QUESTIONS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY
by Dr. Bill Flatt of Harding University

I have recently been asked to answer several questions about homosexuality, and I’ll attempt to address them in this article.

QUESTION: Wouldn’t it be better to allow homosexual marriages? No. Such a practice would legitimatize sin and change our traditional and Biblical concept of marriage. The Biblical norm for marriage is one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24).

QUESTION: Doesn’t the word "know" in Genesis 19 mean that the men of Sodom just wanted to get acquainted with the men (angels) in Lot’s house? No, not at all. Lot did not think that was what they meant. He offered them his daughters who had never "known" (same word) a man to do with as they wished. The men of Sodom did not understand it as just a "get acquainted" situation. They tried to break in to get to "know" these men. Neither did the angels of the Lord understand it as a simple social request. They struck the men of Sodom blind. And, of course, the Lord destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah soon afterward because of such sins.

QUESTION: Why bind Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 on us today since they are in the Old Testament? The condemnation of homosexual practice in these passages in in keeping with the overall theme regarding sexuality in the Bible — one man and one woman in marriage.

QUESTION: Doesn’t Romans 1:18-32 just condemn sex between a homosexual male and a homosexual boy as was practiced in the Greek culture? No. Paul had language to say that at his disposal. Instead he used more general language, which not only condemns that practice prevalent among the Greek culture, but all homosexual practices. The fact that he also condemned women with women shows that his intention was much broader than indicated in this objection.

QUESTION: Doesn’t Romans 1:18-32 just condemn sex between heterosexuals and homosexuals? No. That is not the language of the text. It is men with men and women with women, a condemnation of the gay-lesbian lifestyle in general.

QUESTION: Isn’t it true that loving, consensual relationships did not even exist back then? So, Paul’s message has nothing to do with such relationships. The only thing wrong with this argument is that it simply is not true. Mark D. Smith demonstrates otherwise in a recent scholarly article in the Journal of the American Academy of Religion. (Mark D. Smith., "Ancient Bisexuality and the Interpretation of Romans 1:21-27," Journal of the American Academy of Religion. LXIV, No. 2:223-55). He establishes the fact that all current practices of homosexuality were prevalent in Paul’s world: casual sex, loving consensual sex, men with boys, men with men, women with women, even homosexual marriages. With such evidence, this argument surely will fade among scholars.

QUESTION: Doesn’t the Hebrew word for love in II Samuel 1:26 prove that David and Jonathan had a homosexual relationship? No, not at all. The Hebrew word is a general word for love. It is also used in I Samuel 18:16 where it says that "All Israel loved David." Were all of the Israelites homosexuals? I doubt if anyone wants to say that. The overall context of II Samuel 1 shows that Jonathan was very loyal to David, remarkable considering that David was a threat to Jonathan’s "rightful" path to succeed his father, Saul, as king of Israel. They were loyal to each other and loved each other as good friends. Nothing more than this need be read into the text.

QUESTION: Doesn’t I Corinthians 6:9-11 and I Timothy 1:8-11 just condemn male prostitution? No. The language of both passages reflects the language of Leviticus 18-19 which condemns homosexuality in general and not merely male prostitution.

QUESTION: Since homosexuality is genetically determined, how can it be wrong? It has not been established that homosexuality is genetically determined. Such studies are flawed and not conclusive. Sometimes one identical twin is homosexual and the other heterosexual. All of us may have genetic tendencies to sin, yet that does not rule out choices that we must make. Pedophiles, sexual addicts and people who commit fornication and adultery have all made such arguments. "That’s the way I am. It’s natural for me." Neither nature or nurture determines morality.

Yet the gospel from God is for everyone. It provides forgiveness, rest, joy and peace to all who submit to God’s will. Love, redemption, righteousness and responsibility are key ingredients in ministering to homosexuals. Our emphasis is not on condemnation but on Biblical standards, redemption, and Christian service.

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