When anyone opens up their Bible, they begin a process of interpretation. Those who are same-sex attracted are simply told they are putting their own experience or feelings and "desires" over and above Scripture whenever they come to affirming conclusions about their design, or sexual orientation.
I have actually been told that my entertaining the idea of being same-sex attracted is a rejection of the Bible’s authority in my life. But iwhere does it say that "The Bible" is supposed to be the authority in my life? It doesn't. GOD is The Authority in my life. And so, the question is begged, is this a fair and accurate assessment? Are there such things as neutral interpretations? Is there one true or correct way to interpret the Bible? And if so, who determines that?
I ask because there are tens of thousands, if not more, of denominations, doctrinal divisions and religions in this world... they all sincerely and truly believe they have interpreted The Word correctly. Have they? If so, which ones? Or one? Or are any of them?
The Bible is a collection of writings which span more than a thousand years recounting the history of God’s relationship with the Hebrew and Christian people. It was written in several languages, embraces many literary forms, and reflects cultures very different from our own.
These are important things to consider for properly understanding the Bible in context. There are vast differences in doctrines between various Christian denominations, all of which use the same Bible. These differences have led some Christians to claim that other Christians are not really Christian at all!
Biblical interpretation and theology differ from land to land, building to building, college to college, seminary to seminary, church to church.
In asking, “What does the Bible say about homosexuality”, or more appropriately stated, “what does the Bible say about attraction to someone of the same sex,”? Our task is to explore what the relevant biblical passages on the topic meant in their original context and what they mean for us today. How have they been tainted or changed? Have they been tainted or changed?
More specifically, we are seeking to determine if the biblical writers were condemning specific practices related to sexuality in the ancient world, or were they indeed condemning all same-sex relationships of any kind for eternity?
Understand this, in order for any publisher to print/publish another Bible there are some rules that must be followed for legal purposes. A certain percentage of the content in any book being reprinted or republished must be changed; so words must be changed in order for the book to be published/printed. And likewise a certain percentage of content must be removed; removed - as in taken out totally.
With the above explained, there are six passages that address same-sex issues that are constantly and consistently used in battling the stand that one can be same-sex attracted and still be in a pleasing and acceptable relationship with GOD Almighty.
Given the amount of cultural, historical and linguistic data surrounding how sexuality in the cultures of the biblical authors operated it actually demonstrates that what was being condemned in the Bible is very different than a committed same-sex partnership, or even just being same-sex attracted; gay.
Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) is about violence... sexual violence. Also, let’s keep this in context, GOD Almighty had already decided HE was going to destroy Sodom & Gomorrah before the angels even went there. The men & women (Scripture says “all people from all quarters of the town”) that were there wanted to rape the two strangers, and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
There was much more going on in Sodom & Gomorrah. In The Bible, a Sodomite was NEVER used to describe a man that engages in same-sex sex, it was only used to refer to a resident of Sodom; much like Moabites were simply residents of Moab. Man has misused & misrepresented the word sodomite immensely.
The injunction that “man must not lie with man” found in Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, has been seen in different ways. One way coheres with the context of a society anxious about continuing family lineages and retaining the distinctiveness of Israel as a nation separated from the rest. Another way this passage is seen, by actual Jews & Rabbis, is the actual words in original text do not say or mean what they've been translated to say in many biblical translations. More on that in the blog entry for this passage.
Each time the New Testament addresses the topic in a list of vices (1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10), the argument being made is about the sexual exploitation of young men by older men, a practice called pederasty, and also fornication. It is just as sinful for two men to fornicate than it is for a man and a woman or two women. Fornication is fornication
And what we read in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans is a part of a broader indictment against idolatry and excessive, self-centered lust that is driven by a desire to “consume” rather than to love and to serve as outlined for Christian partnership elsewhere in the Bible.
I am not saying that the biblical authors were wrong. What I am saying, at a minimum, is that continued opposition toward same-sex attraction or relationships must be based on something other than these biblical texts because these biblical texts have been mistranslated, twisted, changed and altered tremendously.
Which brings me back to the fact that I was same-sex attracted all of my life and just because I fell victim to the hands of molesters and trauma doesn’t mean that my same-sex attraction was a result of being victimized.
I was same-sex attracted ever since I can remember. Before I was molested, or traumatized, into the false identity of gender confusion, promiscuity, perversion.... and pride, ignorance, malice, etc etc etc
All things considered, it is important to remember that throughout church history, new information about people and the world we live in have frequently led believers to reconsider some of their beliefs.
This is not a reason to distrust Scripture, but rather should serve as an invitation to everyone to truly wrestle with the contexts of the biblical writers and our own lived experiences; and to do some in-depth studying and research of their own when it comes to the original Scripture IN CONTEXT.
Same-sex desires, love, attraction & relations do exist. It is real. This is something I tried for 11 years to be free from and denied these things by putting them in the same category of transgenderism (identity confusion), sexual promiscuity and perversions.
There really is a balance that two men can love one another, be intimate, loving, romantic and dedicated to one another for life and still give GOD Glory while Honoring HIM in their words, deeds & actions.
Regardless of your own bias or thoughts & feelings about two people of the same sex being in a relationship; for 11 years I tried to make up excuses for the way I felt, accepted others' false interpretations of The Bible, I’ve given into peer pressure, leaned on my own misled understanding (and the understanding of others), and denied any possibility of a relationship in my life. I grew bitter and miserable after 11 years, at least on a personal level & basis anyways.
I had the joy of The Lord, yes, I did! But in my own space & life, I was not so joyful. Depressed is a word that easily comes to mind. I over ate & looked for things to compensate for what was missing in my life, only finding myself getting more & more bitter by the day.
The depression eased up tremendously ever since I realized that I could love another man and be in a sincere, intimate, loving, romantic relationship with a man and still walk in a right relationship with GOD Almighty.
When God gave me peace about that, I was grateful & humbled that I broke down and I bawled my eyes out. And even though I know it is from HIM, without any doubt, I am hesitant on some things because I have also programmed myself to believe what many others believe about something they truly do not understand.
The FATHER in Heaven gave me the Strength & Courage to stand up against the lgTQia+ Trans-Queer Gender Rainbow Cult AND to stand up against HIS Own (misled) People! HE gave me Strength & Courage to stand up against the false doctrines/teachings and let the many that have run from HIM, believing that HE hated them, know that they are Loved and that it is okay to be same-sex attracted and being gay is not a sin!
Below are very detailed IN CONTEXT examinations of the passages most commonly referred to when the topic of same-sex attraction comes up...
Leviticus Passages - READ BLOG HERE
Sodom & Gomorrah - READ BLOG HERE
1Corinthians & 1Timothy - READ BLOG HERE
Romans 1 - READ BLOG HERE .
I have actually been told that my entertaining the idea of being same-sex attracted is a rejection of the Bible’s authority in my life. But iwhere does it say that "The Bible" is supposed to be the authority in my life? It doesn't. GOD is The Authority in my life. And so, the question is begged, is this a fair and accurate assessment? Are there such things as neutral interpretations? Is there one true or correct way to interpret the Bible? And if so, who determines that?
I ask because there are tens of thousands, if not more, of denominations, doctrinal divisions and religions in this world... they all sincerely and truly believe they have interpreted The Word correctly. Have they? If so, which ones? Or one? Or are any of them?
The Bible is a collection of writings which span more than a thousand years recounting the history of God’s relationship with the Hebrew and Christian people. It was written in several languages, embraces many literary forms, and reflects cultures very different from our own.
These are important things to consider for properly understanding the Bible in context. There are vast differences in doctrines between various Christian denominations, all of which use the same Bible. These differences have led some Christians to claim that other Christians are not really Christian at all!
Biblical interpretation and theology differ from land to land, building to building, college to college, seminary to seminary, church to church.
In asking, “What does the Bible say about homosexuality”, or more appropriately stated, “what does the Bible say about attraction to someone of the same sex,”? Our task is to explore what the relevant biblical passages on the topic meant in their original context and what they mean for us today. How have they been tainted or changed? Have they been tainted or changed?
More specifically, we are seeking to determine if the biblical writers were condemning specific practices related to sexuality in the ancient world, or were they indeed condemning all same-sex relationships of any kind for eternity?
Understand this, in order for any publisher to print/publish another Bible there are some rules that must be followed for legal purposes. A certain percentage of the content in any book being reprinted or republished must be changed; so words must be changed in order for the book to be published/printed. And likewise a certain percentage of content must be removed; removed - as in taken out totally.
With the above explained, there are six passages that address same-sex issues that are constantly and consistently used in battling the stand that one can be same-sex attracted and still be in a pleasing and acceptable relationship with GOD Almighty.
Given the amount of cultural, historical and linguistic data surrounding how sexuality in the cultures of the biblical authors operated it actually demonstrates that what was being condemned in the Bible is very different than a committed same-sex partnership, or even just being same-sex attracted; gay.
Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) is about violence... sexual violence. Also, let’s keep this in context, GOD Almighty had already decided HE was going to destroy Sodom & Gomorrah before the angels even went there. The men & women (Scripture says “all people from all quarters of the town”) that were there wanted to rape the two strangers, and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
There was much more going on in Sodom & Gomorrah. In The Bible, a Sodomite was NEVER used to describe a man that engages in same-sex sex, it was only used to refer to a resident of Sodom; much like Moabites were simply residents of Moab. Man has misused & misrepresented the word sodomite immensely.
The injunction that “man must not lie with man” found in Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, has been seen in different ways. One way coheres with the context of a society anxious about continuing family lineages and retaining the distinctiveness of Israel as a nation separated from the rest. Another way this passage is seen, by actual Jews & Rabbis, is the actual words in original text do not say or mean what they've been translated to say in many biblical translations. More on that in the blog entry for this passage.
Each time the New Testament addresses the topic in a list of vices (1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10), the argument being made is about the sexual exploitation of young men by older men, a practice called pederasty, and also fornication. It is just as sinful for two men to fornicate than it is for a man and a woman or two women. Fornication is fornication
And what we read in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans is a part of a broader indictment against idolatry and excessive, self-centered lust that is driven by a desire to “consume” rather than to love and to serve as outlined for Christian partnership elsewhere in the Bible.
I am not saying that the biblical authors were wrong. What I am saying, at a minimum, is that continued opposition toward same-sex attraction or relationships must be based on something other than these biblical texts because these biblical texts have been mistranslated, twisted, changed and altered tremendously.
Which brings me back to the fact that I was same-sex attracted all of my life and just because I fell victim to the hands of molesters and trauma doesn’t mean that my same-sex attraction was a result of being victimized.
I was same-sex attracted ever since I can remember. Before I was molested, or traumatized, into the false identity of gender confusion, promiscuity, perversion.... and pride, ignorance, malice, etc etc etc
All things considered, it is important to remember that throughout church history, new information about people and the world we live in have frequently led believers to reconsider some of their beliefs.
This is not a reason to distrust Scripture, but rather should serve as an invitation to everyone to truly wrestle with the contexts of the biblical writers and our own lived experiences; and to do some in-depth studying and research of their own when it comes to the original Scripture IN CONTEXT.
Same-sex desires, love, attraction & relations do exist. It is real. This is something I tried for 11 years to be free from and denied these things by putting them in the same category of transgenderism (identity confusion), sexual promiscuity and perversions.
There really is a balance that two men can love one another, be intimate, loving, romantic and dedicated to one another for life and still give GOD Glory while Honoring HIM in their words, deeds & actions.
Regardless of your own bias or thoughts & feelings about two people of the same sex being in a relationship; for 11 years I tried to make up excuses for the way I felt, accepted others' false interpretations of The Bible, I’ve given into peer pressure, leaned on my own misled understanding (and the understanding of others), and denied any possibility of a relationship in my life. I grew bitter and miserable after 11 years, at least on a personal level & basis anyways.
I had the joy of The Lord, yes, I did! But in my own space & life, I was not so joyful. Depressed is a word that easily comes to mind. I over ate & looked for things to compensate for what was missing in my life, only finding myself getting more & more bitter by the day.
The depression eased up tremendously ever since I realized that I could love another man and be in a sincere, intimate, loving, romantic relationship with a man and still walk in a right relationship with GOD Almighty.
When God gave me peace about that, I was grateful & humbled that I broke down and I bawled my eyes out. And even though I know it is from HIM, without any doubt, I am hesitant on some things because I have also programmed myself to believe what many others believe about something they truly do not understand.
The FATHER in Heaven gave me the Strength & Courage to stand up against the lgTQia+ Trans-Queer Gender Rainbow Cult AND to stand up against HIS Own (misled) People! HE gave me Strength & Courage to stand up against the false doctrines/teachings and let the many that have run from HIM, believing that HE hated them, know that they are Loved and that it is okay to be same-sex attracted and being gay is not a sin!
Below are very detailed IN CONTEXT examinations of the passages most commonly referred to when the topic of same-sex attraction comes up...
Leviticus Passages - READ BLOG HERE
Sodom & Gomorrah - READ BLOG HERE
1Corinthians & 1Timothy - READ BLOG HERE
Romans 1 - READ BLOG HERE .