Scholar to address biblical references to homosexuality

Houston Chronicle ^ | 12-4-04 | Tara Dooley

[Houmatt]

Documentary fans may know L. Michael White as co-writer of the 1998 Frontlineprogram From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians. As a scholar of the Bible and early Christianity, White has been asked to decipher what the Bible says about homosexuality, a divisive issue in some churches today. White, who will lecture in Houston next week on the topic, spoke with religion writer Tara Dooley about the "H-word," as he calls it, and the Bible. Here are excerpts from that interview:

Q: Well, what does the Bible say about homosexuality?

A: The modern category of homosexuality is not something that maps so neatly onto the ancient world. Although there are various concerns or discussions within the Bible — both the Hebrew Scriptures and in the New Testament — about all kinds of sexuality issues, what we think of as homosexuality isn't really something they talk about directly. Now there are certainly sex practices that are condoned or condemned in the Bible. So, in a sense, what I'm going to try to talk about is, in a more precise way, from a historical perspective, what those few passages in the Bible are really talking about in each case.

[Houmatt]

pingarooni

[mcg1969]

To me, the focus specifically on homosexuality misses the point. To me it is more appropriate to focus on the fact that the consensus of scripture is that sexual urges are to be addressed only within the bond of marriage. To me that covers all the bases.

[JudyinCanada]

This is true, sexual urges are to be addressed within the bonds on marriage.

Homosexuality, however, seems to be in different catagory than, say, fornication. The condemnations seem more severe. Although 100% forgiveable upon repentence, pronouncements appear much more harsh. Fornication is definately wrong, as in flee fornication, but homosexuality is called an abomination.

I have a friend who considers homosexuality not so wrong since Christ did not address it directly. She says the condemnation is Old Testament. This seems to be a common argument...as if The Sons disagrees with The Father.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Liberals see no obstacles. They simply redefine anything that stands in their way. They're sickos.

I suppose you can come up with many dreadful sins not talked about extensively in the Bible. Jesus never mentioned pedophilia. Maybe he thought it was okay. He didn't mention rape either -- or cannibalism

I do not know how much clearer you can get than completely destroying a place for their dreadful sin. And the liberal promotion of the idea that their sin was being inhospitable is just laughable. It was clearly the sin of homosexuality.

[Dust in the Wind]

"I'm going to try to talk about is, in a more precise way, from a historical perspective, what those few passages in the Bible are really talking about in each case.
Q: Few passages?
A: There are really only five passages.
Q: Where are those five passages?
A: The principal passages in the Hebrew Scriptures are limited to Leviticus 18 and 20, and then one passage in 1 Corinthians 6, one passage in Romans 1 and one passage in 1 Timothy 1. And that's it.

I think he needs to reread the book of Jude again at the least.

[xzins]

This seems to be a common argument...as if The Sons disagrees with The Father.

This is a recent argument and only common among the licentious left...a small but totally immoral group.

Jesus did indeed speak out against homosexuality and directly when he affirmed the just destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah for their particular sin.....homosexuality.

It is an abomination because it is evidence that the person rejects God....God who created nature is rejected when one intentionally chooses the unnatural.

[Conservative til I die]

I'm grateful that this arse wipe cleared up in one article Biblical translation problems that have been unsolved for 1960 years. Good grief.

[TenaciousZ]

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

2 Timothy 4:3

[Conservative til I die]

I have a friend who considers homosexuality not so wrong since Christ did not address it directly. She says the condemnation is Old Testament. This seems to be a common argument...as if The Sons disagrees with The Father.

A common argument that comes from the "Jesus as Cool Dude Hippie" ideal. Just tell them that Jesus Himself said that He did not come to overturn the law but to fulfill it.

[aimhigh]

The principal passages in the Hebrew Scriptures are limited to Leviticus 18 and 20, and then one passage in 1 Corinthians 6, one passage in Romans 1 and one passage in 1 Timothy 1. And that's it.

And that is enough.

Actually, there is one more that catches all sexual sins:

"It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit." 1 Thess 4:1-8

[Taxbilly]

Deuteronomy 22
5 A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this.

[RaceBannon]

(Deu 23:17 KJV) There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

(1 Ki 14:24 KJV) And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

(1 Ki 15:12 KJV) And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

(1 Ki 22:46 KJV) And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.

(2 Ki 23:7 KJV) And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

(Isa 1:9 KJV) Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

(Isa 1:10 KJV) Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

(Isa 3:9 KJV) The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

(Isa 13:19 KJV) And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

(Jer 23:14 KJV) I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

(Jer 49:18 KJV) As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.

(Jer 50:40 KJV) As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

(Lam 4:6 KJV) For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

(Ezek 16:46 KJV) And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.

(Ezek 16:48 KJV) As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.

(Ezek 16:49 KJV) Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

(Ezek 16:53 KJV) When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:

(Ezek 16:55 KJV) When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

(Ezek 16:56 KJV) For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,

(Amos 4:11 KJV) I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

(Zep 2:9 KJV) Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

(Mat 10:15 KJV) Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

(Mat 11:23 KJV) And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

(Mat 11:24 KJV) But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

(Mark 6:11 KJV) And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

(Luke 10:12 KJV) But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

(Luke 17:29 KJV) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

(2 Pet 2:6 KJV) And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

(Jude 1:7 KJV) Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

[VRWCTexan]

2Timothy 3:1-7 Also seems to address this type of attitude by many so called "modern day" Biblical revisionists:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

[attiladhun2]

An argument from silence is a common logical fallacy. Jesus did not mention embezzlement, so according to this argument He must, therefore, condone it. How ridiculous. Jesus actually affirmed the moral value and authority of everything in the Torah. The Torah is without equivication in condemning homosexuality. Paul in the New Testament reiterates both the moral value and authority of the Law of Moses. Thus, he condemns homosexuality and lesbianism in the strongest terms as being both against natual and divine law.

[Congressman Billybob]

Notice the contents of the referenced interview with this ecclesiastical fraud. Nowhere in the interview does either party address WHAT THESE BIBLICAL PASSAGES SAY. I conclude that the gentleman being interviewed is an apologist for homosexuality who wants to twist the biblical pages away from their actual meaning.

Tap dances are even more interesting when the dancer is (perhaps) light in his loafers.

Congressman Billybob

Click for latest, "Appointing Justices to the Supreme Court."

[EdReform]

Thanks for the ping!

What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda

Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1)

Myth and Reality about Homosexuality--Sexual Orientation Section, Guide to Family Issues"

[AnalogReigns]

The "logic" of these liberal scholars is ridiculous. I doubt the Bible speaks of murder specifically too many times either, but there is no ambiguity of what it is, nor whether it is condemned. I don't know of anywhere in scripture where child abuse is specifically mentioned...yet we know what it is, and that it is dispicable, in principle, from what we know in scripture. Perhaps the scholars would like to debate a supposed ambiguity in scripture of child abuse?

Jesus of course isn't mentioned of addressing all kinds of sins the Mosaic Law defines...but so what? He clearly stated He agreed and upheld Moses' Law.

It is true that the ancients didn't consider homosexual practicioners a "3rd sex" or other kinds of notions we have about it today...they (the godly at least) just thought of this perversion as another form of sinful behavior...and an especially bad one too j(called by God an "abomination"), since God destroyed a city due to it...(actually 2 cities) not to mention that the entire Hebrew tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out due to their homosexual practices.

[viaveritasvita]

Hey you! Thanks for the scripture -- copied it into my private archives for future reference.

<><

[RaceBannon]

That was a seah for SODOM, SODOMITE, and SODOMITES, and it leaves out the verse in Revelation, Genesis through Deuteronomy.

So, it isnt complete. :)

<><