Category: Scripture and Theology

Bible Wars: Using the Bible in LGBTQIA Discourse (Part 5)

November 2, 2023

200 years ago in America, there was a vigorous debate about slavery. Because nearly all of the participants were Christian, the debate turned on interpretations of the Bible. This episode in American Christianity offers instructive lessons for today’s conversation about homosexuality. In the discussions about slavery, the pro-slavery side had it easy: The Bible does … More Bible Wars: Using the Bible in LGBTQIA Discourse (Part 5)

Using the Bible in LGBTQIA Discourse (Part 5)

October 19, 2023

One of the foundational arguments of Christians who affirm that traditional view of homosexuality is that same-sex sex is contrary to nature. This argument rests on a couple of assumptions: 1) that the world today is a corrupted version of the world’s original condition a few thousand years ago and 2) that Genesis 1-2 gives … More Using the Bible in LGBTQIA Discourse (Part 5)

Using the Bible in LGBTQIA+ Discourse (Part 4)

October 11, 2023

Of Hair and Homosexuality Few people are aware of Paul’s interest in hair styles. That’s because most haven’t read 1 Cor 11:14: “Does not nature itself teach you that, if a man wears long hair, it is dishonoring to him?” Jesus, apparently, didn’t get the memo. Few people also know of the connection the New … More Using the Bible in LGBTQIA+ Discourse (Part 4)

Using the Bible in LGBTQIA+ Discourse (Part 3)

September 25, 2023

Everyone who uses the Bible does so selectively. The Bible is too big to let us to do justice to every verse, too complex to allow equal weight to every passage. Selective reading and use is unavoidable. But serious readers know that selective reading often results from the quest to find support for our views. … More Using the Bible in LGBTQIA+ Discourse (Part 3)

Using the Bible in LGBTQIA+ Discourse (Part 2)

September 19, 2023

What do L+ discourse and the Bible have to do with an old-fashioned card catalog from a library? Actually, quite a bit. These catalogs were ways of categorizing. Information was sorted, boxed, and labeled. Close study of the Old Testament reveals a passion for categorizing and labeling things. It starts with Genesis 1 when God … More Using the Bible in LGBTQIA+ Discourse (Part 2)

Using the Bible in LGBTQIA+ Discourse (Part 1)

September 11, 2023

I’m on a quest to explore the use of the Bible in Christian discourse on LGBTQIA+ issues. These explorations are exercises in testing the traditional view of marriage and gender. As a theologian with a genuine appreciation for the Christians theological tradition, I think it’s important to take a teaching or two off the shelf … More Using the Bible in LGBTQIA+ Discourse (Part 1)