Does the Bible Really Condemn Homosexuality?
Homosexuality and Mosaic Law
The single scripture most clearly condemning homosexual behavior is Leviticus 20:13: "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."
That sounds pretty straightforward: gay sex=execution. But is that really what Christianity believes?
Well, yes, because the Old Testament is part of the Christian Bible. This scripture, the evilness of the men of Sodom and Gomorrah, and several other scriptures in this older part of the Bible all revile homosexuality. I want to find otherwise, but it's pretty clear. Is that all there is to it?
No. Christianity states that the New Testament supersedes the Old Testament. The eye for an eye" rule was superseded by "do unto others." And Christ specifically stated that He marked a turning point in the worship of God, and that the old ways were swept away when He entered the world.
So what about the New Testament?
Paul on Homosexuality
Jesus never directly addresses the issue of homosexuality. Never. Not once. He addresses many other things, like idolatry and greed and priorities and loving one another, but he doesn't speak a word about the gay lifestyle. Paul, on the other hand, does:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
Okay, that looks pretty straightforward. But in the original Greek, what is here translated as "practicing homosexuals" actually refers to a catamite, a young boy who is used sexually by an older man. Because the term is hard to translate into modern English with the original sense intact, the word "effeminate" is used in some translations.
Now it doesn't look so straightforward. Besides, consider this:
Sexually immoral
Idolater
Adulterer
Male prostitute (who were typically young boys)
Thieves
Greedy
Drunkard
Slanderer
Swindler
This is a list of the actions that are EQUATED to not homosexuality, but the keeping of a catamite, in Paul's letter. Equated. What do they have in common? They all hurt other people. Adult homosexuality is NOT in that list. Paul is condemning something a little different, something we can all agree with the condemnation of today.
Notice you don't hear televangelists railing about the slanderers in the world and how the slanderers should be removed from the face of the earth because they are evil. Or how God hates drunkards and greedy people. Are they really just men of their times, as all men are? As the men who wrote the Bible were?
In the societies in which our modern Bible was written, homosexuality existed. But it had a very different face. Let's keep that in mind when we read about how Christianity condemns homosexuals. What the Bible specifies may not be what we think of as homosexual at all, partly at least because of the language differences and partly because people are different today. At the very least, condemnation of homosexuality is nowhere near as clear-cut as many Christians would have us believe.
Published by Jamie K. Wilson
Jamie K. Wilson is the wife of a US sailor and mother of two teen boys, one Marine, and two beautiful baby girls. The family hails from Louisville, Kentucky originally. View profile
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46 Comments
Post a CommentThank you for being one of the very few people who can look at the good book with a good heart and think on it logically. One simply can't pick bits and pieces from it. It needs to be looked at for its turning points, vital exceptions, and real world circumstances, as well. /internet fist bump/
JESUS did address marriage between a man & a woman in Mathew 19. That's clear cut IF you want to listen.
Jude 7: Literal translations of the Bible translate the Hebrew as "sexual immorality and perversions" or "whoredom" - only the looser translations use the actual term "homosexual." I would say it is a great perversion to demand strangers of any sex submit to the town's sexual desires. Rape and coercion definitely equal a perversion. I also admit, however, to being very squeamish indeed about Lot giving his daughters to the crowd instead of a couple of strangers. Angels or no, that sounds pretty sick.
but no matter gay or not, God loves us all; but it is the act that is frowned upon, not the person and how they feel. mainly the sexual perversion.
what about jude 7
Very great article... I have always been so disappointed in being gay. But recently I've come to terms as this is how I'll always be. And you know what, being gay is okay. A gay man understands me unlike a girl ever could. It's really amazing... I kinda wish that everyone was attracted to their own sex, how understanding everyone would be to each other.
Well thanks for this article, I don't think I'll ever really feel like it's wrong to love another guy. Since that's what God wants right? Is for us to love!
Thanks again.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever. I can show you several of scriptures that show that God is against homosexuality. Old testament and new testament. To begin, I will leave out the normal old testament scriptures that people use to condemn, but the word of God will never fail and make you free if you believe that the Word of God is the inspired Word of Almighty God. Have you ever read Romans chapter 1:21-28(Read very carefully). The bible never says homosexuality. This word is not even used, but the Bible does use the words "sexual immorality " or other words such as un-natural affection(KJV). You may look at "sexual immorality "and think of people that cheat on their spouses and other things, not including the sin of man on man and woman on woman, although it does, BUT The words "un-natural affection" (KJV) will sum up homosexuality and how it begun with the sin of pride and arrogance of the people,as in Sodom and Gomorrah.(Ezekial 16:48-49) Yes (jason365), it n
Well written and very thought provoking. It seems greed will ruin humanity more than anything.
Not everything someone wants to believe is true, which can unkowningly lead others into false beliefs too (damning them for eternity). I wouldn't want to have someone else's soul on my conscience when God makes it clear on judgment day that, yes, homosexuality (in all its forms) is an abomination to him. His Word says that "all His Word--old and new testament" was inspired by Him and that Jesus didn't come to abolish the old laws (in the old testament), He came to pay the price we all owe now for sinning against those laws. Don't think that God is not against homosexuality. God doesn't give nonbelievers the ability to understand His Wod (the Bible); you only think you do.
many bigots will never accept how wrong they are
excellent article