{"id":2849,"date":"2011-06-05T13:45:24","date_gmt":"2011-06-05T17:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/watchwomanonthewall\/?p=2849"},"modified":"2011-06-05T13:45:24","modified_gmt":"2011-06-05T17:45:24","slug":"homosexuality-and-the-bible%e2%80%93twisting-the-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2011\/06\/homosexuality-and-the-bible%e2%80%93twisting-the-truth.html","title":{"rendered":"Homosexuality and the Bible\u2013Twisting the Truth"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><span style=\"font-size: 13px;font-weight: normal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/photos2.fotosearch.com\/bthumb\/PHT\/PHT140\/PAA140000014.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"170\" height=\"120\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13px;font-weight: normal\">Biblical Christianity represents the greatest obstacle to the normalization of homosexuality. The reason for this is quite simple\u2013the Bible emphatically condemns all forms of homosexual behavior. If homosexual advocates are to succeed, they must either marginalize or neutralize the Bible as an authority.<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13px;font-weight: normal\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Different approaches are taken toward this end. For some, an outright rejection of biblical authority is explicit. With astounding candor, William M. Kent, at one time a member of a committee assigned by United Methodists to study homosexuality, declared that \u201cthe scriptural texts in the Old and New Testaments condemning homosexual practice are neither inspired by God nor otherwise of enduring Christian value. Considered in the light of the best biblical, theological, scientific, and social knowledge, the biblical condemnation of homosexual practice is better understood as representing time and place bound cultural prejudice.\u201d This approach is the most honest as found among the revisionists. These persons do not deny that the Bible expressly forbids homosexual practices\u2013they acknowledge that the Bible does just that. Their answer is straightforward; we must abandon the Bible in light of modern knowledge and sensitivities.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/photos3.fotosearch.com\/bthumb\/FSB\/FSB269\/x14947367.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"137\" height=\"170\" \/>The next step taken by those who follow this approach is to suggest that it is not sufficient for the authority of the Bible to be denied\u2013the Bible must be opposed. Gary David Comstock, Protestant chaplain at Wesleyan University charges: \u201cNot to recognize, critique, and condemn Paul\u2019s equation of godlessness with homosexuality is dangerous. To remain within our respective Christian traditions and not challenge those passages that degrade and destroy us is to contribute to our own oppression.\u201d Further, Comstock argues, \u201cThese passages will be brought up and used against us again and again until Christians demand their removal from the biblical canon, or, at the very least, formally discredit their authority to prescribe behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>\n<h2>RELATED POSTS<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Permanent Link: Homosexuality and the Bible\u2013Trusting the Truth\" rel=\"bookmark\" href=\"http:\/\/www.albertmohler.com\/2004\/04\/22\/homosexuality-and-the-bible-trusting-the-truth\/\">Homosexuality and the Bible\u2013Trusting the Truth<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Permanent Link: Homosexuality and the Bible: Telling the Truth\" rel=\"bookmark\" href=\"http:\/\/www.albertmohler.com\/2004\/04\/20\/homosexuality-and-the-bible-telling-the-truth\/\">Homosexuality and the Bible: Telling the Truth<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Permanent Link: Homosexuality and the Bible: A Real Debate\" rel=\"bookmark\" href=\"http:\/\/www.albertmohler.com\/2004\/10\/04\/homosexuality-and-the-bible-a-real-debate\/\">Homosexuality and the Bible: A Real Debate<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Permanent Link: A Trajectory Away From the Truth: How to Undermine the Bible\" rel=\"bookmark\" href=\"http:\/\/www.albertmohler.com\/2003\/08\/13\/a-trajectory-away-from-the-truth-how-to-undermine-the-bible\/\">A Trajectory Away From the Truth: How to Undermine the Bible<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Permanent Link: Homosexuality and the Bible \u2014 The Rejectionist Approach\" rel=\"bookmark\" href=\"http:\/\/www.albertmohler.com\/2007\/08\/29\/homosexuality-and-the-bible-the-rejectionist-approach\/\">Homosexuality and the Bible \u2014 The Rejectionist Approach<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.albertmohler.com\/2011\/06\/03\/the-church-and-the-clobber-scriptures-the-bible-on-homosexuality\/\">The Church and the &#8216;Clobber Scriptures&#8217; &#8212; The Bible on Homosexuality<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/photos3.fotosearch.com\/bthumb\/PLD\/PLD424\/px358099.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"113\" height=\"170\" \/>A second approach taken by the revisionists is to suggest that the human authors of Scripture were limited by the scientific immaturity of their age. If they knew what we now know, these revisionists claim, the human authors of Scripture would never have been so closed-minded. Victor Paul Furnish makes this case: \u201cNot only the terms, but the concepts \u2018homosexual\u2019 and \u2018homosexuality\u2019 were unknown in Paul\u2019s day. These terms like \u2018heterosexual,\u2019 \u2018heterosexuality,\u2019 \u2018bisexual,\u2019 and \u2018bisexuality\u2019 presuppose an understanding of human sexuality that was possible only with the advent of modern psychology and sociological analysis. The ancient writers were operating without the vaguest idea of what we have learned to call \u2019sexual orientation\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, Paul and the other apostles seem completely ignorant of modern secular understandings of sexual identity and orientation\u2013and this truth is fundamentally irrelevant. Modern notions of sexual orientation must be brought to answer to Scripture\u2013not vice versa. Scripture must not be called upon to defend itself in light of modern notions. Paul will not apologize to Sigmund Freud or the American Psychological Association, and the faithful church must call this approach what it is\u2013a blatant effort to subvert the authority of Scripture and to replace biblical authority with the false authority of modern secular ideologies.<\/p>\n<p>A third approach taken by the revisionists is to deny that biblical passages actually refer to homosexuality at all, or to argue that the passages refer to specific and \u2018oppressive\u2019 homosexual acts. For instance, some argue that Paul\u2019s references to homosexuality are actually references to pederasty [the sexual abuse of young boys], to homosexual rape, or to \u201cnon-committed\u201d homosexual relationships. The same is argued concerning passages such as Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22, and Leviticus 20:13. Yet, in order to make this case, the revisionists must deny the obvious\u2013and argue the ridiculous.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, some argue that the sin of Sodom was not homosexuality, but inhospitality. John J. McNeill takes this line, arguing that the church oppressively shifted the understanding of the sin of Sodom from inhospitality to homosexuality. The text, however, cannot be made to play this game. The context indicates that the sin of Sodom is clearly homosexuality\u2013and without this meaning, the passage makes no sense. The language and the structure of the text are clear. Beyond this, Jude, verse 7, self-evidently links the sin of Sodom with sexual perversion and immorality, stating, \u201cJust as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This verse is sufficient to indicate the severity of the Bible\u2019s condemnation of homosexuality. Leviticus 18:22 speaks of male homosexuality as an \u2018abomination\u2019\u2013the strongest word used of God\u2019s judgment against a human act.<\/p>\n<p>The most extensive argument against homosexuality is not found in the Old Testament, however, but in Romans 1:22-27, a passage which is found within Paul\u2019s lengthy introduction to his Roman letter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cProfessing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason, God gave them over to degrading passions; for the women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As Romans 1 makes absolutely clear, homosexuality is fundamentally an act of unbelief. As Paul writes, the wrath of God is revealed against all those \u201cwho suppress the truth in unrighteousness.\u201d God the Creator has implanted in all humanity a knowledge of Himself, and all are without excuse. This is the context of Paul\u2019s explicit statements on homosexuality.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/photos3.fotosearch.com\/bthumb\/FSD\/FSD300\/x12978383.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"133\" height=\"170\" \/>Homosexual acts and homosexual desire, states Paul, are a rebellion against God\u2019s sovereign intention in creation and a gross perversion of God\u2019s good and perfect plan for His created order. Paul makes clear that homosexuality\u2013among both males and females\u2013is a dramatic sign of rebellion against God and His intention in creation. Those about whom Paul writes have worshipped the creature rather than the Creator. Thus, men and women have forfeited the natural complementarity of God\u2019s intention for heterosexual marriage and have turned to members of their own sex, burning with an illicit desire which is in itself both degrading and dishonorable.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/photos2.fotosearch.com\/bthumb\/IMR\/IMR334\/IE161-006.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"170\" height=\"113\" \/>This is a very strong and clear message. The logical progression in Romans 1 is undeniable. Paul shifts immediately from his description of rebellion against God as Creator to an identification of homosexuality\u2013among both men and women\u2013as the first and most evident sign of a society upon which God has turned His judgment. Essential to understanding this reality in theological perspective is a recognition of homosexuality as an assault upon the integrity of creation and God\u2019s intention in creating human beings in two distinct and complementary genders. This text may be dismissed and ignored by those who reject its message, but it cannot be neutralized.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.albertmohler.com\/wp-content\/themes\/albert-mohler-v5\/img\/bio-mohler.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.\" width=\"110\" height=\"115\" \/><strong>Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.,<\/strong>serves as president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary \u2014 the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world.<a href=\"http:\/\/www.albertmohler.com\/about\/\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Source:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.albertmohler.com\/2004\/04\/21\/homosexuality-and-the-bible-twisting-the-truth\/\">http:\/\/www.albertmohler.com\/2004\/04\/21\/homosexuality-and-the-bible-twisting-the-truth\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Biblical Christianity represents the greatest obstacle to the normalization of homosexuality. The reason for this is quite simple\u2013the Bible emphatically condemns all forms of homosexual behavior. If homosexual advocates are to succeed, they must either marginalize or neutralize the Bible as an authority. Different approaches are taken toward this end. For some, an outright rejection&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":403,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[252,244,68,108,429],"tags":[1207,9350,1205,1206],"class_list":["post-2849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christian","category-perversion","category-political-correctness","category-religion","category-society","tag-albert-mohler","tag-bible","tag-gospel","tag-same-sex-behaviors-sinful"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Homosexuality and the Bible\u2013Twisting the Truth - Watchwoman on the Wall<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2011\/06\/homosexuality-and-the-bible\u2013twisting-the-truth.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Homosexuality and the Bible\u2013Twisting the Truth - Watchwoman on the Wall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Biblical Christianity represents the greatest obstacle to the normalization of homosexuality. The reason for this is quite simple\u2013the Bible emphatically condemns all forms of homosexual behavior. If homosexual advocates are to succeed, they must either marginalize or neutralize the Bible as an authority. Different approaches are taken toward this end. 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He continued that God wasn't important, wasn't real, and our parents just used God to impose restrictions on us because they were inadequate to parent effectively. I knew then I was going to be involved in a war and that I would have to be in Jesus Christ's Army. Even then, I knew the United States of America would cease to exist without the vast majority of its citizens voluntarily submitting to the Perfect and Good Laws of the Holy Bible. I am a woman who loves the Lord Jesus Christ. I am tired of seeing our LORD denigrated from the school house to the White House. I search the Internet for items that ought to serve as a warning to Americans and Christians all through America, but the nation seems to be sleeping. Wake up America! You are losing your freedoms, your children and your country. Wake up and help stop it!","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/author\/dcalvin"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/403"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2849"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2849\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4066,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2849\/revisions\/4066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}