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What Bible are you using to defend your gay Christian position?
Rick Brentlinger Answers -Christians around the world, gay or non-gay, use many different versions of the Bible. I believe the King James Version is the most accurate and the most gay-friendly English translation of Inspired Scripture. I tend not to place much faith in translations which use the word homosexual since that word is a modern construct which was never used by any human author of the Bible. I use 45 translations to discuss the Greek word malakoi in 1 Corinthians 6:9. Basic views of gay Christians- There are only a few verses in the Bible which allegedly condemn gay and lesbian partnerships.
a. Genesis 19 - The Sodom Story
b. Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 - The Holiness Code
c. Deuteronomy 23:17-18
d. Romans 1:26-27 and Cybele Worship
e. 1 Corinthians 6:9 - Arsenokoitai and Malakoi
f. 1 Timothy 1:10
- Anti-gay Christians must isolate these verses from the context in which they were given in order to impose their anti-gay interpretation on the verses.
- Only by ignoring the cultural, doctrinal, historical, literary and religious context can these verses be interpreted as condemning all gay and lesbian partnerships.
- Words like natural and unnatural, as used by Paul, describe what was natural or unnatural to first century Roman culture.
- Many passages of scripture which were culturally significant in Bible times, are not culturally significant today.
In plainer words, what was considered sin by our ancient Jewish and Christian ancestors, is NOT considered sin today by most of the body of Christ.
A few examples of culturally prohibited things which most Christians ignore today
a. Leviticus 11 prohibits eating certain kinds of meat, not because it was morally wrong but to set Israel apart from the pagan idolaters surrounding them and to keep them from eating meat offered to idols.
Most Christians do NOT consider it sinful to eat bacon, catfish, ham, oysters, pork, scallops, shark steak, snails (escargot) and shrimp although God specifically forbad eating those things in Leviticus 11.
b. Leviticus 19:19 prohibits cross-breeding animals or plants (heterosis), not because it was morally wrong but to sanctify (set apart) Israel until Messiah came.
"Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed (Jesus) should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." -Galatians 3:19
Many modern Christians own cross-bred animals today or consume cross-bred animals when they eat meat from the grocery store or restaurant. Examples include: cattle, sheep, llamas, dogs, cats, horses. Older cross-breeds include mules (a cross between a female horse and a male donkey).
Most Christians do NOT consider it sinful to cross-breed animals or eat meat from a cross-bred animal although God clearly forbad cross-breeding animals in Leviticus 19:19.
Much of the body of Christ today eats food which is the result of seed-mingling. If you've ever eaten store-bought spaghetti sauce or corn chips, both are made with hybrid vegetables and would have been prohibited under Leviticus 19:19.
Most Christians do NOT consider it sinful to eat cross-bred vegetables and fruits, although God specifically forbad cross-breeding plants in Leviticus 19:19.
c. Leviticus 19:19 prohibits wearing mixed fabrics, not because it was morally wrong but to teach Israel her distinctive place in God's plan of redemption.
Most Christians do NOT consider it sinful to wear mixed fabrics, although God specifically forbad wearing mixed fabrics in Leviticus 19:19.
d. 1 Timothy 2:9 prohibits women from wearing braided hair, gold, pearls and expensive clothing. Yet most Christians do NOT consider it sinful for Christian women to wear braids, gold jewelry, pearls or expensive dresses although God specifically forbad those items in 1 Timothy 2:9.
Some argue,
Yes but on sexual issues, it would be dead wrong to interpret Biblical teaching as merely a cultural issue which does not apply today.
Okay, so why do most Christians
ignore Jesus' teaching on divorce.
Isn't it crystal clear?
e. In Mark 10:11-12, Jesus forbids divorce and instructs us that when a divorced man or woman re-marries, they commit adultery.
"And he (Jesus) said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,"
and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.
-Mark 10:11-12, ESV
Most of the body of Christ ignores the teaching of Jesus so that in the modern church, about 1/3 or more of church members, including many pastors and deacons, are divorced and remarried.
Most Christians today do not view divorce and remarriage as adultery yet Jesus clearly forbids divorce and remarriage and calls it adultery in Mark 10:11-12. Why?
These are culturally specific things which are part of inspired scripture BUT are not regarded as binding on most Christians today.
The verses alleged to prohibit homosexuality were culturally specific prohibitions of shrine prostitution and idolatry, no more applicable to gay and lesbian Christians today than the other culturally specific things we've listed here.
- The rare Greek word arsenokoitai, which is translated as homosexual in the NIV, was never used to mean homosexual in the first 600 years of church history. Click the Link and read the facts.
- When dealing with the alleged anti-gay verses, Gay Christians are more faithful to the meaning of the Bible (prohibiting idolatry), than most anti-gay Christians.
- The ONLY same sex relationships condemned in the Bible involve (1) idolatry by male or female shrine prostitutes or (2) a rape scenario (anal rape is one of the primary meanings of the Greek word arsenokoitai).
Helpful LinksRomans 1 and Homosexuality - did you miss this information?We've answered the question, What Bible are you using to defend your gay Christian position? Click here to return to Gay Christian 101 Home Page.
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