Tragically, the Bible has
been misused as a weapon against the GLBT community. In actuality,
the Bible says very little about homosexuality. The overwhelming
preponderance of ethical teaching in the Bible advocates for economic
justice, hospitality for the stranger, living compassionate lives,
and engaging in loving relationships. These ethical concerns should
lead the church to support full inclusion of GLBT folks in church and
society, and Park Hill Congregational UCC is a church that does just that.
Much of the anti-gay rhetoric
from churches emerges from fear and from misinformation about the
Bible. Regarding fear, the writer of 1st John declares that "God
is love" and goes on to say that "there is no fear
in love, but perfect love casts out fear." The writer
reminds us that we cannot say that we love God but hate our brothers
and sisters. The biblical norm of love calls the church to respond
in love rather than react in fear to GLBT sisters and brothers.
The first source of biblical
misinformation is the belief that the Bible addresses the issue of
sexual orientation. It doesn't. The concept of sexual orientation, be
it heterosexual or homosexual, did not emerge until the advent of
psychology in the nineteenth century of the Common Era. Sexual
orientation per se would have been an idea foreign to biblical
thought. There are however, a few passages (very few) that appear to
address same sex behavior. By and large, these passages have been misinterpreted.
One such passage is the story
of Sodom in Genesis 19, a disturbing tale of rape that says
nothing about loving sexual relationships, either heterosexual or
homosexual. Some interpretations of this passage claim it is a
diatribe against homosexual sex (the word "sodomy" derives
from this interpretation). But the Bible states that the "sin of
Sodom" was that it had "pride, excess of food and
prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and the needy." (Ezekiel
16:49) The "sin of Sodom," therefore, was lack of
hospitality and care for the poor, not sexuality.
Other passages are in the
book of Leviticus, 18:22, and 20:13. Here a "man lying
with a male as he would with a woman" is described as an
"abomination." Abomination is a term that connotes cultic
impurity rather than moral behavior. Few, if any, Christians adhere
to the cultic practices identified in the Levitical code, but some
conservative Christians seize upon these few verses about
homosexuality while ignoring other prohibitions such as eating
shellfish, planting fields with different types of seed, or wearing
clothing made of mixed fibers.
In the New Testament, what is
striking is that there is no recorded teaching of Jesus that deals
with homosexuality; it is not a topic addressed in the gospels. In
the Epistles, there are a very few passages. In 1st Corinthians 6:9,10
there is a list of those who will not inherit God's reign that
include "the greedy, drunkards, thieves, idolaters," and
according to some translations, "homosexuals." This is a
bad translation of two Greek words. A better translation suggests
that the sexual behaviors denounced in this passage are violent sex
and sex between adults and minors. In another passage, Romans 1:26,27,
Paul decries women and men who are "consumed with passion,"
for the same sex. He describes this as "unnatural." But
Paul also thought slavery and oppression of women were
"natural." Biblical views on slavery and sexism have been
rightly rejected as concepts of justice have matured. In like manner,
biblical views about homosexual acts need to be supplemented by
contemporary understanding of sexual orientation.
The Bible says very little
about homosexuality. What it does offer is guidance regarding human
relationships. The Bible calls us to "do justly, love kindly and
walk humbly with God" (Micah 6:8); it tells us to love
God and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39);
it implores "be compassionate as your loving God is
compassionate" (Luke 6:36). The biblical question, then, is
this: Is the relationship loving, just, non-exploitative, tender,
respectful, mutual, and compassionate? These are criteria for healthy
relationships, be they homosexual or heterosexual.
In keeping with these
understandings, Park Hill Congregational UCC welcomes all people. An
excerpt from our statement of Openness and Affirmation reveals our commitments:
Convinced that "in
Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor
female, for all are one...," (Galatians 3:28) Park Hill
Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Denver, CO declares
itself to be Open and Affirming of women and men all ages, races,
abilities and sexual orientations who desire to share in its services
and activities.
Back to Christian Nurture / Social Justice
