Homosexuality: What is the Argument Really About?

Underlying the current debate on homosexuality in the Episcopal Church is a deeper issue: What is the authority of Holy Scripture? It is not at all uncommon to see scholars deny biblical teachings on a variety of subjects including the virgin birth, the resurrection, substitutionary atonement, and the divinity of Jesus. Key doctrines are discounted by claims that Jesus never really said that, or Paul didn't write his letters, or that any number of texts were added by later editors and therefore somehow not valid, or that teachings on certain subjects were determined by the social traditions of the time and not applicable today.

The problem lies in presuppositions. One either believes that Holy Scripture reveals the mind of God, or on the contrary, one believes that Holy Scripture does not reliably reveal the mind of God. Those who take the latter position ultimately believe that scientific humanism is the court of final appeal in biblical studies. The reality is however that we are in the postmodern age and scientific humanism is already beginning to show some serious cracks in its foundation.

Among these scholars are those that believe that lay people cannot judge Scripture for themselves. This view is reflected in the Lectionary of The Book of Common Prayer. An example of this has a direct impact on the discussion of homosexuality in the Church. In the readings for 2 Lent Year One and Year Two the following passages are omitted:

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:26-27) Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (I Corinthians 6:9-11)

This omission is duplicated in two places in the lectionary. Whether or not you accept these passages as authoritative depends on your underlying presuppositions as to the validity of Biblical texts. The Lectionary also leaves out much of the Old Testament including passages such as the following from Leviticus 18:32: "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination."

The passage from I Corinthians goes on to say,

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (I Corinthians 6:11).

For Paul, while the moral issue is clear, the Corinthians do not have the right to throw stones, because they themselves have come out of similar backgrounds. It should also be noted that these passages do not deal with sexual orientation, but with sexual action. One argument frequently given in favor of homosexuality holds that homosexuality is determined by nature. That is just the way some people are born. But it is also true that many heterosexuals are by nature predisposed to fornication and adultery. That is just the way they were born. Nature is not an adequate defense for either active homosexuality or for polygamous heterosexuality. The only valid question is: What does Holy Scripture say about these things? The underlying question is: Do you believe that Holy Scripture, or scientific humanism reveals the mind of God on this issue?

There is however a sharp distinction between acceptance and approval. I, and many others, have family members or friends who are involved in homosexual lifestyles. I am not about to stop loving them because I don't approve of what they do. I accept them. That is not the issue. Approval is another thing. The simple fact is that I don't always approve of everything I do, let alone what others do. It is that reality that provides for us the opportunity for growth and transformation. We are called into a continuous process of transformation. As St. Paul says,

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

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