particularly sexual immorality, in ways that appear compassionate but ultimately undermine biblical truth. One such approach is “Side B Christianity,” which claims that people with same-sex attraction (SSA) can identify as “gay Christians” as long as they remain celibate. This view, often seen as a compromise between affirming LGBTQ identity and holding to biblical sexual ethics, separates homosexual behavior from homosexual identity. However, this compromise distorts the Gospel message by encouraging believers to accept sinful desires as an immutable part of who they are rather than something to be put to death by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Christian leaders like Dr. Rosaria Butterfield have pointed out that Side B theology fails to recognize the seriousness of sin and the call to holiness. By treating homosexual desire as a morally neutral temptation rather than something to be rejected, Side B theology invites Christians to define themselves by what Scripture says they must crucify. While it refrains from endorsing homosexual acts, it legitimizes a false identity rooted in temptation. True biblical transformation involves more than behavioral restraint; it involves a changed heart and mind. As Romans 6:18 declares, believers are no longer slaves to sin but to righteousness—our identity is not in our temptations but in Christ alone.
Ultimately, Side B Christianity offers a “truncated Gospel” that lacks the power of Christ to transform lives fully. The cross of Jesus does not merely offer celibacy—it offers complete redemption, freedom, and holiness. The idea that a believer must live perpetually defined by sinful desires is not only unbiblical but harmful, particularly to young people navigating identity and faith. As the church, we must proclaim the full Gospel that sets captives free and reject any theology that dilutes God’s call to holiness. Side B Christianity, like the serpent’s whisper in Eden, subtly asks, “Did God really say?”—and the faithful response must be a resounding affirmation of biblical truth.
Stay Awake. Keep Watch.
SOURCE: Harbinger's Daily