Copyright 1994
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.
Revised by Nathan L. Meckley. Originally published as:
'Homosexuality: What the Bible Does and Does not Say' © 1984
 You
may also print an Adobe Acrobat format file (pdf) of this article.
Is The
Bible...Bad News Or Good News?
Lesbians and gay men
face discrimination because of societal attitudes. Unfortunately, these
attitudes are often taught by the church. Sadly, the Bible is often used
as a weapon to "bash" gays and lesbians. It is important to remember that
such hurtful things are not a reflection of Christ, or the way God wants
the church to be, or even what the Bible really says. They are the
products of the fallible and imperfect human beings who guide these
churches.
Ultimately, a Christian's
personal faith should not depend upon a particular church or clergyperson,
but rather it should be solidly placed in Jesus Christ. In addition to the
biased teachings of certain ministers, Scripture sometimes presents a
stumbling block for people who are both homosexual and Christian.
Thoughtful Bible study
reveals that the Bible does have Good News for gays and lesbians, and it
does not say what you may have thought it did about homosexuals!
Understanding The Bible In A New Way...
There are at least two important things to keep in mind when
reading the Bible.
First,
you must always consider its context. In order to understand any writing
(whether it be a letter, a speech, or even the Bible) it is necessary to
understand its background. Think about who is speaking, to whom it is
addressed, why it written, and what the culture was like.
In the case of Scripture,
the cultural and social context of Biblical times was very different from
our own. For example, when the Bible says God commands humanity to
"increase and multiply," remember, among other things, this was addressed
to Israel, a small, desert nation surrounded by many enemies. They needed
to "multiply" just to survive.
Secondly, the Bible began as an oral tradition and then was written
in ancient languages (primarily Hebrew in the Old Testament and Greek in
the New Testament) over many centuries. It was copied and re- copied in
the original languages, and then translated into other languages. As
anyone who speaks or reads more than one language will understand,
translating requires interpretation and personal judgement. Even with the
best of intentions, translators and copyists are quite capable of human
error.
Sodom, Creation
And The Law:
Hebrew Scripture
tells an exciting story of epic scope and includes many books and
writings. It was the Bible Jesus knew and studied. For Christians, it
continues to serve as the foundation of faith history. It also contains
some of the most popular quotes used against lesbians and gays.
What was the
sin of Sodom in Genesis 19:1-28?
This
Old Testament passage is often wrongly used as "biblical proof" that God
is displeased with homosexuals. According to many people these cities were
destroyed because residents committed the "sin of homosexuality." To
suggest that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of homosexuality is
to misinterpret Scripture.
The prophet Ezekiel, in an
equally inspired book of the Bible, tells that God was displeased with
Sodom for very different reasons: "Now this was the sin of your sister
Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned; they
did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty, and did detestable
things before me (literally, 'committed idolatry'). Therefore I did away
with them as you have seen. (Ezekiel 16:49-50, New International version".
In every
other reference in the Bible
(and there
are several) the condemned "sins of Sodom" are such things as pride and
inhospitality. The people of Sodom broke the law of hospitality to
strangers which was so religiously observed in their culture. Use of the
expression "bring these men out to us, that we may know them" (Genesis
19:5) is the basis for most of the misinterpretation. The Hebrew verb
yadha ("to know") used here is found 943 times in the Hebrew Scriptures
and in only ten places does it mean sexual intercourse - each time
referring to heterosexual relations. But even if the people of Sodom did
attempt a "homosexual" attack upon the angels, the passage would serve as
a clear condemnation of rape (certainly an extreme form of inhospitality).
Rape, either heterosexual or homosexual, is sin under any circumstances.
"God created
Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve,"
is a familiar
refrain heard from those who reject lesbians and gays. Unlike other
references, Genesis 1 and 2 are believed to condemn homosexuality because
it is not mentioned. This argument from silence is difficult to support.
First, Eve was created not just for sexual reproduction, but companionship
(Gen. 2:18). This is certainly the basis of most love relationships, both
heterosexual and homosexual. Also, the accounts of Creation and the early
stories of Genesis are an explanation - not a prescription. Taking these
stories as literal guidelines would lead to peculiar conclusions. For
example, it would imply that brothers and sisters make suitable husbands
and wives. How else could Adam and Eve's children have multiplied? Using
Scripture in such a manner raises more difficult questions than it
answers.
Other Hebrew
scriptures are selectively used
to show the Bible
condemns a gay lifestyle. Two are found in the book of Leviticus, 18:22
and 20:13: "Thou shalt not lie with a man as thou would like with a
woman." Anyone who quotes these prohibitions should read the entire
chapters or the whole book of Leviticus. Levitical law demands no eating
of pork, lobster, shrimp, oysters, or rare meat; no intercourse during the
menstrual period; no interbreeding of cattle; and a whole host of others
laws, including the law to kill all people who commit adultery.
New Testament References to Homosexuality...
The
Law Of Love:
What is
the fundamental message of the Bible and Gospel of Jesus?
As Christians, we believe the Hebrew Scripture is a
divinely inspired revelation of God's covenant with God's chose people,
and a relevant study of Hebrew history. Above all, it is part of a
continuing story and promise of redemption. Additionally, as Christians,
our law is from Christ and that law is the Law of Love. Its cornerstone is the two-fold commandment to "love God and love
your neighbor as yourself."
Neither Jesus, nor Paul, nor
any of the New Testament Scriptures imply that Christians are held to the
cultic or ethical rules of the law of Moses. Paul clearly taught that
Christians are no longer under the Old Law (Galatians 3:23-25); that the
Old Law is brought to completion in Christ (Romans 10:4); and its
fulfillment is in love (Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14). Jesus did deal
with human sexuality in an open and unthreatened manner. He affirmed on
one hand the goods of marriage, but also declared marriage is not for
everyone (Matthew 19:3-12). Furthermore, the Bible
does not record one word spoken by Jesus condemning homosexuality.
It
Sounds Greek To Me!
In the
New Testament there are three scriptures often cited to show the
"sinfulness of homosexuality." There are many English translations of the
Bible and each of them uses different English words to translate the
passages from ancient Greek, so some words will depend upon which version
or translation is used. Two Greek words are used by Paul in two similar
passages. They are malakos and arsenokoitai. These words are
used in I Corinthians 6:9 and in I Timothy 1:10. Literally translated,
malakos means "soft" and arsenokoitai means "male-bed."
Neither word meant "homosexual" in the Greek used during Paul's time. Unfortunately, Biblical language scholars disagree on what these
words really did mean in the context of these two passages or to the
people to whom Paul wrote. There were many Greek words for same-sex
activity or "homosexuals," but Paul did not select them. Somehow
translators have attached various "homosexual" meanings to these two
words.
Notice the following
versions of an excerpt from I Corinthians 6:9 . (I Timothy 1:10 is very
similar):
- King James:
neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor
abusers of themselves with mankind,
- New International:
neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor
male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders,
- Revised Standard:
neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual
perverts,
- Jerusalem Bible:
people of immoral lives, idolaters, adulterers, catamites,
sodomites,
- New English:
no fornicator or idolater, none who are guilty either of adultery or
of homosexual perversion.
Which version is closest to
what was intended when the original words did not mean "homosexual"? It is
strange that some preachers confidently condemn gays and lesbians when
scholars and different translations of the Bible do not even agree upon
what certain words actually mean!
Romans
1:26-27 is the third New Testament passage often cited:
"For
this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women
exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up
natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one
another, men committing shameless acts with men . . ." (Revised
Standard version)
Does this passage actually
condemn people who are "naturally" or
"constitutionally" homosexual? It says you should not indulge in sexual behavior that is unnatural
for you. It specifically says heterosexuals should not try to become
homosexuals. It could equally be understood to say gays and lesbians
should not try to become heterosexuals.
John McNeill, a Roman Catholic scholar, says there is ample
evidence that Biblical authors probably had in mind what we would also
call perversion, namely, the indulgence in homosexual activity by those
who were, by nature, heterosexual.. However, the authors would have
expected all people to be naturally heterosexual. In fact, their ancient
understanding of "nature" itself was different.
For
example, the Apostle Paul declares that long hair is unnatural
for men (I Cor. 11:14). Paul believed "nature" to reflect expected
characteristics or cultural norms, rather than a modern belief in
universal scientific or biological "laws of nature."
As
Norman Pittenger, an Anglican theologian, states;
"For a man or woman whose sexual desire and drive is
inevitably towards the same gender, acting in homosexual physical
expression is in fact a way of glorifying God and opening the self to the
working of the divine love in human affairs."
"I know and am persuaded in
the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for
any one who thinks it unclean". (Romans 14:14) RSV
The Bible Is
Good News!
In making these observations, we are not attempting
to downgrade the Bible, or to deny the authority of its inspiration or its
importance in Christian life. On the contrary, we affirm that the Bible
has much to say to us, but we must hear and learn what it does say,
not what someone tells us it says - namely, the
people who have translated it, and people who have interpreted it.
People are
capable of making mistakes
and building
doctrines which the Bible itself does not teach, but which are accepted by
others. Can we actually believe that a Christ who preached love, lived
love (with women, foreigners, sinners, and outcasts), who gave his life on
a cross to show God's love for all people - can we believe that a Christ
of such love, who recognizes the human need for love and its physical
fulfillment, would require legions of homosexuals to live a life of
celibacy, denying their natural need for intimacy, or face damnation? Not
the loving Christ found in the Bible !
Jesus died for
our sins, not for our sexuality.
Jesus liberates us to a new life of love in God. Neither heterosexual love
nor homosexual love is sinful in itself. Sex acts become sinful when we
exploit or abuse another person, abandoning the ways of love. The
relationship of two women or two men can be just as loving as a
relationship between a woman and a man. Christ died for the sins of both
homosexual and heterosexual persons. Therefore, gays and lesbians can
freely come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ and still retain their
identity and the authentic expression of their sexuality.
Recommended
Resources:
The following
resources are recommended for studying the issues of homosexuality and
Christianity:
Brochures:
Eastman, Donald (1990) Not A Sin, Not a Sickness: What the Bible Does and Does Not Say
Los Angeles: Universal Fellowship Press.
Truluck, Buddy (1991). The
Bible As Your Friend: A Guide for Lesbians and Gays.
Los Angeles:
Universal Fellowship Press.
Wilson, Nancy (1992) Our
Story Too: Lesbians and Gay Men in the Bible.
Los Angeles: Universal
Fellowship Press.
Books:
Boswell, John (1980).
Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality.
Chicago: University
of Chicago Press.
Edwards, George R. (1979).
Gay/Lesbian Liberation: A Biblical Perspective.
New York: Pilgrim
Press.
Helminiak, Daniel A. (1994).
What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality.
San Francisco:
Alamo Square Press.
Horner, Tom (1978).
Jonathan Loved David: Homosexuality in Bible Times.
Philadelphia:
Westminster Press.
McNeill, John J. (1988).
The Church and the Homosexual.
Boston: Beacon Press. Orig. pub. 1976
Scanzoni, Letha and Virginia
Ramey Mollenkott (1994). Is The Homosexual My Neighbor
New York:
Harper and Collins. Originally published 1978. |
