Homosexuality and the Bible
It is against the laws of nature for humanity to fly. It is natural that there is pain in childbirth. Paul says it is unnatural for men to have long hair (1 Corinthians 11:14), but the laws of nature dictate otherwise.
Some argue that God created male and female as a means of procreation, the sexual organs are determined by nature and their natural use must not be 'perverted'. Homosexuality is condemned because it is not procreative. Those who use this to condemn us call us to be celibate. Should women be celibate after menopause? It is dangerous to argue solely from biology when discussing God's desires for humanity.
When reading Romans 1:26-27 consider, "is there a distinction between naturally heterosexual people turning towards same sex relationships, for what ever reason, and those who are 'naturally' homosexual?"
IT'S AN ABOMINATION!
"You shall not lie with
a male as with a women; it is an abomination." (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13).
These passages appear within the Holiness Code of Israel. The Holiness
Code is concerned with keeping Israel pure and untainted by the surrounding
nations whose ways, it was felt, would lead them away from God. An
abomination is that which God found detestable because it was unclean, disloyal
and unjust. The word appears six times in the Holiness Code, always with
reference to sexual impurity. In the book of Ezekiel the word
appears several times, where it is associated with idolatry.
The Hebrew religion stood in continuous tension with the religions of the
surrounding Canaanites who worshipped the multiple gods of the fertility cults.
Sexual intercourse (as cult prostitution) was a regular feature of the pagan
worship. In having sex, devotees re-enacted the relationship of their God
with the land. Homoerotic encounters were part of the many pagan cults and
therefore Israel distanced herself from them. Christians today do not
follow the other laws found in the Holiness Code (the wearing of clothes with
two kinds of materials, for example). We are however aware of actions that
may lead us away from God. Homosexual acts are no longer seen as part of
pagan worship. Cult prostitution is condemned in Leviticus, such
condemnation should not be applied to loving, respectful, same-sex
relationships.
WHAT ABOUT SODOM?
"Behold, this was the
sin of your sister, Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and
prosperous ease but did not aid the poor and needy." (Ezekiel 16:49).
There are three possible reasons for the destruction of Sodom: general
wickedness, as shown in the opening quote; inhospitality, in a world where inns
were a rarity travellers were dependant on the goodwill of strangers not just
for their comfort but for their survival (see Deuteronomy 23:3-4) and homosexual
intercourse.
"Bring them out that we might know them." These are the words
the men of Sodom said of the strangers in their town. And Lot offered his
virgin daughters to the crowd. If the men of Sodom were all homosexual,
why would Lot offer his daughters? If the men (and women) of Sodom were
intent on homosexual intercourse it would have constituted gang rape. Gang
rape, under any moral code, would justify divine displeasure. In the
ancient Middle East male rape was a way of expressing the lowest form of
contempt. In the then culture anal sex meant that one partner had to play
the passive role of a woman, thus making oneself worthless. From
Lot's reaction we can already see how valued women are!
Jesus says nothing at all about homosexuality but he does talk about Sodom in
terms of hospitality (Matthew 10:15). Nowhere does the Bible say that
Sodom was destroyed because of homosexuality.
WHAT ABOUT WOMEN
THEN!
The Bible has been the
source for those who believe that homosexuality is a sin or a sickness, but on
the subject of lesbianism it is silent. Lesbians are treated along with
gay men when the account of Sodom is used against homosexuality. Were
women part of the crowd that wanted to have sex with the angels? If so,
this further illustrates that the sin was rape, and then not only same-sex rape.
A parallel story to that of Sodom is found in Judges 19. To appease the
crowd the man's concubine is thrown out to them and raped and abused until life
is squeezed out of her.
It is easy to see why the Bible may be seen, not as bringing God's liberating
love, but as a tool of oppression, which in places condemns gay men to die and
approves the rape of women as being less sinful than the rape of men. Male
homosexuality was looked down upon because one man had to lower himself to the
status of women. Women are regarded as possessions to be used and
abused. This attitude is not acceptable in the 21st Century. The
Bible contains the word of God alongside the words of men. We must apply
the tools of modern scholarship to distinguish between the two.
Homosexuality is
portrayed variously as either a sin or a sickness according to biblical
interpretation. In fact, the Bible is virtually silent on the subject of
homosexuality and is generally positive on the whole subject of sexual
expression. Sexual relationships that involve power over and the
debasement of the individual are condemned.
For
a further exploration of the Bible and sexuality please click below.