A Newer Testament

Resurrecting the Truth About Christianity

 A Modern View On An Old Hatred. 

 By the Most Reverend Bruce J. Simpson (From Genre Magazine, June 1999)

One of the most difficult and contentious conflicts in Christianity has been, and continues to be, the homosexual and the Church. All one has to do is turn on the television and listen to any of the televangelists, or for that fact the local Sunday pulpit, and one can find a constant, impassioned theme on the evil and sinfulness of the gay and Lesbian population. These messengers of God's love are quite content to put the homosexual in the same category as murderers, adulterers, child molesters and worse. Why? What motivates not only right-wing fundamentalists but some mainline churches such as Roman Catholicism? From where does this vicious, self-righteous homophobia stem?  The Bible, of course, is the answer given by these pious holy men and women of God. Sacred scripture, both old and new, is the authority cited as justification for the persecution, discrimination and murder of homosexuals. An examination of the scripture passages most often used is required.  

Using the New American Bible, I draw from Genesis, chapter 19. This passage, which describes the destruction of the cities Sodom and Gomorra, is the main example from the Bible given by those who damn homosexuality. In this version, they interpret the key phrase as "intimacies," as in "Bring them out to us that we may have intimacies with them," The term in the original Hebrew is "yadha;' or "yada," meaning "to know" This term can be found in ancient Hebrew scripture 943 times and is used to signify sexual activity only about 10 to 12 times. Many scholars question the exact meaning of "yada" in this context. Did they wish to assault them? Or rob them? Or did they want to rape them? For if sex is what they wanted, it would not have been consensual sex but rather gang rape. Additionally, the fact that Lot would offer his two daughters to appease the mob tells us that these were not gay men but probably heterosexual men who used rape as a vehicle for domination, much as one does in prison. Throughout Western civilization, evidence indicates that by raping a man, emasculation occurs, putting him in the same category as women-which is the ultimate shame for a man. Frequently, soldiers not only raped the women on the losing side of a battle but the soldiers as well, completing the defeat.  

One must also keep in mind the laws of hospitality to strangers that were very important in those nomadic days. Many believe that the sin that destroyed Sodom was not homosexuality but the way in which the city's inhabitants treated strangers. But since hospitality dictates that you offer welcome to all strangers you encounter, the Church finds itself in an awkward position. Many churches are far too busy condemning gay people and driving them from the Lord's house, so they can hardly admit that inhospitality, abuse and offense to visitors were the grievous sins of the residents of Sodom.  

In Judges 19:15-29, one finds an extremely close parallel to the story of Sodom. Once again, the people of the town demonstrate a lack of hospitality, and most important, gang rape occurs. This time, a woman was raped and abused all night when the intended male victim was not brought out and handed over to the mob. When is the last time a story appeared in the media regarding a group of homosexual men raping a woman all night?  

If one looks to the New Testament, Matthew I 1:23-24, it is obvious to the most ardent homophobe that the sin of Sodom was failure to give protection, comfort and shelter, as in Luke 10:5-12. In Mark 7:10-11, Jesus talks again about hospitality. Further adding to the difficulty of this passage are the fears, prejudices and contemporary moral codes of those who translated the Bible through the ages. Scholars also note that it was not until the 12th century that the story of Sodom was interpreted to mean homosexuality.  

Finally, scholars tell us that the Hebrew word used to connote homosexual or bestial sex is "shakhabh." This term does not appear in the passage. In Leviticus 18:22, we find "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; such a thing is an abomination." In Hebrew, the word for abomination is "to'ebah," which is usually reserved for condemnation of idolatry, not sexual acts. Scholars believe that what was being condemned here with "to'ebah" was temple prostitution, which was common, and not gay relationships. Many people in those days took great pains to condemn and eliminate temple prostitutes, who were both male and female. Another example would be the word "arsenokoitai." In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (1952 Revised Standard Version translation), "arsenokoitoi" means homosexuals." The 1977 Revised Standard Version translates this word as 'sexual perverts." The 1989 Revised Standard Version translates the word as "sodomites." A review of other translations reveals the word to have meant "homosexuals," "sodomites," "child molesters," "perverts" or "people of infamous habits."  

Finally, the New American Bible translates "arsenokoitai" as "practicing homosexuals"! A 1st century text now reflects 20th century Roman teaching-i.e., to be a homosexual is not a sin, but to be a "practicing homosexual"... well, now, that is condemned!  

Another of the important words is the Greek "malakoi," which has been translated through the ages to mean "catamites," "the effeminate; "boy prostitutes" and "sissies." But until the 20th century, in Roman Catholicism the word meant "masturbators." As prejudices changed, so has the biblical translation.  

Many of the passages are tied to the Jewish Holiness Code, which forbade many things and has been abandoned by the 20th century Church with one exception: homosexuality.  For New Testament authority, St. Paul is brought out like a new fire truck on the 4th of July. Paul is a premier founding father of the Christian Church, and as such, his words hold great weight; but as Bishop Spong, Episcopal bishop of New Jersey, says, "They are Paul's words, not God's."  

In Romans 1:26-27, God is seen to have given men and women to disgraceful passions. This act was in reprisal for idolatry and failure to recognize God as who He is. So we have God as the causal connection to acts, which they then condemn! This does not make sense. Why would God cause men and women to engage in acts that were not of their nature as a punishment for ignoring His goodness?  

All of the passages that refer to homosexuality must be considered in the context in which they were written. Spong and others hint that St. Paul himself may have been gay and acted out in a self-hating way, which he could not accept in scripture, so no homosexual could be accepted. I'm not sure I believe this. For nowhere does Jesus say anything about gay people. His only comments on sexual morals are the ones He spoke to the prostitute arid the adulteress. If homosexuality were such a sin, does it not make sense that Jesus would have talked about it at least once? Nevertheless, Jesus makes no reference at all to homosexuality.  

One reason that the 12 tribes of Israel might have condemned homosexual activity was that it was sexual activity that failed to produce more Israelites. In a time when war was always a possibility-which really has not changed much-a constant supply of new warriors was needed.  

Truly, then, the Bible is subject to interpretation by those who study it. I believe the Bible to be the word of God in its very essence. Nevertheless, the imperfect hands and minds of men have filtered this essence down through the ages.  

As to the nature of gay men and women, I believe that homosexuals are created in the image of God. In Genesis 1:26-27, God says "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." God is an all-loving God and therefore He would not allow His children to "choose" homosexuality and then become victims their whole lives.  God's likeness includes black, white and every hue of color in between -male and female- so why not gay and straight? Would we limit God in His capacity to create his children to only what man believes to be correct? I believe it is now, and always has been, a naturally occurring phenomenon. St. Thomas Aquinas, writing on whether man has free will, states: "For the sheep seeing the wolf, judges it a thing to be shunned, from a natural and not a free judgment, because it judges, not from reason, but from natural instinct."  So also do I believe that gay people are attracted to one another by natural instinct. The capacity to love and worship and build lives together is not limited to just heterosexuals.  

I find it to be a moral imperative that the gay and lesbian community be ministered to. How can it be righteous to withhold the love and acceptance of the Lord from those who maybe different from the majority? Certainly, the ancient Jews saw Jesus as a radical and as someone who was different. Did not Jesus walk among those who were the despised of his time, spreading the good news and accepting them in love?  

If there is no foundation for excluding gay people from the Church, how can it be tolerated? How much pain and sorrow must be caused in the name of the "perfect love" before we shout "Enough!"?  Why must the self-righteous among us rant and rave about that which they know nothing?  

How can these "moral leaders" of the Church be so certain that gay people should be condemned for being who they are and have this condemnation be virtuous? How can the Roman Catholic Church condemn the use of condoms when the birth rate has exploded in Third World countries, adding to an already overburdened population? How can the Vatican condemn the use of condoms in an age when AIDS threatens the entire human race? It is not birth control that they should condemn; it is the sin of birthing children who cannot be fed, educated and given a decent life that should be condemned.  

I continue to be amazed at how hung up we are as a Church on the issue of sexuality in general, let alone homosexuality. We find pious, prayerful men through the ages castigating the homosexual and preaching with a believed certain knowledge that they are right. I reject these teachings. One has to be gay to truly understand what it is to be gay and to live life as a gay person.  

Not all gay sexual relationships are naturally good; neither are all heterosexual relationships. Both bodies of sexual activity can be abused. But for many, sexual maturation leads one to a life mate who is the idea that all should strive toward.  

If we accept the basic premise that we are of God, then our basic nature is good. I refuse to believe that our Lord rejects loving, caring gay relationships-both sexual and nonsexual, for it is possible to love a friend deeply without sex being part of that relationship. Some pastors will counsel their homosexual parishioners to be asexual-not have sex, that's the answer! I reject that notion also. The joy of sex and the intimacy it brings within a relationship can he a most fulfilling aspect of that relationship. Surely, God would not want to deny us the joy that this gift can bring simply because we are gay. This would be like putting a child in a candy factory and telling him not to touch the candy! Likewise to have two people in a loving relationship and not allow them to give of themselves that which is most personal is silly. Only a lifelong celibate could urge such a thing and not realize what he or she is asking.  

I believe that gay people are entitled to the same access to the Lord's house and the sacraments as heterosexuals. A truly gospel based parish would exclude no one. It should he a broad spectrum of the community, where all of the sacraments are made available to the gay community.  

The current debate over gay marriage both saddens and amuses me. For years, heterosexual society has condemned gay people for being promiscuous. Now they are fighting like hell to prevent two gay men or women from committing to each other for life. In an ideal society gay marriage should be allowed. But since we are not an ideal society, I support union ceremonies and take great joy in performing them.  

The Church through the ages has hurt hundreds of thousands of gay and lesbian people. It must stop! It is reported that 30 percent of youth who commit suicide do so due to their sexual orientation. This must stop!  

The love and acceptance of God must be brought to all people. The prejudice and hatred of the Christian right must be rejected and fought. Those who act out of ignorance must be educated.