Homosexuality Part 3: How I read the Scriptures

This is a continuation of the Facebook conversation that I had with a friend regarding homosexuality. See the previous post.

In response to my previous comments, my friend sent me these scriptures and asked me for my interpretation of them:

* These references cited in the NIV Bible

• Leviticus 18:22 'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.’
• Romans 1:27 ‘Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.’
• 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders.
• Jude 1:7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire

This is what I wrote:

Generally speaking my feeling about what is in the scriptures is the same as that which I indicated about modern, including living, prophets: the writers were men, prophets perhaps, but subject to the weaknesses of men and the blindness which comes from cultural and personal bias. This is putting it mildly when it comes to the Old Testament, which I view as only a slight improvement over Greek and Roman mythos. I consider the New Testament as just one rung above this on a very long ladder leading to truth. I have come to the point where I view all of the scriptures as wholly symbolic. I don't believe that "God" flooded the earth and killed all the inhabitants because He thought it was better to get a fresh start; I don't believe that He rained fire and brimstone from heaven on two cities because He couldn't find enough righteousness therein; I don't believe that He turned a poor woman into salt simply because she turned her head in the wrong direction; I don't believe that He slayed untold numbers of people simply because they failed to look at a brazen serpent; I don't believe that He told a group of people to go into a land and murder all the inhabitants so that they could steal their home from them; I don't believe that He killed two of the early members of Jesus' fledgling church simply because they failed to consecrate all of their possessions to it; I don't believe that He condones slavery, torture, or the oppression of women, but this is all explicitly either done or taught by "God" in the scriptures. I could go on and on and on, especially if I cited the murders, rapes, kidnappings, and other atrocities committed by characters in the scriptures which, though not explicitly sanctioned, are considered by some to be so implicitly, but you get the point. For much of what is in the scriptures I think that *IF* there is any literal truth in them, they are loose (perhaps even fictional) histories written through the eyes of a people who desperately wanted their history to be sanctioned by God. However, I do think that viewed through the discerning eyes of the spirit one can find hidden between the shameful junk, stories and teachings which are morally inspirational and can lead one to an understanding of truths. I think this is in harmony with St. Matthew 16:17-18, Moroni 10:3-6, and other similar scriptures indicating the way to know the truth of all things.

It makes sense at this point to tell you that generally speaking I don't see the steep descent into moral depravity that is often preached from the pulpit or discussed in Sunday school. It is granted that our culture has trended towards more openness with regards to sexuality; but it at the same time demands greater responsibility for one's sexual activity. I also see a perpetually expanding consciousness of and sensitivity to those who have in the past been oppressed or afflicted. Even though this is not universal, and there are glaring lapses even in recent history, I think the reality of this is undeniable. Perhaps one could mark the abolition of slavery in the world as the starting point and progress through the civil rights movement and women’s liberation right through to the current trend towards recognizing the inherent morality of homosexual relationships alongside the heterosexual. In light of this, it is not the evil coming from the moral decay of society that I fear, but that which comes from religious extremism, Christian, Muslim or otherwise; it is this irrational devotion to a creed, which makes individuals blind to the rights and suffering of others, that has lead and I fear will continue to lead to the greatest evil in the world.

Just to give a few specific references, here are some scriptures (from the KJV) condoning human trafficking, torture, and oppression that no one in their right mind in today's world would interpret as representing eternal moral truths; As I have said, I think they are in the scriptures simply because they reflect the perverse culture of their origin. I view the scriptures you cited on homosexuality as similarly representing the intolerant and ignorant culture of the times that produced them. Unfortunately, in my mind, we are just barely overcoming this as a culture and many have confused what these scriptures say with moral truths.

• Exodus 21:2 (2-6) 2. If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 3. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4. If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. 5. And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: 6. Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
• Exodus 21:7 (7-11) 7. And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. 8. If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her. 9. And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters. 10. If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. 11. And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.
• Exodus 21:20 (20-21) 20. And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. 21. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
• Leviticus 25:44 (44-46) 44. Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. 45. Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. 46. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour.
• 1cor 14: 35 (34-35) 34. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
• Eph: 5 (5-5) 5. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
• Col 3:22 (22-22) 22. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
• 1tim 6:1 (1-2) 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.