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The Bible is a collection of writings which span more than a thousand years recounting the history of God's
relationship with the Hebrew and Christian people. It was written in several languages, embraces many literary
forms, and reflects cultures very different from our own. These are important considerations for properly
understanding the Bible in its context. There are vast differences in doctrines between various Christian
denominations, all of which use the same Bible. Such differences have led some Christians to claim that other
Christians are not really Christians at all! Biblical interpretation and theology differ from church to church. Biblical
Interpretation and Theology also change from time to time. Approximately 150 years ago in the United States,
some Christian teaching held that there was a two-fold moral order: black and white. Whites were thought to be
superior to blacks, therefore blacks were to be subservient and slavery was an institution ordained by God.
Clergy who supported such an abhorrent idea claimed the authority of the Bible. The conflict over slavery led to
divisions which gave birth to some major Christian denominations. These same denominations, of course, do not
support slavery today. Did the Bible change? No, their interpretation of the Bible did!
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...
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.
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
Homosexuality and The Church
The most beautiful word in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is "whosoever" . All of God's promises are intended for
every human being. This includes gay men and lesbians. How tragic it is that the Christian Church has excluded
and persecuted people who are homosexual! We are all created with powerful needs for personal relationships.
Our quality of life depends upon the love we share with others, whether family or friends, partners or peers. Yet,
lesbians and gay men facing hostile attitudes in society often are denied access to healthy relationships. Jesus
Christ calls us to find ultimate meaning in life through a personal relationship with our Creator. This important
spiritual union can bring healing and strength to all of our human relationships.
Not a Sin_Not a Sickness
For many centuries, the Christian Church's attitude toward human sexuality was very negative: sex was for
procreation, not for pleasure; women and slaves were considered property to be owned by males; and many
expressions of heterosexuality, like homosexuality, were considered sinful. Such tradition often continues to
influence churches today. Many teach that women should be subordinate to men, continue to permit forms of
discrimination against peoples of color, and condemn homosexuals. They say that all homosexual acts are sinful,
often referring to their interpretation of scripture. Other churches today are influenced by a century of
psychoanalytic thought promoted through a powerful minority in the field of medicine. They see homosexuality as
some kind of sickness. Although this view has now been soundly discredited by the medical profession, some
churches and clergy continue to be influenced by the idea. They say that homosexuals are "imperfect" and in
need of "healing."
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
The Good News...
The Good News is that, since 1968, when Metropolitan Community Church was founded, the emergence of a
strong lesbian and gay community, and the conclusions of new scientific studies on homosexuality have forced
the Christian Church to reexamine these issues. A growing number of biblical and theological scholars now
recognize that Scripture does not condemn loving, responsible homosexual relationships. Therefore, gay men
and lesbians should be accepted - just as they are-in Christian churches, and homosexual relationships should
be celebrated and affirmed!
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