This article appeared in the Grand Haven Tribune on August 8th, 2015 as a response to the Reverend Jared Cramer’s article the previous week. Homosexuals should not take this as an article to them, but, rather that it is from one church leader to another regarding the misuse of Scripture to condone homosexuality.
A rainbow cover won’t change what the Bible says inside. Chief Justice Roberts said the Supreme Court’s decision regarding same sex marriage “had nothing to do with [the Constitution].” That statement is true about the Bible as well. The Bible is not ambiguous about homosexuality like some would have you believe. The “six notorious passages” Jared Cramer referenced are clear that God considers such behavior sin – no matter how hard people try to make them say otherwise.
Romans 1 says engaging in any homosexual behavior (monogamous or not) is the result of rejecting God as the Creator and refusing to worship Him. No distinctions between “experimentation” and “orientation” are made.
The word malakos, translated as “effeminate” in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 describes men who take the passive role in a same-sex relationship. The word arsenokoites, translated “homosexual offender” means those who engage in any homosexual behavior. Insisting the verse only condemns male prostitution creates the illusion that loving, monogamous same-sex relationships are allowed. But, that idea is imposed on the text because Paul is talking about all homosexual behavior.
Leviticus 18 has a long list of prohibited sexual behaviors besides homosexuality: bestiality, incest, adultery and more. Using Cramer’s logic these behaviors should now be acceptable since they are all part of the same law which doesn’t apply anymore.
Jesus changed the food laws (Mark 7:19) but never those concerning homosexuality. God’s thoughts are no mystery since five other passages reaffirm the sinfulness of homosexuality. Still, Cramer says there are “only” six passages addressing homosexuality in the Bible, as if that reduces the clarity or weight of the Bible’s teaching. Only four verses condemn bestiality… you do the math.
These are regurgitated arguments from revisionists who have been dishonestly trying to manipulate the Bible since the eighties to support a homosexual agenda. In an 1987 article titled “Warning to the Homophobes” Steve Warren wrote: “Finally, we will in all likelihood want to expunge a number of passages from your Scriptures and rewrite others…eliminating preferential treatment of marriage and using words that will allow for homosexual interpretations of passages.” Reverend Mona West of Metropolitan Community Church wrote in her essay “The Power of the Bible”: “Each group [needs to] find a point, or points, of reference from which to read, reclaim, and re-appropriate the meaning of scripture for the community in liberating and affirming ways.”
Both Warren and West explain the Bible needs to be manipulated to support homosexuality. Such dishonest approaches are seen further in the recent Queen James Bible which flagrantly distorts Scripture to favor homosexuality. How one can feel validated by something so egregiously manipulated is baffling. We can respect someone who disagrees with the Bible. We cannot respect (or trust) someone who dishonestly twists its words.
The reality is that no passages affirm any kind of homosexuality, which is why we see these “yoga hermeneutics” – bending and stretching the Bible into strange positions until it means the opposite of what it clearly says. Out of context the Bible will say anything, as the Devil himself knows (Genesis 3 & Matthew 4).
The real problem here is that the homosexual community is being robbed of the amazing power of the Gospel to give life and transformation. Rather than leaders urging people to turn to Christ for salvation they are affirming people’s sin and leading them to God’s judgment. Many are getting a false security from being told that God condones their lifestyles (Proverbs 14:12). Absolutely God loves everyone – straight and gay. But His love is not expressed by affirming someone’s sin. His love was expressed in sending His Son to die for our sins (including homosexuality) so that we could receive salvation (Rom. 5:8). Only a “different Jesus” condones homosexuality (2 Cor. 11:4). For your own sake do not listen to me, Jared Cramer, or the Supreme Court; study the Bible for yourself. The Truth—Jesus Christ—will set you free (Jn. 14:6; 8:31).