Some time ago, I picked up a book called Scripture & Homosexuality: Biblical Authority and the Church Today by Marion L. Soards. Soards is a Biblical studies professor at one of my alma maters - Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. In the book, Soards explores what the Bible says (and doesn’t say) about homosexuality and how to faithfully interpret it for the world today.
In his preface, Soards confesses -
“Like many members of the church, I have friends who are lesbian and gay… because of my relationships with these persons I tended to avoid thinking about the Bible and homosexuality rather than to examine the matter carefully. My own thinking in the past had been sloppy — even incoherent — and it was rooted more in experience than in theology. My own position, if one may call a set of inconsistent thoughts a position, was to take an easy, permissive attitude toward homosexuality: Since we are all sinners, it really does not matter whether homosexuality is sinful, for God loves us all.”
As the book develops, however, Soards take a much more in-depth look at homosexual behavior in the light of Scripture. First, he upholds the foundational authority of the Bible as God’s written Word (particularly within the Reformed tradition.)
Citing various references from part of our constitution as Presbyterians - The Book of Confessions, Soards affirms that the Bible is vital, discerning, trustworthy, and normative. It is our ultimate authority for issues of life and faith.
Once he has established the authority of Scripture, his next step is to examine what it has to say about homosexuality. First, he admits -
“The Bible says remarkably little about homosexuality. In fact, there is no biblical word for homosexual or for homosexuality. The relevant texts tend to speak graphically about actions, not about persons or sexual orientations.”
Soards then goes on to explore such relevant texts, particularly Leviticus 18:22 - “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination,” and Leviticus 20:13, “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.”
Soards points out that these prohibitions are part of the Holiness Code, which likewise prohibits such things as eating rare meat, incest, bestiality, harvesting all the grain in the field, stealing, lying, cheating, and a host of other things. Soards contends that these texts are problematic at best when we try to apply to the world today.
He does, however, highlight three New Testament passages which directly address the subject of same-gender sexual activity. First, in 1 Corinthians 6:9, there is a warning against the wickedness of, among others, “male prostitutes” and “sodomites” (New Revised Standard Version). Soards explains these words -
“male prostitutes” is “malakoi” in Greek and means literally being “soft ones,” probably referring to the so-called passive partner in homosexual activity. The word translated as “sodomites” is “arsenokoitai”, literally, “male bedders,” perhaps referring to the “other” partner in the homosexual arrangement.
Soards admits there is much debate among scholars over these terms. He also points out that the Apostle Paul is -
“… arguing against a concrete problem in the life of the church, not homosexuality itself, and simply mentions homosexual activity along with other unacceptable activities in an effort to illustrate the central point of the argument.”
Soards is quick to point out it is same-gender sexual activity, not homosexual identity that Scripture speaks against.
Later in the book, Soards develops his own view of what the Biblical position on same gender sexual activity, but initially he diffuses some of the arguments inappropriately used against homosexuals.
**********
more on homosexuality…
Just a bit of cold water, the Bible was written by some HUMANS and translated a bit. To examine the texts you cite it would be preferable to find the original language , that I think is hebrew (no?) know that language, then come to a conclusion.
People/humans have disliked and felt fear/hate of homosexuals from the start of time I believe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodom_and_Gomorrah
Reportedly Sodom and Gomorrah was destroy not because of homosexuality, but because of the lack of “righteous persons”.
The Pistol fires back:
You are right the Bible was written by human beings. We (Reformed Christians) believe, however, that these human beings were divinely inspired and that the written Word is both adequate and accurate in addressing issues of life and faith.
It is helpful to look behind the English and explore the Hebrew and Greek. Dr. Soards does this well and helps give us a glimpse as to the meaning of the original texts.
It could certainly be said that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed was a variety of reasons (including inhospitality in attempting to rape members of the same-sex). You’ll notice, however, that Dr. Soards (nor I) use this reference to address the issue of homosexuality today.
Thank you for writing in. I hope you’ll visit again soon and often.
Interesting.. I think regarding prohibition of homosexuality in Abrahamic religion, this act is completely against nature and its circle.
It doesnt have that true and fertile result, which male and female part of nature plan to earn.
I will discuss my opinion more in your next entry.. Waiting for the rest.. ;)
The Pistol fires back: Good points. I’ll look forward to hearing from you more.
Bold subject. Thanks for tackling it!
The Pistol fires back: Thank you. I found the book very compelling and was led to share a bit of it with my readers.
You’ve written thoughful posts on homosexuality before and I look forward to reading what you have in the future. I just blogged on a related issue … how much of a “homosexual lifestyle” should I celebrate with friends and coworkers?
The Pistol fires back: Interesting question. My response would be none. We can love our friends who are homosexuals but when it comes to discussion of behavior, not give in to the temptation that everything is fine.
This is definitely a tricky subject, and one I have looked into myself now and again. I am glad you are bringing it up again. I am currently (on the back burner, swirling away in the neglected depths of the mind) thinking a little about women, and the references to slavery and to homosexuality do come up as relevant sometimes… it amazes me how difficult and yet how simple it can be to read and understand the Bible. I hope someday to have a more holistic view of it, and a more correct view,
too.
The Pistol fires back: That would be a great thing for all of us.