Homosexuality And The Bible

by David Padfield

Was King David of Israel a homosexual? According to some "researchers" in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, both King David and Jonathan, the oldest son of King Saul, were gay. In a correspondence course used by their congregation in Key West, Florida, they say, "All scripture referring to the love that David and Jonathan had indicates that it was a very romantic, personal love." They also imply that Ruth and Naomi, women of the Old Testament, were lesbian lovers, and claim homosexuals "will receive very special recognition" in heaven.

The Metropolitan Community Church was organized in 1968 by Troy Perry. Metropolitan Community Church congregations can be found in most American cities and a dozen foreign countries. They claim 80% of their members are homosexual. In one of their tracts, Why We Are A Fellowship, James Sandmire states the Metropolitan Community Church "creates community where it never existed before: literally thousands of lesbians and gay men take great strength and comfort in the fact that in most major cities, and now in many rural communities, there is a Metropolitan Community Church. We are becoming widely recognized as a Church of liberation for a community in need. This need increases with changing political climates, health crises and attacks from the religious right."

As a result of talking about this subject in print and on the radio, I have been called a "homophobe," a "bigot," and a "gay basher." I have no personal animosity against these people. Homosexuals are no worse than any idolater, adulterer or thief. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, the apostle Paul puts these people in the same class, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

When you quote this verse to members of the Metropolitan Community Church, they will quickly tell you it is just a bad translation. They must believe every recognized Bible translator is a bigoted, gay bashing, homophobe!

In Roman 1:24-32, Paul explains that homosexuality was one of the reasons God "gave up" on the Gentiles. He says, "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

Paul put homosexual activity in the midst of a list which includes sexual immorality, murder, and those who hate God. Paul claimed those who committed these crimes were worthy of death.

God's laws on sexual morality in the Old Testament were very plain. Leviticus 20:13 says, "If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them." Of course, homosexuals today claim this verse was just not translated correctly.

In Leviticus 18:22 we read, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination." Was this verse also mistranslated by a group of bigots and gay-bashers? I wonder about the verse that follows it. It says, "Nor shall you mate with any beast, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before a beast to mate with it. It is perversion" (Leviticus 18:23). This verse deals with the sin of bestiality (sexual intercourse with animals). Those who practice this perversion are called zoophiles. Could those guilty of bestiality claim this verse was just mis-translated by a group of zoophile-bashers?

Since the Metropolitan Community Church is in favor of "loving, committed same sex relationships," I wonder how they feel about pedophiles? You know, those are adults who prefer intercourse with little children. We usually refer to them as child molesters. The North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) advocates consensual sex between men and boys. The San Francisco chapter of NAMBLA has used the public library for their meetings (USA Today, January 21, 1992). A spokesman for the organization said, "We are not child abusers. We're fighting for children's rights, and children must have the right to have consensual sex with adults."

The Roman Catholic Church has a few priests who might qualify for membership in NAMBLA. The Louisville Courier-Journal reported that in Chicago, "A flurry of child sex-abuse scandals has drawn the Roman Catholic Church into a far-ranging investigation of pedophile priests, a phenomenon critics say the church hierarchy has long kept muffled" (March 20, 1992). Seven Roman Catholic priests were removed from their parishes due to sexual mistreatment of children. I don't know where these priests moved to, but they might be able to find a job with the Metropolitan Community Church! You know the old saying, birds of a feather flock together.

Sometimes you will hear homosexuality called a sickness. Other times they claim "God made me this way." Is homosexuality a learned life-style? The Bible never presents homosexuality as a sickness. It always refers to it as a sin. The good news is Christ our Lord died for sin. In Romans 5:8,9, Paul shows us that "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."

Many homosexuals and sodomites in Corinth found mercy from the Lord. First, they had to repent of their sins and be washed in the blood of Christ. Paul speaks of homosexuals and sodomites, then says, "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11).

I am not suggesting that anyone burn the building of the Metropolitan Community Church or form a picket line in front of it. The cause of Christ is neither promoted nor defended by violence. The only weapon of our warfare is the sword of the Spirit, the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). The gospel has not lost any of its power, but it has suffered in the feeble hands of some preachers. I am appalled at denominational preachers who have decided to remain silent on this issue. It appears these spiritual cowards would rather spend their time playing bingo or planning the next ladies auxiliary meeting.

If it were not for the fact the Metropolitan Community Church claims to have God's approval, I would have remained silent about their organization. I am not a political activist, nor am I interested in denying them their civil rights. But, when these sodomites and lesbians use the name of my Lord, I cannot remain silent.

In an article in the Evansville Press, one of the leaders of the Metropolitan Community Church said many gays and lesbians "have expressed a desire for spiritual programs but do not feel welcome in many churches here." I cannot speak for any other religious group, but these folks are welcome at the church of Christ. They are welcome to attend and search the scriptures with us. It is the only way I that know they will ever come to a knowledge of the truth. Once they find out the gospel demands they repent of all their sins, including the sin of their homosexual life-style, then they can render obedience unto the Son of God. If they then continue to walk in the light of God's word, heaven can be their home.

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