The Bible as a Tool for the Acceptance of Gays: Rejecting Biblical Assertions of Anti-Gay Sentiment

The Christian Bible is known for its extremely anti-gay content; nowhere in the Bible is homosexuality outwardly acceptable. Instead, it is condemned in multiple passages, and is proclaimed an unforgivable sin by many Christians. Although this is the common notion of the Bible's position on homosexuality, Gary Comstock, in his liberating book Gay Theology without Apology, scrutinizes the Bible and finds passages that defy the traditional principles of the Christian faith in regards to their stance on homosexuality, ultimately rejecting the fixed values of Christianity that declare that the Bible scorns homosexuality. Comstock strategically uses the Bible as an instrument to defend the position of homosexuals in the church by discussing passages that undermine the established conception of biblical bias towards homosexuality.

Although highly contested and extremely controversial, certain stories in the Bible can be used to promote the acceptance and even rightfulness of homosexuality, such as the story of Jonathan and David. Comstock chooses this biblical passage to lobby for his gay theology, and he effectively demonstrates a contradiction within this passage and other parts of the Bible, not to criticize it, but instead to show that the Bible has more than one interpretation, some of which discuss and permit homosexual behavior, if only viewed differently. The story of Jonathan and David supports the contentious statement that the Bible allows for and depicts certain homosexual behaviors, acts, and feelings. This passage does not scream homosexuality, but Comstock distorts the traditional reading of it to support his gay theology, ultimately creating a biblical acceptance of gays by God that cannot be denied. In the passage, the two men form a profoundly symbolic covenant, the deepest commitment that one can make to another. This covenant suggests that their relationship may be deeper than traditional friendship. If true, then the Bible tells of God's acceptance and creation of homosexual relationships. Comstock relays that "Jonathan and David's covenant is not the product or results of obedience to God; rather, God is present in the midst of their relationship"(85). God did not tell David and Jonathan to love each other, but He is an intricate part of their relationship. It is God's love that allows the formation of the covenant; therefore, God's love allows relationships between people of the same sex, for He is submerged in the center of all relationships, homosexual or not. The effectiveness of this biblical passage in defying Christian norms stems from the portrayal of not only homosexual behavior by Jonathan and David, but also of God's acceptance of homosexuals. The story of David and Jonathan, if examined in an unconventional way, gives homosexuals greater leverage in the church, as it contradicts the opinion that the Bible is completely anti-gay.

In the Bible, certain events or stories make the beliefs of Christianity seem hypocritical due to the messages that they portray. Comstock makes evident the hypocrisy of Christians in their denial of gays through studying and questioning the fundamental basis of the Bible: the exodus of the slaves out of Egypt and the death and resurrection of Jesus. In their entirety, these events discuss the plight of human suffering and their quest for salvation. Comstock asks the Bible, "How can you be based on two events that are about transforming pain, suffering, and death into life, liberation, and healing, and yet call for the misery and death of lesbians and gay men" (12)? He uses this key question to challenge Christians of their belief that the Bible asserts that homosexuality is wrong; for the Bible clearly contradicts itself, basing its core values on pain turned to liberation, yet discussing the sin of homosexuality, a journey of pain and suffering for many, in following pages. If the Bible was truly an anti-gay document then it would not contain the liberation of sufferers within its pages. However, by acknowledging that people who suffer are ultimately saved, the Bible relates to and almost speaks directly to the homosexual community, giving them hope that they are not lost. For Christians to view the Bible only through its blatant decrees and not through the deeper meaning of the stories and events shows that their views of the Bible are inconsistent. If the Bible is the ultimate Christian law and authority, then it is impossible for people to use the Bible to lobby against homosexuality, as the Bible itself portrays the acceptance of gays through the deeper meanings of the exodus event and the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Possibly the most prominently anti-gay sentiment within the Bible comes from the Book of Leviticus. This book was written as a set of rules and regulations for the people of Israel, post-exile. Comstock approaches this passage differently than the ones previously discussed. Instead of trying to find ways that homosexuality is accepted in Leviticus, he boldly challenges the legitimacy of it by prescribing a modern day interpretation, which comes from the context of the time when it was written. By challenging the content of Leviticus, Comstock hopes to persuade people to somewhat disregard the forbidden acts included in this section, including homosexual acts. To put Leviticus in context, Comstock describes the time in which it was written.

When those favored by patriarchy are stripped of power and privilege, their subsequent efforts to regain or maintain some measure of control exaggerate and nearly caricature patriarchy in reduced spheres of influence (68)

Comstock hopes that this precise fact will broaden peoples' views on the Book of Leviticus. During the time the rules were implemented, once powerful men lacked influence due to the patriarchal society. These men, wanting to keep their prevailing statuses, resorted to ludicrous measures, such as enacting the only laws that they could, those pertaining to religion or sexuality. The laws then were solely made to increase status; therefore, their legitimacy is extremely questionable. Under these circumstances, can the Book of Leviticus be consulted to find truth regarding Christianity? Although there is no objective answer to this, it succeeds in raising the question of the legitimacy of Leviticus. The questionability of its legitimacy strains traditional thoughts pertaining to the Bible, and allows hope for homosexuals; the one passage that condemns them may not be legitimate, making void an important section of the Bible that many Christians use to disallow homosexuality.

As a gay preacher, Gary Comstock searches for truth in how the Bible portrays homosexuality. He successfully demonstrates that the traditional view of the Bible as a potently anti-gay document is not entirely accurate. Certain parts of the Bible, such as the story of Jonathan and David and the meanings of the exodus and death of Jesus, contain messages supporting homosexuality and deject the popular theory that the Bible is the foundation for the negative Christian attitude towards homosexuals. These two events, as well as the dubiousness of the Book of Leviticus, assert that the Bible may accept homosexuality, creating a paradox within the beliefs of the Christian faith and the message that the Bible may in fact portray.