I don’t believe it ever came up.
*Then the apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
This is the letter delivered by them: “The apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number [who went out] without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind, we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth: ‘It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’”*
Acts 15:22-29
Nero, who was emperor from 54–68 AD, engaged in a same-sex marriage, so it is not as if the question was so far in the future that it could not be imagined. So yes, it came up. You and I know it was strictly forbidden by the Church beyond all strictness. It is unthinkable that any of the Twelve or Paul would consider such a thing for so long as a heartbeat. Have no doubt about that. We are not to take on the moral customs of non-believers:
For, talking empty bombast, they seduce with licentious desires of the flesh those who have barely escaped from people who live in error. They promise them freedom, though they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is a slave of whatever overcomes him. For if they, having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of [our] Lord and savior Jesus Christ, again become entangled and overcome by them, their last condition is worse than their first. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment handed down to them. What is expressed in the true proverb has happened to them, “The dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A bathed sow returns to wallowing in the mire.” 2 Pet. 2:18-22
and
Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. 2 Pet. 3:17-18
As for today, I believe that millions of faith-filled Christians strongly believe that God is calling for marriage between same gendered people. We can disagree on why that is so, but there is no arguing that faith communities are listening and responding positively. Where I live in San Francisco there clergy and laity alike in such marriages. I honor people like Archbishop Desmond Tutu who listens to God and says this is where we are being led. These are my people and this is my Church. This is where I find God and it gives me great joy to be in communion with many other branches of the Church who find God here too.
Tell me: Was it predicted in the early Church that the later Church would mature in understanding and so take on a more expansive view of moral law, going beyond what was taught by the Apostles, or was it predicted that false teachers would come along and lead all astray except for the blessed few who held fast to the faith as it had been handed down? Why, then, would the thought of kicking off the boundaries handed down to us in favor of some new fashion, a fashion in exact opposition to what was taught by the Apostles, be a prospect that would fill a Christian with joy rather than horror?
Take stock and choose who you will follow: the way of the world or the way of the Lord. Do not deceive yourself! There is not a way that encompasses all, so you must choose one or the other. The New Testament could hardly be any more plain about that point.
