GAY TRUTH

The objection I want to address today basically boils down to this: “There are plenty other commands in Scripture that Christians don’t follow today, like the prohibition against mixing fabrics ( Lev 19:19 ) or eating shellfish ( Lev 11:10–12 ) and pork ( Lev 11:7–8 ). So why not one more?” Unbiblical Reasoning First, I just want to observe that this kind of reasoning is patently unbiblical. The argument concedes that the Bible does indeed condemn homosexuality. We’re not getting an argument from these folks on that. They’re just giving a reason for why we should ignore  more  of what the Bible clearly says. “We disobey God’s Word all over the place. Why should disobeying His commands against homosexuality be any different?” If you find yourself thinking this way, I just want to plead with you to realize that this is just not the way a Christian thinks about God’s Word. Someone who loves God in the Person of Jesus Christ does not look for ways to legitimize their disobedien

Some homosexual advocates have listed a number of popular arguments for why homosexuality is reconcilable with Christianity. I’d like to address a couple of those arguments that I encounter most often. My hope is that I might serve those who erroneously believe that faith in Jesus and His Word can be reconciled with attempts to legitimize homosexuality. The objection I want to address basically boils down to this: “There are plenty other commands in Scripture that Christians don’t follow today, like the prohibition against mixing fabrics ( Lev 19:19 ) or eating shellfish ( Lev 11:10–12 ) and pork ( Lev 11:7–8 ). So why not one more?” Unbiblical Reasoning First, I just want to observe that this kind of reasoning is patently unbiblical. The argument concedes that the Bible does indeed condemn homosexuality. We’re not getting an argument from these folks on that. They’re just giving a reason for why we should ignore more of what the Bible clearly says. “We disobey God’s Word all over th

A couple of illiterate Christians offer a number of popular arguments for why homosexuality is reconcilable with Christianity. My hope is that I might serve those who erroneously believe that faith in Jesus and His Word can be reconciled with attempts to legitimize homosexuality. The objection I want to address today basically boils down to this: “There are plenty other commands in Scripture that Christians don’t follow today, like the prohibition against mixing fabrics (Lev 19:19) or eating shellfish (Lev 11:10–12) and pork (Lev 11:7–8). So why not one more?” Unbiblical Reasoning First, I just want to observe that this kind of reasoning is patently unbiblical. The argument concedes that the Bible does indeed condemn homosexuality. We’re not getting an argument from these folks on that. They’re just giving a reason for why we should ignore more of what the Bible clearly says. “We disobey God’s Word all over the place. Why should disobeying His commands against homosexuality be any

A page from Leviticus, in the Samaritan bible (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) It is here that our conversation about how to interpret the Old Testament merges with an issue widely discussed in our culture—homosexuality. When Christians appeal to passages like Leviticus 18:22 to argue that homosexual behavior is a sin, they are often met with the charge of “picking and choosing” random verses that support their view and leaving out others. Is this true? I don’t think so, but I’ll come back to this after I lay some groundwork. Christians are now under the New Covenant . The Law of Moses (that is, the Mosaic covenant), while important for teaching us about God’s redemptive history through Israel, is not binding on Christians unless the principle, law, or command is reaffirmed or restated in the New Testament (Romans 6:14–15; 10:4; Galatians 3; Hebrews 8–9). God made a conditional covenant with the people of Israel in the Old Testament that was specific to them and their national s

Moses with the tablets of the Ten Commandments, painting by Rembrandt (1659) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Most agree regarding the tripartite division of the Law into moral, civil, and ceremonial components. It is a helpful informal categorization of the various commandments God has given to Israel. Where theologians part ways is whether to make such categories theological constructs by which to build one’s doctrine of the Old Covenant Mosaic Law’s relationship to the New Covenant believer in Yahweh. Dr. Tom Schreiner , Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has a few ideas. Question 14 of his 40 Questions about Christians and Biblical Law takes up the issue of the tripartite division, and you may find his comments very insightful. Moral, Civil, Ceremonial “The distinction between the moral, ceremonial, and civil law is appealing and attractive. Even though it has some elements of truth, it does not sufficiently capture Paul’s stance