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What does the bible say about homosexuality?
Leviticus 20:13 states, “If there is a man who lies with a male
as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a
detestable act; they shall surely be put to death." Their blood
guiltiness is upon them.”
Romans 1:27 states in part, “the men abandoned the natural
function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another,
men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own
persons the due penalty of their error.”
These are just two of the verses that Christians quote to say
homosexuality is against the will of God. It is a detestable act and
they should die. Indecent. A sin. Verses used to condemn. Used to
fuel the fire of hatred and discrimination. You are not normal.
Something is wrong with you. Used to convert the homosexual into a
heterosexual.
There is another verse that is virtually ignored by Christians.
It simply states the reality of homosexuality. It goes against the
prevailing belief of many Christians that homosexuality is a sin
because it does not condemn. The verse says, “For there are eunuchs
who are born thus from their mothers womb, and there are eunuchs who
are made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who are eunuchs for the
kingdom of heavens sake. Let those who can accept it, accept it.”
Matthew 19:12.
What does a eunuch have to do with homosexuality? The question
should be: What is a eunuch? According to Webster’s dictionary a
eunuch is a “castrated man, esp. one employed in a harem.” Then the
question that follows: What is castrate? “Remove the testicles,
deprive of the power of generation.” In other words, a eunuch is a
male that had his testicles surgically removed which makes it
biologically impossible for him to impregnate a female.
The definition of a eunuch does not make any sense in the first
part of Matthew 19:12. The verse said “For there are eunuchs born
thus from their mother's womb.“ How can a man who's testicles were
surgically removed be “born thus from his mothers womb?” “Born thus”
does not include anything that involves surgical alteration. “Born
thus” exclusively includes the way God made him. The way he developed
in the womb, physically and mentally. So who is the eunuch that is
“born thus?”
To find the eunuch that is “born thus” one needs to read the
chapter from the beginning. This section of the chapter talks about
marriage that is an intimate physical relationship traditionally
between a male and female. The last words used in many Christian
marriage ceremonies is found there, “what God has joined together let
no man separate.” It also talks about adultery and divorce. One is
the betrayal and the other the ending of an intimate physical
relationship.
Following this discussion the question is asked, “His disciples
said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is
better not to marry?” But he said to them, “all cannot accept this
saying, but only those to whom it has been given.” Matthew 19:10
and 11. Scholars tend to think that Matthew 19:12 speaks of people
apart from the normal heterosexual relationships because of the
question the disciples asked. The surgically altered eunuch is
outside the normal heterosexual relationship and is more aptly
explained by : “eunuchs who are made eunuchs by men.” Then there
are “eunuchs who are eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake.” Monks
and priests who have either taken a vow of celibacy and /or castrated
are outside normal heterosexual relationships. But who is the eunuch
that is outside normal heterosexual relationships and is “born thus
from his mother's womb?”
Homosexuality, say Christians, is a lifestyle choice. Homosexuals
say that it is not a lifestyle choice, it is the way God made them.
The way they were born. Since Matthew 19 begins with a discussion of
heterosexual intimate physical relationships and then tells of eunuchs
apart from normal heterosexual relationships there is only one
explanation of to the eunuch “born thus” refers.
As shown, the Bible contradicts itself on the subject of
homosexuality. Leviticus and Romans condemn while Matthew just accepts
it as a reality. What are Christians to believe about homosexuality?
In general, Christians believe the Bible is the literal word of
God. God inspired Moses to write Leviticus 20:13 and God inspired
Paul to write Romans 1:27. Who are Moses and Paul? Both men are
revered in Christianity as truly great men, but despite all they did
and wrote they are only two human, imperfect, mortal men.
In general, Christians attribute the words in Matthew 19:12 to
be the actual spoken words of Jesus himself. Who is Jesus? Jesus is,
in the Trinitarian view, the son of God, the Messiah, the Christ,
perfect, sinless, immortal, divine. “The word became flesh.” The
essence of God in the flesh. Three manifestations of God. Father,
son, and holy spirit. Jesus is the human embodiment in the trinity
of God. Then, in the Trinitarian view, the words of Matthew 19:12 are
words spoken by God himself.
My question to the Trinitarian: What words are you going to
believe? Whose words are you going to follow? The words of imperfect
mortal men or the words spoken by God?
What about the Christians who do not hold the Trinitarian view?
Whatever word or words used to describe who Jesus is, in the many
facets of Christianity, the authority of Jesus is greater than any
other figure in the Bible. He is the Messiah, the Christ, the son of
God, or the son of man. The question remains the same. Whose words
are you going to follow? “He who is able to accept it, let him accept
it.” Jesus understood the reality of homosexuality. Why not
Christians?
Judaism traditionally views homosexuality as a detestable act as
written in Leviticus. What would the Book of Matthew have to do with
Jews? The Book of Matthew is the transformation of Judaism to
Christianity. It clearly has the Judaic perspective until the end of
the book and diverges into Christianity. Chapter 19 is well before the
end of the book and not yet tainted by the transformation. Leviticus
was written, at least, two or three thousand years before Matthew.
This suggests a change in the Judaic view of homosexuality. Over the
last two thousand years this view has been lost or forgotten. A
change from the “detestable act; they shall surely be put to death”
to a more humane “born thus” view.
What about the atheist or agnostic who views homosexuality as wrong?
The only way to answer them is in a historical perspective. The
colonization and conquest of the Americas was primarily done with
technological superiority. Bows and arrows against guns and cannons.
The Europeans brought their Christian culture with them to the
Americas. In the process of exterminating the “savage” Indian, the
European colonists missed a culture that was superior in many ways.
For example, Indian culture lacked the extreme poverty that was seen
throughout Europe at the time. In many ways the Indian tribal culture
was more highly developed and compassionate than that of Europe.
While the European and American Christian culture saw homosexuality
as a sin, homosexuals among the American Indians were accepted and
valued members of the village.
Why do so many see homosexuality as wrong? Ignorance? Yes. To
promote an agenda? Yes. Male heterosexual aversion to homosexuality?
Again, Yes. If none of the preceding arguments convince you then you
will never be convinced. It is the narrowness of the mind that blinds
the truth. After speaking of the eunuchs Jesus said, “All cannot
accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given.”
Matthew 19:11.