Gay Couple (Photo from Thalmus Center)
The issue of homosexuality is the topic in many of today’s discussions. Should sexual orientation hold the same legal status as race or ethnicity? Should homosexual individuals that want to marry be allowed to marry and be eligible for all the benefits of marriage? Can homosexuals serve in the military? Should homosexuals have the same civil rights protections as does sex, race, etc? Many of those opposed use the Bible to justify their position. This page is dedicated to examining the relationship between homosexuality and the Bible.
It is essential to remember that the term homosexuality is strictly a 20th century term. Prior to this last century, individual were not defined by their sexual preferences. Sexual morality was defined by actions. Whether someone’s actions were right or wrong depend on the actions, where the actions took place, and what was the motivation behind the actions.
Killing another human could be either morally right or wrong. Killing the enemy during a war by military personnel is not murder. Killing someone in self-defense is not murder. Killing someone to protect a third-party from serious harm is not murder. However, killing someone because you do not like him or her or you want something that they have is murder.
MCC Information Booth (Photo taken by Tim on June 14, 2009)
There is a saying that states “that it is possible to prove anything from the Bible”—if you take it out of context. The best example is the phrase, “There is no God.” Since the Bible says there is no God, everything else from the Bible must be false. Nevertheless, when you read the full quotation from Psalms:
The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1 KJV)
The obvious meaning from the full quotation is just the opposite of the part that was taken out of context. Another saying is “there is nothing new under the sun.” With each new generation, there are new groups of individuals that use the Bible to prove whatever it is that fits their agenda.
When slavery was popular in some states, the Bible was used to prove that God approved of slavery. The Bible was used to prove that the black man had no soul and, therefore, was not entitled to equal treatment. Later, the Bible was used to prove that interracial marriages were against the will of God. Others used the Bible to prove that attending a movie, drinking any alcohol, attending a dance, playing cards were all immoral, even a woman wearing pants was considered immoral.
We raise the question of whether homosexuality is clearly immoral or, as in times past, part of someone’s agenda and not so clearly condemn by the Bible.
When the word “homosexual” is mention, many times the first vision of many people is the stereotype of a decidedly feminine acting man that sleeps with a different man every night, but as with other groups—it is not typical. Furthermore, the term “homosexuality” refers to many different groups. The first group is those that have no attraction towards the opposite sex. This group will most likely argue that they were born gay and cannot alter their inner feelings.
The second group is those that engage in same-sex intimate relation, but do have an attraction towards the opposite sex. Many of these individuals begin their story with the statement: When I was young, an older man molested me. They became confused about their own sexuality. Under professional care, they can be helped to achieve a normal life. Because they have a sexual attraction towards the opposite sex, they can successfully engage in heterosexual relations. There are also those that were molested as a child; however, they maintain that those events have nothing to do with them being gay.
American pastors in front of Moon’s official residence in Cheongpyeong
Photo from Wikimedia Commons.
The third group is consisted of individuals that have put same-sex relations as a part of their religion. Sex has become part of their religion and an extension to knowing their god. Heterosexual relations, as well, can also be elevated to a religion. Rev. Moon and what many will remember as the Moonies, told his followers in Korea that if the virgins wanted to make sure they had a place in heaven, then they should have sex with him.
We found a comment on the ancient practice of combining sex and religion. The comment comes from the “Theological Workbook of the Old Testament” from Moody Press. In the section on “to lie” (TWOT reference number 2381), which discusses the use of the verb as used in Leviticus 18:22 and other passages, the following comment states:
Perhaps one of the most degrading features of pagan religions is the way in which religious and sexual expression were often one and the same thing. It was, however, not sacramentalizing of sex but rather an eroticizing of religion.
Does the passages in Leviticus and the other similar passages refer to homosexuality or are they referring only to this practices that was described in the TWOT? There are many competent scholars that would argue it is not a total condemnation of homosexuality, but only when sex is integrated into the worship practices of religion.
When sexual activity is decreed by religion, the results follow some mighty strange paths. Behavior that is considered right or wrong is elevated to a higher level. Gay children have been kicked out of their home and ostracized from their family, friends, and church peers solely because of their sexual feelings. Treatment methods that are supposedly designed to help homosexual children become heterosexual resemble methods that are more like forms of torture.
Same-Sex in Scripture does an excellent job of dealing with the subject.
Photo of book cover by Larry Rice
One reason is that the nature of sex has been misunderstood in past times. For example, Robert Geis in his book “Same-Sex in Scripture“ in his chapter on “The Sin of Onan” discusses a passage from the Bible. God had killed Er for his wickedness. Because Er’s wife had no child, Er’s brother Onan was obligated to copulate with Er’s wife. Rather than fulfill is his obligation, Onan spilled his seed outside.
Many parents used this passage to punish boys severely for masturbating. Early understandings of how a baby developed assumed that life was in the man’s semen and that a women body was just a fertile field where the baby could develop. The natural conclusion was that masturbation was equivalent to abortion. Science discovered that semen consisted of millions of small sperm cells, and it requires one and only one for conception. It was obvious that masturbation and abortion were far from being the same.
Project Video: The Bible and Life -
A Gay and Lesbian View of the Bible and Homosexuality
Photo taken by John Fischer on August 4, 2009
There are many that find the terms homosexual and Christian as contradictory terms. They cannot imagine that a person that is gay or lesbian could also have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. They talk about statistics that show that many homosexuals have many different sexual partners. However, the number of members of a group that have multiple sex partners says nothing about the remainder of the groups that are in a committed relationship. There are many individual that are in a committed relationship that do not cheat on their partners, and that claim they are Christians and serve Christ daily. The following video presents several gay and lesbians that are Christians that are maintaining a committed relationship, and that were willing to make comments on video even at the risk of possible persecution from others. Many have endured physical and emotion persecution, not for what they have done, but for who they are.
Jimmie wanted to contribute to this project. He, like many other gay Christians, has struggled to resolve the suggested conflict between their orientation and their faith. He talked about those that wanted to “put the fear of God” into him because he was gay. There were others who were open and accepted him for who he was. (Click here to read his full testimony.)
Bilbe and Life: Homosexuality and the Bible from Larry Rice on Vimeo.
The Bible and Life: A Gay and Lesbian View of Homosexuality and the Bible
Are all homosexual child molesters?
With public opinion trending towards acceptance of homosexuality as an acceptable life style, many of those opposed to homosexuality based on Biblical interpretation have had to find other reason to reject homosexuality, beyond a position that they believe God condemns it as a sin.
Should gay relationships be legal? Data from Gallup.
Data complied by Gallup Survey. Graph from Dr. Herek’s web site.
It is amusing on how the legal decision and medical issues affects the belief system of the individuals in society.
Gregory M. Herek, Ph.D. does not believe the above question is true. In his blog “Facts About Homosexuality and Child Molestation,” he discusses the issue and presents evidence to refute the claims made by Timothy J. Dailey from the Family Research Council in his article titled Homosexuality and Child Abuse. There are 76 points, and Dr. Herek refutes each point in his article.
Many have used the assumed facts that homosexuals are more promiscuous than heterosexuals as justification for condemning homosexuals. It makes no difference what the statistics are for which groups has more individual that are promiscuous. This would be like arguing that married men visiting prostitutes as reflecting badly on committed heterosexual unions. It does not matter what the statistics are, they say noting about committed unions. The same is true about homosexual couples. It does not matter what the statistics are because they say nothing about committed same-sex couples.
Gay Promiscuity Causes Breakdown in US Society?
One evangelical pastor remarked that most homosexuals were promiscuous and that this causes a breakdown in society. When informed that most homosexuals were not promiscuous, he said he had seen statistics that proved his point. Patrick Strudwick’s article in the Guardian disagrees with the pastor statement.
We decided to graph the statistics to see what the data actually demonstrated. It is not an easy task to determine the facts. First, the official estimate of the percentage of homosexual in society runs from 2% to 4%. Second, the estimate of the percentage of the population that has had two or more partners in the last year runs from 35% for homosexuals to 12% for heterosexuals. The study also suggests that only 2% of the gay population is responsible for the multiple-sex partners. The article The John Next Door suggests that the heterosexual population is more promiscuous than the statistics suggest.
The current population of the United States is approximately 314,000,000. We created the following graph based on the above percentages. The units are in thousands of individuals.
Number of individuals with zero, one, or two or more sex partners within the prior year, separated by sexual orientation.
Chart is showing the number of individuals that have zero, one and two or more partners within the prior year. The units are in thousands of individuals.
The chart shows that even considering the possibility that homosexuals are more promiscuous than heterosexuals the actual number of individuals in a society that are promiscuous is greater for heterosexuals than for homosexuals.
So, this leads us to the conclusion that heterosexual promiscuity is a greater threat to society than homosexual promiscuity, thus disputing the pastor’s assumption.
There is a problem in that several HISTORICAL interpretations of certain passages in the bible have been incorrect. Sodom was not destroyed because of Homosexuality. Romans 1 is not a statement against homosexuality, but a statement against those who do not give Creator status to God. While God does declare Homosexuality an abomination… This directive is to the Jews only and is on a par with the dietary laws… And I would postulate, for the very same reason, namely protection of the Messianic line against blood transmitted diseases.
Further, there are statements by Paul indicating a loss of inheritance for the Homosexual. This is not a small point.
However, his choice of words is “inheritance”… NOT “Salvation”. These are NOT the same thing.
I enjoyed this article. Personally, I have never been one to accept statistical charts and surveys as being a valid form of gauging the views and opinions of the populous. Any statistic that did not take MY input is, to me, automatically flawed, because all of the people who were not polled could very well alter the entire statistic if they had been polled. For example, take ten random people from each of the 50 U.S. states and ask them a question, say, “What is your favorite color?” The majority may say “Red”. However, you cannot logically use that “sampling” to intimate that the majority of Americans like red, for, had you polled every single American – from the homeless man living in the bushes to the wealthiest man on Wall Street – you would find that the favorite color of America may be on the opposite side of the color spectrum! What’s more, placing trust on “professionals” with college degrees as being the only ones capable of giving unbiased “professional opinions” is, in my opinion, the WORST form of statistical bias, for it is those very same people that have made religion a thing of mockery, who have reduced the nations to economic and political ruination, and who have little pity for the Destitute People that they’ve left in their wake. So for this reason I am not one to favor statistical arguments. I say, Let the issue speak for itself. In fact, in regard to those ignorant men with walls lined with degrees and diplomas, who make the statistical charts with which to rage against homosexuality, I am reminded of these words from Scripture…
“Proclaiming themselves to be wise they became fools…
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes…”
With an issue of this type there are only two acceptable sources of fact:
1: God, through the Scriptures, who created man and knows the mind of man
2: Homosexuals Themselves, who know firsthand what it is TO BE homosexual
There is no other qualifying source of fact on the matter of homosexuality. All else is opinion – and opinion is, by definition, a personal bias.
STEVE, who commented in the post before me, said that “God does declare homosexuality an abomination”. It is sweeping false statements of this nature which boggle my mind. Where in the Bible did God say “homosexuality is an abomination”?! NOWHERE. There are a few Scriptures which condemn heterosexuals who fornicate with the same gender, such as Leviticus 18:22 & 20:13 and Romans 1:18-32, and a story of attempted gang rape (Sodom). But there is nothing whatsoever which condemns homosexuals for BEING homosexual, nor is there a single place in Scripture which denies marriage to homosexuals.
The really big problem is that most anti-gay people believe that homosexuals are merely perverted heterosexuals, and therefore, when God says “If a man ALSO lie with mankind as HE lieth with a woman, both of them have committed abomination” (Lev 20:13), these anti-gay people TWIST this Word of God to mean “If a man has sex with another man in the same way that one would lie with a woman, they have committed abomination.” In fact, nearly every one of the perverted new Bible versions on the market today have reworded this verse in such a fashion, and some versions actually go so far as to commit the ultimate crime by daring to insert the word “homosexual” in the text. And when they twist the Word of God in such a heinous way they invent a doctrine which God did not impart to us. It is based upon their own heterosexist lusts that they invent these new doctrines, just as White “Christian” slave traders, in their inordinate lust for money and filthy lucre, twisted Scripture to justify the cruel enslavement of Native Americans and Africans and even other Whites. For, it is only HE WHO LIES WITH A WOMAN whom is being forbidden to ALSO lie with men. And the only woman that a man may lie with is his wife, and therefore the man defined in this verse is a HETEROSEXUAL man. This man commits abomination because he has violated his nature by abandoning his female to fornicate with a male. The verse says nothing to the homosexual man, except perhaps that the homosexual man also commits abomination if he violates his nature to lie with a woman. And this is precisely what Paul echoes in Romans 1:18, when he speaks of men WHO LEAVE their women to lay with men – heterosexual men perverting their nature. And the Word of God, in that very chapter, tells us precisely WHY such heterosexual men do such things: “God GAVE THEM UP” because “they refused to retain God in their knowledge”. Yet conversely, among multitudes of homosexuals there is a great desire and love for the Lord, with tens of thousands of homosexuals forming their own churches because no other churches will have them. Such homosexuals who desire God cannot be those whom God gave up! Those given up are the HETEROSEXUALS who defy the knowledge of God, whom God by wrathful judgment has given over to a reprobate mind, warped to so much as go against their own nature and to do that which is inconvenient to the heterosexual.
There are people who are heterosexual and there are people who are homosexual, just as there are people who are right-handed and there are people who are left-handed. And just as it was once believed that left-handed people were merely rebellious and willful right-handers, so too, homosexuals are wrongly believed to be morally rebellious heterosexuals. Do homosexuals sin? Yes, as certainly as heterosexuals sin. All human beings sin. But the antigay person ignorantly believes that the definition of homosexuality is THE ACT of a heterosexual committing same-gender fornication – and that is not correct!
As to any fornication among homosexuals (and I will not speak at this time of the outrageously rampant fornication and adultery and illegitimate children and abortion among heterosexuals), when a wicked Society viciously and unlawfully deprives an entire portion of the population of their sovereign birthright to marry, and in that marriage to rightfully engage in married sexuality, giving them no way to relieve such a vital urge, that Society thereby forces their victims to obtain their necessities in a sinful manner. As when a slave master deprives his slave of food and the slave must resort to theft in order to eat and satisfy his natural hunger, so too, the homosexual who is deprived of sexual relief in a marriage must resort to fornication to be relieved of his natural urge. A clear warning is given by the Apostle Paul about just such a thing, saying, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, FORBIDDING TO MARRY,” 1st Timothy 4:1.
This reminds me greatly of Thomas Moore’s UTOPIA, in which he wrote, “If you suffer your people to be ill-educated and their manners corrupted from infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, WHAT ELSE IS TO BE CONCLUDED BUT THAT YOU FIRST MAKE THIEVES AND THEN PUNISH THEM.” And with as much conviction I say, that if you suffer homosexuals to be deprived of the means by which to lawfully engage their natural sexual urge, and then condemn them for resorting to fornication as their only recourse for release – a condition which you yourself forced them to – what else is to be concluded but that you first make fornicators and then condemn them!
Addendum:
My previous commentary was not in any way meant to belittle or minimize the article presented. It was merely an additional commentary on the subject as a whole. As I first commented, I enjoyed this article, and it was well presented.