I know this is a dangerous topic. Many angry words have been flying around
from both sides of this issue. It seems that both sides have forgotten that
they are talking to other people - other human beings with feelings and rights.
That is sad, because when we stop seeing the person on the other side of the
argument, it becomes too easy to marginalize them and dismiss their point of
view.
Much has been said by conservative pundits that Christian Values must be, by
their very definition, set in opposition to same sex marriage and
homosexuality. I started to wonder about that and set out to determine if that
is true.
My first stop was the book of Leviticus, chapter 18, verse 22. This is one
of the key verses that is quoted as a proclamation against homosexual
relationships in general (note that the verse prohibits sexual relations
between men, specifically). A quick review of the surrounding verses reveals
that this verse is part of a laundry list of forbidden sexual activities which
include incest, sex with close relations, sex with animals, and other such
things. According to this chapter of Leviticus, these types of activities will
defile a person.
I continued to read through these laws into chapter 19. There are many
valuable laws there including laws that prohibit idolatry, stealing, lying, deception,
fraud, using false measures, withholding wages, cursing deaf people, tripping
blind people, perverting justice and showing favoritism in court, slander,
endangering your neighbor's life, hating your brother, seeking revenge, holding
a grudge, mating different kinds of animals, planting different kinds of seeds
in one field, wearing clothing woven from two kinds of material, eating meat
with blood in it, making your daughter a prostitute, etc. There is much useful
guidance in these verses, and many things that are forbidden.
A couple of other laws that I find interesting, and relevant, are these:
don't get tattoos, and don't cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off
the edges of your beard.
Let's just take these last two as examples. I don't think anyone would argue
that it is incorrect to take words out of context and use them to your advantage.
So, to be fair, if you are going to invoke Leviticus 18:22 as an argument
against homosexuality, based on the same standard, shouldn't all the men who
argue this also have long hair on the sides of their heads and unclipped beards. And shouldn't anyone who supports that position have no tattoos?
So, there must be more to these arguments. Are all Christians today bound by
all the laws set down in Leviticus? If they are, it's pretty clear that we are
all falling short in many places. What does the New Testament have to say about
this?
In Matthew 5:17, Jesus states:
"Do not think that I have come to
abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to
fulfill them...until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not
the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until
everything is accomplished." Now, this verse has been the subject of many
debates and many scholars disagree about its application. I'm no scholar, so
I'll just use a plain reading interpretation based on what appears to be the
main stream of thought on the subject.
The Law of the Old Testament has not been abolished. But, what did he mean
when he said he came to fulfill them? Most people interpret this to mean that
he abided by all of them. Thus, he led a sinless life as measured by his obedience
to these laws. He then died as a sacrifice for all the people of the world so
that everyone could be freed from the punishment of death for the sins they
commit during their lives. Thus, he fulfilled the Law.
When asked about the Law and the Law of the Prophets by a lawyer, Jesus
answered:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your mind.. This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the
Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Based on Jesus' answer, the modern Christian should center his belief system
on these two commandments. A modern Christian should focus on loving God and
loving his neighbor - this will put him in the right place according to Jesus.
Jesus could not have made it more simple to understand - yet, as most of us
know - very difficult to follow. Remember, too, when Jesus was pressed by a lawyer as to who would
be defined as a "neighbor", Jesus told the parable of the Good
Samaritan. Luke 10:25-37. This parable defines "neighbor" as someone
we encounter who is in need.
Christians are also warned about judging others.
"Do not judge, or you
too will be judged." Matthew 7:1-5. So, the Christian who judges someone
else for their apparent sins will be judged by the same standard. Christians
are advised to look into their own lives, first, and be sure they are not
being hypocritical in their judgments - which, in most cases, they are. Instead, Jesus teaches us to love others and to forgive others. Luke 17:1-4.
I have reviewed surveys that say that the Christian community has a divorce
rate that mirrors or even exceeds that of the secular community. In other
words, Christian marriages break up around 50% of the time, just like
non-Christian marriages. I wonder about that because Jesus taught that the only
justification for a man to divorce his wife is for adultery. Matthew 19:9 (this
verse specifies that a man who does this and marries another commits adultery -
it does not comment on women).
Now, I wonder, based on these principles, how many Christians, if they
follow Jesus' advice, are without sin and can judge someone else?
One of the greatest teachers on the tenants of Christianity, Paul (St. Paul,
Apostle Paul - as you like), also talked about the application of the Old
Testament laws to our lives. Paul teaches very specifically that Christians are
not under the Law.
"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known,
to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes
through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for
all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are justified freely
by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Romans 3:21-24. Not only do these verses teach that Christian salvation is accomplished
outside or apart from the law, but that the Law and the Prophets testify to it.
This echoes the statement from Jesus that he came to fulfill the Law. In
addition to that, there are a couple of immensely important statements here.
First, this salvation is for
"all who believe." All, everyone, no
matter your race, place of birth, color, sexual orientation, height, weight, age, hair
style, etc qualify. To underscore this statement, Paul says that "there is
no difference." Why, because all, everyone, has sinned. Everyone. Everyone
on both sides of the current debate has sinned. And, we all know it.
Of course, the good news is that we are all
"justified freely by his
grace through the redemption" by Jesus if we believe. As I said, this
redemption knows no boundaries. It extends to people on both sides of this debate, if they believe. And, if they do, they are called upon to love each other as they love themselves.
Paul did not teach us to judge others by the law, but inspired us to tell
others about the freedom that is offered by Jesus' fulfillment of the law.
Jesus spoke a lot about love. So did Paul. I challenge everyone with this statement by Paul:
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one
another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The
commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not
steal,' 'Do not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed
up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to its
neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
Romans 13:8-10. This is a powerful statement. And, in terms of the laws of
Leviticus, puts them in a different perspective. Paul lists some of the
specific laws contained there and then uses an all encompassing statement
"and whatever other commandment there may be" which would include the
commandment about homosexuality, and says it is summed up by the rule: Love
your neighbor as yourself.
Well, if, as a Christian, I am going to love my neighbor as myself, then I
want for my neighbor the same rights, freedoms, privileges, and life that I
want for myself. So, what if my neighbor is gay? Think of the Samaritan. Do you
think that Jesus' message would have been any different if the Samaritan was
gay? I don't.
Is the Old Testament irrelevant? No. It is a guideline for behavior. It can
be a measuring stick to use when we want to know what is right and wrong. Is it
fair to single out a particular passage and build a doctrine around it or, for
that matter, a political platform? No, I don't think so.
Because, if it is,
then every man who does that ought to have long hair
on the sides of his face and an untrimmed beard and should not be divorced
unless his wife committed adultery. And, for all of them, man or woman, none
should have a tattoo. Remember, you will be judged as you judge. If you hold
others up to a standard, then you must also be able to live by that standard, yourself.
As for me - I am going to do everything in my power to love my neighbor as
myself. I hope to bring a little peace and happiness to those around me by
doing so. And, don't worry, I won't judge you for how you live.
Bob Vogel
rlvogel@robertvogellaw.com
