Posted on 04/28/2010 8:18:53 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Jennifer Knapp, the Christian music artist and Dove Award winner who announced this month that she is gay, recently questioned the authenticity of Bible translations on the issue of homosexuality.
During her appearance on CNN’s Larry King Live on Friday, Knapp pointed out that believers rely on a text that is not in the original language. She said scholars have questioned the interpretation of the original Greek words that have been translated to homosexuality.
Though acknowledging that she is by no means a scholar or theologian, Knapp brought up the Bible translation issue to challenge those who cite the Bible as stating that homosexuality is a sin.
“Well, I think there is plenty of evidence in my exploration of my faith through the sacred text of the Holy Bible that I have definitely recognized that we are somewhat at the handicap of our own interpretation of a sacred text,” responded Knapp to King’s question on if she feels the Bible speaks against homosexuality.
“In the long run I don’t have the greatest deal of problems with it because I’m not the only person in the universe that has ever looked at a different interpretation,” she said. “We have advocates on both sides. It doesn’t make the truth any less the truth or love less love.”
The issue of Bible translation came up twice during the LKL show that featured Knapp, Pastor Bob Botsford of Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego, and former evangelical leader Ted Haggard, who was involved in a gay sex scandal in 2006.
Throughout the show, Botsford pointed to Scripture, which he believes to be inerrant, to argue that Knapp has succumbed to sin. He said while everyone is a sinner, the difference is that some people allow the sin to rule over their life and others try to overcome the sin.
“Allowing that to continue to reign over your life is not allowing Jesus Christ to be Lord,” said Botsford. “My role is to die to sin not to justify it.”
Knapp at one point during the show said she is not there to justify homosexuality, but to talk about her personal choice and path. She resisted the role of a gay activist and said Botsford has the right to teach his church his interpretation of Scripture on homosexuality. But she asked that he leave her out of it.
“I will repeat to you what I said to you backstage. That the next time that you want to talk about an example of what you mean to teach to your followers, please use the words this is the way this congregation and how we’re going to talk about homosexuality within our community, within our church,” said an apparently frustrated Knapp toward the end of the show. “And don’t use my name. Do not use my name as a substitute for the word homosexuality.”
Botsford said he felt compelled to speak out publicly about Knapp’s choice because she’s a person of influence in the Christian community. He said he does not want people to mistaken that what Knapp is doing is right.
Knapp recently revealed she has been in an eight-year relationship with a woman.
She has won four Dove awards and was nominated for a Grammy award. Her three albums combined have sold more than 1 million copies. She said she remained celibate for ten years while working in the Christian music industry.
But now, after a seven-year hiatus, she said she is “very comfortable” with her sexuality.
“I feel blessed to fully be who I am. I love being able to be a musician and part of that process of being a musician is being open and honest and to not feel like I have to lie or hide anything,” she said. “I don’t necessarily want to talk about it all the time, but I don’t have to hide it either.”
Knapp was diplomatic in her answers and appeared to restrain her emotions for the first half of the show. But toward the second half she expressed her frustration at Botsford, particularly when he said humans have perverted the love created by God.
“How am I perverted?” Knapp shot back.
At another point she told Botsford that he does not have the right to speak about her in the way he has publicly.
“I have spiritual leadership in my life. The pastoral counsel of those who are dear to me, who understand the scripture as sacred text and, Bob don’t interrupt me,” Knapp said. “And you are not that man in my life.”
Throughout the show, Haggard took a vague middle ground and refused to answer questions directly. He refused to give a clear answer when asked if homosexuality is a sin and whether it is a choice or not. The disgraced former megachurch pastor said both sides have valid points and that the most important thing is for people to have a personal relationship with God.
Knapp will release her new album in May. The album will not be marketed to a strictly Christian audience as her past works had been.
Frankly, I think most so-called “Christian” artists are only that, because they can’t make it in the secular world.
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Not at all. That may be true of some and certainly was in earlier years, but today there are some really strong artists (many crossover artists as well) who really do see this as ministry. Don’t judge artists you do not listen to.
Bingo!
Remember Katy “I Kissed a Girl, and I Liked It” Perry also started out as a “Christian” artist.
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Under Jennifer Knapp. Explains a lot IMO.
Yes. Probably because of family members or friends. Real love tells the truth.
Absolutely. Just gotta 'splain them scriptures away. /s
Unfortunately, there are more than a few FReepers that subscribe to her philosophy. [GB]
Yes. Probably because of family members or friends. Real love tells the truth. [DJ]
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My father was gay, my ‘adopted’ brother is gay, I grew up in a gay town, and I, in no way, support these views. In fact, watching how homosexuality has destroyed the lives of others, I am even more opposed and vocal about homosexuality and the gay agenda.
I know too much about it.
It was just a generalization. I used to listen to CCM about 10-12 years ago. Most of what I heard was only Christian in very broad and general terms. Certainly, there are a few out there who actually present the gospel in their music. Many were so vague I would not have known it was even Christian music if I were not listening to CCM station.
A performer I used to listen to was Kim Hill. I even bought her crossover Country album. I have several of her CCM albums and still listen to them. Unfortunately, she stopped recording and now only performs at "praise" events.
IOW she is trying to make God in the image of the homosexual.
but he added the pesky “go forth and sin no more”
Homosexuality is a behavior not an immutable trait.
Yes but you have a realistic view of the destructive lifestyle and what God says about it. Not everybody does.
RE: “nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders”
She does not consider herself an offender, just a homosexual, hence in her mind, she does not meet the above criteria ( I’ve heard a lot of gay people rationalize the above scripture to make it more palatable ).
RE: Katy “I Kissed a Girl, and I Liked It” Perry also started out as a “Christian” artist.
1) I didn’t know that. What label did she record in and what “Christian” album did she record ?
2) Katy Perry now dates a GUY. What is she, bisexual ?
Response: She has no choice but to deny Christianity condemns homosexual practices. By the way-(She overlooks the natural law condemnation of the practice.)
I think Jen-jen’s going to be a bit surprised. I know of two Christian radio stations that have removed ALL her music from their playlists and will refuse to play anything off the new project.
There are more than a few Christians who will not tolerate sin.
she is parroting the position of some who revise biblical Greek but she has no background in what she’s talking about. The Greek word in question is “arsenokoÃtÄ“s” which literally means man bed or man bedding with a man. In 1 Cor 6:9 it is preceded by the word “malakós” which means effeminate, which makes the phrase mean “a man who beds with a man as a woman”. Two thousand years of the greatest Greek scholars have translated this to mean homosexual and note that Paul is alluding to the OT Hebrew of Lev 19:13 which refers to a homosexual as a man who lies with a man as a woman. This is well settled and no amount of gay revisionism can change that Paul clearly condemns homosexuality just as the OT did.
Yes but you have a realistic view of the destructive lifestyle and what God says about it. Not everybody does.
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Sadly that is too true. Too many people let their feelings override God’s word.
Love the sinner, hate the sin can be difficult.
I stopped listening to secular music several years ago (garbage in garbage out) but that doesn’t mean I listen to all CCM artists.
I tend to like the more vocal, stronger gospel message ones (although I do like some crossover artists like Superchick) like Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Delirious?, Chris Tomlin, Kutless and Jeremy Riddle.
I do listen to a few secular artists that are known and vocal Christians (mostly Johnny Cash and Alice Cooper) but those are very few and far between.
Just because it is a Christian artist doesn’t mean they are ‘wannabes’ or talentless, and just because they are a secular artist doesn’t mean they have talent.
There is a lot of junk in the music industry on both sides.
Knapp is talented, but I will not support artists that do not agree with or that work against my faith. KWIM?
We do struggle with that. And anger. There's nothing wrong with anger. What can be wrong is HOW it's used. What action it spurs, whether it's Godly or from the flesh.
Romans 1:26-27
26For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
πάθη ἀτιμίας· – pathos atimia (dishonorable passions): Atimia used in this context means vileness or dishonorable. Pathos means passion or lust. Combined in this context with Atimia gives the idea of dishonorable passion or a vile lust. It’s a sexual terminology and nothing less than sexual terminology. No other interpretation but sexual in this context.
φυσικὴν χρῆσιν – phusikos chrēsis – (natural relations): Phusikos means physical, according to nature, that which is in-born. Chrēsis as a noun means to make use of, combined with phusikos in the context of Romans 1:26 literally means ‘the sexual use’ of. Again, no other interpretation in this context other than sexual.
ἀσχημοσύνη – aschēmosunē – (shameless acts) – literally men with men committing shameless acts with men. Every time (no exception) aschēmosunē has been used in the NT it means nakedness or shame. A literal translation is naked acts of shame. Its ἄρρενες ἐν ἄρρεσιν ἀσχημοσύνη - arsēn en arsēn aschēmosunē [Arsēn used with Arsēn = PLURAL again in this context]. Men with men committing shameless naked acts with one another - There is no other interpretation other than a sexual one without distorting the text.
1 Corinthians 6:9
9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
ἀρσενοκοίτης – arsenokoitēs – (translated ‘homosexual’ in the NASV, the NIV, and the ESV; ‘abusers of themselves with mankind’ in the KJV) - arsenokoitēs is a compound word which comes from ἄρσην [arsēn] a male, and κοίτη [koitē] a bed. (Arseno is the PLURAL of arsēn). Arsenokoitēs literally means males (PLURAL) together IN A BED. There is no other way to interpret men (PLURAL) together in a bed as anything but a sexual term describing homosexuality. Arsenokoitēs is also found in I Timothy 1:10 where ‘homosexual’ is again the translation in the NASV and the ESV; but translated ‘them that defile themselves with mankind’ in the KJV and ‘pervert’ in the NIV.
Anyone who is familiar with the Latin coitus interruptus knows that coitus refers to sexual intercourse. Coitus is derived from the Greek koitē. The gay 'Christian' would (and I use the term loosely since there is no such thing as a 'gay Christian' only a gay apostate) have you believe that koitē merely refers to ‘a bed’ or ‘a couch’ and has nothing whatsoever to do with sexual intercourse. Nothing could be further from the truth! Such teaching is a complete distortion of not only the Greek text, but Latin word forms as well. Koitē in every instance of its use referring to 'a bed' has sexual intercourse as the descriptive which is why 'coitus' comes from koitē.
I Timothy 1:10
10the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
πόρνος - pornos [from which we get the word pornography] – translated ‘whoremongers’ in the KJV, ‘immoral men’ in the NASV, ‘sexually immoral men’ in the ESV, and ‘adulterers’ in the NIV. Pornos [masculine noun word form] means a fornicator or sodomite. In the Timothy passage above its pornos arsenokoitēs (reference back to 1 Cor. 6:9 above again) or literally: A man [since the masculine form is used for pornos] a man who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse. So what we have together is Pornos arsenokoitēs which simply cannot be interpreted as anything other than multiple males having sexual intercourse.
What is really on full display with this 'Christian' artist is nothing more than apostasy. She has exposed herself as an Apostate Christian. Jesus said, "...you will know them by their fruits [deeds]." (Matthew 7:20) I'm more convinced than ever we are living in the end times.
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