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from Theological Issues
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!
Updated: 2 September 2008
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