Part of the difficulty in this dialog is, as seems to often be the case, a definition of terms. "Gay", which used to mean "happy", became "homosexual" and "homosexual", which used to be sexual interaction between two people of the same sex, became a lifestyle rather than an activity. You no longer had a "sexual preference"; you had an "orientation". Interestingly, we can see this very evolution of terms in the translations of the Bible. The King James Bible translates ἀρσενοκοίτης -- arsenokoitēs -- in 1 Cor 6:9 "abusers of themselves with mankind." Kind of a generic concept. A later translation, Young's Literal Translation, prefers "sodomites", a reference to a particular sexual act. Later still, the New American Standard uses "homosexuals" since the term "homosexual" was now available to the English language. (It wasn't used prior to until 1869.) But it changed its meaning again, so the most recent ESV uses the phrase "men who practice homosexuality" because the practice is in view here, not the modern "gay as a state of being" kind of thinking. So we've come up against these "gay Christian" debates. The question is already hazy, you see? Are you talking about the behavior or the same-sex attraction? Are you talking about the lifestyle or the act?
The Bible does not comment on the temptations of individuals that we use to define people today. It doesn't reference heterosexuals as a definition of a type of person, for instance. You are an adulterer not by virtue of any temptation to the deed, but by violating the moral law on the deed. A woman tempted to steal is not a thief until she steals. A man who thinks of lying but tells the truth is not a liar until he fails to tell the truth. The Bible defines people by their sins, not by their temptations. So "homosexual" in today's use of the term isn't really addressed in the Bible.
What is the biblical option? Is there anything in the Bible that suggests what a person of same-sex attraction should do in order to remain in line with biblical morality? I know. The answer most people who agree with Scripture about the morality of the act would expect would be "gay reparation therapy". Get free of the desire! Oddly enough, I have to admit I don't find it in my Bible. Well, of course I don't. They didn't think that way about that particular sin. To the mind of biblical writers, mankind is sinful by nature and we choose what actions we will make in response. So what does the Bible say on this?
Believe it or not, Jesus gives the answer to that question. In Matthew 19 the Pharisees tested Him with a question on divorce. Jesus's response provides a confirmed definition of marriage.
"Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." (Matt 19:4-6).It is unavoidable both in human history and in biblical text that the definition of marriage is "man and woman joined". But the question at hand is not marriage. The question is regarding sexual activity, specifically for the "homosexual".
But, as it turns out, the Bible is abundantly clear on biblical morality regarding sexual activity. It is only moral if it occurs in the marriage bed. Thus, it cannot be classified as moral outside of marriage, and marriage is defined as the union of a man and a woman. This rules out any sexual relations between people who are not married and, by definition, absolutely eliminates the possibility of moral sexual relations between two people of the same sex.
The disciples were struck with Jesus's response. They saw the enormity of it. They understood that divorce was right out. So they parried, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry" (Matt 19:10). And here was Jesus's response to them.
"Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it." (Matt 19:11-12)What is Jesus saying here? Jesus admits that it is austere. "Not everyone can receive this saying." Then He gives two options. You may marry and engage in genuine, godly, beautiful sexual union, or you can be a eunuch. Jesus defines three types of eunuch -- "from birth", "by men", or "made themselves". That is, a person can be born with the nature of celibacy, can be forced into celibacy by others, or can choose to be celibate "for the sake of the kingdom of heaven."
And there, dear readers, is the biblical option. If a person finds himself or herself with same-sex attraction, is a genuine Christian, and wishes to follow the instructions of Christ, there are options. He or she can take efforts to find and marry someone of the opposite sex (because marrying someone of the same sex is not marriage) and engage in the standard heterosexual practices (1 Cor 7:2-5). You might think of this as reparative therapy. Or, he or she can be a eunuch -- celibate. In this way and only in this way can a person (using current terminology) be classified as a "gay Christian". (Remember, Jesus said, "If you love Me you will keep My commandments.") I would classify a person who has same-sex attractions that he or she does not indulge just as Christian as a heterosexual who is not married and remains celibate. That seems to be the biblical position. There are options for the modern "gay Christian". Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. However, "God made me this way, so I should be allowed to violate the biblical standards on this" is not one of them.
1 comment:
Reparation therapy vs repentance. I think the latter is what is important. Giving up the sin. That doesn't require that one have a temptation eliminated for good, as I don't even know if that is possible or the pursuit of such practical. Indeed, one does not need to wait until the temptation is eliminated or suppressed for one to reject the behavior it compels and refuse to engage in it.
Post a Comment