Scholarship on the Bible and ‘LGBT issues’ is proving to be very startling lately. Here are a few recent papers to check out: 1. Biblical-era Jews were maybe not so ‘anti-gay’ Most men in the ancient world were assumed to be bisexual, so it’s not
We have all heard the fundamentalist sound-bite, “It was ‘Adam and Eve,’ not ‘Adam and Steve.’” This saying is shorthand for identifying that the speaker is a believer in the doctrine of the Natural Order of Creation. Just what is this doctrine, and does it
The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for
… and called us …according to His own purpose and grace. (2 Timothy 1:9 KJV) Understanding God’s purpose To know one’s purpose is to know who they themselves are and what they are doing. They also have the determination to accomplish what it is that
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee. (Genesis 38:15-16) When we read Scripture we
One night in a church meeting that I had been asked to speak at, I stood before the people and spoke soberly to them that I had a fairly common condition but one that is not often spoken about in our circles. I told them
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) Well, that seems plain enough. It’s particularly true when you tie it to our main focus passage: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
A friend recently wrote, “I recognize that there is one passage in 1 Corinthians that speaks specifically about ‘homosexuals.’ I’m still working through that one.” I responded, to his surprise, “I don’t believe this verse does speak specifically about homosexuals.” Even when English translations of
Paul’s remarks on same-sex relations in his letter to the Romans is only an illustration of his main point. To understand the relation of this passage to our present-day lives, I don’t think it is necessary to go on and on about how the first
Christians and “Disputable Matters” The conservative Christian Church is divided over the question of “Is homosexuality, within the confines of same-sex marriage, a sin?” Even though there have been notable exceptions, the majority of the fundamental churches judge homosexuality to be a sin and gay