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!