Intuition with Truth, pt. 2

Jennifer’s Knapp’s coming out caused a huge stir among the Christian community, one that was well-reflected in my own mind. My loyalty to the themes of her music now demanded that I confront an issue that I had thus far given very little thought. So I started Googling feverishly. [Note: I am by no means an expert. I only know what anyone else would after a few days of internet research. I do plan on reading a few books on the subject, however. See list at the end.] What I found was that there are basically two camps among Christians, often referred to as Side A and Side B. Both acknowledge the existence and nature of homosexuality as something inborn and essentially unchangeable. However, they differ on the biblical mandate regarding homosexual behavior. Put simply, Side A maintains that there is nothing inherently sinful in living out a homosexual life; Side B maintains that while having same-sex attraction (ssa) is inevitable for some, acting on it disobeys what the Bible teaches. Both sides can boast of strong, loving Christians that sincerely desire to please God. Both sides have people that have put a lot of thought  into examining the issue. But in the conflict between intuition and the words of the Bible, they fall on different sides.

Now, with that exposition out of the way, this is what I believe: I fall on Side B of the debate, and this is why:

1. Two thousand years of tradition condemn homosexual practices. While the argument from tradition is certainly not conclusive, I think it’s unwise to disregard the church fathers without having a very, very good case.
2. As long as we’re talking about intuition, I might as well share mine: There is something inherently beautiful and right about a man and a woman together that no other relationship possesses. There is a particular physical and emotional completion that homosexual relationships cannot duplicate.
3. Every time the Bible discusses marriage, it is only between a man and a woman.
4. Even if you ignore completely what the Old Testament says about homosexuality (i.e. the Mosaic Law), the New Testament passages (I Cor. 6:9-10 and I Tim. 6:9-10) that address it are clear. It takes more linguistic and hermeneutical wiggling than I am comfortable to define arsenokoitai as something other than a homosexual. Romans 1:26-27 is even clearer. I can see no logical reason to define “natural” as only “natural for heterosexuals.”

Even Side A Christians recognize that without the appeal to “common sense” and the “no-harm” test — i.e., “what would God have against two Christians in a committed, loving, monogamous relationship?” — their argument is weak. While certainly many homosexual relationships fulfill both of these criteria, , I am very uncomfortable with elevating these subjective tests above the authority of Scripture.

I realize that our understanding of the authority of Scripture is dependent on the scholarship of our translation and the hermeneutical process. But in the studying that I have done so far, the words that are there don’t warrant the interpretation that homosexual behavior is not wrong. And I think it is dangerous to allow intuition of the heart to have the final say. Just from what I know about myself, my heart may have noble aspirations and lovely dreams; but it’s also full of pride, lust, and deceit. So when the Bible and my heart disagree, and prayerful searching of the Spirit does not change my understanding of it, I must submit my so-called common sense. In short, I do not trust myself.

However. (And this is a big however.) I also discern no reason to raise as big of a controversy as there is currently in among American Christianity. Paul made a far bigger deal about pride, jealousy, and contentiousness (just to name a few). I am extremely reluctant to write off so many brothers and sisters — like Jennifer Knapp — who, were it not for their sexual identity, would otherwise be considered normal, orthodox Christians. And I refuse to treat them as apostate, as some hateful so-called Christians seem to love to do.

So where does this leave us? Both sides hold fast to their methods of reasoning. Indeed, among some I sense their mind would not be changed even if presented with irrefutable evidence to the contrary. Some on each side so adamantly believe theirs to be true that they refuse to associate with the other side. This, I think, brings more shame than anything else. Salvation is not dependent on sexuality. It is dependent on Christ. I’m not saying that homosexuality is a trivial topic — it is important — but it is not essential.

In the end, God will judge. Perhaps one side will be wrong and one will be right. Perhaps neither, or both, in a way we cannot yet comprehend. In the meantime, instead of examining people based on their sexuality, maybe we should look to their deeds according to the fruit of the Spirit. That is a truer test than any of spiritual wisdom and maturity.

Final note: In my internet travels I discovered many, many helpful articles and blogs. I would love to list all of them, but memory and space will not permit it. But I wanted to at least link to the following bloggers. I hope one day I get to honor them personally with the respect and love that are due them for holding fast to Jesus in spite of everything.

Articles:

• “The Best Research Yet” (Christianity Today) — Basically a magazine-size summary of the work that Jones and Yarhouse have done researching the ex-gay movement.
• “Sexuality and Slavery (part 3)” by Peter Ould — Study of the word arsenokoites from a conservative standpoint.
• “Gay By Choice? The Science of Sexual Identity” (Mother Jones) – if you read only one of these links, make it this one – it puts forth the thought that science may actually be proving that sexuality is a lot more fluid than we think.

Blogs:

• Pursue God
• Disputed Mutability
• Adventures of a Christian Collegian (aka College Jay)

Books I plan on studying (in MLA format, just for kicks)

• Balch, David L., ed. Homosexuality, Science, and the “Plain Sense” of Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2000.
• DeYoung, James B. Homosexuality: Contemporary Claims Examined in Light of the Bible and Other Ancient Literature and Law. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2000.
• Jones, Stanton L. and Mark A. Yarhouse. Ex-Gays? A Longitudinal Study of Religious Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2007.
• Jones, Stanton L. and Mark A. Yarhouse. Homosexuality: The Use of Scientific Research in the Church’s Moral Debate. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2000.
• Pronk, Pim. Against Nature? Types of Moral Argumentation Regarding Homosexuality. Trans. John Vriend. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1993.
• Wold, Donald J. Out of Order: Homosexuality in the Bible and the Ancient Near East. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998.

Reading: Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner’s Semester at America’s Holiest University, Kevin Roose; The World’s Last Night and Other Essays, C. S. Lewis
Listening: Fallen, Evanescence; Glee
Watching: Legend of the Seeker season 2 (*SOB* I can’t believe it’s over!! *SOB*); Lost (for some reason I’m not as torn up about this one); Bones; Glee; Enter the Dragon (woo Bruce Lee movies woo)
Playing: Diablo II (Finally! I beat the first one twice.)

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