The gay couple in the bible

The relationship of homosexuality to Christianity is one of the main topics of discussion in our culture today. There are a number of other books that take the opposite view, namely that the Bible either allows for or supports same sex relationships. Over the last year or so I and other pastors at Redeemer have been regularly asked for responses to their arguments. The two most read volumes taking this position seem to be those by Matthew Vines and Ken Wilson.

Revisionist scholars have published several recent books that argue the Bible does not condemn same-sex behavior. In other words, if we can disregard rules like the ban on eating shellfish in Leviticus , then we should be allowed to disobey other prohibitions from the Old Testament. Today, I have to follow only the latter rule, since the former is no longer needed to protect me. In fact, it would now do me more harm than good.

A servant purchased to serve this purpose was often called a pais. But more importantly, Jesus shows compassion to people in spite of their sins, and his healings and deliverance from harm are invitations to spiritual salvation. For example, Jesus saved the woman caught in adultery from being executed, not so that she could return to her sinful ways, but so that she could repent of them. That said, there is no evidence that the centurion and his slave actually were involved in a sexual relationship.

I also want to thank College Hill United Methodist for graciously agreeing to host the event. I was born and raised here in Wichita, in a loving Christian home and in a church community that holds to the traditional interpretation of Scripture on this subject. The issue of homosexuality, of the ordination of gay clergy and of the blessing of same-sex unions, has caused tremendous divisions in the church in recent decades, and the church remains substantially divided over the issue today. On the one hand, the most common themes voiced by those who support changing traditional church teaching on homosexuality are those of acceptance, inclusion, and love, while on the other hand, those who oppose these changes express concerns about sexual purity, holiness, and most fundamentally, the place of Scripture in our communities.