Using the Bible to condemn Homosexuality..

Hey guys! I'm still alive! I havent posted in a long time, mostly because I havent really had much to post about. However, I did finish a big project recently and a post about that will be coming shortly.

However, this post has nothing to do with that. This is my 2 cents about the whole Muppets vs. Chick'fil'a homosexuality debate that has been in the media a lot lately, particularly on Facebook.

Please Note!! Before I even get started, let me make this totally clear. I am not saying that anyone should, or should not, believe anything. I wont get into my religious affiliation because it doesnt matter. I'm not saying you shouldnt believe in God, or that you should believe in God, or any other deity for that matter.

 This will be my opinion on the homosexuality debate as a whole, and it can be summed up in just one short phrase..

You have no right to judge.

Ok, now that we've got that out of the way, I'll go more into the specifics. This is particularly for those who use the Bible to justify "fag-hate". To start, I'm gonna go ahead and give the verses that most "Christians" use to condemn Homosexuality.

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Leviticus 18:22 

"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." Lev.20:13 

"The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom ... neither fornicators ... nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind ... shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 

"Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for ... them that defile themselves with mankind ... and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine ... These filthy dreamers defile the flesh." 1 Timothy 1:9-10 

"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha ... giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh ... suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Jude 7-8

All of those seem pretty clear on condemning homosexuality. It is a vile abomination worthy of death. Alright, now that we've got those for reference.. lets go ahead and look at a few more bible verses that reference homosexuality that I find interesting..

"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. 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 recompence of their error which was meet." Romans 1:26-27

"I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left." Luke 17:34-35

To me, that first one from Romans sounds like God is going to inflict homosexuality on those who displease Him. Thats an interesting thought. Especially for those who say homosexuality is a choice! The one from Luke is interesting also, as it is referencing the Rapture (Jesus' second coming, and spiriting those who are good and faithful away to heaven). It sounds like when the Rapture happens, one person of a homosexual couple will be spirited away? How do you explain that? (also.. ""two women shall be grinding together" is an awesome phrase. Just saying.)

Alright, thats a majority of the references to homosexuality in the Bible. Yes, there are a few I left out, so you dont have to let me know. I pulled out the ones that are important and usually referred to.

Now I want to bring to attention a few more verses from the Bible. The first few will reference marriage.

"If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her, And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid: Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate.... But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die.." -- Deuteronomy 22:13

Alright, so if a man says that his wife is not a virgin when they marry, and her parents have no proof that she was a virgin (how does that even work?) then she should be stoned to death. Thats interesting.

"If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days." -- Deuteronomy 22:28-29

This one says that if a man is found doing the deed with a virgin, he has to pay the woman's father and then take her as a wife. Forever. Alright, thats not too crazy I suppose, aside from the end. Speaking of which, lets see what the Bible has to say about divorce.

"And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. ... Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery." - Mark, Ch. 10

"When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife." Deuteronomy 24:1-2

The first one from Mark is pretty clear, Divorce and re-marriage are condemned and akin to adultery (which is pretty expressly forbidden in the 10 Commandments). However, the second one, from Deuteronomy, is OK with it. Thats a bit contradictory..

Alright lets look at some more examples of man/woman relations, outside of marriage.

But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die. ... For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her. -- Deuteronomy 22:25-27 

"If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city." -- Deuteronomy 22:23-24

Alright these two are both about rape. The only difference between the two is location. In the first one, the rape occurs in the country. Since there is no one around to hear the woman's screams, she is innocent and only the man is to be put to death. However, in the second one, she is in the city. So if no-one heard her scream, she was obviously asking for it. Both of them should be put to death. Take that, city rape victims!

"And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean." Leviticus 15

"And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people." Leviticus 20:18

The vernacular in the first one isnt completely clear, but its referring to menstruating women. Yes, every month for 7 days a woman is "unclean" (in the physical and spiritual sense). Everything she touches or sits on is unclean, and anyone who touches her is unclean. The second one is about sleeping with a menstruating woman. If a man does this, both he and her are to be shunned from society! So stay away from chicks on the rag.

Now we're kind of getting into things that are dont really specifically have to do with relationships.

"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. -- Leviticus 10:1-2 

"And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense." -- Numbers 16:35

Thats right, God hates incense. If you burn incense, you yourself will be burned to death.

"The other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad." Jeremiah 24:2-3 

"And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away." Matthew 21:19 

"These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you." Deuteronomy 14:9-10 (and also Leviticus)

God really, really hates figs. Like a lot. Also, any seafood that didnt have fins and scales (like shrimp, lobster, squid (bye bye calamari), ect) is not for eating!

Did you think that God is against abortion and infantcide? You might want to reconsider.. 

"Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up." - Hosea 13:16 

"Yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb." - Hosea 9:16

"Because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die." -- 2 Samuel 12:14

Some more things that the Bible says..

"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing." 1 Timothy 2:11-15

"He that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death." -- Exodus 21:15

"Whosoever ... hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; ... Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries." - Lev.21:17-23

In order, the Timothy one says that women should remain silent, and is only really good for makin' babies. The Exodus one says that disobedient children should be put to death. The Leviticus one says that handicapped people (blind, lame, or even just ugly) should not come to church, so as to not blemish it.

Alright alright, I think thats probably enough examples. The point is, the Bible says a lot of things about a lot of different issues. If you're going to use the verses from the Bible to condemn homosexuality, you should also follow the rest of the points. If you were not a virgin when you married, if you get divorced and re-married, if you associate with menstruating women, burn incense, or even eat figs and shrimp, you have ZERO right to judge anyone based on what the Bible says. In fact, even if you follow every part of the Bible, word for word, even the out-dated parts, you still have no right to judge.

The fact of the matter is, the Bible is a very old book. A very old book that has been translated and re-translation hundreds of times. Even with authors like Shakespeare, Homer, or even newer ones like Stephen King, there are articles and articles debating what the author meant in this work or that, finding different meaning even in the same lines of text. If there is this much debate over what man-written works mean, of course the meaning of the Bible is debated! Especially if you truly believe that the Bible is the words of God himself. If we can't even agree on what our fellow man means in his writing, what makes you think you can determine an all-seeing, all-knowing deity's meaning? It is unfathomable!


Because you know what else the Bible says?

"The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:31

"'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." - Leviticus 19:18

No other commandment greater than these. (The first one is, of course, Love the Lord with all your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength.) It is not for you to judge anyone. Leave the judging to God, and just.. love.


EDIT: 8/1/12
A few things to add..

Today was the big Chick'fil'a support day, as I'm sure most people are aware of. Now, I'm not really choosing sides on the issue. I havent purposefully been boycotting Chick'fil'a, but I sure as heck wasnt going to stand in a line today to support it either. I totally agree with many of those supporting the company today that Chick'fil'a has the right to freedom of speech. So do the gays and gay-supporters, though, and boycotting falls into that right.

For those of you who say you're not necessarily against gays, but are against gay marriage because it is "religious" ... no, its not. If marriage were purely a religious - specifically Christian - rite, atheists and those of other religions, hetero- or homo-sexual, wouldnt be able to get married. If it were purely a religious rite, only priests would be able to perform marriages, not judges and other governmental persons. Marriage is a legal rite, not religious. There is separation of church and state for a reason. Now I know usually people say this to prove that the church should stay out of legal affairs, and I agree with that. But separation of church and state actually came about to keep the State out of the Church. Because the founding fathers didnt want any specific religion to be forced on people, as it was in Britain. Laws denying certain peoples the rights that everyone else has, based on religious beliefs, goes against that basic ideal in every way. Denying certain people their rights is wrong, no matter how you look at it. You can go ahead and disagree with people, but that does not give you the right to deny them things everyone else can do. For example, I dont agree with the opinions or lifestyles of KKK or Black Panther Party members. That doesnt mean those people should be denied their rights.