Jesus said WHAT?!

“If I have faith great enough to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. There are in the end three things that last: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13: 2, 13

In light of the Supreme Court win regarding same sex marriage, those of us celebrating the decision are coupling our delight with preparation for the backlash.  There will be memes and rants and church signs with clever sayings about God being the only judge, not the Supreme Court.  So, what would Jesus do?

Image courtesy of Bertasius Photography at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I think Jesus would be against hate crimes.  I think Jesus would be opposed to protest signs with foul language on them.  I think Jesus would disagree with those who say homosexuals should be killed or locked away.  I don’t think Jesus would be happy that so many LGBT teens have taken their own lives because they suffered more undeserved hate and anger and confusion than they could endure. 

That’s what I think.  I don’t know for sure what Jesus would think or do because Jesus never said anything about homosexuality.  Of course, there are many things Jesus never spoke about… The Bible does appear to condemn certain sexual acts.  But here’s the kicker:  a person can be gay without being sexually active.  Sexual behavior is a choice, but sexual orientation is not.  Same sex love is not entirely about sex, just like heterosexual love is not entirely about sex.  Think about it.  If the Bible only addresses certain acts, then how are people drawing the conclusion that God is against loving same sex relationships and/or that God views homosexual people as bad? 

Of course the next ‘logical’ argument against homosexuality is that it’s an ‘abomination’ because it is ‘unnatural’ and goes against Gods plan.  See God created man and woman, meaning that Gods design is strictly heterosexual and anything that deviates from that plan is ungodly.  For me that's reading between the lines.  Besides, aren't Christians supposed to be Christ-like?  The goal is not to emulate Adam and Eve.  Adam and Eve are the original sinners!  Christ never married.  Christ was celibate.  That’s the general consensus anyway. “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)  So, how do people reach the conclusion that being gay is against God simply because God created straight people first?!  Yes 'God made them male and female'.  That's how procreation works.  Nothing about this includes an exclusion of homosexuality.  

Image courtesy of Adrian van Leen at openphoto.net

Some would say that the Bible actually speaks positively towards same sex relationships.  Read the story of David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel, or Naomi and Ruth in where else? the book of Ruth.  "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me." (Ruth 1:17)  The story may be about friendship, or the women may have been in love.  We can’t know for sure based on the text but the women were certainly not condemned for their closeness, or looked down on for journeying together for a time without husbands or sons.

 

The point is that the Bible says very little about sexuality. A few extremists have taken what little it does say, drawn some pretty big conclusions, and used those conclusions to hate, discriminate, retranslate, and lead others through that gate.  Jesus never approved that message.  My hope today is that believers will pick up their Bibles and read them for themselves.  Anyone who believes that God feels that LGBT people are lesser human beings, or should be treated as such, is either misinformed or mislead.  Jesus taught love, acceptance, forgiveness, and closeness to God.

"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." 1 John 4:20

Just for fun, here's the debunking of those pesky 'Clobber Passage's haters use to convince folks that the Bible says gays are abominable:

* Genesis 1: 27 (OLD Testament) Yes God created them male and female.  Nothing here implies anything about the sexual orientation of future peoples.

* Genesis 19:(OT)  Sodom and Gomorrah is about hospitality, pride and rape, not homosexuality.  Ezekiel 16:49 will clear up any confusion.

* Leviticus (OT) is part of Mosaic Law which does not apply to Christians or Gentiles in general.

* Mark 10:6 is Jesus speaking against divorce, not sexuality.  Read the chapter, not just a verse or two.

* Romans 1: 26-27 is about idol worship and people turning their backs on God, not about people who are naturally oriented towards the same gender. Read the ENTIRE chapter.

* 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 has been retranslated over and over to become more and more homophobic.  Original translations use the word malakos, meaning "effeminate" or "soft," which refers to someone who lacks discipline or moral control. The word is used elsewhere in the New Testament and never with reference to sexuality.

* 1 Corinthians 6: 17-20 is Paul speaking against prostitution.  Read the verse in its full context, meaning read the whole chapter.

* 1 Timothy 1:8-11 has also been retranslated to include homosexuality in the list of offenses.  Original translations use the word arsenokoitai, referring to exploitive, unwanted, forcible sex between men.  It is the lewd that is detestable here.  Other mentions are slave traders, liars, and kidnappers.  

Thanks for taking the time to read the fine print.  Don't take my word for any of it.  Do your own homework and lots of it.  Peace & Love