Same sex sinners say: "The Bible doesn't apply to us"

REJECTED: THE LEVITICUS PASSAGES DO NOT APPLY TO US

This approach recognizes the prohibitions against homosexuality that are found in the book of Leviticus and does not deny them, but these prohibitions, we are told, do not apply to the present day or current situation. Such claims are made because these prohibitions supposedly only applied to the Jewish people of the Old Testament. By restricting the Leviticus prohibitions in this way, this revision honestly admits the presence of the prohibition and so presents itself as “faithful” to the Bible. Those who take this approach admit that at some time, for some people, homosexuality was prohibited. Stated even more simply, homosexuality was forbidden then and for them.

This view speaks voluminously of matters that pertained to the external worship of the God of the Bible—the ceremonies of the Old Testament (sacrifices, the priesthood, the promised land, purity and cleanliness distinctions, dietary laws, etc.). These ceremonial aspects of the Old Testament Law will then be confused with regulations that are morally binding upon all people in all times. Such a conflation of the moral and ceremonial law results in great misunderstanding. A lack of familiarity with the Old Testament can render one silent in the face of these assertions.


REVISED: A RECYCLED PRESENTATION OF “BIBLICAL BACKGROUNDS”

The second approach to reducing the Leviticus prohibitions to a non-applicable status is a bit more complex than the previous approach. Simply stated, Leviticus only prohibited a particular type of homosexuality: temple or cultic (religious) homosexuality, which was a form of homosexual prostitution. 

The adherents of this view arrive at their conclusions by (supposedly) allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture … all the while assuming that which they are trying to prove. They argue that the Leviticus prohibitions were only concerned with an idolatrous brand of homosexuality and not with the expression of same-sex intimacy that is “committed” and “loyal.”

People who hold to the interpretive labyrinth of this view present it as a scholarly and complete understanding of the Bible, an approach that provides a handle on the historical situation and gives insights as to the cultural context.

IN SUMMARY

These revisions of the Leviticus passages are certainly creative but are woefully lacking in interpretive integrity. 

The controversy boils down to the authority of Scripture. As we look at these revisions of the clear teaching of God’s Word in Leviticus, we will observe an approach to the interpretation of Scripture that is one of mere convenience. The interpretations offered are suited to the desires of those who are practicing, who long to practice, or those who are simply not opposed to the practice of same-sex intimacy. Clearly, the revisionists are concerned about the text of Leviticus. They are forced to be. To ignore these passages would allow the verses to accuse them and would thus reveal their dismissal of the clear teaching of the Bible.


White, J. R., & Niell, J. D. (2002). The Same Sex Controversy: Defending and Clarifying the Bible’s Message about Homosexuality (pp. 55–57). Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.