“What Does the Bible say about Homosexuality?”

In his section within Chapter Eight of his book entitled The Good Book, Peter Gomes addresses Scripture about homosexuality directly.  We have looked at scriptures before from the point of view of a pastor who condemns homosexual behavior.  Kevin DeYoung* examines the creation story in Genesis, the tale of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the condemning passages in Leviticus and he concludes the same-sex activity is a grievous sin.  Preston Sprinkle** looks at those same Scriptures and admits that they are condemning but allows that Jesus’ admonition to “love your neighbor as yourself” overrules all animosity that anyone would feel against homosexuals.  Sprinkle also provides some context based on his advanced theological knowledge that homosexuality was not very common in Old Testament times and the practice would not have been condemned that much because of that. 

So what is Gomes arguing about these Old Testament Scriptures, what Sprinkle calls the “clobber passages?”*** 

First of all, Gomes addresses The Creation Story in Genesis 1 and 2.  Creation Scripture focuses on heterosexuality because it is all about one man and one woman.  Detractors of same-sex behavior love to say that creation is all about Adam and Eve, “not Adam and Steve.”  Gomes says that heterosexuality may be the dominant form of sexuality in Genesis but that does not mean it was the only form of sexuality.  Gomes states that the primary theme of Genesis 1 and 2 is the procreation of the human race and to accomplish this you must have two human beings of opposite sex engaging in heterosexual sex. 

In the Old Testament world other factors that influence relationship dynamics are the idea that women were subordinate to men.  This is inherent in this context and could encourage the idea that men prefer heterosexual activity.  Also Scripture does not mention people who prefer to be single and Scripture does not mention the idea of friendship.  Gomes is trying to make the case that Genesis is about one thing: the establishment of human society through heterosexual sex.  “Genesis does not pretend to be a history of anthropology or of every social relationship” [150].  He even goes so far as to say that “the creation story is the basis and not the end of human diversity, and thus to regard it as excluding everything it does not mention is to place too great a burden on the text and its writers and too little responsibility upon the intelligence of the readers.”  Furthermore, the intelligent readers of the Bible should know that same-sex relationships have always existed, even at the creation times.  The church has always tolerated diversity in human relationships; for example, priestly celibacy, voluntary virginity and monastic community life.  Wouldn’t it be unlikely that same-sex relationships would be condemned wholeheartedly?

When Gomes turns to Sodom and Gomorrah, this Scripture seems to support condemnation of homosexuality due to the behavior of the men who visit the home of Lot.  The rowdy “visitors” want Lot’s guests to come outside so they could have sex with them.  Little did the mob know that those “guests” were Angels who had come to visit Lot and warn him of the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Lot refused the mob access to his visitors and instead offered his daughters [a bit of a shock].

What do many readers of Scripture assume about Sodom and Gomorrah?  They assume that the cities are going to be destroyed because of same-sex behavior.  In fact that assumption is not made clear by Scripture.  Sodom and Gomorrah is referred throughout the Old Testament as a place of wickedness but nowhere does it say that the form of wickedness that it is known for is homosexuality.  What are the sins that are mentioned in Scripture: pride, gluttony, idleness, neglect of help for the needy.  In Matthew and Luke Jesus refers to Sodom and Gomorrah as a place lacking hospitality. 

What should be condemned with the story of Lot and his guests?  Of course homosexual rape should be condemned as rape of any kind should be condemned.   Gomes says that readers of the Bible go too far with the implications  from the story of Lot and his guests.  He quotes Jeffrey Siker in an article from Theology Today  where he writes that “David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba does not make all heterosexual expressions sinful” so readers of Scripture should not make more of this situation than necessary.

Finally we have the strong words of Leviticus.  Leviticus 18: 22 reads “You shall not life with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”  Leviticus 20: 13 says “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them.”  Gomes admits that these statements are very clear, but “the context and application is not.”  What does he mean by that? 

Gomes means the context of these Levitical codes is the influence that other cultures are having on Jewish culture.  What is the purpose of such harsh statements?  Simply put, this is all about “nation building.”  God wanted statutes to be kept because of outside influences on the culture of His Chosen People.  They were chosen by God and expected to be on a higher plane than other peoples.  Fruit trees may not be harvested until the fifth year.  Kosher laws must be kept.  Round haircuts were forbidden.  A man may not have sexual relations with his wife while she menstruates.  These statues defined purity for the Jewish people and to defy these laws is to not only be punished but on a much larger scale, it is to “weaken the cultural definition of the children of Israel” [154].  Gomes states that the context can be summed up by three words:  “identity, protection and procreation.”  In this context, homosexual conduct is a risk to all three of these frontier ambitions. 

Ok, but does this totally account for the full meaning of the admonition?  Maybe today we are not living in a context that demands ritual purity.  We are not a frontier folk trying to live in a promised land.  But does that mean that same-sex behavior is ok due to the idea that we don’t live in a society that demands purity?  Gomes says this is a distinction between “what is ritually impure and what is intrinsically wrong” [154].  Examples of intrinsic evil acts are theft and rape.  Examples of impure acts are eating pork or engaging in sex during menstruation.     An abomination by definition what the Gentiles do, but that does not make it evil or a violation of the Commandments.  Here is Gomes main point: “homosexuality is an abomination in Leviticus not because it is inherently evil, but because the Gentiles do it, and it is therefore ritually impure” [154].

What Does the Bible say about Homosexuality?

According to Gomes, the Old Testament “clobber passages” don’t amount to much.  When it comes to Genesis, non-affirming Christians like to focus on the idea that the emphasis is on heterosexual marriage not the idea that human society needs to be established.  When it comes to Sodom and Gomorrah, non-affirming Christians like to assume that the city was destroyed for homosexual activity; after all, the word sodomy comes from the city of Sodom.  The meaning of Scripture in Leviticus is an effort to keep a culture pure rather than to condemn a sexual act.  Whereas non-affirming Christians make a big deal about these Scriptures, Gomes seems to have an approach that is much akin to the title of the famous Shakespearean play:

Much Ado About Nothing.

*Kevin DeYoung. What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?

**Preston Sprinkle People to Be Loved: Why Homosexuality is not Just An Issue

***some explanation… These passages are used to “clobber” LGBTQ+ people…..