Is same-sex attraction sinful?

from the old testament

• In both the Old and New Testaments, homosexuality is defined as a sin (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13).
• Sexual immorality (including homosexuality) is sinful and goes against God’s order and design for humanity (Genesis 1:26–27; Exodus 20:1–17).

from the new testament

• The New Testament also defines homosexuality as a sin (Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9).
• Jesus taught that to commit a sin and to desire to commit that sin are essentially the same thing (Matthew 5:27–28). Therefore, if the practice of homosexuality is considered a sin, the desire to practice homosexuality is also sinful. That would imply that same-sex attraction is sinful because it is an attraction to and desire for something that God has declared immoral.
• Sexual immorality (whether heterosexual or homosexual), sorcery, drunkenness, and theft are all declared sinful in the Bible (Galatians 5:19–21). Attraction to these sins—a desire to engage in them—is also sinful. It is wrong to desire to do something that God hates.

implications for today

Sin does come naturally to us, but there is no reason to think that just because something comes naturally, we should approve of it. If we followed that thinking to its logical conclusion, we would all live like animals, with no principles, no morals, no pursuit of education or higher thought. We would be "like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed" (2 Peter 2:12). But this is not what God desires for those made in His image (see Genesis 1:27).

The things that God has in store for us are much, much better than the pleasures of this world. They are untainted by decay and sin and uncertainty. They are eternal. As Paul said, "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18). Don't be deceived by the pleasures of sin. Whether your struggle is with same-sex attraction or some other sin, the attraction to those sins is Satan's trap to keep you away from God's good gift. For "each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James 1:14–15). It's okay to fight your darker impulses. You are not being dishonest or failing to be true to yourself if you resist your sinful tendencies. Our feelings and desires do not have to define us—we have a will and can make a choice to follow what we decide is right, rather than letting our bodies and our culture decide for us.