06/19/2024
The following is a response to a comment made to me on the Mason County Community page:
Thanks for bringing up Holy Scripture. Our church bases everything on Holy Scripture, informed by ancient Christian tradition, and God’s gift of human reason. At their ordinations all clergy in our church solemnly declare “I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation; and I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of The Episcopal Church.”
In my own case I studied Hebrew in college and seminary, as well as New Testament Greek. I also have a Masters degree from Harvard where I studied New Testament and Judaism.
It is true that the Bible condemns certain same s*x actions, just as it condemns certain opposite s*x actions. The question is whether the Bible condemns consensual same s*x within a lifetime commitment. I believe the answer to that question is, “No.”
To take each of the passages you cite:
Of Leviticus 18:22 the Jewish Study Bible, published by the widely respected Jewish Publication Society, says, Biblical and ancient Near Eastern culture was not familiar with homos*xuality in the sense of a defined s*xual orientation or lifestyle. It acknowledges only the occasional act of same s*x acts, usually as an act of force associated with humiliation, revenge, or subjection. Of the biblical legal collections there only one other mention, declaring it to be abominable and a capital offense. It seems that the author views all s*xual acts that are not potentially procreative as aberrant. This last point is contrary to the teachings of our church which supports responsible family planning, including the use of contraception. If one agrees with the last point made in 18:22, then one must be opposed to any s*xual act that cannot potentially lead to procreation.
Leviticus 20:13 is based on the same argument.
Jude 1:7 is based on the sin noted in Genesis 19. Again, as the Jewish Study Bible indicates, the wrong that the men of S***m attempt involves not only abhorrent same s*x violence, but a radical betrayal of hospitality, which Lot tries to rectify by offering his own daughters, but is not perhaps something worthy of emulation. In the New Interpreter’s Study Bible it says that while Israelite law forbids violent same s*x actions, “the narrator appears more appalled by other aspects of the behavior of the men of S***m. The story is particularly critical of their mistreatment of guests and disregard for the inviolable codes of hospitality in antiquity and of their mistreatment of an alien in their midst.” This is Jude’s point. He is condemning violence and inhospitality, especially to those false teachers who promote these things.
Romans 1:26-28 and also 1 Corinthians 6:9 condemn behavior that is 1) purely based on lust, and 2) same s*x prostitution which involved minor males in the female role, sadly, part of today’s s*x trafficking atrocities as well with girls and boys. Clearly, these are indeed abominable.
None of these passages begin to address the fact that we now have scientific knowledge that some people are born with an innate s*xual attraction; some to the opposite s*x, some to the same s*x, some to both s*xes. The church expects all people to be chaste and to save s*xual relations for lifelong relationships.
Of course, Jesus says nothing at all about same s*x relationships, but said plenty about opposite s*x lust, divorce, and adultery. He said much more about money, greed, and taking care of the poor and sick. Matthew 25: 31-45 makes clear who Jesus condemns. I wish there was more outrage about these sins.
