The Bible Still Matters

By Rev. Dr. Russell G. Waldrop, L.P.C.
Psychiatric Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor
Chairperson, Interfaith Committee on Theological Concerns For NARTH

Many gay advocates have an impressive list of reasons why the Bible should not matter in any modern discussion of homosexuality. Accordingly, many people in the church have taken out their magic markers, at least mentally, and blocked out the appropriate passages from serious consideration.

Yet, the Bible is making a comeback. Robert A. J. Gagnon is a graduate of Dartmouth (B.A.), Harvard Divinity School (M.T.S.), and Princeton Theological Seminary (Ph.D.). He is now on the faculty at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary as Associate Professor of New Testament.

Two articles and a major book by Dr. Gagnon are worthy of serious study by all who consult the Bible on the subject of homosexual behavior. The two articles are entitled The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Theology, Analogies, and Genes and Scripture and Homosexual Practice. They may be found at his website by clicking: http://www.pts.edu/gagnonr.html. His book, The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics, (Abingdon Press, 2001) can be ordered at 30% off through www.amazon.com or through the Cokesbury Bookstore at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (cokesbury@pts.edu or 412-362-1691).

Each of the following "reasons" to discard the Biblical view of homosexual behavior is treated in a scholarly and respectful way and yet revealed to fall into the categories of rationalization, false analogy, Scripture twisting or honest misunderstanding of the Biblical context, language, or meaning:

Jesus never spoke to the subject of homosexual behavior.
Current theories of homosexuality are incompatible with the Apostle Paul's views and he would not have understood them anyway.
There are very few Biblical passages on homosexuality.
The few Biblical passages on homosexuality give different messages.
Old Testament laws have no binding morality in New Testament faith.
Churches and synagogues have loosened or eliminated "Biblical positions" on slavery, women's' ordination, divorce, remarriage, dietary laws, and purification rituals. Homosexuality must be next.
Principles like "love, tolerance, and unity" demand acceptance of multiple expressions of sexuality; heterosexuality is only one model.
A loving God would not prohibit loving, consensual, non-exploitive homosexual relationships when traditional marriage itself is failing with at least a 50% divorce rate.
"New knowledge" has discredited the ancient culture-bound Biblical view of homosexuality found in the Old and New Testaments.
All other major civilizations in Old and New Testament times took an accepting and supportive view of homosexual relationships; therefore, the Bible has been "behind the times" and must now catch up.

Dr. Gagnon is a respected scholar who has done more than write a good book on a controversial subject. He has taken a personal and significant risk in clarifying what the Bible really says about homosexual relationships, a subject that the media, gay advocacy groups and even segments of the church wish would remain muddled, weak, and disrespected. A discounted Biblical view of homosexual relationships has no authority; it is like the proverbial toothless tiger. Dr. Gagnon has demonstrated his own courage by showing that the Biblical witness to this subject is substantial, clear, and relevant to today's society. In other words, the Bible really does matter!