First Draft of Video "Homosexuality: The Verdict is in - Not a Sickness! Not a Sin!"

HOMOSEXUALITY: THE VERDICT IS IN
Not A Sickness! Not A Sin!
Part I
Evidence from the Bible

Note: This is the first, rough draft of our next Soulforce Video. Please let me know exactly what you think after reading it. We still have time to make changes.
Mel White

INTRODUCTION

AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THERE IS A WAR RAGING BETWEEN PEOPLE OF FAITH WHO SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT HOMOSEXUAL PRACTICE IS A SIN AND OTHER PEOPLE OF FAITH WHO BELIEVE JUST AS SINCERELY THAT HOMOSEXUAL PRACTICE IS NOT.

SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY, STRANGER AT THE GATE: TO BE GAY AND CHRISTIAN IN AMERICA, MY PARTNER, GARY NIXON, AND I HAVE RECEIVED OVER 80,000 LETTERS (LIKE THIS PILE FROM THE LAST SIX WEEKS) FROM PEOPLE OF FAITH CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE OF BIBLE VERSES, UNSURE WHAT TO BELIEVE, DESPERATE, GUILT-RIDDEN, LONELY AND AFRAID.

I AM MAKING THIS SOULFORCE VIDEO SPECIFICALLY FOR THEM: LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDERED PEOPLE, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO ARE CONFUSED BY THIS BATTLE OF THE BIBLE. BUT WHOEVER YOU ARE, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US ON THIS JOURNEY.

LET'S START BY MAKING MY PREJUDICE CLEAR. I AM A GAY CHRISTIAN WHO BELIEVES WITH ALL MY HEART THAT GOD CREATED ME GAY AND LOVES ME EXACTLY AS I WAS CREATED.

BUT I DON'T SAY THAT ARROGANTLY OR TO ESCALATE THE WAR OF WORDS. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WHERE I'M COMING FROM AS WE BEGIN THIS HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE BIBLE VIDEO.

I KNOW THAT THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO USE THE SCRIPTURES TO PROVE WITHOUT DOUBT THAT I AM RIGHT ABOUT ACCEPTING MY HOMOSEXUALITY AS A GIFT FROM GOD. JUST AS THERE IS NO WAY FOR THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH ME TO USE THE SCRIPTURES TO PROVE WITHOUT DOUBT THAT I AM WRONG.

HOWEVER, SINCE SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE BUILD THEIR CASE AGAINST HOMOSEXUALITY ALMOST ENTIRELY ON THE BIBLICAL RECORD, I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE GAY FOLK TAKE THE BIBLE SERIOUSLY, TOO. ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU HEAR MY CASE AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF IF IT IS WORTHY.

HERE'S MY FIRST PREMISE:

MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WRITE ME, THOSE WHO THINK THE BIBLE CONDEMNS THEM, HAVE NEVER REALLY STUDIED THE BIBLE FOR THEMSELVES. THEY'VE HEARD THAT THE BIBLE CONDEMNS PRACTICING HOMOSEXUALS. THEY MAY EVEN HAVE READ A VERSE FROM I CORINTHIANS OR I TIMOTHY THAT HAS THE WORD HOMOSEXUAL IN A LONG LIST OF SINNERS. SO THEY'RE STUCK, AFRAID TO MOVE FORWARD INTO A NEW LIFE OR TO MOVE BACK INTO THE OLD. AND THE BIBLE SITS ON THEIR SHELF UNOPENED AN THREATENING LIKE A TERRORIST TIME BOMB TICKING THE HOURS AWAY.

DO YOU KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE BIBLE TO BE SURE THAT IT CONDEMNS HOMOSEXUAL PRACTICE. MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE BIBLE TO BE SURE OF ANYTHING.

A RECENT STUDY BY THE BARNA RESEARCH GROUP FOUND THAT OF 1,000 AMERICANS POLLED, 38% WERE CERTAIN THAT THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS WRITTEN A FEW YEARS AFTER JESUS' DEATH AND 10% THOUGHT JOAN OF ARC WAS NOAH'S WIFE.

SOME PEOPLE STILL GENUINELY BELIEVE THAT THE EPISTLES WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.

I HEAR IT EVERY DAY. THE BIBLE SAYS HOMOSEXUALITY IS A SIN WORTHY OF DEATH. AND WHEN I ASK THE PERSON WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY THAT, MOST OF THEM DON'T KNOW CHAPTER AND VERSE. THEY JUST KNOW THE BIBLE'S 'AGIN IT.'

IF YOU WANT ME EXECUTED FOR SLEEPING WITH MY PARTNER, GARY, FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS (AND THAT IS THE PENALTY MOSES DEMANDS FOR MEN WHO SLEEP WITH OTHER MEN) AT LEAST KNOW THE CHAPTER AND VERSE.

THE BIBLE MAY NOT SAY THAT HOMOSEXUALITY IS A SIN AT ALL. JESUS SAYS NOTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE JEWISH PROPHETS ARE SILENT ABOUT IT. THERE ARE JUST SIX OR SEVEN VERSES BY MOSES AND PAUL OUT OF MORE THAN A MILLION WORDS IN THE BIBLE THAT REFER TO SAME-SEX BEHAVIOR IN ANY WAY.

AT THE SIGNAL, WILL YOU TURN OFF THIS VIDEO, GET PAPER AND PEN, AND WRITE DOWN FROM MEMORY WHERE THOSE 6-7 BIBLICAL PASSAGES THAT PEOPLE USE TO CONDEMN HOMOSEXUALITY ARE LOCATED. AT LEAST WRITE DOWN AS MANY AS YOU CAN.

TRY TO INCLUDE THE BOOK, THE CHAPTER, AND THE VERSE. IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE PASSAGES, IF YOU'VE NEVER REALLY READ THEM SERIOUSLY, WRITE DOWN THE NAME OF ONE PERSON IN YOUR LIFE WHO TOLD YOU THAT THE BIBLE CONDEMNS HOMOSEXUALITY.

IF YOU'RE IN A GROUP OR EVEN WITH A FRIEND, WHILE THE VIDEO IS STILL OFF, TAKE FIVE MINUTES TO DISCUSS HOW YOUR VIEWS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE BIBLE WERE SHAPED. OK. WHEN YOU COME BACK, I'LL STILL BE HERE.

OK. WELCOME BACK.

WAIT A MINUTE, YOU DIDN'T TURN OFF THE VIDEO, DID YOU? YOU DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO REMEMBER THE VERSES OR THE PERSON WHO TOLD YOU THAT THERE WERE VERSES THAT CONDEMN HOMOSEXUALITY. COME ON. HUMOR ME. IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE FOR YOURSELF WHAT YOU KNOW OR DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE BIBLE AND HOMOSEXUALITY AND HOW YOU KNOW IT.

VIDEO BREAK #1.

FOR YOU WHO TURNED OFF THE VIDEO, THANKS FOR HUMORING ME. IN JUST A SHORT TIME, I WILL BE GIVING YOU THOSE 6-7 BIBLICAL TEXTS. IN THE MEANTIME,

HERE'S MY SECOND PREMISE.

AND THIS IS NO SMALL CONFESSION. I ADMIT HERE BEFORE YOU ALL THAT I COULD BE WRONG IN MY UNDERSTANDING OF THESE 6-7 BIBLICAL TEXTS. I COULD EVEN BE WRONG ABOUT ACCEPTING MY HOMOSEXUALITY AS A GIFT FROM GOD. DO YOU AGREE THAT I COULD BE WRONG? VOTE ON IT. HOW MANY OF YOU THINK MEL COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THESE BIBLICAL TEXTS?

THE SECOND HALF OF THIS SECOND PREMISE IS... YOU COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THEM, TOO. DO YOU AGREE? NO? YES? IF YOU AGREE THAT YOU COULD BE WRONG ABOUT EVEN ONE OF THESE CONTROVERSIAL 6-7 TEXTS, RAISE YOUR HAND. I SEE THAT HAND.

IF WE BOTH ADMIT WE COULD BE WRONG (AND I AM TOTALLY SERIOUS IN THAT CONFESSION) WE CAN HAVE A FRIENDLY, HELPFUL DISCUSSION THAT WILL LEAD US TO THE TRUTH.

IN A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT IN WEST VIRGINIA, AN ELEVEN YEAR OLD BOY INSISTED THAT THE WISEMEN WEAR FIRE HATS AS THEY APPROACHED THE MANGER. WHEN HIS TEACHER ASKED "WHY FIRE HATS?" LITTLE JIM BOB REPLIED, "MA'AM. DOESN'T THE BIBLE SAY THE WISE MEN CAME FROM A FAR?"

POOR JIMMY. HE LEARNED LIKE WE HAVE LEARNED THAT EVEN WHEN YOU LOVE THE BIBLE AND RESPECT ITS TEACHINGS, YOU CAN GET IT WRONG. BUT ONCE WE UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THE FACT THAT WE COULD BE WRONG, THAT THE PEOPLE WHO TAUGHT US THAT THE BIBLE CONDEMNS OR APPROVES HOMOSEXUALITY COULD BE WRONG, WE ARE SAFE TOGETHER.

HERE'S MY THIRD PREMISE.

THE BIBLE IS A DANGEROUS BOOK TO QUOTE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE COULD BE WRONG ABOUT ITS MEANING. OVER THE CENTURIES PEOPLE WHO GOT IT WRONG USED THE BIBLE TO DO TERRIBLE THINGS.

WILL SHAKESPEARE SAID IT THIS WAY, "EVEN THE DEVIL CAN SITE SCRIPTURE FOR HIS PURPOSE."

IN HIGH SCHOOL I WAS THE CAPTAIN OF MY BIBLE CLUB QUIZ TEAM. EVERY SUMMER WE MEMORIZED ONE WHOLE BOOK OF THE BIBLE. THE QUIZMASTER WOULD SAY A VERSE AND WE WOULD JUMP TO OUR FEET, ANTICIPATING THE QUESTION AND ANSWERING IT.

EPHESIANS 6:5 [MEL JUMPS UP] "HOW ARE SLAVES TO OBEY THEIR MASTERS? [PAUSE] "...WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING, IN SINGLENESS OF HEART, AS UNTO CHRIST." THE POINT GAINED, MY FRIENDS WOULD CHEER.

I TIM 2:9-15 [MEL JUMPS UP] "HOW ARE WOMEN TO BEHAVE TOWARD MEN?" [PAUSE] "LET WOMEN NOT USURP AUTHORITY OVER MAN BUT LEARN IN SILENCE AND SUBJECTION..." AGAIN, CHEERING.

IN THOSE DAYS I KNEW A THOUSAND VERSES BY HEART, BUT I HADN'T TAKEN SERIOUSLY THE MEANING OF THOSE VERSES.

IN SEMINARY AND GRAD SCHOOL, ALL THAT CHANGED. MY PROFESSORS WARNED ME AGAINST QUOTING SCRIPTURES THAT I DID NOT GENUINELY UNDERSTAND.

THEY INSISTED THAT I STUDY HEBREW AND GREEK TO SEE WHAT THE WORDS MEANT IN THEIR ANCIENT CONTEXT.

THEY MADE ME READ THICK BOOKS WITH FINE PRINT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST, OF EGYPT AND OF ROME, ABOUT THE CULTURES AND TRADITIONS THAT SHAPED THE JEWISH AND THE CHRISTIAN WORLDS.

THEY INSISTED, IN THE WORDS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL, THAT I "TEST ALL THINGS AND HOLD FAST TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD,"
(I TH.5:21).

AND IN THAT PROCESS, I WAS STUNNED TO LEARN THAT VERSES I HAD MEMORIZED AND QUOTED BACK DURING MY QUIZ TEAM DAYS, HAD CAUSED SUFFERING AND DEATH THROUGH THE AGES.

FOR EXAMPLE: VERSE IN EPHESIANS: "SLAVES OBEY YOUR MASTER WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING, IN SINGLENESS OF HEART, AS UNTO CHRIST."

FOR CENTURIES, THAT ONE LINE HAD BEEN USED TO SUPPORT SLAVERY AND ALL ITS HORRORS, AND I WAS JUST QUOTING IT THOUGHTLESSLY. PAUL'S WORDS ABOUT SLAVERY MAY HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE FOR HIS TIME, BUT THEY CERTAINLY WEREN'T APPROPRIATE FOR OURS.

OR THE VERSE IN TIMOTHY THAT I QUOTED BACK LIKE A PARROT: "LET THE WOMEN LEARN IN SILENCE AND SUBJECTION TO MAN..."

FOR 2,000 YEARS THAT VERSE HAD BEEN USED BY MEN TO KEEP WOMEN "IN THEIR PLACE," TO DESTROY THEIR FREEDOM AND TO LIMIT THEIR POTENTIAL. AGAIN, PAUL'S WORDS ABOUT WOMEN MAY HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE FOR HIS TIME, BUT THEY CERTAINLY WEREN'T APPROPRIATE FOR OURS. 7 MIN 5 SEC

I WAS SHOCKED. THE BIBLE WAS USED TO SUPPORT SLAVERY AND TO DENY WOMEN THEIR RIGHTS? SUDDENLY, I SAW THOSE STORIES LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE STORY OF NOAH AND HIS THREE SONS. AFTER THE ARK REACHED LAND, NOAH GOT DRUNK. WOULDN'T YOU? APPARENTLY, THE OLD MAN STRIPPED OFF HIS CLOTHES AND FELL INTO BED NAKED.

ACCIDENTALLY, HIS YOUNGEST SON, HAM, (WHO WOULD NAME HIS KID, HAM) SAW HIS DAD, NOAH, LYING NAKED IN HIS BED AND RUSHED FROM THE ROOM IN TERROR. WHY? BECAUSE LEVITICUS 18:6 SAYS, "IF YOU SEE YOUR FATHER NAKED YOU ARE AN ABOMINATION AND YOU SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM YOUR PEOPLE, ISRAEL."

ALERTED BY POOR, INNOCENT HAM, THE OLDER BROTHERS, SHEM AND JAPETH, BACKED INTO THE ROOM, BLANKET IN HAND, AND COVERED THEIR FATHER WITHOUT LOOKING DOWN.

NOAH SHOULD HAVE SAID, "HEY, SON, I'M SORRY I SCARED YOU LAST NIGHT. I DRANK TOO MUCH. FORGIVE ME." INSTEAD, HE SAYS: "SON, YOU KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT SEEING YOUR FATHER NAKED. THEREFORE, I PLACE THIS CURSE ON YOU AND ON YOUR CHILDREN AND ON YOUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN. FOR ALL GENERATIONS YOU SHALL BE SLAVES TO YOUR BROTHERS AND THEIR KIN."

OVER THE CENTURIES THAT FOLLOWED IT WAS A COMMON BELIEF THAT THE HEBREW WORD "HAM" MEANT "BURNT" OR "BLACKENED." BIBLE READERS CONCLUDED THEN THAT NOAH'S SON HAD BEEN TURNED BLACK BY HIS FATHER'S CURSE AND THAT CONSEQUENTLY HIS DESCENDANTS, ALL BLACK PEOPLE, WERE CURSED BY GOD TO BE SLAVES. 'CUSE IT SAID SO, IN THE BIBLE.'

DURING THE CIVIL WAR, THE REVEREND GILBERT HAVEN, AN ABOLITIONIST, DECLARED, "ONE TEXT ALONE IN THE WHOLE BIBLE CAN THEY BRING TO THE SUPPORT OF AFRICAN SLAVERY, THE STORY OF NOAH'S SON, HAM."

A CENTURY LATER, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ADDED, "THE GREATEST BLASPHEMY OF THE WHOLE UGLY STORY WAS THAT THE WHITE MAN USED IT TO MAKE GOD HIS PARTNER IN THE EXPLOITATION OF THE NEGRO."

THE BIBLE HAS BEEN MISUSED TO DEFEND BLOODY CRUSADES AND TRAGIC INQUISITIONS; TO SUPPORT SLAVERY, APARTHEID, AND SEGREGATION; TO OK THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN; TO PERSECUTE JEWS AND OTHER NON-CHRISTIAN PEOPLE OF FAITH; TO SUPPORT HITLER'S THIRD REICH AND THE HOLOCAUST; TO OPPOSE MEDICAL SCIENCE; TO CONDEMN INTER-RACIAL MARRIAGE; TO EXECUTE WOMEN AS WITCHES, TO SUPPORT THE KLU KLUX KLAN, TO MOBILIZE MILITIAS, WHITE SUPREMACY AND NEO-NAZI MOVEMENTS.

IN THE 16TH CENTURY, JOHN SELDEN POINTED AT TWO LATIN WORDS - "SCRUTAMINI SCRIPTURAS" - CARVED INTO A MARBLE WALL IN AN ANCIENT CHURCH IN ROME:. "THESE TWO WORDS," HE SAID, "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES," HAVE UNDONE THE WORLD."

AND SELDON WAS RIGHT. MISUSING THE BIBLE HAS DRENCHED THE PLANET IN BLOOD AND TEARS. CAN WE AGREE ON THIS THIRD PREMISE THAT THE BIBLE IS A DANGEROUS BOOK TO USE IN SUPPORT OF ANY CAUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ADMIT THAT WE COULD BE WRONG IN THE WAY WE UNDERSTAND IT.

HUMOR ME AGAIN. IF YOU ARE IN A SMALL GROUP OR WITH A FRIEND, TURN OFF THE VIDEO AND SHARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THIS PREMISE. HAS THE BIBLE BEEN MISUSED IN THE PAST TO CAUSE SUFFERING AND DEATH? HAS IT BEEN MISUSED IN OUR TIME, IN OUR COUNTRY? WHY DOES THAT HAPPEN? HOW CAN WE PREVENT IT?

VIDEO BREAK #2.

HERE'S A FOURTH PREMISE

THE BIBLE IS A BOOK ABOUT GOD, ABOUT GOD'S LOVE FOR THE WORLD AND THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. IT IS THE HISTORY OF GOD'S LOVE AT WORK RESCUING, RENEWING, EMPOWERING HUMANKIND. IT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE A BOOK ABOUT HUMAN SEXUALITY. DO YOU AGREE?

IN FACT, THE BIBLE ACCEPTS SEXUAL PRACTICES THAT WE CONDEMN AND CONDEMNS SEXUAL PRACTICES THAT WE ACCEPT. LOTS OF THEM!

HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES:

IF A BRIDE IS FOUND NOT TO BE A VIRGIN, THE BIBLE DEMANDS THAT SHE BE EXECUTED ON THE SPOT BY STONING.

IF A MARRIED PERSON HAS SEX WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S HUSBAND OR WIFE, THE BIBLE COMMANDS THAT BOTH ADULTERERS BE STONED TO DEATH.

DIVORCE IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN BY THE BIBLE IN BOTH TESTAMENTS AS IS REMARRIAGE BY DIVORCEES.

THE BIBLE FORBIDS A MARRIED COUPLE FROM HAVING SEXUAL INTERCOURSE DURING A WOMAN'S PERIOD. IF THEY DISOBEY, BOTH MAN AND WIFE SHALL BE EXECUTED.

WHEN A MAN DIED CHILDLESS, HIS WIDOW IS ORDERED BY BIBLICAL LAW TO HAVE INTERCOURSE WITH EACH OF HIS BROTHERS IN TURN UNTIL SHE BARES HER DECEASED HUSBAND A MALE HEIR.

HERE'S MY FAVORITE BIBLICAL COMMAND ABOUT SEX:
"IF A MAN GETS INTO A FIGHT WITH ANOTHER MAN AND HIS WIFE INTERVENES TO RESCUE HER HUSBAND BY GRABBING THE ENEMY'S GENITALS, HER HAND SHALL BE CUT OFF AND NO PITY SHALL BE SHOWN HER."

IN MODERN TIMES, WE WOULD PRAISE THE WOMAN FOR SAVING HER MAN, WHATEVER SHE GRABBED AND HOWEVER HARD SHE SQUEEZED IT. BUT NOT BACK THEN.

SO THE BIBLICAL AUTHORS CONDEMN SEXUAL PRACTICES WE NOW ACCEPT: INTER-RACIAL MARRIAGE (NOT OK), BIRTH CONTROL (NOT OK), DISCUSSING OR EVEN NAMING A SEXUAL ORGAN (NOT OK), SEEING YOUR PARENTS NUDE (DEFINITELY NOT OK).

AND THE BIBLE ACCEPTS BEHAVIORS WE NOW CONDEMN: SEX WITH A PROSTITUTE FOR THE HUSBAND (OK); POLYGAMY (MORE THAN ONE WIFE) (OK); CONCUBINES FOR THE KING (OK), IN SOLOMON'S CASE, THE WISEST KING OF ALL, 1,000 CONCUBINES (OK), SLAVERY AND SEX WITH SLAVES (OK), MARRIAGE FOR GIRLS, AGES 11-13 (OK), TREATMENT OF WOMEN AS PROPERTY (OK);

THIS SAID, CAN YOU ACCEPT MY FOURTH PREMISE THAT THE BIBLE IS A BOOK ABOUT GOD AND WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE A MODERN HANDBOOK ON HUMAN SEXUALITY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

VIDEO BREAK #3.

HERE'S MY FIFTH PREMISE:

IF THE BIBLE IS A BOOK ABOUT GOD FIRST AND ABOUT SEX ONLY SECONDARILY, THEN THE 6-7 TEXTS USED TO CONDEMN HOMOSEXUALITY ARE ALSO ABOUT GOD FIRST WITH ONLY SECONDARY REFERENCES TO SEX. RIGHT?

BOTH SIDES OF THIS DEBATE RISK MISSING THE PRIMARY TRUTHS ABOUT GOD IN THESE PASSAGES BY OUR ENDLESS DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER THEY REFER TO HOMOSEXUALITY OR NOT. OK?

IN OTHER WORDS THERE MAY BE MESSAGES ABOUT GOD AND GOD'S RELATIONSHIP TO YOU AND TO ME THAT WE ARE MISSING IN THESE TEXTS BY OUR ENDLESS DEBATE.

SO, LET'S ASK THE 6-7 TEXTS USED TO CONDEMN HOMOSEXUALITY TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS:

FIRST, HEY LITTLE TEXT, I WANT TO RUSH TO SEE WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY, BUT FIRST I WANT TO SEE WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT GOD.

AND ONCE I GET THE PRIMARY MEANING OF THE TEXT AND HIDE IT IN MY HEART, THEN I WANT TO WHAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT SAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A SHORT VIDEO BREAK AFTER EACH PASSAGE. IF YOU SPEND FIVE MINUTES OR SO DISCUSSING EACH VERSE, YOU'LL STILL BE OUT OF HERE IN 30 MINUTES, UNLESS YOU SPENT THE FIRST 20 MINUTES ON ANNOUNCEMENTS. THEN IT'S YOUR OWN FAULT.

#1.
GENESIS 1-2, THE CREATION STORY.

LET'S START 'IN THE BEGINNING...'

WHAT DOES THE CREATION STORY IN GENESIS 1-2 SAY ABOUT GOD?

I'M SO TIRED OF READING SIGNS CARRIED BY PROTESTORS THAT SAY, 'IT'S ABOUT ADAM AND EVE, NOT ABOUT ADAM AND STEVE.'

IN FACT, THE CREATION STORY IS AS IMPORTANT TO ADAM AND STEVE AS IT IS ADAM AND EVE. WHATEVER YOU THINK ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY, HETEROSEXUALS AND HOMOSEXUALS ALIKE NEED TO KNOW AND CELEBRATE THE TRUTH AT THE CENTER OF THIS STORY.

WE ARE NOT ACCIDENTS. WE ARE CREATIONS SHAPED BY A LOVING GOD. BETTER YET, THAT SAME LOVING CREATOR HAS MADE US CO-CREATORS THROUGH PRO-CREATION. READ THIS PASSAGE AND CELEBRATE THE MYSTERY OF SPERM AND EGG, OF MAN AND WOMAN, OF MOTHER AND FATHER, OF YOUR ORIGIN AND MINE. THIS STORY IS PRIMARILY ABOUT GOD, THAT GOD IS OUR FATHER AND OUR MOTHER, THAT GOD SHAPED US, AND THAT GOD SAW WHAT GOD HAD SHAPED AND SAID, "IT'S GOOD."

NOW WHAT DOES THE CREATION STORY SAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY?

PEOPLE USE THIS STORY TO DEFINE WHAT IS NATURAL TO PROCREATION, THAT A MAN AND A WOMAN TOGETHER ARE NECESSARY TO CREATE A NEW LIFE. THEREFORE, THEY ASSUME, THAT GAY OR LESBIAN COUPLES ARE "UN-NATURAL."

EVERY HIGH SCHOOL DEBATOR KNOWS THAT THIS IS ARGUING FROM SILENCE, THE WEAKEST ARGUMENT OF ALL. THERE'S NOTHING SAID HERE ABOUT THE LOVE I HAVE FOR MY PARTNER, GARY. BUT BOTH OF US ARE ENRICHED BY THE CENTRAL MEANING OF THE TEXT.

IN THIS POETIC STORY, MOSES TELLS THE WORLD THAT GOD IS OUR ORIGINAL MOTHER AND FATHER AND THAT OUR PARENTS PASSED ON GOD'S GIFT OF LIFE. I BELIEVE THAT THE CREATION STORY SAYS A LOT ABOUT GOD AND ABOUT PROCREATION AND NOTHING ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT TODAY. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

VIDEO BREAK #4.

#2.
WHAT DOES THE STORY OF SODOM IN GENESIS 19 SAY ABOUT GOD?

OFTEN WHEN I ARRIVE AT A COLLEGE OR A UNIVERSITY TO SPEAK, THERE ARE PROTESTORS CARRYING SIGNS THAT READ, MEL WHITE, SODOMITE. (HAS A NICE RING TO IT.) ACTUALLY I'M A CALIFORNIAN BUT THAT JUST CONFIRMS THEIR SUSPICIONS, I SUPPOSE.

ONCE AGAIN THIS STORY IS NOT PRIMARILY ABOUT SEX. IT IS PRIMARILY ABOUT GOD. THE CITY OF SODOM HAD BEEN DOOMED TO DESTRUCTION LONG BEFORE THE MEN AND BOYS OF THAT GREAT MIDDLE EASTERN CITY THREATENED TO GANG RAPE THE MYSTERIOUS VISITORS.

JESUS AND FIVE JEWISH PROPHETS ALL DESCRIBE THE SINS THAT GOT SODOM DESTROYED AND NOT ONE OF THEM MENTIONS SEX. EVEN BILLY GRAHAM DOESN'T MENTION SEX WHEN HE PREACHES ON SODOM.

EZEKIEL SAID, "THIS IS THE SIN OF SODOM; SHE AND HER SUBURBS HAD PRIDE, EXCESS OF FOOD, AND PROSPEROUS EASE, BUT DID NOT HELP OR ENCOURAGE THE POOR AND NEEDY. THEY WERE ARROGANT AND THIS WAS ABOMINABLE IN GOD'S EYES," (EZ.16:48-49).

TODAY, HETEROSEXUALS AND HOMOSEXUALS ALIKE DO WELL TO REMEMBER THAT WE BREAK GOD'S HEART WHEN WE SPEND ALL WE EARN ON OURSELVES, WHEN WE FORGET THE POOR AND HUNGRY, WHEN WE REFUSE TO DO JUSTICE OR SHOW MERCY, WHEN WE LEAVE STRANGERS AT THE GATE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF GAY FOLK WHO ARE SODOMITES (AND A LOT OF STRAIGHT FOLK AS WELL). MAYBE GOD SEES MOST OF US IN NORTH AMERICA LIKE GOD SAW THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF SODOM.

WE HAVE SO MUCH WEALTH. WE SQUANDER SO MUCH OF THE WORLD'S RESOURCES ON OURSELVES. WE WASTE AND WE WANT MORE. AND MILLIONS GO HUNGRY AND HOMELESS, NAKED AND SICK WHILE WE RUSH TO BUILD BIGGER HOMES, BIGGER CARS, AND BIGGER STOCK PORTFOLIOS AND RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.

WHATEVER SEXUAL TRUTH YOU CAN GET OUT OF THIS PASSAGE, BE SURE TO LEARN THIS TRUTH ABOUT GOD AS WELL. GOD HAS CALLED US DO JUSTICE AND LOVE MERCY AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH OUR CREATOR. SODOM WAS DESTROYED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY.

WHAT DOES THE STORY OF SODOM SAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY?

THIS ACT OF RAPING OR THREATENING TO RAPE AN ENEMY IS NOT ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY. IT'S ABOUT POWER. IT WAS COMMON FOR SOLDIERS TO RAPE THEIR FALLEN ENEMY TO ASSERT THEIR VICTORY AND TO DEHUMANIZE AND DEMEAN THE VANQUISHED. IT IS STILL HAPPENING TODAY.

THIS WEEK ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES THERE IS A PHOTO OF ABNER LOUIMA, THE YOUNG BLACK IMMIGRANT FROM HAITI WHO WAS HELD DOWN IN A RESTROOM BY OFFICER CHARLES SCHWARZ WHILE OFFICER JUSTIN VOLPE RAMMED THE BROKEN STICK INTO LOUIMA'S RECTUM. THESE TWO MEN AND THE THREE OTHER OFFICERS WHO COVERED UP THIS OUTRAGE WERE NOT GAY. THIS WAS NOT A HOMOSEXUAL ACT.

THE PHRASE "F-U-C-K Y-O-U" IS NOT ABOUT HAVING SEX. IT IS ABOUT OVERPOWERING AND HUMILIATING YOUR ENEMY. THE ONE FINGER GESTURE THAT OFTEN ACCOMPANIES THE PHRASE ISN'T AN INVITATION TO MAKE LOVE. IT'S A SIGN OF CONTEMPT AND RAGE AND IT REFERS AGAIN VERY SPECIFICALLY TO RAPE. HOMOSEXUALS OPPOSE GANG RAPE AS MUCH AS ANYONE. THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THAT THE STORY OF SODOM SAYS A LOT ABOUT GOD AND NOTHING ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT TODAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

VIDEO BREAK #5.

WHAT DO THE TEXTS IN LEVITICUS 18 AND 20 SAY ABOUT GOD?

IN LEVITICUS 20:13 YOU WILL READ THESE WORDS: 'A MAN WHO SLEEPS WITH ANOTHER MAN IS AN ABOMINATION AND SHOULD BE EXECUTED.' ON THE SURFACE, THIS COULD LEAVE YOU FEELING RATHER UNEASY. BUT JUST BELOW THE SURFACE IS A TRUTH THAT CAN SET YOU FREE.

LEVITICUS IS A HOLINESS CODE WRITTEN BY MOSES 3,000 YEARS AGO. BESIDES THOSE OTHER SEXUAL BEHAVIORS THAT COULD GET YOU KILLED THAT WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED MOSES' HOLINESS CODE INCLUDED PROHIBITIONS AGAINST ROUND HAIRCUTS, TATTOOS, WORKING ON THE SABBATH, WEARING GARMENTS OF MIXED FABRICS, EATING PORK OR SHELL FISH, GETTING YOUR FORTUNE TOLD BY AN ASTROLOGER, AND PLAYING WITH THE SKIN OF A PIG. (IF WE TOOK MOSES SERIOUSLY HERE, EVEN PLAYING FOOTBALL IS OUT!). SO WHAT'S A HOLINESS CODE? IT'S A LIST OF BEHAVIORS THAT PEOPLE OF FAITH DON'T APPROVE IN A SPECIFIC TIME AND PLACE.

AT TEN, I SIGNED A HOLINESS CODE WRITTEN BY THE WCTU (WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION) THAT I WOULD NEVER TASTE BEER, WINE, OR LIQUOR BECAUSE IT WOULD PLEASE GOD AND MY GRANDMOTHER. THAT'S A HOLINESS CODE.

WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WE EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS HAD A HOLINESS CODE, TOO. '' I DIDN'T DRINK, SMOKE, OR CHEW OR GO WITH GIRLS WHO DO." THAT LAST PART WAS ESPECIALLY EASY FOR ME. I OBEYED THAT EVANGELICAL HOLINESS CODE BECAUSE MY PARENTS SAID THOSE BEHAVIORS DIDN'T PLEASE GOD.

I SIGNED ANOTHER EVANGELICAL HOLINESS CODE IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT PROHIBITED DANCING. I WAS STUDENTBODY PRESIDENT AND YET I REFUSED TO GO TO THE PROM BECAUSE I HAD PROMISED NOT TO DANCE IN ORDER TO PLEASE GOD AND MY EVANGELICAL MOTHER, WHOSE EVANGELICAL MOTHER HAD MADE HER SIGN A HOLINESS CODE THAT SHE WOULDN'T GO TO DANCES EITHER. YOU KNOW WHY BAPTISTS DON'T BELIEVE IN PREMARITAL SEX, DON'T YOU? IT MIGHT LEAD TO DANCING.

JUST LAST SATURDAY, ON A LONG WALK WITH MY MOM, I FINALLY HAD THE COURAGE TO TELL HER, YOU KNOW, MOM, YOU WERE WRONG ABOUT DANCING. SHE SAID, I KNOW, MY MOTHER WAS WRONG, TOO. THANKS, MOM. I'M ALMOST 60. NOW YOU GIVE ME PERMISSION TO DANCE WHEN I'M TOO OLD AND TIRED TO TRY.

AN ABOMINATION, TO THE JEWS, WAS NOT A LAW, SOMETHING EVIL LIKE RAPE OR MURDER, IT WAS BEHAVIOR BY NON JEWS THAT JEWS THOUGHT UNPLEASING TO GOD. JEWISH SCHOLARS ASSURE MODERN JEWS THAT THE HOLINESS CODE OF MOSES NO LONGER PERTAINS TO JEWS. JESUS AND PAUL BOTH SAID THE HOLINESS CODE OF MOSES NEVER PERTAINED TO CHRISTIANS. IT IS RIGHT FOR PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER KEEP MOST OF THE RULES IN THAT ANCIENT HOLINESS CODE TO SELECT ONE OF THEM TO CONDEMN US?

EVEN IF THE OLD HOLINESS CODES NO LONGER APPLY TO US, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD IN THE WHOLE PROCESS. IN EVERY AGE, PEOPLE OF FAITH ARE RESPONSIBLE TO SET MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS THAT HONOR GOD AND CONVERSELY, WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE OUR OWN PREJUDICES ON THAT LIST.

INSTEAD OF USING ONE ITEM FROM THAT LONG OUTDATED LIST IN LEVITICUS 18 OR 20 TO CONDEMN HOMOSEXUALS, LET'S TALK ABOUT SETTING SEXUAL STANDARDS THAT PLEASE GOD FOR HETEROSEXUALS AND HOMOSEXUALS ALIKE.

NOW, WHAT DO THE LEVITICAL PASSAGES SAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY?

FOR MOSES, A MAN SLEEPING WITH ANOTHER MAN WAS AN ABOMINATION. BUT IT WAS ALSO AN ABOMINATION TO MASTURBATE (HAVE SEX WITH YOURSELF) OR EVEN TO INTERRUPT COITUS (TO HALT SEX WITH YOUR SPOUSE BEFORE EJACULATION AS AN ACT OF BIRTH CONTROL). WHY WHERE THESE ABOMINATIONS?

BECAUSE THE HEBREW PRE-SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE MALE SEMEN CONTAINED THE WHOLE OF LIFE. WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF EGGS AND OVULATION, IT WAS ASSUMED THAT THE WOMAN PROVIDED ONLY THE INCUBATING SPACE. THEREFORE, THE SPILLING OF SEMEN WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A CHILD WAS CONSIDERED MURDER. AND THUS, SPILLING THE SEED MADE YOU A MURDERER AND WORTHY OF DEATH.

THE JEWS WERE A SMILE TRIBE STRUGGLING TO POPULATE A COUNTRY. THEY WERE OUTNUMBERED BY THEIR ENEMY. YOU CAN SEE WHY IT WAS AN ABOMINATION TO EVEN RISK WASTING ONE CHILD. BUT IN THIS WORLD OF UNCONTROLLED POPULATION GROWTH, WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES IF SUCH VALUES STILL HOLD.

ONCE AGAIN, I AM CONVINCED THAT THE LEVITICAL PASSAGES SAY A LOT ABOUT GOD BUT NOTHING ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT TODAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

VIDEO BREAK #6.

THIS IS THE END OF THE FIRST HALF OF OUR TAPE. YOU MADE IT. WAKE UP THAT POOR GUY OVER IN THE CORNER AND TAKE HIM HOME. NEXT TIME WE WILL VISIT THE CHRISTIAN TESTAMENT AND SEE WHAT PAUL HAS TO SAY ABOUT SAME-SEX PRACTICES AND HOW HIS WORDS APPLY TO US TODAY. IN THE MEANTIME, IN THE VIDEO GUIDE YOU WILL FIND THE BIBLICAL TEXTS AND THE QUESTIONS WE'VE DISCUSSED. BYE FOR NOW.

A JOKE OR APPROPRIATE CLOSING LINE?

SO, YOU'RE BACK, MOST OF YOU. LET'S GET RIGHT AT IT. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE 4 TEXTS BY MOSES IN THE JEWISH TESTAMENT TO CONDEMN HOMOSEXUALS. LET'S LOOK AT THE THREE VERSES BY THE APOSTLE PAUL THAT CAUSE SUCH DIVISION AMONG US. REMEMBER, WE'RE ASKING FIRST, WHAT THE TEXT SAYS ABOUT GOD, AND SECOND, WHAT IT MAY OR MAY NOT SAY ABOUT SAME-SEX PRACTICE.

WHAT DOES ROMANS 1:26-27 SAY ABOUT GOD?

FOR OUR DISCUSSION, THIS IS THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL BIBLICAL PASSAGE OF THEM ALL. IN ROMANS 1:26-27 THE APOSTLE DESCRIBES PAGAN "WOMEN WHO EXCHANGE NATURAL USE FOR UNNATURAL AND PAGAN MEN LEAVING THE NATURAL USE OF WOMEN, WORKING SHAME WITH EACH OTHER."

THIS VERSE IS CLEAR. PAUL SEES WOMEN HAVING SEX WITH WOMEN AND MEN HAVING SEX WITH MEN AND HATES IT. LET'S GO BACK 2,000 YEARS AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY HE HATES IT.

PAUL IS WRITING THIS LETTER TO ROME FROM CORINTH WHERE GREAT TEMPLES ARE BUILT TO HONOR APHRODITE, ISHTAR, DIANA AND OTHER FERTILITY GODS, GODS OF SEX AND PASSION. INSTEAD OF THE ONE TRUE GOD THAT THE APOSTLE SERVES, THESE PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES CASTRATE THEMSELVES, PRANCE ABOUT WITH HUGE DILDOS, CARRY ON DRUNKEN SEXUAL ORGIES AND EVEN HAVE SEX WITH CHILDREN. ALL TO HONOR THE GODS OF SEX AND PLEASURE.

OH, DEAR. NOW I'M GOING TO SOUND LIKE A PURITAN. THIS TEXT IS PRIMARILY ABOUT GOD AND ABOUT GOD'S GAY AND NONGAY CHILDREN. HUMAN SEXUALITY IS A GIFT FROM GOD. OUR CREATOR CELEBRATES OUR PASSION. BUT WHEN PASSION GETS CONTROL OF OUR LIVES, WE'RE IN TROUBLE. WHEN WE LIVE FOR PLEASURE, WHEN WE FORGET THAT WE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN AND THAT GOD HAS GREAT DREAMS FOR OUR LIVES, WE MAY END UP SERVING THE FALSE GODS OF SEX AND PASSION. AND JUST LIKE THOSE PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES IN ROME, ABANDON THE ONE TRUE GOD AND NEVER REALIZE OUR OWN POTENTIAL.

DR. LEW SMEDES, AN IMPORTANT CHRISTIAN AUTHOR AND ETHICIST, DESCRIBES EXACTLY HOW THOSE PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES GOT INTO THAT MESS.

"THE PEOPLE PAUL HAD IN MIND REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND WORSHIP GOD AND FOR THIS REASON WERE ABANDONED BY GOD AND BEING ABANDONED BY GOD, THEY SANK INTO SEXUAL DEPRAVITY."

SO, WHAT DOES ROMANS 1:26-27 SAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY?

DR. SMEDES CONTINUES:
"THE HOMOSEXUALS I KNOW HAVE NOT REJECTED GOD AT ALL; THEY LOVE GOD AND THEY THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE AND HIS GIFTS. HOW, THEN, COULD THEY HAVE BEEN ABANDONED TO HOMOSEXUALITY AS A PUNISHMENT FOR REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD?"

"NOR HAVE THE HOMOSEXUALS THAT I KNOW GIVEN UP HETEROSEXUAL PASSIONS FOR HOMOSEXUAL LUSTS. THEY HAVE BEEN HOMOSEXUAL FROM THE MOMENT OF THEIR EARLIEST SEXUAL STIRRINGS. THEY DID NOT CHANGE FROM ONE ORIENTATION TO ANOTHER; THEY JUST DISCOVERED THAT THEY WERE HOMOSEXUAL. IT WOULD BE UNNATURAL FOR MOST HOMOSEXUALS TO HAVE HETEROSEXUAL SEX."

"AND THE HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE I KNOW, DR. SMEDES CONCLUDES, DO NOT LUST AFTER EACH OTHER ANY MORE THAN HETEROSEXUAL PEOPLE DO...THEIR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER IS LIKELY TO BE JUST AS SPIRITUAL AND PERSONAL AS ANY HETEROSEXUAL LOVE CAN BE."

THANK YOU, DR. SMEDES. KNOWING A LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, OR TRANSGENDERED PERSON MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE. ONCE YOU KNOW US, ONCE YOU GET PAST THOSE STEREOTYPICAL PHOTOS OF GAYS AND LESBIANS USED IN FUND-RAISING LETTERS AND TV SPECIALS, THEN YOU WILL AGREE WITH DR. SMEDES THAT THE SICK AND SINFUL SEXUAL PRACTICES IN THOSE ANCIENT TEMPLES WOULD BE AS CONDEMNED BY HOMOSEXUALS AS THE SEXUAL SINS OF GANG RAPE IN SODOM.

ONCE AGAIN, I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS PASSAGE SAYS A LOT ABOUT GOD AND NOTHING ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

VIDEO BREAK #6.

WHAT DO THE WRITINGS OF PAUL IN I CORINTHIANS 6:9 AND I TIMOTHY 1:10 SAY ABOUT GOD?

THESE ARE THE LAST TWO SIGNIFICANT PLACES IN THE BIBLE THAT REFER TO SAME-SEX PRACTICE. WE CAN COMBINE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SO MUCH ALIKE.

PAUL IS EXASPERATED. THE CHRISTIANS ARE FIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES IN EPHESIS AND CORINTH. (SOUND FAMILIAR?) IN CORINTH THEY'RE EVEN SUING EACH OTHER IN SECULAR COURTS. PAUL SHOUTS ACROSS THE DISTANCE, YOU ARE BREAKING GOD'S HEART BY THE WAY YOU ARE TREATING EACH OTHER.

LIKE ANY GOOD WRITER, PAUL ANTICIPATES THEIR FIRST QUESTION. "WELL HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO TREAT EACH OTHER?"

PAUL ANSWERS, "YOU KNOW VERY WELL HOW TO TREAT EACH OTHER FROM THE OLD LAW WRITTEN ON TABLETS OF STONE AND STAINED ON ANIMAL PARCHMENT"

THE OLD LAW, LIKE THE NEW, WAS CREATED BY GOD TO HELP REGULATE HUMAN BEHAVIOR. TO REMIND THEM, PAUL RECITES IN BOTH LETTERS EXAMPLES FROM THE OLD LAW THAT SHOW US HOW NOT TO TREAT EACH OTHER.

DON'T KILL EACH OTHER. DON'T SLEEP WITH ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE. DON'T LIE, OR CHEAT, OR STEAL. GOD HATES THESE THINGS AND WILL PUNISH THOSE WHO DO THEM. THE LIST GOES ON TO INCLUDE FORNICATORS, IDOLATERS, WHOREMONGERS, PERJURERS. DRUNKARDS, REVILERS, EXTORTIONERS, MALOKOIS AND ARSENAKOITAIS?

HERE'S WHERE MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS SAY HOMOSEXUALS ARE ON THE LIST. THOSE TWO GREEK WORDS MALOKOI AND ARSENAKOITAI HAVE CONFUSED THE CHURCH UNTIL THIS VERY DAY. WE'LL GET TO THEM LATER. IN THE MEANTIME, PAUL REMINDS THEM THAT THE OLD LAW ONLY LISTS A FEW OF THE BEHAVIORS THAT BREAK GOD'S HEART. WE'RE ALL SINNERS HE SAYS.

IN FACT, HERE'S WHERE PAUL STATES THAT HE IS THE CHIEF SINNER OF THEM ALL. NOT JUST BECAUSE HIS SINS ARE ON THE LIST, BUT BECAUSE HE HAS BROKEN THE NEW LAW AS WELL. THE LAW THAT JESUS CAME TO BRING THE WORLD, THE LAW OF LOVE. PAUL SAYS YOU'RE ARGUING ABOUT THE LAW, WHAT IS PERMISSIBLE AND WHAT IS NOT.

"BUT I TELL YOU THAT THE REAL REASON BEHIND THE OLD LAW IS STATED IN THE LAW OF CHRIST...WHAT GOD WANTS FROM US IS NOT STRICT ADHERENCE TO A LIST OF LAWS, BUT A PURE HEART, AND A GOOD CONSCIENCE, AND FAITH THAT ISN'T PHONY (I Tim 1:5).

THAT'S THE LESSON WE ALL NEED TO LEARN FROM THESE TEXTS, HOMO, HETERO, BI, OR TRANS, THAT GOD DOESN'T WANT US SQUABBLING OVER WHO IS IN AND WHO IS OUT. GOD WANTS US TO LOVE EACH OTHER AND TO TRUST GOD FOR THE REST.

SO, WHAT DO THESE TWO TEXTS SAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY? ARE WE ON THAT LIST OF SINNERS WHO WILL BE EXCLUDED BY GOD? THAT ALL DEPENDS ON THE WAY YOU TRANSLATE THOSE TWO GREEK WORDS.

WE KNOW THAT IN FIRST CENTURY GREEK MALAOKOI MEANS "EFFEMINATE CALL BOYS." THE NEW RSV SAYS "MALE PROSTITUTES".

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ARSENAKOITAI MEANS. AND A GOOD PART OF THIS TRAGIC DEBATE IS THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS. SOME SCHOLARS BELIEVE THAT PAUL WAS COINING A NAME TO REFER TO THE CUSTOMERS OF "THE EFFEMINATE CALL BOYS." WE WOULD CALL THEM 'DIRTY OLD MEN.' OTHERS TRANSLATE IT AS 'SODOMITES.'

THEN, IN 1948, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY A PERSON TRANSLATING THOSE GREEK WORDS INTO ENGLISH DECIDED THAT THE WORD REALLY MEANT HOMOSEXUALS.

I FIND MOST CONVINCING THE ARGUMENT THE ARGUMENT FROM HISTORY THAT PAUL IS CONDEMNING THE ROMAN CUSTOM OF MARRIED MEN (ARSENAKOTIA) HIRING HAIRLESS YOUNG BOYS (MALAKOI) FOR SEXUAL PLEASURE JUST AS THEY HIRED SMOOTH SKINNED YOUNG GIRLS FOR THAT PURPOSE.

RESPONSIBLE HOMOSEXUALS WOULD JOIN PAUL IN CONDEMNING THOSE WHO USE CHILDREN FOR SEX AS MUCH AS THEY WOULD JOIN MOSES IN CONDEMNING THE THREATENED GANG RAPE IN SODOM OR THE BEHAVIOR OF THE SEX-CRAZED PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES IN ROME. SO, ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD SAY THIS PASSAGE SAYS A LOT ABOUT GOD, AND NOTHING ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT TODAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

VIDEO BREAK #7.

MY SIXTH PREMISE:

AFTER WE'VE LOOKED CLOSELY AT THOSE SIX OR SEVEN BIBLICAL TEXTS USED TO CONDEMN CERTAIN SAME-SEX BEHAVIORS, WE DISCOVER THAT JESUS, THE JEWISH PROPHETS, EVEN MOSES AND PAUL NEVER EVEN COMMENT ON THE RESPONSIBLE LOVE A GAY MAN OR LESBIAN FEELS FOR ANOTHER. BUT THEY ARE SILENT ON THE ISSUE OF HOMOSEXUAL ORIENTATION. AND NO WONDER.

THAT SOME OF US ARE CREATED AND/OR SHAPED IN EARLIEST INFANCY TOWARDS SAME-GENDER ATTRACTION IS A DISCOVERY MADE IN THE LAST 150 YEARS THAT BIBLICAL AUTHORS KNEW NOTHING ABOUT. MOSES AND PAUL ASSUMED THAT ALL WERE CREATED HETEROSEXUAL, JUST AS THEY BELIEVED THE EARTH WAS FLAT, THAT THERE WERE HEAVENS ABOVE AND HELL BELOW, AND THAT THE SUN MOVED UP AND DOWN.

IN 1864, ALMOST 3,000 YEARS AFTER MOSES AND AT LEAST 18 CENTURIES AFTER THE APOSTLE PAUL, THE GERMAN KARL HEINRICH ULRICHS WAS THE FIRST SOCIAL SCIENTIST TO DECLARE THAT "HOMOSEXUALS WERE A DISTINCT CLASS OF INDIVIDUALS."

THIS IS A BIG MOMENT FOR SEXUAL MINORITIES, ALL OF US. IT'S OUR COLUMBUS DISCOVERING THE NEW WORLD. IT'S OUR MADAME CURIE DISCOVERING RADIUM. IT'S OUR BUZZ ALDRIN WALKING ON THE MOON.

THEY AREN'T JUST HETEROSEXUALS DOING SAME-SEX BEHAVIORS, ULRICH SAID. THEY ARE A WHOLE CLASS OF PEOPLE WHOSE DRIVE TO SAME SEX INTIMACY IS AT THE VERY HEART OF THEM.

ALTHOUGH THE WORD "HOMOSEXUAL" WAS NOT USED FOR THE FIRST TIME UNTIL LATER IN THE 19TH CENTURY BY THE HUNGARIAN KARL MARIA KERTBENY, IN THE 1850S, KARL ULRICHS RECOGNIZED THAT HOMOSEXUALS HAD BEEN AROUND FROM THE BEGINNING OF RECORDED HISTORY, THAT WE WERE "INNATELY DIFFERENT FROM HETEROSEXUALS," THAT OUR DESIRE FOR SAME-SEX INTIMACY AND AFFILIATION IS INTRINSIC, NATURAL, INBORN AND/OR SHAPED IN EARLIEST INFANCY.

ACCORDING TO DR. ULRICH, WHAT LOOKED "UNNATURAL" TO MOSES AND PAUL WAS IN FACT "NATURAL" TO HOMOSEXUALS. SO, THIS IS MY SEVENTH PREMISE.

MOSES AND PAUL ARE AUTHORITIES IN MATTERS OF FAITH. THEY CAN BE TRUSTED WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT GOD. BUT THEY SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED THE FINAL AUTHORITIES ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION ANYMORE THAN THEY ARE THE FINAL AUTHORITY ON SPACE TRAVEL, GRAVITY, OR THE INTERNET?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

VIDEO BREAK #8.

NOW, MY SEVENTH PREMISE.

IF MOSES AND PAUL ARE NOT THE FINAL AUTHORITIES ON HUMAN SEXUALITY, WOULDN'T IT BE WISE AND LOVING TO CONSIDER OTHER AUTHORITIES BEFORE WE MAKE OUR FINAL DECISION ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY?

I WANT TO SUGGEST TWO SOURCES OF HELPFUL INFORMATION:

FIRST, CONSIDER WHAT SCIENCE TELLS US ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND

SECOND, CONSIDER WHAT YOU KNOW PERSONALLY FROM THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDERED PEOPLE WHOM YOU KNOW.

I'VE LISTED VARIOUS SCIENTIFIC AND HISTORIC SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR YOU TO EXPLORE ON YOUR OWN.

READ THE STATEMENT SIGNED BY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICA'S PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE APA. READ WHAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HAVE SAID. READ THE ESSAY ON OUR WEB PAGE BY DR. DAVID MEYER THE DISTINGUISHED CHRISTIAN AUTHOR WHOSE MASSIVE STUDY OF ALL THE RESEARCH ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION LEADS HIM TO BELIEVE, THE VERDICT IS IN: HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT A SICKNESS NOR A SIN.

AND DON'T DEPEND ENTIRELY ON SCIENCE EITHER. WITH ALL THAT WE KNOW ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION, THEY HAVEN'T DISCOVERED A GAY GENE YET (WELL MAYBE CALVIN KLINE). LOOK TO HISTORY AS WELL AS TO SCIENCE.

GENUINE HOMOSEXUAL LOVE WAS KNOWN AND ACKNOWLEDGED FROM EARLIEST ANTIQUITY. SAPPHO, THE GREEK POET WAS WRITING VERSES TO HER LESBIAN LOVER SIX CENTURIES BEFORE CHRIST.

AND THE LOVE THAT ALEXANDER THE GREAT HAD FOR HIS GENERAL AEPHESTION INSPIRED BALLADS IN THE THIRD CENTURY B.C.E. SAME-SEX LOVE WAS PRESENT FROM THE BEGINNING OF RECORDED HISTORY. SOME CIVILIZATIONS CELEBRATED IT. OTHERS CONDEMNED IT. BUT NO CIVILIZATION DENIED ITS PRESENCE.

IN THE FOURTH CENTURY, SERGE AND BACCHUS WERE TWO HEROIC SOLDIERS, LOVERS AND LIFE-PARTNERS WHO WERE ELEVATED TO HIGH POSITIONS IN THE ROMAN COURT AND THEN MARTYRED FOR THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH. THERE ARE ICONS, POEMS, LITURGIES AND FEAST DAYS CELEBRATING THE SAME-SEX LOVE OF SERGE AND BACCHUS IN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES TODAY.

DON'T FORGET OTHER LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDERED PEOPLE THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND THE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTION THEY HAVE MADE.

MICHELANGELO, TCHAIKOVSKY, MOLLIERE, SCHUBERT, AMY LOWELL, MAY RAINEY, BESSY SMITH, JAMES BALDWIN, E.M. FORESTER, VIRGINIA WOLFE, VITA SACHVILLE WEST, ALICE B TOKLAS AND GERTRUDE STEIN, DANNY KAYE, TENNESSEE WILLIAMS, CHRISTOPHER ISHERWOOD...

FAMOUS NAMES ARE FUN TO REMEMBER, BUT THE NOT-SO-FAMOUS GAY FOLK IN YOUR LIFE ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW LESBIAN AND GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDERED PEOPLE. YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE PEOPLE OF FAITH LIKE YOU, THAT WE ARE YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS, YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. WE WORK, PLAY AND WORSHIP BESIDE YOU. WE WANT NO SPECIAL RIGHTS. WE JUST WANT THE SAME RIGHTS THAT YOU HAVE TO LIVE AND LOVE AS GOD CREATED US.

ONE LAST PREMISE:

AND PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT PREMISE OF THEM ALL.

WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS OUR RIGHT TO DISAGREE ABOUT THE MEANING OF THESE ANCIENT TEXTS. EVEN THOSE WHO THINK OF YOU AND ME AS SINNERS, THE LAW OF THIS LAND DEMANDS THAT WE BE ACCEPTED AS FELLOW AMERICANS WITH ALL THE RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS GUARANTEED US BOTH BY THE CONSTITUTION.

I LOVE THE BIBLE AND I READ GOD'S WORD IN IT AND HEAR GOD'S WORD THROUGH IT. BUT THIS IS NOT A NATION GOVERNED BY THE BIBLE. OURS IS A NATION GOVERNED BY THE CONSTITUTION. ITS LAWS WERE CREATED TO PROTECT OUR RIGHT TO DISAGREE.

THAT'S WHY THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IS SO IMPORTANT. IF THE BIBLE (OR SOMEONE'S VIEW OF THE BIBLE) EVER REPLACES THE CONSTITUTION AS THE LAW OF THE LAND, WE ARE ALL IN DEEP TROUBLE.

DURING A TALK SHOW IN SEATTLE, I SAW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME AND TO MILLIONS LIKE ME IF A CHRISTIAN LITERALIST GAINED POLITICAL POWER OVER THIS COUNTRY. WHEN I TOLD THE OTHER GUEST, AN INDEPENDENT PRESBYTERIAN PASTOR, THAT I WAS GAY, HE SAID WITHOUT HESITATION, "THEN YOU SHOULD BE KILLED." A CHRISTIAN BROTHER SENTENCED ME TO DEATH GUIDED ONLY BY HIS LITERAL UNDERSTANDING OF LEVITICUS 20:13 ("A MAN WHO SLEEPS WITH ANOTHER MAN IS AN ABOMINATION AND SHOULD BE EXECUTED.")

WHEN I ASKED, "WHO SHOULD DO THE KILLING, YOU CHURCH FOLK?" HE ANSWERED, "NO, THAT'S THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES JOB. THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO ELECT MORE GOOD MEN OF GOD INTO GOVERNMENT." WHEN I SAT THERE IN STUNNED SILENCE, HE ADDED. "I KNOW IT MUST BE HARD FOR YOU TO HEAR IT, DR. WHITE, BUT GOD SAID IT FIRST AND IT'S OUR JOB TO OBEY."

EVEN IF WE DISAGREE ABOUT THE BIBLE PASSAGES, WE MUST STAND TOGETHER AGAINST THOSE UNJUST ANTIHOMOSEXUAL LAWS AND THE FALSE AND INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC THAT FRIGHTENS PEOPLE INTO MAKING THEM.

THAT'S WHY I CARRY A BIBLE IN THIS POCKET AND A CONSTITUTION IN THE OTHER. CAN WE AGREE ON THIS FINAL PREMISE IF WE DISAGREE ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE? THE U.S. CONSTITUTION PROMISES US EQUAL RIGHTS TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

IN THIS LAST PREMISE, I'M ASKING YOU WHO DISAGREE WITH MY STAND ON HOMOSEXUALITY TO SUPPORT MY STAND ON FULL CIVIL AND LEGAL RIGHTS FOR ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDERED AMERICANS.

FINALE

IN 1632 GALILEO, A SCIENTIST (AND A MAN OF FAITH), DARED TO SUPPORT THE RADICAL IDEA OF COPERNICUS THAT ALL PLANETS, INCLUDING THE EARTH, REVOLVE AROUND THE SUN. IMMEDIATELY, GALILEO WAS PROCLAIMED A HERETIC BY THE POPE WHO QUOTED SCRIPTURES IN HIS ATTEMPT TO PROVE WHAT SCIENCE HAD DISPROVED.

PROTESTANT HEROES JOINED IN. MARTIN LUTHER SAID "THIS FOOL GALILEO WISHES TO REVERSE THE ENTIRE SCIENCE OF ASTRONOMY; BUT SACRED SCRIPTURE IN JOSHUA 10:13 TELLS US THAT JOSHUA COMMANDED THE SUN TO STAND STILL, AND NOT THE EARTH."

JOHN CALVIN QUOTED PSALM 93 IN HIS ATTACK ON GALILEO. "THE EARTH ALSO IS ESTABLISHED." HE SAID. "IT CANNOT BE MOVED."

MELANCTHON USED ECCLESIASTES 1:4-5 TO CONDEMN GALILEO. "THE SUN ALSO RISES, AND THE SUN GOES DOWN AND HURRIES TO THE PLACE FROM WHICH IT CAME." THEN HE ADDED THESE WORDS OF WARNING. "IT IS THE PART OF A GOOD MIND TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH AS REVEALED BY GOD AND TO OBEY IT."

IN OTHER WORDS BELIEVE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS EVEN IF SCIENCE HAS DISPROVED IT.

BECAUSE CHRISTIANS REFUSED TO LET THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD'S WORD BE INFORMED BY SCIENCE, GALILEO, WAS DECLARED A HERETIC AND PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS LIFE.

359 YEARS LATER, IN 1992, POPE JOHN PAUL II FINALLY ADMITTED THE CHURCH HAD BEEN WRONG TO IGNORE SCIENCE AND TO INTERPRET THE BIBLE LITERALLY.

THE POPE SAID SOMETHING WE MUST NEVER FORGET: "RECENT HISTORICAL STUDIES ENABLE US TO STATE THAT THIS SAD MISUNDERSTANDING NOW BELONGS TO THE PAST." UNFORTUNATELY, THE APOLOGY CAME TOO LATE TO RELIEVE GALILEO OF HIS TERRIBLE SUFFERING.

I BELIEVE THAT SINCERE CHRISTIANS ARE MAKING A TERRIBLE MISTAKE IN USING THE BIBLE TO CONDEMN GOD'S GAY CHILDREN. BUT THAT DECISION IS IN YOUR HANDS.

STELLA LUNA STORY

ONE DAY LAST YEAR IN A LARGE BOOKSTORE IN PASADENA, MY GRANDDAUGHTER, KATIE, LED ME TO THE CHILDREN'S SECTION, SAT ME DOWN ON TINY LITTLE CHAIR, AND PUT HER FAVORITE BOOK IN MY HAND.

STELLA LUNA IS THE STORY OF A BABY BAT WHO WAS DROPPED BY HER MOTHER DURING AN ATTACK BY AN OWL. STELLA DROPPED DOWN THROUGH THE BRANCHES OF A TREE AND LANDED KERPLUNK IN A ROBIN'S NEST.

FRIGHTENED, LOST,LONELY STELLA HUNG UPSIDE DOWN OUTSIDE THAT NEST AND WAITED FOR HER MOTHER'S RETURN. INSTEAD, MOMMY ROBIN ARRIVED WITH A LONG, JUICY WORM IN HER BEAK, TO FEED HER THREE BABY ROBINS. 1-2-3 SHE COUNTED 4? WHAT'S THIS A LITTLE STRANGER AND HANGING FROM THE NEST? QUICKLY SHE PULLED STELLA LUNA INTO THE NEST. 'HONEY, SHE SAID, YOU CAN'T HANG OUT THERE LIKE THAT. YOU'LL FALL.'

SEEING THE TERRIFIED, HUNGRY LOOK IN STELLA'S EYES, THE MOMMY ROBIN CUT THE WORM INTO FOUR PIECES INSTEAD OF THREE AND PLUCKED THAT FOURTH PIECE INTO STELLA'S LITTLE MOUTH. I LOVE THIS PART OF THE STORY. STELLA GAGGED. SHE HAD NEVER TASTED A WORM. SHE WAS, YOU SEE, A FRUIT BAT. DON'T YOU LOVE IT.

OVER THE NEXT TEN DAYS, MOMMA ROBIN TRIED DESPERATELY TO MAKE A ROBIN OUT OF STELLA. THE TRIED TO SIT UP IN THE NEST LIKE THE ROBINS BUT IT WAS SO HARD. SHE TRIED TO STAY AWAKE IN THE DAYTIME AND SLEEP AT NIGHT, BUT SHE JUST COULDN'T DO IT. SHE TRIED TO FLY IN THE SUNLIGHT BUT KEPT BANGING INTO BRANCHES.

LATE ONE AFTERNOON STELLA GOT LOST AND HUNG RIGHTSIDE UP IN A TALLTREE UNTIL ANOTHER LITTLE BAT HUNG UPSIDE DOWN BESIDE HER. 'WHY ARE YOU HANGING THAT WAY?' THE LITTLE BAT ASKED.

AND STELLA TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT HER NEW MOMMA HAD SAID IT'S THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE WAY TO DO IT. 'YOU DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT BEING A BAT, DO YOU? HANG THIS WAY," HE ADDED AND WITH A SIGN OF RELIEF, STELLA DID WHAT WAS HER NATURE.

THAT NIGHT, STELLA, GUIDED BY HER NEW FRIEND, WAS GUIDED TO A BAT CAVE (NOT THAT ONE). IN THE CROWD OF BATS SHE HEARD A FAMILIAR VOICE. 'STELLA!' 'MOMMA!' BY THAT TIME I WAS CRYING AND MY SEVEN YEAR OLD GRAND DAUGHTER WAS HANDING ME A KLEENEX AND WONDERING IF I WASN'T OVER REACTING A BIT.

'STELLA,' MOMMA ASKED, 'HOW DID YOU SURVIVE? I'VE BEEN SO AFRAID.' STELLA TOLD HER MOM ABOUT THE BABY ROBINS AND THEIR MOTHER WHO HAD FED HER AND TAUGHT HER AND DID HER BEST TO TURN HER INTO A ROBIN.

MOMMA BAT HUGGED STELLA AND DECIDED THAT JUST BEFORE MORNING, THE TWO OF THEM WOULD FIND THAT LITTLE ROBIN FAMILY AND THANK THEM.

THE LAST SCENE IN THIS DEEPLY MOVING STORY IS STELLA HANGING UPSIDE DOWN OVER THE SLEEPING ROBINS WITH HER FURRY WINGS EXTENDED AROUND THEM AND HER LITTLE VOICE SAYING, 'WE ARE SO DIFFERENT BUT WE ARE FRIENDS.'

EVEN IF YOU DISAGREE WITH EVERYTHING I'VE SAID IN THIS VIDEO, I HOPE YOU'LL AGREE WITH THIS. WE MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT WE CAN STILL BE FRIENDS. IT SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE SOMETHING JESUS WOULD SAY, DON'T YOU AGREE?

Email: mel@soulforce.org

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