The Bible...
The Bible has brought comfort, hope, healing, and redemption to many people in so many places... Sadly, it has
also (and too often) been used as a weapon to inflict pain and cause separation. Don't be fooled by false
arguments. Read some of the insights offered here and decide for yourself what this enduring book of wisdom has
to say about you and God, and love and life. Homosexuality and the Bible...
Bad News Or Good News?
Copyright 1994 Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.
Revised by Nathan L. Meckley...Originally published as:
'Homosexuality: What the Bible Does and Does not Say' ©1984
Is The Bible...Bad News Or Good News?

Lesbians and gay men face discrimination because of societal attitudes. Unfortunately, these attitudes are often
taught by the church. Sadly, the Bible is often used as a weapon to "bash" gays and lesbians. It is important to
remember that such hurtful things are not a reflection of Christ, or the way God wants the church to be, or even
what the Bible really says. They are the products of the fallible and imperfect human beings who guide these
churches. Ultimately, a Christian's personal faith should not depend upon a particular church or clergyperson, but
rather it should be solidly placed in Jesus Christ. In addition to the biased teachings of certain ministers, Scripture
sometimes presents a stumbling block for people who are both homosexual and Christian.

Thoughtful Bible study reveals that the Bible does have Good News for gays and lesbians, and it does not say
what you may have thought it did about homosexuals!

Understanding The Bible In A New Way... There are at least two important things to keep in mind when reading
the Bible. First, you must always consider its context. In order to understand any writing (whether it be a letter, a
speech, or even the Bible) it is necessary to understand its background. Think about who is speaking, to whom it
is addressed, why it written, and what the culture was like. In the case of Scripture, the cultural and social context
of Biblical times was very different from our own. For example, when the Bible says God commands humanity to
"increase and multiply," remember, among other things, this was addressed to Israel, a small, desert nation
surrounded by many enemies. They needed to "multiply" just to survive. Secondly, the Bible began as an oral
tradition and then was written in ancient languages (primarily Hebrew in the Old Testament and Greek in the New
Testament) over many centuries. It was copied and re- copied in the original languages, and then translated into
other languages. As anyone who speaks or reads more than one language will understand, translating requires
interpretation and personal judgement. Even with the best of intentions, translators and copyists are quite
capable of human error.
Homosexuality; Not A Sin, Not A Sickness;
What The Bible Does and Does Not Say"
by Rev. Elder Don Eastman
©Copyright 1990 Los Angeles Universal Fellowship Press