The Bible, Homosexuality, and a Christian Response - Part 2

Scriptural Authority as the Basis of the Discussion

For those who attempt to address the subject of homosexuality from a biblical perspective, regardless of their position, the first issue is a question of authority, specifically the authority and reliability of the Bible. Because of the scope of these articles, I can’t give a thorough defense of the reliability of scripture. That’s a whole subject unto itself.

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

— 2 Timothy 3:16-17

What I can tell you as a foundation for this discussion is that I am convinced that the Bible is inerrant, authoritative and reliable on every subject it touches and that it serves as a reliable guide in many other areas it does not specifically address.

For example the Bible doesn’t talk about TV, movies, or the internet, but Psalm 101:3 does say, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.” That tells me I should be careful about what I purposely watch. So, while the Bible doesn’t say anything about modern electronic media, it does give us a timeless guideline on how to address them.

Beginning from the perspective of biblical inerrancy and authority is called presuppositional apologetics. I am going to presuppose a position (the Bible is inerrant) to base my argument upon – that homosexual conduct is contrary to a Judeo-Christian life of faith.

Suffice it to say, if you don’t hold to the inerrancy, inspiration, and authority of scripture, it doesn’t really matter what the Bible says any more than what the newspaper says. Many liberal Christians have a great respect for the Bible as literature. However, they seem to take a cafeteria approach to what they believe and what they don’t believe. That is, they take what they want to believe and leave the rest.

While that is a legitimate criticism of liberal theologians, I don't say it with a mean spirit. I have actually learned quite a bit from them. They often pose questions that conservatives are unwilling or afraid to ask, much less answer.

As Christians, if we hold to the inerrancy and inspiration of the Bible, the foundation of our thinking should be based on scripture and then we should interpret the culture in that light. Unfortunately, Christians have a problem with looking at what the culture says or does and then trying to figure out how they can integrate the culture with what the Bible teaches. Many Christians try to interpret the Bible based on the current culture or scientific understanding, both of which will change as time goes on. That’s completely backwards.

It comes down to the question of which is better: to try and live according to man’s changing opinions or to live according to God’s unchanging word? Matthew 7:24-27 records Jesus saying what He thought about people who built their lives on His teaching.

²⁴ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. ²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Building your life on something that constantly changes is just as dangerous as building a house, or any other structure for that matter, on shifting sand. The Bible might not give the answers that people want and it may not give the answers that are popular, but the old saying goes, “What is right isn’t always popular and what is popular isn’t always right.”

The Bible on Homosexuality

There are six passages in the Bible that deal directly with the issue of homosexual conduct. Often referred to by LGBT activists as the “clobber verses” because Christians tend to use these verses hatefully and hypocritically in condemnation rather than as a warning of love from Christ. The six passages are:

·         Genesis 19:1-11

·         Leviticus 18:22

·         Leviticus 20:13

·         Romans 1:26-27

·         I Corinthians 6:9-11

·         1 Timothy 1:8-11

Over the next few days, I will address each one of these passages and hopefully, I will be able to both help Christians understand how to apply them in love and help homosexuals understand the message of God that is so often obscured by the typical Christian presentation.