Changes

*[[Jude]] 1:6-7 (NASB) - And [[angel]]s who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, just as [[Sodom]] and [[Gomorrah]] and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

*[[Jude]] 1:6-7 (NASB) - And [[angel]]s who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, just as [[Sodom]] and [[Gomorrah]] and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

=== Biblical References Against [[Homosexual Marriage]] ===

=== Biblical References Against [[Same-sex marriage|Homosexual "Marriage"]] ===

Many passages in the [[Bible]] implicitly condemn homosexual marriage:<ref>ESV is quoted here.</ref>

Many passages in the [[Bible]] implicitly condemn homosexual "marriage":<ref>ESV is quoted here.</ref>

*[[Genesis]] 2:24 (“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”)

*[[Genesis]] 2:24 (“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”)

*[[Mark]] 10:6-8 (“But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’”)

*[[Mark]] 10:6-8 (“But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’”)

{{Cquote|The Bible tells us of the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. Though homosexuality was not the only vice of these cities, the Bible makes it clear that this sin was one of the main reasons why God judged them. [[Genesis]] 19:1-11 speaks of the men of Sodom gathering at Lot's house and calling out to [[Lot]], saying, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with" (Genesis 19:5). Lot's two visitors were actually angels who manifested themselves as men. Lot's carnal attempt to rescue his visitors was his offer to provide the men of Sodom with his two virgin daughters (Genesis 19:8). But, the men of Sodom rejected Lot's offer. Finally, the angels miraculously struck the immoral men with blindness (Genesis 19:11). Jude, commenting on the destruction of Sodom and [[Gomorrah]], wrote, "Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire" (Jude 7).<ref>http://www.biblicaldefense.org/Writings/Biblical-Perspective-of-Homosexuality.html</ref>}}

{{Cquote|The Bible tells us of the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. Though homosexuality was not the only vice of these cities, the Bible makes it clear that this sin was one of the main reasons why God judged them. [[Genesis]] 19:1-11 speaks of the men of Sodom gathering at Lot's house and calling out to [[Lot]], saying, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with" (Genesis 19:5). Lot's two visitors were actually angels who manifested themselves as men. Lot's carnal attempt to rescue his visitors was his offer to provide the men of Sodom with his two virgin daughters (Genesis 19:8). But, the men of Sodom rejected Lot's offer. Finally, the angels miraculously struck the immoral men with blindness (Genesis 19:11). Jude, commenting on the destruction of Sodom and [[Gomorrah]], wrote, "Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire" (Jude 7).<ref>http://www.biblicaldefense.org/Writings/Biblical-Perspective-of-Homosexuality.html</ref>}}

==Pro homosexual polemics ==

==Pro-homosexual polemics ==

{{main|Homosexuality and biblical interpretation}}

{{main|Homosexuality and biblical interpretation}}

Historically, the conclusion of established Bible scholars has been that the Jewish and Christian Scriptures only allow sexual relations within heterosexual marriage, while requiring celibacy outside marriage, with homosexual acts always being intrinsically immoral.<ref>Norman Lamm, Judaism and the Modern Attitude Towards Homosexuality; http://www.jonahweb.org/sections.php?secId=88</ref><ref>Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, John Gill, Keil and Delitzsch, Matthew Henry, etc.</ref> This is also the conclusion of traditional scholars today, such as hold that all Scripture is inspired of God, (2Tim. 3:16) such as Thomas E Schmidt,<ref>Professor of New Testament Greek at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California "Straight and Narrow?"</ref> Guenther Haas,<ref>Associate Professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer College, "Hermeneutical issues in the use of the Bible to justify the acceptance of homosexual practice</ref> James B. de Young,<ref>Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, Homosexuality: Contemporary Claims Examined in Light of the Bible and Other Ancient Literature and Law</ref> Dave Miller Ph.D.,<ref>“Sodom—Inhospitality or Homosexuality?"</ref> as well as of the overwhelming majority of Christians.  However, as a product of Biblical revisionism, and primarily coinciding with the moral rebellion of the modern [[sexual revolution]], a host of pro homosex polemicists have sought to disallow the traditionally held universal injunctions against homosex, as well as find sanction for the same, attempting what one apologist asserts, to "force sex into Biblical passages where it does not belong"<ref>http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/homosexuality_and_the_bible.html</ref>

Historically, the conclusion of established Bible scholars has been that the Jewish and Christian Scriptures only allow sexual relations within heterosexual marriage, while requiring celibacy outside marriage, with homosexual acts always being intrinsically immoral.<ref>Norman Lamm, Judaism and the Modern Attitude Towards Homosexuality; http://www.jonahweb.org/sections.php?secId=88</ref><ref>Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, John Gill, Keil and Delitzsch, Matthew Henry, etc.</ref> This is also the conclusion of traditional scholars today, such as hold that all Scripture is inspired of God, (2Tim. 3:16) such as Thomas E Schmidt,<ref>Professor of New Testament Greek at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California "Straight and Narrow?"</ref> Guenther Haas,<ref>Associate Professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer College, "Hermeneutical issues in the use of the Bible to justify the acceptance of homosexual practice</ref> James B. de Young,<ref>Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, Homosexuality: Contemporary Claims Examined in Light of the Bible and Other Ancient Literature and Law</ref> Dave Miller Ph.D.,<ref>“Sodom—Inhospitality or Homosexuality?"</ref> as well as of the overwhelming majority of Christians.  However, as a product of Biblical revisionism, and primarily coinciding with the moral rebellion of the modern [[sexual revolution]], a host of pro homosex polemicists have sought to disallow the traditionally held universal injunctions against homosex, as well as find sanction for the same, attempting what one apologist asserts, to "force sex into Biblical passages where it does not belong"<ref>http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/homosexuality_and_the_bible.html</ref>

Prohomosexual revisionists labor to find ways of restricting the Levitical prohibitions against male homosex to the context of formal idolatry, rather than male and female homosex being a result of idolatry in general (Rm. 1:16-26), as illicit sex also can be, (1Cor. 10:7,8) while also striving to equate these general prohibitions to ceremonial laws, such as forbid eating such things as bacon,<ref>Countrymen, Dirt, Greed and Sex, pp. 98-123</ref> though laws against illicit sexual partners are seen as confirmed as a class under both Old and New Testaments. Another recourse is to contend that these sexual prohibitions were based upon male dominance, which is held to be wrong and must be disallowed,<ref>E. Schussler, "Toward a Feminist Biblical Heremenutics: Biblical Interpretation and Liberation Theology, ref. by The Challenge of Liberation Theology (Maryknoll, N. Y.: Orbis 1981), p. 108</ref> rather than such being established and confirmed by God as historically transcendent. (1Cor. 11:3-12) Additionally, the condemnation of homosex is sometimes partly attributed to ignorance on the part of Biblical writers,<ref>Walter Wink, Homosexuality and the Bible http://www.robgagnon.net/articles/homoWinkHBTResp.pdf</ref><ref>http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Homosexuality_and_the_Bible_Wink.html</ref><ref>Victor Paul Furnish, The Moral Teachings of Paul: Selected Issues (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1985), p. 85.</ref> thus denying their particular Divine inspiration. Another common polemic is to dismiss opposing scholarship as being due to [[homophobia]]<ref>Richard Hasbany, Homosexuality and Religion</ref>  

Pro-homosexual revisionists labor to find ways of restricting the Levitical prohibitions against male homosex to the context of formal idolatry, rather than male and female homosex being a result of idolatry in general (Rm. 1:16-26), as illicit sex also can be, (1Cor. 10:7,8) while also striving to equate these general prohibitions to ceremonial laws, such as forbid eating such things as bacon,<ref>Countrymen, Dirt, Greed and Sex, pp. 98-123</ref> though laws against illicit sexual partners are seen as confirmed as a class under both Old and New Testaments. Another recourse is to contend that these sexual prohibitions were based upon male dominance, which is held to be wrong and must be disallowed,<ref>E. Schussler, "Toward a Feminist Biblical Heremenutics: Biblical Interpretation and Liberation Theology, ref. by The Challenge of Liberation Theology (Maryknoll, N. Y.: Orbis 1981), p. 108</ref> rather than such being established and confirmed by God as historically transcendent. (1Cor. 11:3-12) Additionally, the condemnation of homosex is sometimes partly attributed to ignorance on the part of Biblical writers,<ref>Walter Wink, Homosexuality and the Bible http://www.robgagnon.net/articles/homoWinkHBTResp.pdf</ref><ref>http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Homosexuality_and_the_Bible_Wink.html</ref><ref>Victor Paul Furnish, The Moral Teachings of Paul: Selected Issues (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1985), p. 85.</ref> thus denying their particular Divine inspiration. Another common polemic is to dismiss opposing scholarship as being due to [[homophobia]]<ref>Richard Hasbany, Homosexuality and Religion</ref>  

In response, traditional scholars evidence that the injunctions against homosex are foundationally based upon the uniquely established sexual union of the man with the women, which alone is sanctioned by marriage.(Gn. 1:26,27; Mt. 19:4-6; 1Cor. 11:11,12;  Eph. 5:31) And that the laws and principals concerning human sexual partners are not culturally bound, but instead are universal and transcendent, with homosexual relations being fundamentally contrary to God's design and decrees, with homosex being only condemned in wherever they are explicitly dealt with, (Lv. 18:22; 23:13; Rm. 1:26,27) and being just as universally applicable and immutable as those against illicit heterosexual partners.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=Zeotd-ylKtwC&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=quotes+Straight+and+Narrow%3F+Compassion+and+Clarity+in+the+Homosexuality+Debate&source=web&ots=WOXT85Pbxk&sig=8W9pkL8rcJ_7PS6oXbZ1QQBWCxQ&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPA36,M1 Straight & Narrow? By Thomas E. Schmidt]</ref><ref>[http://www.robgagnon.net/ArticlesOnline.htm Prof. Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon]</ref><ref>[http://www.neednotfret.com/content/view/124/89/ THE OLD TESTAMENT AND HOMOSEXUALITY, by Kevin L. Howard]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ZXAVf8m_HKgC&pg=PA244&lpg=PA244&dq=sodom+in+Mishnah&source=web&ots=ZjUCW3j8F9&sig=F5r2UCKKoWPAAbUnK3kYO-VdgVE&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA245,M1 Homosexuality  By James B. De Young]</ref><ref>[http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_attitude_wenham.html The Old Testament Attitude to Homosexuality Gordon J Wenham]</ref><ref>[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0108a.html "That Which is Unnatural" Homosexuality in Society, the Church, and Scripture by Joseph P. Gudel -ICR]</ref><ref>[http://www.reformed.org/social/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/social/hodges_response_helminiak.html A Reformed Response to Daniel Helminiak's Gay Theology by Derrick K. Olliff and Dewey H. Hodges]</ref><ref>[http://www.aletheiacollege.net/dbb/11-21.htm Duncan Heaster, Gay Christian Arguments Considered]</ref><ref>[http://faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/Ted_Hildebrandt/OTeSources/03-Leviticus/Text/Articles/Ukleja-Homsex-BS.htm Homosexuality and the Old Testament P. Michael Ukleja]</ref>  

In response, traditional scholars evidence that the injunctions against homosex are foundationally based upon the uniquely established sexual union of the man with the women, which alone is sanctioned by marriage.(Gn. 1:26,27; Mt. 19:4-6; 1Cor. 11:11,12;  Eph. 5:31) And that the laws and principals concerning human sexual partners are not culturally bound, but instead are universal and transcendent, with homosexual relations being fundamentally contrary to God's design and decrees, with homosex being only condemned in wherever they are explicitly dealt with, (Lv. 18:22; 23:13; Rm. 1:26,27) and being just as universally applicable and immutable as those against illicit heterosexual partners.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=Zeotd-ylKtwC&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=quotes+Straight+and+Narrow%3F+Compassion+and+Clarity+in+the+Homosexuality+Debate&source=web&ots=WOXT85Pbxk&sig=8W9pkL8rcJ_7PS6oXbZ1QQBWCxQ&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPA36,M1 Straight & Narrow? By Thomas E. Schmidt]</ref><ref>[http://www.robgagnon.net/ArticlesOnline.htm Prof. Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon]</ref><ref>[http://www.neednotfret.com/content/view/124/89/ THE OLD TESTAMENT AND HOMOSEXUALITY, by Kevin L. Howard]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ZXAVf8m_HKgC&pg=PA244&lpg=PA244&dq=sodom+in+Mishnah&source=web&ots=ZjUCW3j8F9&sig=F5r2UCKKoWPAAbUnK3kYO-VdgVE&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA245,M1 Homosexuality  By James B. De Young]</ref><ref>[http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_attitude_wenham.html The Old Testament Attitude to Homosexuality Gordon J Wenham]</ref><ref>[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0108a.html "That Which is Unnatural" Homosexuality in Society, the Church, and Scripture by Joseph P. Gudel -ICR]</ref><ref>[http://www.reformed.org/social/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/social/hodges_response_helminiak.html A Reformed Response to Daniel Helminiak's Gay Theology by Derrick K. Olliff and Dewey H. Hodges]</ref><ref>[http://www.aletheiacollege.net/dbb/11-21.htm Duncan Heaster, Gay Christian Arguments Considered]</ref><ref>[http://faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/Ted_Hildebrandt/OTeSources/03-Leviticus/Text/Articles/Ukleja-Homsex-BS.htm Homosexuality and the Old Testament P. Michael Ukleja]</ref>  

Premier prohomosex polemicist D.S. Bailey confessed, "It is hardly open to doubt that both the laws in Leviticus relate to ordinary homosexual acts between men, and not to ritual or other acts performed in the name of religion,"<ref>Bailey, Homosexuality, p. 30</ref>  while his compatriot Robin Scroggs states, "It might seem that only a series of verbal pyrotechnics could eliminate the seemingly obvious reference to homosexuality in Romans 1,"<ref>The New Testament and Homosexuality, p. 14</ref> though he himself attempts to do so. Noted Bible scholar [[Greg Bahnsen]] stated, "God’s verdict on homosexuality is inescapably clear. His law is a precise interpretation of the sexual order of creation for fallen man, rendering again His intention and direction for sexual relations. When members of the same sex (homo-sexual) practice intercourse with each other...they violate God’s basic creation order in a vile and abominable fashion."<ref>Bahnsen, Homosexuality: A Biblical View (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1978), p. 36.</ref> Calvin Smith objectively concludes, "the  weak revisionist exegetical arguments, together with far more convincing traditionalist rebuttals,  have  led me  to  affirm  the  traditional  view more firmly than ever.<ref>CONCLUDING REMARKS, Homosexuality Revisited in Light of the Current Climate</ref>  

Premier pro-homosex polemicist D.S. Bailey confessed, "It is hardly open to doubt that both the laws in Leviticus relate to ordinary homosexual acts between men, and not to ritual or other acts performed in the name of religion,"<ref>Bailey, Homosexuality, p. 30</ref>  while his compatriot Robin Scroggs states, "It might seem that only a series of verbal pyrotechnics could eliminate the seemingly obvious reference to homosexuality in Romans 1,"<ref>The New Testament and Homosexuality, p. 14</ref> though he himself attempts to do so. Noted Bible scholar [[Greg Bahnsen]] stated, "God’s verdict on homosexuality is inescapably clear. His law is a precise interpretation of the sexual order of creation for fallen man, rendering again His intention and direction for sexual relations. When members of the same sex (homo-sexual) practice intercourse with each other...they violate God’s basic creation order in a vile and abominable fashion."<ref>Bahnsen, Homosexuality: A Biblical View (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1978), p. 36.</ref> Calvin Smith objectively concludes, "the  weak revisionist exegetical arguments, together with far more convincing traditionalist rebuttals,  have  led me  to  affirm  the  traditional  view more firmly than ever.<ref>CONCLUDING REMARKS, Homosexuality Revisited in Light of the Current Climate</ref>  

In addition to being held as unwarranted and specious, an additional problem seen is that the degree of revisionism and spurious exegesis which prohomosex arguments require effectively negates the Bible as a coherent moral authority as a whole. This is understood by some as a desired effect, and few of these revisionists hold that that the Bible is wholly inspired by God, and see taking the Bible literally in this regard as resulting in disallowing their claims.<ref>Spong, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalists, p. 154</ref> Gary David Comstock, Protestant chaplain at Wesleyan University, called it "dangerous" to not condemn the apostle Paul's condemnation of homosex, and advocated removing such from the canon.<ref>Gary David Comstock, Gay Theology Without Apology (Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 1993), p. 43. http://www.albertmohler.com/article_read.php?cid=7</ref> Pastor and CRI contributor Joseph P. Gudel notes, "It is extremely revealing to note that almost every pro-gay group within the church shares one thing in common: they reject the Bible as being fully the Word of God...Likewise, the many pro-homosexual books that have come out almost all reject - or even ridicule - the church's historic stance on the inspiration and authority of Scripture."<ref>Homosexuality in Society, the Church, and Scripture, The Authority of Scripture, Christian Research Institute Journal</ref>

In addition to being held as unwarranted and specious, an additional problem seen is that the degree of revisionism and spurious exegesis which pro-homosex arguments require effectively negates the Bible as a coherent moral authority as a whole. This is understood by some as a desired effect, and few of these revisionists hold that that the Bible is wholly inspired by God, and see taking the Bible literally in this regard as resulting in disallowing their claims.<ref>Spong, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalists, p. 154</ref> Gary David Comstock, Protestant chaplain at Wesleyan University, called it "dangerous" to not condemn the apostle Paul's condemnation of homosex, and advocated removing such from the canon.<ref>Gary David Comstock, Gay Theology Without Apology (Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 1993), p. 43. http://www.albertmohler.com/article_read.php?cid=7</ref> Pastor and CRI contributor Joseph P. Gudel notes, "It is extremely revealing to note that almost every pro-gay group within the church shares one thing in common: they reject the Bible as being fully the Word of God...Likewise, the many pro-homosexual books that have come out almost all reject - or even ridicule - the church's historic stance on the inspiration and authority of Scripture."<ref>Homosexuality in Society, the Church, and Scripture, The Authority of Scripture, Christian Research Institute Journal</ref>

Another argument often given by pro-homosexual polemicists is that since most Christians do not faithfully follow the entire Bible, but instead [[Cafeteria Christianity|pick and choose]] which parts to follow, they have no ground to tell homosexuals to [[hypocrisy|do otherwise]].  However, that argument is based on the ''[[tu quoque]]'' fallacy.  Correct Biblical interpretation is not a popularity contest (Matthew 7:13-14); the truth is based on the Bible, not on what most so-called Christians think or do.

Another argument often given by pro-homosexual polemicists is that since most Christians do not faithfully follow the entire Bible, but instead [[Cafeteria Christianity|pick and choose]] which parts to follow, they have no ground to tell homosexuals to [[hypocrisy|do otherwise]].  However, that argument is based on the ''[[tu quoque]]'' fallacy.  Correct Biblical interpretation is not a popularity contest (Matthew 7:13-14); the truth is based on the Bible, not on what most so-called Christians think or do.

The  [[Paul|Apostle Paul]] wrote of the existence [[Ex-Homosexuals|ex-homosexuals]] in the early [[Christianity|Christian]] church in a letter of his to the [[Corinth]]ian church. ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%206:9-11;&version=49; I Corinthians 6:9-11 (NASB)])

The  [[Paul|Apostle Paul]] wrote of the existence [[Ex-Homosexuals|ex-homosexuals]] in the early [[Christianity|Christian]] church in a letter of his to the [[Corinth]]ian church. ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%206:9-11;&version=49; I Corinthians 6:9-11 (NASB)])

==Bible, Homosexuality, and Sound Health Practices==

==Bible, Homosexuality, and Sound Health Practices==

Given the [[Homosexuality and Health|many diseases associated with homosexuality]], the Bible prohibition against homosexuality is arguably one of the many examples where the [[Bible scientific foreknowledge|Bible exhibited knowledge that was ahead of its time]].

Given the [[Homosexuality and Health|many diseases associated with homosexuality]], the Bible prohibition against homosexuality is arguably one of the many examples where the [[Bible scientific foreknowledge|Bible exhibited knowledge that was ahead of its time]].