The more I have been thinking about what I want to write today, the more I realize writing about this particular passage is the write thing to do. There are events going on all over the country, the world and the Church that are designed to punish people because they are LGBT, mostly because of Biblical texts like this one, taken out of contact by those who take the Bible so literally.
And now, I want to present to my readers the Scripture that was part of today's Divine Office that caused me to do some study, thinking and praying about what I want to share in this blog post. Please note the bold print over what I want to highlight and the Greek word in parenthesis next to it.
1 Timothy 1:1-17 (NRSV)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my loyal child in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine, and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith. But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, fornicators, sodomites (Greek word: arsenokoitai), slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
This particular wording and list of sins according to Paul, is similar to what is in 1 Corinthians 6:9. This actual list that has been put together is said by many reputable Biblical scholars to not necessarily be from Paul, but from someone or some people who interpreted the writings of Paul and also had a social and/or political stake in making sure the list was included.
What we need to be very clear about is that in this particular Scripture as with 1 Corinthians 6:9 Paul is NOT speaking about homosexuality in general when he uses the word "sodomites." He is speaking about an abusive and exploitative sexuality that was and is still common today among heterosexuals as well as homosexuals. In his book: "What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality" Dr. Daniel A. Helminiak writes the following.
"The Lesson of 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10
What is the positive teaching of 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 regarding male-male sex today? Biblical opposition to prostitution, incest or adultery does not forbid male-female sex acts as such. What the Bible opposes throughout is the abuse of heterosexuality. Likewise, if arsenokoitai does refer to male-male sex, these texts do not forbid male homogenitality as such. In first-century, Greek speaking, Jewish Christianity, arsenokoitai would have referred to exploitative, lewd and wanton sex between men. This, and not male-male sex in general, is what these biblical texts oppose.Across the board in sexual matters, the Bible calls for mutual respect, caring and responsible sharing--in a loaded word, love. The violation of these, but not sex in general, is what the Bible condemns. The lesson in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 is that this principal applies equally to hetero- and homosexuality." (Page 115).
This understanding is so very important, because of how this Scripture passage along with Genesis 19 the story of Sodom and Gomorrah that was actually destroyed because of a lack of hospitality and gang rape, not homosexuality, and Leviticus 20: 13 the ritual "abomination" not the innately immoral, and the uncustomary or socially unacceptable "unnatural" lusts described in Romans 1: 26 and 27 are used to justify cruelty towards LGBT people. These very texts have been used to help create and justify Uganda's "Kill the Gays" bill, the gay and transgendered couple now imprisoned in Malawi. In Zimbabwe two gay activists were arrested and now fear torture for standing up for LGBT equality in their country. Yesterday, their lawyer was denied access to talk to the prisoners. I strongly encourage my readers to please click and sign the Uganda Declaration that is to call faith leaders and the Governments in this country and abroad to stop the violence against LGBT citizens.
This past year just here in these United States, the misuse of Scripture towards LGBT individuals has resulted in the justification of cruelty towards LGBT people. Constance McMillan reportedly had to change schools because of all of the harassment she experienced over her prom. In Florida, Parents of a drag queen have disowned their child because she got the title of Prom Queen. Many Christian organizations continue to try to push the whole issue of "trying" the Hate Crimes law, to the point of inciting violence against LGBT people to see if they can beat the system. Virginia based Pastor Jeff Owens has been recorded on You Tube for stating: "We need to stop burning flags and start burning FAGS! We need Hunt-A-Homo Week. We need to take 'em all out and shoot 'em with a scatter shotgun." In Windsor, Ontario, Chris Rabideau, who directed a play about homophobia was beaten, robbed and called all kinds of anti-gay names during an attack.
These and many other attacks against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people are most heinous because they are often done in the name of Scripture and supported by people who go by the name of Christian.
Jesus Christ did not experience his agonizing death on the Cross, rise from the dead, ascend into heaven and sent us the Holy Spirit to justify bigotry and violence of any kind. Jesus Christ did not call the Anglican Communion, the Catholic church or any other church together to organize itself as a hate group towards LGBT people, women or any other group of people in any way, shape or form. The fact that we have Christians abusing people, claiming to be doing so in the name of the Bible, and spreading it all over the world, is so not what God had in mind when God sent Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit when she descended upon those first Apostles. It is the business of all Christians of good will to speak up and do their part to eliminate cruelty, bigotry and violence towards all people singled out by fundamentalist Christians. It is our business to tell fundamentalist Christians they are misusing the Bible and spreading abusive Christianity abroad. It is our business to bring the true, peace making, justice seeking, and inclusive love spreading Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit as far as we can.
May all of us do our part to tell the truth about the Scriptures and how God the Holy Spirit wishes to make her Church in the Name of Jesus Christ a welcoming inclusive Church, that participates in the ministry of radical hospitality, reconciliation and healing. Amen.
Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be peaceably governed by your providence; and that your Church may joyfully serve you in confidence and serenity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Sunday closest to May 25, Book of Common Prayer, Page 229).
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord, that, as there is but one Body, and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, Page 818).
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which may divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, Page 823).
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