Page 501 … Homosexuality in the Bible
“There is no positive aspect of homosexuality in the Bible. Every mention of homosexuality in Scripture is negative, and it is both an act and a lifestyle condemned by God.”
My Friend, this statement is so over-the-top (and so patently incorrect) that it actually borders on blasphemy! First of all (and possibly most important of all), to claim that Jesus Christ would ever discriminate against homosexuals is both to severely taint his worth as a personal Savior and to fully deny the unconditional Love that he so brilliantly represented. Indeed, did Jesus ever discriminate against any other sinners in the Bible? Did he ever cajole or condemn murderers, or thieves, or liars, or betrayers, or prostitutes, or lepers, or tax collectors? NO, he most certainly did not! Yes, he informed them – in the synagogues and in streets and at the dinner table – of his Way of unconditional Love. Yes, he told them that they would need to repent and shift their behaviors (from selfish to selfless) to get into his Kingdom of Heaven. And yet he never once condemned any of them as people; he never once condemned how they entered this world or who they chose to be once they got here (e.g. John 8:10-11 + John 8:15) – which is exactly what you are doing to all homosexuals; by publicly (& incorrectly) claiming that their homosexuality itself is a mortal sin.
Secondly, your claim that “every mention of homosexuality in scripture is negative” is absolutely FALSE … What of the eunuch piously reading his “Bible” before receiving the baptism of John in Acts 8:26-40? … and what of David & Jonathan’s homosexual relationship described in 1 Samuel 18:1-4 & 2 Samuel 1:26? … and what of Ruth & Naomi’s lesbian affections mentioned in Ruth 1:14-18? … and what of Jesus Christ himself, who not only was complimentary of eunuchs in Matthew 19:12, but who also non-judgmentally healed the same-sex lover of the saddened centurion in Matthew 8:5-13?*
[*The Greek word for “servant” used in this latter passage was not the more commonly written diakoneo, diakonos or doulos, but rather the word pais – a term often used to refer to a younger, same-sex partner in Jesus’ day; a homosexual relationship that was not unusual amongst Roman centurions, who were forbidden at that time from having opposite-sex partners by Emperor Augustus; an edict which remained in effect until 197 A.D.]
Indeed, my Friend, how can you sincerely laud Jesus as “the Prince of Peace” or call him “the Lord of Love” if you also believe that he sanctions the eternal damnation of homosexuals – even those who devoutly follow his Way?
And how can you hope to sincerely worship his all-Loving Father (see Matthew 5:48 + 1 John 4: 18 + Matthew 18:22 + John 5:22) if you judge them in like manner? …
In short, you cannot!
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