Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 9, 1994 TAG: 9412100001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-23 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFFERY B. CONNOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The student newspaper published a series of letters earlier this year arguing whether one can be both a homosexual and a Christian. Though many of those believing homosexuality to be a sin declare their love of the sinner, they feel compelled to shun them from the Christian community.
Religion has and, hopefully, will continue to have a strong and steadying influence on this country. There is little doubt that belief in Divine Providence has made this country strong and is still needed today. In these difficult times, there is a yearning for guidance from something larger than ourselves. We are desperately seeking answers, and many, looking toward the Bible, have chosen to use it as justification for the condemnation of homosexuals.
There can be only two possible reasons a person would be willing to condemn another, in the name of God, for being homosexual. Either that person believes in a literal reading of the Bible, or his interpretation of the Bible provides sufficient evidence to denounce another human being. Both arguments are fundamentally flawed.
Leviticus 20:13 states that if a man engages in homosexual acts then "both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death ... " (See also Leviticus 18:22). This would appear to be a straightforward instruction from God that he disapproves of homosexuals, and commands they be put to death for their sin.
This is but one selection of thousands of other instructions in the Bible that are ignored daily by virtually every Christian in the world: stoning a non-virgin on her wedding night (Deuteronomy 22:21), bringing a lamb and a bird to the door of the church as an offering after the birth of a child (Leviticus 12:6), not harvesting the corners of a field (Leviticus 19:9), not wearing a woolen and linen shirt (Leviticus 19:19), praying only alone and in secret (Matthew 6:6), avoiding the accumulation of wealth (Matthew 19:24). Quite often, the manner in which we are instructed to deal with our enemies, and how we shall likewise be dealt with, are reprehensible to any thinking human being (e.g., Psalm 137:9; Deuteronomy 20:13-16; Numbers 31:17-18).
Of course, the Bible is much more than endless pages of strict rules and punishments. It has been the source of much inspiration and solace for thousands of years to millions of people. Compassion, (Luke 6:31), forgiveness (Proverbs 25:21-22), and inner peace (Psalm 23) are all made available through these great writings. My objection arises, however, when carefully selected passages are used to convince others of the righteousness of a personal or political cause. It cheapens Faith itself.
The claim that the Bible condemns homosexuality is literally true. However, it is possible, using the Bible, to literally justify widely varying claims and contradictions. This does not belittle the Bible, but enhances its value and wisdom by forcing each of us to search for meaning, rather than merely seizing upon convenient phrases that support our own prejudices and fears.
What separates us from the rest of creation is our ability to think, reason and choose. At the Sermon on the Mount, it was said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). Perhaps to be poor in spirit means to struggle with uncertainty, to strive every day to find truth and meaning, to constantly question ourselves and our beliefs. Perhaps God is cautioning us to accept and embrace spiritual equivocality while avoiding opportune and readily supplied answers.
The hate and evil that are so often the product of a single-minded belief in man's interpretation of religious works are to be feared. How many people were murdered because the Bible commands: "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" (Exodus 22:18)? Perhaps Christian institutions chose not to interfere with the Nazis because the Bible says "Resist not evil ... " (Matthew 2:39). How much sooner would slavery have ended without the Bible's approval (Exodus 21:111; Leviticus 25:44-46)? How many have suffered and will suffer because of Leviticus 20:13?
The first, and presumably most important, commandment is: "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). Is not allowing a preacher, congregation or sect to interpret God's word putting another god before Him as a filter? Use of a filter also prevents one from devoting the effort required for a careful and considered reading and takes away responsibility for coming to sincere understanding.
The Bible requires interpretation. Is every person capable of finding eternal life (Mark 16:16), or has our destiny been predetermined (Romans 8:29)? Because even the most fundamental issue in Christianity is unclear by a literal reading, some personal judgment is required. Plenty of ready answers to such questions are eagerly supplied by those claiming to have a greater understanding of God's intentions than we are capable of. They imply that they are closer to God, chosen by God, and in possession of the true word of God in a way that is not available to the rest of us.
Unfortunately, all too often, we allow others to do our thinking for us. This lack of personal effort may well lead us to break another commandment - "Though shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Exodus 23:2).
For those who believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible and, by so doing, find one segment of society less desirable than the rest, I would ask you to re-examine the Bible thoroughly and with concentrated effort to reconcile all passages and their meaning. I would also ask you to examine all the laws of God as written and satisfy yourself that you are able to never violate any one of them.
For those who believe the Bible is not literal but provides enough evidence to condemn homosexuality, I would ask you to think about how you came to that conclusion. Is it from the word of another human being or from your own careful and considered thought? In either case is the evidence strong enough, and are you confident enough in the correctness of your selection of passages, to declare another human less worthy than you to receive the rewards of Christianity?
Jeffrey B. Connor is a student at Virginia Tech, where he is pursuing a Ph.D. in civil engineering.
by CNB