I am so tired of people saying that the Bible has nothing to address on homosexuality. Leviticus isn't the only book in the Bible. Here's what it really has to say about the matter. I'm not endorsing or attacking homosexuality, I just want to shed some light on this one-sided argument.
(All passages are from NIV translation)
Leviticus 20:13 - If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.
People argue that the original Greek translation means something like a man should not treat another man as subservient. In other words, this passage has nothing to do with sexual relations. While I believe that may not be the case, the point is moot because Leviticus is addressing the Hebrews, and not modern-day Christians.
Romans 1:27 - In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Here, Paul is writing to the Roman church, the early Christians. This is a passage that does apply to modern-day Christians, and it very clearly states men were "inflamed with lust for one another" leading to "shameful acts with other men." The "inflamed" here is very intentional symbolism, relating back to the story of Sodom in Genesis, where the city practicing homosexuality was burned to the ground by fire raining from the heavens. The God who condemned homosexuality then is the same God today, whose distaste for homosexual relations is consistent.
1 Corinthians 6:9 - 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 men who have sex with men.
This is another letter by Paul, this time to the church of Corinth. Other translations say "homosexuality" or "abusers of themselves with mankind." The original Greek translation uses a specific wording to mean "a man who lies with another man in bed." So this passage is indisputably referring to homosexual relations, which it condemns along with idolaters, sexually immoral, and adulterers.
1 Timothy 9:11 - ...law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers (10) and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, (11) according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
Yet another letter by Paul (Paul wrote a lot of letters) to Timothy regarding what he should teach about the church in the city of Ephesus. When he talks about "law," he is referring to the practice of teaching law. Essentially, he is saying the "impure" cannot teach the law of Christianity because their values contradict those of the gospel. This passage uses that same Greek word used in 1 Corinthians 6:9 to refer to homosexuality (a man who lies with another man). In other words, Paul is saying homosexuals go against the teachings of the gospel, and thus are ineligible to be messengers of this doctrine.
But aren't these Paul's words and not Jesus' words? No. Jesus, God, is omniscient. He would not allow someone corrupt to carry so much weight into His word (an exception may be Judas, but it was more or less necessary to carry out the divine crucifixion on the cross). In other words, he specifically ordained Paul to write these letters because he knew the truth about God's doctrine. So then it can be said that these words are not of the mortal man Paul, but divinely from God himself.
So for the few of you who may have read this, I hope you realize the argument is a little more nuanced than "some old book that doesn't even talk about homosexuality." I encourage you to do some more investigating yourself. There are several more passages that address homosexuality, and these passages above hold a greater context that could make the message clearer.
tangentwithtanner
titsay
2087
