Some believe that Ruth and Naomi in the Book of Ruth is the story of a lesbian couple . Likewise, some see the relationship between David and Jonathan in the Book of Kings as a clear homosexual relationship and use this to defend the idea that being a temple prostitute is what is actually sinful.
David and Johnathan's story is even more interesting, becasue Jonathan's family found out, and they were upset. Yet neither of them were put to death. After an emotional and physical farewell, David went on to become king and Jonathan fought and died with honor in battle.
And Jesus Said
"The New Testament does make things clearer. Though Jesus does not speak on the topic, he does mock the idea of women being owned. In Matthew 22:23-22, Jesus is asked who gets a woman who was passed to seven brothers because they kept dying before she could have a son in the resurrection. He mocks them twice. The first time is because he knows they don't believe in the resurrection.
The second way he mocks them is by saying that in heaven, or from their perspective (this is to say in a perfect world), women aren't bought and sold. This is why they "were astonished at his doctrine" (Matthew 23:33). This corrects the problem of women being owned in the Law of Moses by making them equal to men in the Law of Christ.
Paul, Hater of Marriage
Then we have Paul. While Paul speaks against male to male relationships (1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10 to name a few), he also spoke against heterosexual marriage as well (1 Corinthians 7:7). This guy seemed to hate the idea of marriage period. This is for two reasons. First, he thought Jesus was coming back essentially around tomorrow. And second, he was a widower and was likely jealous. Sorry, he was only human. Looking at just his statements we can see he is referring to "kedeshah," per the Law. He uses the term "Arsenokoitai," which doesn't translate as homosexual but as a perversion of sex- temple prostitution.
With all the new
Christians that don't know the Law, he must speaking against the pagan practice of encouraging men to begin homosexual relationships to keep women pure, so their virginity could be sold (kedeshah). This likely would have been an issue with gentile converts. And, to be fair, it is unnatural for a straight man to have relations with a homosexual man. I would agree that this kind of unnatural relationship should be discouraged. Let homosexual men marry homosexual men and straight men marry straight women. I guess I'm just old fashioned like that.
Clear as mud?
The real issue here is that the Bible is being used as a weapon, not for personal correction. As a minister, this is my advice to anyone reading the Bible: Look at what you've read and take it internally. If it helps you love God or love your neighbors to greater degrees, then that's God talking to you. Listen and make what you've learned a part of your life. If it doesn't, the message there isn't for you yet. And, if you think it's telling you to judge someone else, remember Matthew 7:1-5 and understand that you're using it wrong.
God Bless.
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