The Bible & Homosexuality

[revtj]

There seems to be two strands of thought among those concerned with studying the Bible as it relates to homosexuality. One strand is related to the translation & etymology of Greek and Hebrew words found in the Biblical passages commonly used to make arguments about homosexuality.

The other is represented by scholars like Walter Wink whose excellent essay can be found right here at www.soulforce.org. I recommend everyone read this as well as Mel White's essay, also found on the website, entitled "Why We Can't Wait...Until this Debate is Over."

Wink does not view any specific biblical words as containing divine authority sufficient to finalize the debate and sees homosexuality as we know it in the western world as something unknown to biblical contexts. (This is consistent with the UCC's majority understanding of the Bible as a testimonial document rather than a fact-book.) White encourages LGBT peoples to declare that the debate is over. He insists that so long as we continue debating the texts we are in essence trying to justify our human rights. Yet there should be no debate, biblical or otherwise, as to whether LGBT peoples are deserving of human rights.

No doubt Christians can find encouragement and enlightenment in studying both avenues of thought. Nonetheless, it is a relief to me that the Soulforce perspective is weighed toward White's contention that we as a people are not moving toward liberation if we continually engage the anti-gay industry in debate over chapter and verse interpretation.