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Is it wrong to be gay or homosexual?

In the New Testament, Jesus does not directly address the topic of homosexuality. The recorded teachings of Jesus primarily focus on love, compassion, forgiveness, and moral conduct. While Jesus emphasizes the importance of upholding traditional moral values, such as faithfulness in marriage, he does not explicitly mention homosexuality, or being “gay” in the Gospels.

Some scholars argue that Jesus’ teachings on love and acceptance could be applied to affirming LGBTQ+ individuals, while others believe that his silence on the issue implies adherence to the moral teachings of the Old Testament, which do include prohibitions against same-sex sex. However, not against same-sex Relationships. 

I think anti-gay churches in general speak from a place of ignorance, believing that all gay people must commit immoral, deviant acts, or have sex outside of monogamy. By the way, please read Genesis for the story of Abraham, Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Hannah, and Elizabeth. I’ve missed some names here, there were that many negotiating wives. if you think monogamy was widely practiced! It wasn’t! 

Or, if you want to be really disturbed, read up on Lot and his daughters.

A committed marriage between two people of the same sex, that is based on love, is neither an abomination, nor detestable. It’s crucial to recognize that the essence of Jesus’s teachings lies in love and understanding. Criticizing LGBTQ+ individuals from a place of ignorance only fosters division. We should redirect our concerns towards more pressing issues, like those who exploit the vulnerable or betray trust within relationships, and help those people to find healing. We should not be concerned with relationships based on mutual love and respect, no matter what genitals the people in the relationship have or do not have. 

The old testament, particularly Leviticus 18:22-24 is frequently quoted as being anti-gay and proves that homosexuality is wrong. I want to remind anyone reading this that Leviticus is full of old laws. For example Leviticus 19:19 – “You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material mixed together.” (NIV

Leviticus 19:27 – “You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.” (NIV)

Leviticus 12:2-8 also tells women who’ve given birth to boys for 33 days and given birth to girls for 66 days to stay at home and purify, then burn doves as an offering.

You know, last time I checked, nobody was giving recently postpartum mothers grief for showing up at church rocking their cotton-polyester blend nursing bras. I mean, can you imagine? “Sorry, ma’am, but that bra violates Leviticus 19:19. This is a holy place! You’re also violating Leviticus 12:2-8! Go home and sacrifice your doves!” Or maybe it’s more subtle as the Pastor says: “And to all you new moms, just a gentle reminder: according to Leviticus 12:2-8, it a sin not to purify yourself before returning to church.”

But, this example is much more gentle and funny than some churches might be with gay people.

We have to remember where in the bible Leviticus is. It’s after that big event where the Israelites make a golden calf. Picture this: Moses is up on Mount Sinai, having a one-on-one with the Almighty, receiving the Ten Commandments. Meanwhile, down below, the Israelites are getting fidgety. They’re like, “Hey, where’s Moses? Let’s make a little something to pass the time.” Next thing you know, they’ve created a golden calf statue, and they’re throwing a full-blown worship party (Exodus 32). Talk about impatience!

Well, you can imagine God when seeing this? Angry, surprised, shocked!

Fast forward a bit, and Moses is still the middleman between the people and God. Leviticus is basically God’s way of saying, “I brought you out of Egypt with incredible power, and THIS is what you do?! OK then, you can wander the desert for 40 years! Since you’re going to be wandering, I better make some strict rules so you don’t all kill yourselves and each other, because you lack common sense!”

Wandering the desert for 40 years? Probably not a lot of opportunity to clean yourself, and a lack of refrigeration, and order.

Keep in mind that the original Hebrew of Leviticus 18:22-24 did not have a word for homosexuality as we use it today, it was simply speaking on laying with a man as with a woman. Does that mean women shouldn’t lie with men? This is another issue of much of the bible being written for men during that time. Why? Because women were seen as less than men during that time. Also, maybe men just needed more instruction.

The negative Hebrew word used to banish such practices in Leviticus is To’evah – which can be translated in many different ways, from abomination to detestable. Some Hebrew and historical scholars explain that the word was likely referring to a social construct and acceptance rather than the way we view the word “detestable” today. It would have been more comparable to today’s generation that say something is “messed up”, “garbage” or “crap”.

The whole point of Jesus Christ as a savior was to fulfill the old laws and save humanity, not commit them to judgement for every sin. Those laws should be a reminder of how ridiculous it can get when you need God to give strict rules because you royally messed up. Luckily, Christ stepped in for us, and God loves us so much, it was by God’s will that Jesus was sent.

Some Christians will quote 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 as being anti-homosexual. The ancient Greek word that Paul used in his letters to Corinth (and Timothy! Like in 1 Timothy 1:8-11) that was translated to the word “homosexual” was actually not even a real word. The word was “Arsenkoties” which roughly translates to male bed, although it wasn’t an actual word at that point in the language. It is probably a word Paul made up to describe unnatural sexual practices. It may have been another word that was slang during it’s time. But one thing is for sure, if the bible is infallible, I have to say that God did an amazing and astonishing thing by inspiring Paul to use a word that did not exist, and not just one time! It further proves that God loves us, and doesn’t want us to condemn other people. I personally believe that description Paul used was describing people who are vulgar, promiscuous, and love sex more than connection. Paul used another word his letters to Corinth, which is often translated to “effeminate”. That word is “Malakos” which was sometimes used during that time to describe a man who left his wife. A man who was weak at that time in Roman history was someone who couldn’t keep his household in check.

On one historic note, the Romans lived in a sexual world where only the man who was using his “tool” was considered. Anyone being penetrated was not entitled to pleasure, and sex was not seen as intimacy, but rather only to satisfy the male drive. During this time pederasty was widely practiced (older male with a younger male as a type of sexual slave) and male as well as female prostitutes were common. let’s just say it’s a good thing times have changed! Only those people who were selling their bodies were seen as sinful, a male seeking out a prostitute was entitled to buy sex. Prostitution was not looked at as that man committing adultery, even if he were married. It should be no surprise that sex slaves were in high demand. Prostitution wasn’t just accepted; it was considered to serve a the good of the community. Adultery” (moicheia) did not mean adultery but was instead seen as a “crime against another man”, therefore prostitution wasn’t adultery because it wasn’t a crime against any other free man.

Yes! They had rather flexible definition of fidelity. And when it came to adultery, well, let’s just say they had a unique way of looking at things. Who knew history could be so… advantageous to elite men.

In the New Testament, Jude 1:7 is another interesting scripture quoted. This refers to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah engaging in “sexual immorality” or “unnatural desire” depending on the translation. The Greek word used in this verse is “ἐκπορνεύωσας” (ekporneusas), which comes from the word “πορνεία” (porneia), a term often translated as “sexual immorality” or “fornication.” It doesn’t specifically denote homosexuality in this context, but rather refers to various forms of sexual sin and depravity.

In summary, it is not homosexuality that God is angered by, it’s sexual depravity outside of a loving relationship. God is angered by those who use others for their own pleasure, without care for the other person. Sexual abuse, using sex to control and injure other people, or emotionally belittle others is sexual depravity and sexual immorality. Likewise, God would feel angry for those who allow themselves to be put in such situations and don’t respect their own bodies.

We should all be cautious of using God’s words against other people to control and injure other people, or emotionally belittle them, otherwise that sin we percieve in others can become our own.

Proverbs 12:18: “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (NIV)

I stand up to anti-gay beliefs and condemnation with the multitude of scriptures that tell us not to be judgmental: Matthew 15:18-20 “Christ teaches it is not external practices that make a person “unclean” but the evil that originates within their heart.” (NIV)

Likewise, 1 Samuel 16:7 “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (NIV)

Outward appearance can be the way others see our relationships, our family, and our household practices.

This verse further reminds us that while humans often judge based on outward appearances, God sees and understands the true condition of a person’s heart. It underscores the importance of sincerity and integrity in one’s inner being rather than how things might appear on the outside. How God see us surpasses the judgmental or often jaded opinions of other people.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (NASB)

I choose to end with a scripture in the book of Romans, the very book that inspired this post:

Romans 14: ^1-2 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.

^2-4 For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ’s table, wouldn’t it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn’t eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God’s welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help. (The Message)