While I’ve been researching this topic, I’ve come across a few very good resources for anyone wanting to understand the complex issue of the Bible’s view on homosexuality. I say the Bible’s view because it very clearly differs from the many sects of Christians. I’ve also had to consider how I could proceed with this research without revisiting the same ground that has been previously covered by scholars better qualified than I. What most scholars have done in order to dispel the unfair interpretations of Biblical texts to attack homosexuals is visit each commonly used text and apply the historical-critical approach to discover the original meaning and intention of the scripture. I would say this method is fairly effective if you are a BIble scholar but that it misses if you aren’t. What I’d like to do is to take a close look at the words of Christ. After all, isn’t his life’s example the very basis of Christianity? I will look at what he said, what he taught, and how he lived his life (according to the scriptures). I don’t believe homosexuality ever comes up in his teaching but, more importantly, what did he teach about how Christians are to treat other people (ie, non-Christians)? What did he teach about how Christians are to behave in the world? Who is eligible to be a Christian? Who were Christ’s friends and associates? I believe if there are to be any lasting answers to this issue, they must be found through Christ’s words and not through other Biblical texts. To the true Christian, it doesn’t matter what is written in the old testament except as an historical record, because when Christ died for sin, he symbolically wiped the slate clean for all and created a new way to salvation that was not to be based upon laws. I believe Christ realized that as long as man (humankind) was involved in the picture, the picture would always be subject to corruption. I believe Christ also knew that not all laws applied to all equally. They never do. Whether one believes in Christ as the Son of God, or simply as an enlightened teacher, I think that when his life is looked at closely it’ll reveal a commonsensical approach to human behavior and interaction that respects the differences and celebrates the relations. I also realize this journey may take awhile. I may not be able to write a sequential number of posts on just this topic but I hope to present as much as I can, periodically, as I come across it. Bare with me.
