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How can you say that Romans 1 has nothing to do with homosexuality?
by Justin Bruce
Romans 1 has nothing to do with homosexuality because the text of scripture never mentions homosexuality. There were common Greek words God and Paul could have used IF they intended us to believe that homosexuality was wrong. They did not use any of the Greek words commonly used in the first century to describe female or male same sex relationships. "Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." -Hebrews 13:5, KJVGod clearly puts a loving, faithful, committed marriage partnership in a class apart from the fornicating life- style of whore mongers and adulterers. Just so, in Romans 1, God addresses a problem that plagued ancient Israel, which was also a problem for first century Christians in Rome. That problem was not homosexuality. Paul and God were not addressing gay men or lesbian women falling in love and deciding to spend their lives in committed partnership. The context of Romans 1 is idolatry and the result of idolatry, which was shrine prostitution. The subject in Romans 1 is not now and never has been homosex- uality in general. In his classic work, The Construction of Homosexuality, David Greenberg cites 1 Kings 22:41-50, 2 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 17-20, 2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chronicles 29-31, 2 Kings 23:2, 2 Chronicles 34:1-7, 1 Kings 15:12, 1 Kings 22:47, 2 Kings 23:7 which detail Israel's worship of Astoreth via cult prostitution. Then Greenberg makes this illuminating statement. "It cannot be stressed too strongly that none of the campaigns (in Israel) against cult prostitution was directed at homosexuality in the population at large.The mindset of some Christians is to condemn all gays and lesbians simply because they are members of the group labeled homosexual. Yet condemning every member of a group is as foolish and off-base as condemning everyone who is hetero- sexual (based on the sinful activity of a few). For example, scripture records several heterosexual rapes.
We do not conclude that all heterosexual intimate partnerships are wrong based on three Bible passages about heterosexual rape. In the same way, (1) scripture depicts the men of Sodom attempting to rape angels and (2) scripture forbids same sex activity in the context of worshiping Molech and Ashtoreth, his fertility goddess consort, Lev 18:22 & 20:13. Yet it is wrong to conclude based on Bible verses about attempted rape in Sodom and pagan idolatry, that all homosexual committed partnerships are wrong. When we affirm committed, faithful, non-cultic same sex marriage partnerships, we are not affirming attempted rape or pagan worship of the Canaanite fertility goddess or prostitution or drunkenness. Heterosexuals engage in abominable public sexual activity during Mardi Gras and on spring break in cities around the world yet no one assumes that affirming heterosexuality implies affirmation of sinful celebration of Mardi Gras and Spring Break. When we affirm committed, faithful, non-cultic same sex partnerships, that in no way implies that we affirm any sin prohibited in scripture, rightly divided. Helpful LinksDoes Romans 1:26-27 condemn homosexuals? Does Romans 1:26 condemn lesbians? Are you a good person? How To Witness. We've answered the Romans 1 question. Click here to return to Gay Christian Home Page.
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