For the last couple of years I have been trying to read widely about Christian perspectives on same-sex practice, attraction, and identity. These perspectives have ranged from personal, practical, theological, anthropological, psychological, and biographical.
The reason I need to study this thoroughly is pretty obvious. My responsibilities as a Christian pastor and teacher make it necessary for me to be as informed and thoughtful as I can possibly be on this complex issue. There is no lack of controversy or opinion on this topic, but a shortage of humility, loving concern, and serious appreciation for the difficulties involved is constantly on display from all sides.
Two books I recently completed are:
Homosexuality and Christian Faith, edited by
Walter Wink, and
What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality, by
Daniel A. Helminiak. Both books make a case for affirming monogamous same-sex relationships that are loving, committed, and egalitarian. They both argue that the biblical prohibitions related to same-sex practice are not a blanket condemnation of homosexuality per se, but rather a condemnation of same-sex practices that were violent, dehumanizing, pagan, and idolatrous.
I am currently working my way through
The Bible and Homosexual Practice by
Robert A. Gagnon. Gagnon counters attempts, as the aforementioned books, to classify the Christian opposition to
same-sex practice as culturally obsolete or wrong-headed biblical interpretation. He endeavors to demonstrate systematically why efforts to dismiss the Bible's rejection of
same-sex practice fail to give sufficient consideration to the biblical texts.
In addition to study, I value opportunities for thoughtful discussion. If this is a
subject you would like to discuss or study with me, I would
welcome hearing from you.
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From the publisher's description:
"Gagnon offers the most thorough analysis to date of the biblical texts
relating to homosexuality. His strong and clearly articulated argument
establishes that the Bible contains a unanimous witness defining
same-sex intercourse as sin. He does so while rigorously engaging
biblical scholars and historians who have written both for and against
this understanding of same-sex intercourse. In addition, he demonstrates
systematically why attempts to classify as irrelevant for our
contemporary context the Bible's rejection of same-sex intercourse fail
to do justice to the biblical texts. His conclusions are clear and
compassionate, as he cautions readers on all sides of the debate against
a truncated gospel, and challenges all to strive for a holistic view of
the command to love God and neighbor."
From the Barnes & Noble overview of Wink's book:
Issues surrounding homosexuality threaten to divide the Christian
churches and the people within them. This unique resource presents short
pieces from some of the nation's most prominent church leaders -
Protestant and Catholic, mainline and evangelical - who address the
fundamental moral imperatives about homosexuality. Together they invite
the reader to open his or her heart to the Spirit, to tolerance, and to
Gospel values. Through personal testimony, factual clarification, and
moral suasion, they provide much-needed clarity on the biblical witness
and biblical authority, the nature or character of homosexuality and
sexual orientation, and many related topics.
From the Library Journal description of Helminiak's book:
Helminiak, a Roman Catholic priest, has done careful reading in current
biblical scholarship about homosexuality. While cautioning against
viewing biblical teaching as "the last word on sexual ethics," he
stresses the need for accurate understanding of what the biblical
"facts" are and concludes that "the Bible supplies no real basis for the
condemnation of homosexuality."
