Sister Amelia and Jesus Ministries™ feel that the subject of homosexuality is a somewhat jaded one. However, it is felt that an alternative biblical approach and view- point is necessary to discuss this particular facet of sexuality. Sister Amelia and Jesus Ministries™ would also like to add that this approach to homosexuality will be informative, provocative and unbiased as opposed to transparent diatribe, vacuous wit and self - righteous opinion.
Taboo: Too Queer Or Not Too Queer
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman,
both of them have committed an abomination:
they shall surely be put to death;
their blood shall be upon them. Leviticus 20:13
The Bible clearly states on numerous occasions that homosexuality is an abomination to God, and that men and women who commit same sex, sexual acts should be punished: killed. However, even though Christian Fundamentalists and Christian Apologists throughout Christendom is in holistic agreement that homosexuality is ungodly, they still fail to live up to Biblical Standards and execute our Lord's directives. One convenient way of getting out of the murder clause is to claim that God hates the sin but loves the sinner thus conveying to all and sundry that sexual abstinence is acceptable if a person is a homosexual and a Christian. Please note that with God there is no middle ground. It is black and white with no grey areas. Jehovah and Jesus' message is quite clear succinct and to the point: homosexuals must die.
But is interpreting God's holy message to humanity that simple when it concerns homosexuality?
Firstly we need to look into Biblical History and the way of life of nomadic Israel.
History
Historical references in the Bible indicate that Israel was a tribe with far less women within it. Men were commanded by God on numerous occasions to go take a wife preferably a virgin of the enemy. When the woman was captured she was assimilated into the tribe and adhered to the will of the Israelites Patriarchal System not out of choice but out of duress and survival.
Because of the lack of women in the tribe and partly because sex is something which naturally happens, homosexual acts would have been rife within the Israeli community.
We are all too familiar with the story of Sodom told in Genesis chapter 19, but it must be pointed out that Sodom was not just a city which had sexually promiscuous homosexuals and heterosexuals. It was also a 'pagan' city where varying religions had a stronghold and true to form it wasn't long before it came to God's attention. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. Genesis 13:13 The religions of the time and indeed even today found homosexual sex acceptable and were a part of fertility rites, as well as being part of normal custom.
It isn't until we reach Leviticus 18:22 that we see real immediate effective change in the Israelites approach to acceptable social behaviour. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Leviticus 18:22. And from there onwards the laws concerning sexual behaviour were laid down in stone.
But did everyone apply this golden rule to his or her life?
Rapahel Patai who coincidentally has a foreword written by my heroine Merlin Stone who wrote The Paradise Papers. He ( Patai) writes in Chapter 8 subtitle 11: Expiatory and Purificatory Yihudim that:
"Vital's Sha'ar Ruah haQodesh, the main source describing these Lurianic doctrines, contains the texts and instructions of many dozens of yihudim for the purpose of making an evil person repent, for purifying the soul, and for atoneing such grave sins as homosexual intercourse, sleeping with a married woman and the like. To judge from the number of yihudim serving these purificatory purposes, the most frequently committed sin among the jews of the 16th century Safed was homosexuality, to atone which nineteen different yihudim are reccomended. Next to it came adultery with a married woman, which sin is expiated by ten different yihudim." page 197.
Reb Gershon Caudill, the Ecokosher Rebbe 2001, August writes that:
"Like all indigenous peoples, the jews were not overly concerned about male homosexuality, where two men lived together in a monogamous , sexual relationship. As a rule, it didn't get any notice. The Talmud does not record a single istance of a person being brought before the Sanhedrin on the charge of homosexual activity. ALl Jewish halakhic authorities agree that nowhere in the Torah does Torah prohibit homosexual sexual acts by women.
Cage au Follies
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan:
very pleasant hast thou been unto me:
thy love to me was wonderful,
passing the love of women. 2 Samuel 1:26
It isn't until we come across the two books of Samuel and discover David having a love affair with another man: Jonathon. And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. 1 Samuel 18 1-4
Never once is David condemned of his illegal sexual love affair, nor is he put to death for it. But the same cannot be said of Jonathon: Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? 1 Samuel 20:30 Jonathon later died in battle but it is this story that really begs the question: is homosexuality wrong? Never once did God actually condemn David for having an unIsraelite sexual fling. The only time we are told that God is listening in on anything is when he possesses Saul after Saul's jealousy gets the better of him.
What does Jesus Say?
The shew of their countenance doth witness against them;
and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not.
Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Isaiah 3:9
Interestingly enough the Bible doesn’t ever refer again to Jonathon and David's homosexual relationship. It's poignant too that Yahweh is notably silent on the matter which is a rarity in itself as He has eyes at the back of His Almighty head and doesn't miss a thing supposedly. The rest of the Bible is concerned with the deaths of homosexuals and the giving of a clear message which indicates that it is not acceptable to God.
However it isn't until we come to the New Testament to look at what Jesus' views are on homosexuality and we draw a blank. Now it could be that Jesus was too busy staging his death and preaching about family dissolution to give homosexuals the time of day. Or it means that he just didn't have an opinion.
So once again we have to rely on Paul's opinions and later on, that of his disciples Peter, Timothy and John.
Once again we are told that homosexuals should die and are an abomination to God. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. Romans 1:27 but as already stated in Taboo: Masturbation the words of Paul are quite questionable and become invalid. So once again we are left with the Old Testament as real guidelines.
Summary
And there were also sodomites in the land:
and they did according to all the abominations
of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 1 Kings 14:24
The real clear message that the Bible gives us concerning homosexuality is that sexuality is a crime. To be aware of sexuality is to eat from the fruits of the tree of knowledge and condemns the Christian to death.
Homosexuality is sexuality and sexual identity; the same is true of heterosexuality. Sexuality is not a choice it is a way of being. But the Old Testament, God, Paul's disciples and contemporary Christians advocate that it is a choice, and the wrong choice to make.
Bare in mind that Jesus never condemned the homosexual. Neither is homosexuality mentioned in the Ten Commandments.
If Christians accept homosexuals in the Church regardless of whether they are celibate or not, then Christians are committing a heinous crime against God. It is one thing to say "love the sinner but not the sin" it is quite another to carry out actual gospel directives.
Bear in mind David and Jonathon.....
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers,
and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Revelation: 22:15
NB
The usage of dogs in the Bible means homosexuals