Few things will inspire the false gospel of hate from Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians (the exact opposites of authentic Christians faster that the presence of a gay person, and they routinely use the Bible as the authority your that hatred. I’m not suggesting that you should adopt Biblical standards. But if Republican hate can be demonstrated as false by their own standard, it shows them up as the purveyors of hate that they are.
Imagine growing up in an evangelical Christian household, and imagine how it might feel to realize you’re gay. For many teenagers, that realization is terrifying. They fear they will be rejected by their families and communities. The sad truth is that many homosexuals are rejected by their families because of their sexual orientation.
Matthew Vines was 19 when he realized he was gay. He was a sophomore attending Harvard and decided to take a break from school so that he could find a way to reconcile his sexual orientation with what the Bible says about homosexuality.
He didn’t want to lose his family or his faith. So, for the next four years, Vines studied Scripture – specifically what the Bible says about same-sex sexuality and the result was a book titled, God and the Gay Christian.
Vine calls his book “an open letter to modern Christians” about why they should support same-sex relationships and what the Bible really says about homosexuality. He explains in the video (below) that after collecting the information, he was able to change his father’s mind about same-sex relationships. He calls his book a blueprint for helping other Christians help affirm gay marriage while also affirming their commitment to the full authority of the Bible…
Inserted from <Liberals Unite>
Click through for his verse by verse analysis. While I cannot see myself support6ing evangelical Christianity in any form, I shared this it is the healthiest evangelical approach to gay rights that I have seen and far superior to Republicans calls for violence against gay people and attempts to have them killed in foreign countries, like Uganda.
28 Responses to “A Biblical Analysis of Gayness”
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On a related note, some good links to hold for reference on what the Bible actually says about the different combinations & permutations of marriage:
http://www.juancole.com/2015/06/biblical-marriage-between.html
http://galileounchained.com/2012/03/05/biblical-marriage-not-a-pretty-picture/
And another on the 76 things banned in their favorite book in the Bible – Leviticus:
http://leviticusbans.tumblr.com/
Thanks for the links. I shared the things banned by Leviticus on Facebook, sure I will get lots of "unfriends" tomorrow.
Thanks for this Nameless, I enjoyed the list – and when I saw the asides, I particularly enjoyed the fact that it has either been compiled in the UK or Alan Clark's infamy has reached even farther than I thought – one of our more repulsive Tory MPs – see item 34 – and yes he did, and boasted about it. EURGH!
In the 2nd link, I had to chuckle at the following:
Made me think of Michele Bachmann, the crazy End Times Queen.
Thanks Nameless!
Also, a some the Scriptures attributed to Paul were copied from Philo of Alexandria.
Thanks for the links, Nameless. I particularly enjoyed this banning: "50. Perverting justice, showing partiality to either the poor or the rich (19:15)."That one was quickly forgotten wasn't it?
I really like the list from Leviticus. I would share it but no one would read it.
I had forgotten about the "no mullets" one (61). I would have to approve of that – but it shouldn't have to be a law LOL.
Excellent links, Nameless!
Note: there was no Greek word to go with the added word of homosexuality in Paul's list of the abominations–that first appeared in the 1950's translations done by two men who admitted they took liberty with their commitment to do an authentic translation. Jesus never mentioned it.
As someone who studies koine, I can relate that a lot of what we find in some English translations, bears little resemblance to the original.
Ditto. I am not in the koine often, but when it is necessary I dig hard.
All true. All sound. Including what Namesless brings to the table. I really, really hope it helps. It says, "after collecting the information, he was able to change his father’s mind about same-sex relationships." And I don't doubt he was. We have seen that the one thing that seems to bring some, not all, anti-gays into a state of mind to rethink their position is finding out that someone they love is gay.
Mostly, though, we are up against unreason. The fact that so many people seem to think that what their translation of the Bible says, in English (or Ugandan or whatever), is what the Bible actually says. The fact that people with this mindset – that it involves not having the competence to even realize how incompetent they actually are ("anosognosia"). And, of course, that people don't like to admit they are wrong, or that they have been fooled, and will cling to the falsehood to avoid making the admission.
Vines' book and the articles cited by Nameless are tremend0ous, factual arguments to have handy. Just don't be too disappointed if they don't work too well.
Why personally I have never been a believer in church. I now have better understanding. Frist churches were a place were slaves gather to fine strength for forgiveness and to realize the pain the ungodly way they were treated. ( You can never have my soul) To be able to forgive ,except All people without judgment. I also realize that over years the propaganda that the sick has had on our country. With that said I think the right will never accept people of color,gender and the right to love another. We are far from acceptance. Yes there has been steps. And one of those is the hard work President Obama and Vice President Biden have taken. Barack Obama is officially one of the most consequential presidents in …
Thanks for the Link! I'm adding it to my collection of …
"Pres. Obama's Legacy Is Secure & History Will Be Even Kinder"
Wxcelolent article, Patty.
Everyone should read the links Nameless shared, they are great. I enjoyed the video of the young man and am glad he changed his parents minds about him. Anyone who has a gay friend or relative understands better than someone who has never known a gay person. There were three lesbians in the dorm where I lived while in college. One girl repeatedly tried to commit suicide because her family was so unaccepting. I think knowing these young women made a huge difference for me, because I learned to understand the human part of their pain. I have a first cousin who is gay and he has been treated abominably by his mother and brother. He knows that my family loves him, though. I shared the links nameless posted.
Hugs to your cousin,
Edie, I know what you mean. My step-brother was gay and his own sisters and mother wouldn’t have anything to do with him! But, my Church of Christ preacher Dad was one of his best backers! Me and my sister made up for what he lacked in blood-sisters! Sadly, my step-brother passed away 20 years ago. But he was a great person! And made me realize that EVERYONE has rights to peace and security!
Thanks TC – as so many have said, Jesus never mentioned homosexuality as far as I know – or any compassinate mentions got cut out under Emperor Constantine when the shape of the Bible as we know it today was formed in the 4th century. Mind you, I bet that St (as in 'St') Irenaeus of Lyon would have been fire and brimstone-like against all homosexuality – he seems to have been full of hate for just about everything (especially women [though not Mary] and heretics) according to every time he has been quoted in books that I read, and he was very influential at the time.
Yes, around 180 CE, he wrote Against Heresies. The dogma he developed played a role in determining official doctrine at the Council of Nicea. I trust you already know this o my reply is more for others' benefit.
Back in 1989, I lived in a small community in BC's interior. I started to walk down the street on my lunch break and I was stopped by a pair of evangelising women. They started the conversation by asking my opinion on homosexuality. Bad choice! As they started quoting scripture to me, I countered with my own quotes and comments. They didn't know what to do because they had no come back. So, to my relief they went away to discuss this with their pastor. . . . oh and they said they'd get back to me. Off I went to get my lunch. A few days later, they were laying in wait for me as I emerged from the office for lunch. They stared in again refuting my points, obviously armed to the teeth with fresh points from their pastor. I pointed out their errors, excused myself and went for lunch.
Unfortunately, too many conservative Christians are literalists, refusing to look at historical context, and just love quoting the Hebrew Scriptures. But in doing so, they fail to remember that Jesus Christ was the new covenant and the old covenant was set aside. The second point is that conservative Christians tend to look at the "rules" in Leviticus as a buffet . . . choose the rules you'll obey and ignore the rest.
Great article and an interesting looking book
Did either of those women look or sound like this crazy gal?
If you want to bookmark a "Crazy Christian Woman Ranting on Gay Marriage" – you need look no further, because this is EPIC!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLUwNUg4rTA
She DOES have a few screws loose! EPIC is an understatement!
All text without context is pretext.
I doubt Matthew Vines will see it this way, but I think it's rather sad that an obviously smart young man needs to take a break from studying at Harvard and then spends four yours going through the bible with a toothcomb to find only six references to homosexual behaviour, all because his evangelical family and community will condemn him for his homosexuality on the basis of these very few statements.
The artice doesn't tell if he's returned to Harvard to finish his studies, but it seems very unlikely after four years, so I can only hope that it6 was all worth it and he's happy in his new career as an evangelical writer.
Excellent point!!
Thanks of all with thew holiest of hugs!!