Israelshuaigay

GayMarriageandtheBibleErnieThompson1.
WhatisGod'sintentforusTheCreationStory–Partners,FamiliesandMarriageGenesis2:18-2418ThentheLordGodsaid,"Itisnotgoodthatthemanshouldbealone;Iwillmakehimahelperashispartner.
"…21SotheLordGodcausedadeepsleeptofallupontheman,andheslept;thenhetookoneofhisribsandclosedupitsplacewithflesh.
22AndtheribthattheLordGodhadtakenfromthemanhemadeintoawomanandbroughthertotheman.
23Thenthemansaid,"Thisatlastisboneofmybonesandfleshofmyflesh;thisoneshallbecalledWoman,foroutofManthisonewastaken.
"24Thereforeamanleaveshisfatherandhismotherandclingstohiswife,andtheybecomeoneflesh.
a)Partners–"Itisnotgoodforthemantobealone"remindsusthatwearecreatedforrelationships,withGodandwitheachother.
The"suitablepartner"foragaypersonisbesomeoneofthesamegender.
b)OneFlesh=Family-ThesamelanguageislaterusedbyLabantospeakofhisnephewJacob:"Labansaidtohim,"Surelyyouaremyboneandmyflesh!
"(Gen.
29:13-14)Adam'sexclamation,"Thisatlastisnowboneofmyboneandfleshofmyflesh"andthefollowingobservationthat"thetwoshallbecomeoneflesh"isnotaboutanatomybutaboutkinship,creatingafamily.
c)PurposeofMarriage–Notjustchildren,butalsoself-givingandself-sacrificiallove.
SeeEphesians5:25-30,"Husbandsloveyourwives,justasChristlovethechurch,givinghimselfupforher…Forthisreasonamanwillleavehisfatherandmotherandbejoinedtohiswife,andthetwowillbecomeoneflesh.
Thisisagreatmystery,andIamapplyingittoChristandthechurch.
"Gaycouplesarecapableofself-giving,self-sacrificiallovewhichreflectsChrist'sloveforthechurch.
d)CelibacyisaGift–Scriptureisclearthatcelibacyisaspecialcallingandagift,andnotsomethingthatshouldbeimposedonallgayChristians.
Paulsaysin1Cor.
7:8-9,"ItiswellforthemtoremainunmarriedasIam.
Butiftheyarenotpracticingself-controltheyshouldmarry.
"Thecreationstoriespointtoourcapacityforrelationshipsandtocovenantalbondsthatformfamilies.
Thesepassagesdonotaddressdirectlyorruleoutthepossibilityofsame-sexcovenantalrelationshipswhichallowgayChristianstocreateafamily.
22.
WhatdoestheBibleprohibitTraditionalAnswer–AllhomosexualactivityNewAnswer–Allsexualimmorality(abusive,degrading,promiscuous,lustful,casual)SinofSodomandGomorrah–GangRapeandAbusingForeignersGenesis19:1-154Butbeforetheylaydown,themenofthecity,themenofSodom,bothyoungandold,allthepeopletothelastman,surroundedthehouse;5andtheycalledtoLot,"WherearethemenwhocametoyoutonightBringthemouttous,sothatwemayknowthem.
"6Lotwentoutofthedoortothemen,shutthedoorafterhim,7andsaid,"Ibegyou,mybrothers,donotactsowickedly.
8Look,Ihavetwodaughterswhohavenotknownaman;letmebringthemouttoyou,anddotothemasyouplease;onlydonothingtothesemen,fortheyhavecomeundertheshelterofmyroof.
"9Buttheyreplied,"Standback!
"Andtheysaid,"Thisfellowcamehereasanalien,andhewouldplaythejudge!
Nowwewilldealworsewithyouthanwiththem.
"ThentheypressedhardagainstthemanLot,andcamenearthedoortobreakitdown.
a)GangRapeandAbusingforeignguests-LaterBiblicalreferenceswhichpointbacktoSodomandGomorrahdonotidentifyhomosexualityastheprimarysinhere.
SeeIsaiah4:4-10(inequity,evil,corruption),Jeremiah23:14(adultery,lies,evil,wickedness)Amos4:1-11(oppressthepoor,crushtheneedy,eatanddrinktoexcess),Zephaniah2:8-11(prideandidolatry),Luke10:8-12(failuretowelcomedisciples),2Peter2:6-8(licentiousnessandlawlessness),andJude7(sexualimmoralityandunnaturallust).
b)HistoricalContextandtheDaughters–Thestoryalsoreflectsthehistoricalcontextinwhichthelifeofawomanwasnotunderstoodtobeasvaluableasthelifeofaman,andpartoftheoffenseofhomosexualityintheancientworldwasthatittreatedamanlikeawoman.
HolinessCode–BeingFaithfulinaCultureofIdolatryandDeathLeviticus20:13(AndParallelinLeviticus18:22)13Ifamanlieswithamaleaswithawoman,bothofthemhavecommittedanabomination;theyshallbeputtodeath;theirbloodisuponthem.
a)The"HolinessCode"–PurposewastoseparatethepeopleofIsraelfromtheirpaganneighborswhopracticedidolatry,immorality,andinjustice.
Therewasaparticularconcernaboutculticmaleprostitution.
See1Kings15:12,"Asaputawaythemaletempleprostitutesoutofthelandandremovedtheidolstheirancestorshadmade.
"b)AnAbominationDoesNotEqual"Sin"–TheOldTestamentlawscallawidevarietyofactivitiesan"abomination"thatwedonotconsidersinful.
TheissueisactingliketheGentiles.
c)HistoricalContextandtheLaw–TheOldTestamentlawsalsorequirebehaviorwhichwenolongerunderstandasGod'swill.
SeeDt.
22:28-29–"Ifamanmeetsavirginwhoisnot3engagedandseizesherandlieswithher,andtheyarecaughtintheact,themanwholaywithhershallgivefiftyshekelsofslivertotheyoungwoman'sfather,andsheshallbecomehiswife.
Becauseheviolatedher,heshallnotbepermittedtodivorceheraslongashelives.
"Theprincipleremainsimportant,toprotectvulnerablewomen,buttherulechangesinanewcontext–wedon'tmakeyoungwomenmarrytheirrapist.
JohnPiper,aconservativetheologian,haswrittenthat"TherearelawsintheOldTestamentthatarenotexpressionsofGod'swillforalltime,butexpressionsofhowbesttomanagesininparticularpeopleataparticulartime.
"(GodandtheGayChristianp.
93)ThelastingteachinginallthesetextsisthatwhenIsraelfollowsthewaysoftheworldarounditratherthanremainingfaithfultoGodtherewillbeseriousconsequences.
ThedeathpenaltyherereflectstheseriousnessofIsraelimitatingtheirneighborswhopracticeidolatry,violenceandinjustice–suchbehaviorbringsdeath.
Paul'sDescriptionoftheGentiles'SininRomans–Idolatryand"DegradingPassions"Romans1:22-3122Claimingtobewise,theybecamefools;23andtheyexchangedthegloryoftheimmortalGodforimagesresemblingamortalhumanbeingorbirdsorfour-footedanimalsorreptiles.
24ThereforeGodgavethemupinthelustsoftheirheartstoimpurity,tothedegradingoftheirbodiesamongthemselves,25becausetheyexchangedthetruthaboutGodforalieandworshipedandservedthecreatureratherthantheCreator,whoisblessedforever!
Amen.
26ForthisreasonGodgavethemuptodegradingpassions.
Theirwomenexchangednaturalintercourseforunnatural,27andinthesamewayalsothemen,givingupnaturalintercoursewithwomen,wereconsumedwithpassionforoneanother.
Mencommittedshamelessactswithmenandreceivedintheirownpersonstheduepenaltyfortheirerror.
28AndsincetheydidnotseefittoacknowledgeGod,Godgavethemuptoadebasedmindandtothingsthatshouldnotbedone.
29Theywerefilledwitheverykindofwickedness,evil,covetousness,malice.
Fullofenvy,murder,strife,deceit,craftiness,theyaregossips,30slanderers,God-haters,insolent,haughty,boastful,inventorsofevil,rebellioustowardparents,31foolish,faithless,heartless,ruthless.
a)Whatiscondemned–Idolatry,"degradingpassions","consumedwithpassion","shamelessacts,"wickedness,evil…"PauliscondemningRomansexualimmorality–culticprostitution,mentakingyoungboys,Emperorshostingorgies.
PaulisnotcondemningfaithfulChristianswhowanttomakealifetimecommitmenttoeachtoliveinself-giving,self-sacrificiallove.
b)Unnatural-Means"notaccordingtocustom.
"See1Cor.
11:13-16,"13Judgeforyourselves:isitproperforawomantopraytoGodwithherheadunveiled14Doesnotnatureitselfteachyouthatifamanwearslonghair,itisdegradingtohim,15butifawomanhaslonghair,itishergloryForherhairisgiventoherforacovering.
16Butifanyoneisdisposedtobecontentious—wehavenosuchcustom,nordothechurchesofGod.
"Thecustom,orwhatwasnaturalinthe4historicalcontext,wasforthemantobedominateandthefemaletobepassive.
Anythingelsewasconsideredunnatural.
Andsoallhomosexualactivitywasconsideredtobeunnaturalanddegrading.
JamesBrownsonsummarizesPaul'steachingaboutsexualityinRomans1saying,"Whenevereitherheterosexualorsame-sexbehaviorisdrivenbylustandlicentiousness,wheneveritviolatesthehonoranddignityofpersonsasthatdignityisunderstoodandexpressedinaparticularculturalsetting,suchbehaviorshouldberegardedasshameful.
…Itisquiteanothermatterhowever,whenthedesiretoloveandtobelovedbysomeoneofthesamesexisshamed.
…Toinsistthatmoderated,loving,same-sexdesiresareincapableofbeingsanctifiedistoattempttomakeequivalenciesbetweensame-sexdesiresandmoretoxicrelationshipswheretheysimplydonotexist.
"(p.
218-219)ViceLists–ExcessandExploitation1Corinthians6:9-119DoyounotknowthatwrongdoerswillnotinheritthekingdomofGodDonotbedeceived!
Fornicators,idolaters,adulterers,maleprostitutes,sodomites,10thieves,thegreedy,drunkards,revilers,robbers—noneofthesewillinheritthekingdomofGod.
11Andthisiswhatsomeofyouusedtobe.
Butyouwerewashed,youweresanctified,youwerejustifiedinthenameoftheLordJesusChristandintheSpiritofourGod.
1Timothy1:8-118Nowweknowthatthelawisgood,ifoneusesitlegitimately.
9Thismeansunderstandingthatthelawislaiddownnotfortheinnocentbutforthelawlessanddisobedient,forthegodlessandsinful,fortheunholyandprofane,forthosewhokilltheirfatherormother,formurderers,10fornicators,sodomites,slavetraders,liars,perjurers,andwhateverelseiscontrarytothesoundteaching11thatconformstothegloriousgospeloftheblessedGod,whichheentrustedtome.
a)"MaleProstitutes"–TranslationoftheGreekword"malkos"="soft"or"effeminate"–Mostcommonusageisnotregardinghomosexualactivitybutformenwhodidanythingtypicallyassociatedwithawoman.
b)"Sodimites"–TranslationoftheGreek"arsenokoitai"="sexualoreconomicexploitation.
"TheKJVtranslatesit"abusersofthemselveswithmankind"anda1729translationused"thebrutal.
"Itwasnottranslatedas"homosexuals"untilthemid-twentiethcenturywhentheconceptofhomosexualityasanorientationarose.
c)ExcessorExploitation-Theothervicesonthelistsaresomeformofexcessorexploitation.
Neitherwordunderstoodinitshistoricalcontextseemstopointtohomosexualityasanorientationortosexualpracticewithinacommittedlifelongrelationship.
53.
WhatDoesOurExperienceTeachUsJesus'TeachingonATreeandIt'sFruitMatthew7:15-2015"Bewareoffalseprophets,whocometoyouinsheep'sclothingbutinwardlyareravenouswolves.
16Youwillknowthembytheirfruits.
Aregrapesgatheredfromthorns,orfigsfromthistles17Inthesameway,everygoodtreebearsgoodfruit,butthebadtreebearsbadfruit.
18Agoodtreecannotbearbadfruit,norcanabadtreebeargoodfruit.
19Everytreethatdoesnotbeargoodfruitiscutdownandthrownintothefire.
20Thusyouwillknowthembytheirfruits.
"a)TheGoodFruitTest–MatthewVinessays,"Jesus'testissimple:ifsomethingbearsbadfruit,itcannotbeagoodtree.
Andifsomethingbearsgoodfruit,itcannotbeabadtree.
"(GodandtheGayChristianp.
14)Otherpassagespointtothesameprinciple,evenifitmeansrethinkingOldTestamentlaws,suchasacceptingGentilesintothechurchwithouttheOldTestamentrequirementofcircumcision.
(Acts15:8-10)ChristiansrejectedslaveryinspiteofpassagessuchasEphesians6:5,"slavesobeyyourearthlymasterswithfearandtrembling…"andColossians3:22,"Slavesobeyyourearthlymastersineverything…"becauseslaveryclearlyproducedbadfruit.
b)TheBadFruit–Ourcondemnationofallhomosexualpractice,andtheimpliedcondemnationofhomosexualsaspeople,isproducingbadfruit.
Youngpeoplewhoaregayareconfusedandashamed,drivingahighsuiciderate.
Parentssometimesfeeltheyhavetochoosebetweentheirchildandtheirchurch.
Familiesandchurchesaredivided.
Thechurchisseenasjudgmentalandanti-science.
c)ScriptureandExperience–JesusisclearthatGodourexperienceofGodatworkintheworldhelpsclarifythemeaningofScripture.
OurexperienceoffaithfulgaycouplescanhelpusunderstandtheteachingandtheprohibitionsofScripturemoreclearly.
ConclusionTheBibledoesnotcondemnhomosexualityasanorientationorprohibitgaysfromenteringintocommittedlifelongrelationshipswhichcreateafamilyandproducethegoodfruitofself-giving,sacrificiallove.
Rather,theserelationshipcanblessedandrecognizedasameansofgrace.
Foramoredetailedargument,seeGodandtheGayChristian:TheBiblicalCaseinSupportofSame-SexRelationshipsbyMatthewVines,TheBible'sYestoSameSexMarriage:AnEvangelical'sChangeofHeartbyMarkAchtemeierandBible,Gender,Sexuality:ReframingtheChurch'sDebateonSameSexRelationshipsbyJamesBrownson6FrequentlyAskedQuestions:1.
ArewechangingorignoringScriptureNo.
WearegrowinginourunderstandingofScripture.
Jesussaid,"Istillhavemanythingstosaytoyou,butyoucannotbearthemnow.
WhentheSpiritoftruthcomes,hewillguideyouintoalltruth.
"(John16:12)JesusChrististhesame,yesterday,todayandforever.
ButourunderstandingofChristwillforusgrows.
2.
IsthisaslipperyslopeDoesthismeananythinggoesNo.
Supportforgaymarriageisinsomewaysaconservativeapproach.
Itrecognizeandconservesthevalueofmarriageasalife-longcommittedrelationshipsbetweentwopeople.
Itsimplyrecognizesthattwopeopleofthesamesexcanenjoythebenefitsanddisciplineofbecomingfamily.
3.
Doesthismeanthatanythingthatcomes"naturally"isokNo.
Therearemanydesireswhichshouldberesisted.
Therearethingsthatcomenaturallywhichareabad.
WearesimplyrecognizingthatthenaturaldesireofgayChristianstofindapartnerandformafamilyisnotdisorderedorsinful.
4.
DowehavetocallitmarriageProbablyso,togivefullcivilrightsandreligiousrecognition.
"Differentbutequal"mightbearepeatof"Separatebutequal,"whichdidnotworkwell.
5.
WhataboutchildrenTherewillalwaysbeplentyofstraightcouplestoproducechildren.
Childrenareagood,butnotanecessarypartofmarriage.
Twoloving,marriedparentsraisingchildrenisagoodthing.
6.
ArewecavingintocultureratherthanfollowingGodNo.
Wearealwaysinfluencedbyavarietyofcultures.
Mostofourviewstowardshomosexualitygrowoutofthecultureinwhichwewereraised.
ThetraditionalviewisinfluencedbycultureasmuchasbytheBible.
Andthenewview,whileinfluencedbyculture,isnotdeterminedbyculturebutbynewunderstandingsofScripture.
WealsorecognizethatGod"alwayshadfriendsoutsideofIsrael,"andthathecontinuestouseoutsiderstocorrectthechurch.
BoththetraditionalandthenewviewbelievetheyarebeingfaithfultoGod'steachingthatcomesthroughScripture.
6.
HowcanwekeepthisissuefromdividinganddistractingthechurchWecannotignoretheissueofsame-sexmarriage,andwewillsometimeshavetomakedecisionsaboutit.
Butwecankeepitfromdividingordistractingourchurchbykeepingtheissueinitsproperperspective,andbylisteningcarefullyandsympatheticallytothosewithwhomwedisagree.
Andwecanfocusonthemanyandmuchmoreimportantareaswhereweagree–seekingtoloveGodandloveneighborandjoininGod'smissioninandtoourworld.