By Luke Smith
In the recent decision of the Supreme Court in United States vs. Windsor, the court struck down the federal law defining marriage exclusively as a monogamous union of a man and woman. I have been asked by many different people in the congregation I serve as pastor about my thoughts on same-sex marriage. I am not persuaded that same-sex marriage is compatible with the scriptural witness for sexual union.
One of the interpreters of the Bible who has been very helpful to me in navigating the scriptural passages with regard to the issue of homosexuality is Richard Hays. Currently he serves as the dean of Duke Divinity School. His book The Moral Vision of the New Testament significantly shaped my interpretation of the relevant scriptural passages. Robert Gagnon’s The Bible and Homosexual Practice provided an exhaustive resource to the issues surrounding the question of homosexuality.
It seems to me in our present day there is a hesitancy to look to scripture to find guidance on the issue of sexual behavior. There are several reasons for this hesitancy.
First is the fact that there are times when people have quoted the Bible in ways that are angry and cruel. There is no question that people have misapplied the Bible. Jesus confronted the misuse of scripture by the Pharisees and other religious leaders. The devil tempting Jesus appealed to scripture. I know of many accounts of women who in attempting to escape abusive relationships have been told by religious leaders to return to their husbands based on appeals to scriptural condemnation of divorce.
In addition to the troubling experience of appeals to scripture that counsel rigid responses to complex circumstances, there are also teachings that seem to be interwoven with the culture of the period in which these writings were first recorded. This raises the question to what extent do the social customs of the ancient Near East apply to the present day?
I was in the gym one day when someone made the comment to me, “don’t you think we have progressed since the times of the Bible?” Not everyone would phrase their concern in exactly the same way. But there is uneasiness about how one applies the Bible to the present.
This is compounded when it seems like there are prohibitions in the Bible that are not taken with the same level of care. Slavery was widely practiced in the ancient world. When the Bible speaks with regard to slavery, the question is naturally raised would the admonishments be exactly the same in our present context. If not, then may we not also assume that there might be some change when it comes to same-sex marriage?
Quoting scripture does not mean that we are faithfully interpreting scripture. On the other hand, while Jesus critiqued and rebuked people for misusing scripture, he appealed to scripture to explain his identity. The early church when wrestling with the questions of purity turned to scripture. It seems to me that this is a model for us as well. The church is always confronted with the challenge to faithfully handle scripture which includes the consideration of how prohibitions cross time and culture.
Space does not allow me to address every passage that relates to same-sex behavior. Perhaps the most significant passage for thinking about homosexuality is Romans 1:18-32. The gospel as Paul presents it here in Romans is a demonstration of God’s justice. This demonstration of justice delivers humankind from bondage to sin and death. Same-sex erotic relationships are used as a picture of the distortion of sin and the unfolding wrath of God.
In summary, Genesis, Leviticus, 1 Corinthians, 1 Timothy, Acts, and Romans – every biblical text that references homosexuality – expresses disapproval. In this respect the issue of homosexuality differs from topics like slavery or the subordination of women. In addition to the texts which specifically condemn homosexuality, a full reflection on this matter would need to explore the passages in which erotic desire is treated. There is a tremendous amount of attention given throughout scripture to the importance of purity in our sexual behavior.
There is a narrative in the world that seems to me to insist that full and happy lives depend upon romantic love. But in Scripture we find an alternate claim, thankfully, given the reality that often our lives are caught in places of unfulfilled desire. Lives of freedom, joy and service are not dependent upon sexual expression. There is almost no discussion in our culture of celibacy as a good thing. In fact celibacy, the abstaining from sexual expression, is often considered to be somehow repressive, creating a well spring of negative inclinations. In contrast to the prevailing message of our day, Jesus commended celibacy. Paul commended celibacy. The gratification of our sexual desire is not a necessary condition for personal fulfillment.
I think perhaps the greatest concern that I have with the current discussion within the church of same-sex marriage is that as people devalue the scripture another tendency may emerge. The goal of the Christian life becomes less about the unfolding plan of God’s redemption. The focus turns to the present. This leads to efforts to make our present day a place of perfect justice. We should be just and fair. We should want to be more just and fair. Because of the pernicious consequence of disobedience to God, all of our efforts will inevitably leave this work unfinished. In turn, this can lead to people focusing on the failures of others without adequately being convinced of their own culpability. The heart of the gospel is the message of God’s gift of deliverance through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
As we consider ethical issues of any type I think it is important to reference the advice of Paul to the church at Rome, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
In the abstract we do not acknowledge a particular man or woman’s struggles, hurts and pain. We also may neglect to acknowledge the gifts and strengths which even in incompleteness may be giving witness to the redemptive power of God.
The life of the believer is one in which we find ourselves to be resident aliens among resident aliens. May we remember this fact as we think about our sisters and brothers who each struggle as we struggle to be made after the image of God.