What the Bible says about gay marriage
The
Bible is unaware of gay relationships
We know now that the
vast majority of adults are either heterosexual or homosexual.
Also, a small minority are bisexual. However the authors of the
Bible seem quite unaware that some persons had a homosexual
orientation. The authors knew of certain forms of same-sex
behavior that they considered ritually unclean, degenerate,
and/or harmful. But they seem to have been totally unaware of
loving, supportive, same-sex committed relationships.
The
Bible speaks of sinful homosexual activities
The authors did
condemn what they regarded as sinful of sexual activities -- both
opposite sex (between a man and a woman) and same-sex (between
two men or between two women). Among the condemned practices in
Scriptures (Old Testament) were:
- Rape
Opposite-sex:
Deuteronomy 22:25; 2 Samuel 13:1-22
Same-sex: Genesis 19;
Judges 19:14
- Ritual Pagan
sexual behavior
Opposite-sex: Exodus
32
Same-sex: Leviticus
18:22; Leviticus 20:13
- Prostitution
Opposite-sex:
Deuteronomy 23:17 and others
Same-sex: Deuteronomy
23:17; 1 Kings 14:24, 15:12, 22:46;2 Kings 23:7
- Heterosexual
men and women engaging in same-sex Pagan orgies
This meant that they
were going against their basic nature: Romans 1:26
- Men who
sexually molest boys -- and the boys that they abuse
1 Corinthians 6:9; 1
Timothy 1:9
Since the authors of the Bible were unaware of homosexual orientation, they could not conceive of loving and committed gay or lesbian relationships (i.e. gay marriage/same-sex marriage or SSM). Thus, the Bible is silent on same-sex marriage. All positive references to human sexuality relate only to heterosexual sex. All committed sexual relationships discussed in the Bible are heterosexual.
How to
develop a christian policy towards gay marriage
We can derive a
Christian policy towards SSM for the 21st century by studying
those positive passages that describe human sexuality and
heterosexual marriage. We may then be able to infer what the
Bible writers would have said about same-sex marriages, if they
had known about them. This is not a unique process. Christians
have to develop policies about other matters that were not
mentioned specifically in the Bible: Contraceptives, movies, and
abortion are examples.
Heterosexuals, bisexuals and homosexuals all have the same three lifestyle options open to them. Gays and lesbians can choose:
One liberal interpretation of the first two chapters of Genesis is as follows:
Genesis 2:18 contains a sentence of great importance to the understanding of human nature and the discussion of committed relationships and marriage: "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." (King James Version - KJV) "Help meet" also appears in the Jerusalem Bible. It is translated "helper" in other translations (e.g. Amplified Bible, An American Translation, James Moffatt Translation, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, New International Version, New World Translation, Revised Standard Bible, Young's Literal Translation). The Living Bible, New Living Translation, and Today's English Version use a phrase like "a suitable companion to help him." Actually, the original Hebrew word implies a partnership of two equals, rather than a relationship between persons of unequal status. "Co-worker" or "partner" might be a better translation. The Contemporary English Version, New American Bible, and Revised English Bible use the term "partner" indicating an equal status between Adam and Eve
Many of earth's animal species are loners. Bacteria propagate themselves, by division. Some female spiders eat their mates after conception. Some wild cats live alone, joining up with another of their species only to procreate. But humans are apparently designed differently. Our basic makeup creates a need in most of us to be part of a couple -- to form a committed relationship with another person that we love, so that we will have to face life alone.
For some reason that is difficult to comprehend, God paraded all of the land animals and birds past Adam, trying to select a mate -- a partner -- for him. Adam was apparently not interested in bestiality. He found none of them to be an acceptable partner. So, as described in Genesis 2:21, God took one of Adam's ribs and made a woman for Adam to love and bond with.
God conceivably could have created the first humans with either a heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual orientation -- i.e. with feelings of attraction to members of the opposite gender, to the same gender, or to both genders. God is recorded in Genesis as creating one male and one female with a heterosexual orientation (Adam and Eve). By doing this, he simultaneously satisfied two prime goals:
1) He made it possible for the first couple to be fruitful and multiply. It is obvious, from verse Genesis 1:20 and onward, that God intended humans, animals, fish and birds of all species to grow more numerous and fill the earth. If God had created a gay couple, the development of the human race would have ground to a halt, limited to only two individuals.
2) He satisfied the needs of Adam and Eve for companionship and made it possible for them to be involved in a loving partnership.
One of many models of heterosexual marriage is described in Genesis 2:24: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh." (KJV).
Conclusions about gay marriage from Genesis:
According to Genesis 2:18, God said: "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." This applied only to one man, Adam. However, we might infer that it is a general rule that most men should not to go through life alone. By extension, we can infer that the rule also holds for women. Since gays and lesbians seem to have the same capacity and need to love, one could conclude from this verse that homosexuals should also form loving couples.
God had to create Adam and Eve as heterosexuals so that they could be fruitful and multiply. If he had created Adam and Steve, the world would not have become filled with humans. Nowdays, with our overpopulation problem, gays and lesbians offer the advantage of having a low birth rate, thus alleviating sGenesis 2:24 describes one of the possible models for marriage. It is the most common type today: one man and one woman.ome of the population pressure.
It is important to realize that the Bible contains descriptions of many types of marraiges and familiy structures. We have discovered eight. We may have missed some:
There are two biblical passages which condemn men involved in polygamous marriages: Solomon and Herod the Great. But the criticism did not relate to polygamy itself; it was over their choice of wives. Solomon chose many foreign women, who worshiped other Gods and Goddess. Herod chose his brother's wife.
Otherwise, these various marriage types were not criticized in the Bible. In fact, God showed his support for levirate marriage when he killed Onan for trying to avoid procreation.
Conclusions about gay marriage from the rest of the Bible
There are at least eight different types of marriages mentioned in the Bible. Most have a strong potential for sexual abuse. Marriage between two persons of the same gender is not one of the eight.
Gay marriage bears little similarity to the many potentially abusive forms of of marriage. It is closest to the nuclear family described in Genesis 2:24: Two persons make a commitment to each other, leave their parent's home, have sex, and form a new family unit. One might infer that if the writers of the Bible had been familiar with the the concept of diversity of sexual orientation, and knew of loving, supportive, committed gay and lesbian couples, that they might have written about gay marriage and patterned it after the Genesis 2:24 model.
From studies of heterosexual couples, we find that:
Conclusions about gay marriage from science
A substantial percentage of adult gays and lesbians seek to form loving, committed relationships with members of the same sex. Side benefits of gay marriage would include longer life span, lessening of promiscuity, increase in social stability. In a democracy, a group of citizens who are defined by their sexual orientation should not be prevented from exercising a primary human right: that of marrying the person that they love and to whom they have made a commitment.
This is the first of three basic lifestyles open to homosexuals (and for that matter, for heterosexuals and homosexuals). The Bible contains a few references to celibacy:
Genesis 2:18: God is recorded as saying: "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." As noted above, God created Adam and Eve as heterosexuals of different genders, so that they could support each other in a fulfilling, loving relationship, and procreate and fill the earth with humans. Currently, about 4% of humans become homosexual adults. Since gays and lesbians are equally capable of forming long-lasting, sexually active, supportive, loving relationships, one could infer that the intent of God is that they also should form this type of bond. That would imply that celibacy is not a good life style for a persons with either a heterosexual or homosexual orientation.Matthew 19:10-12: Jesus is recorded as promoting celibacy, but only for those who can handle it.1 Corinthians 7:1-2, and 7:7-9: Paul writes that celibacy is a preferred choice over marriage. His opinion might have been influenced by his belief that the end of the world was coming in the immediate future. He gave heterosexual marriage is an option for those who would otherwise burn with sexual lust. He appears to have given no consideration to homosexual marriage. He was probably unaware of loving, committed homosexual relationships.1 Timothy 4:1-3: Although this epistle states that it was written by Paul, liberal theologians generally believe that 1 and 2 Timothy were written by unknown author(s), some 35 to 85 years after Paul's death. In this passage, the anonymous author condemns other branches of the Christian movement, probably Gnostic Christianity. He is critical of their beliefs and practices, including their requirement that their members remain celibate.Revelation 14:1-5: This passage discusses 144,000 singers during the end times, who seem to be given an elevated status because they are virgins who were "undefiled with women." They follow Jesus wherever he goes. "And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." The implication is that sexual activity pollutes individuals. The anti-sexual message of Revelation seems out of sync with the rest of the Bible. But then, so is the portrayal of God as a wrathful, hateful, vindictive deity bent on revenge which is seen throughout the book. These may have been the themes in Revelation that caused Martin Luther to reject the book, and relegate it to the appendix (along with James) in his German translation of the Bible.
It would seem that the Bible's message is that most people are happiest in a loving, supportive, committed relationship. However, if a person can handle celibacy, then the Bible promotes it as an alternative and a good option.
The Hebrew Scriptures seem to have taken a very dim view of unmarried women who were sexually active:
A seduced, engaged woman: Deuteronomy 22:23-24 states that if she engages in sexual behavior with a man who is other than her fiancée, she and the man would be stoned to death.
Any woman pretending to be a virgin: Deuteronomy 22:13-21 requires that any women who had been presented as virgin brides, and could be proven to have engaged in intercourse before being engaged or married, would be stoned to death.
Prostitutes: Leviticus 21:9 states that "the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore" shall be burned alive.
There do not seem to be any comparable sanctions against males in the Hebrew Scriptures, except:
A man raping a woman: Deuteronomy 22:25 states that if the woman was engaged, that the rapist would be executed. If the woman was not engaged, he would only have to marry her and give 50 shekels of silver to her previous owner: her father.
A man engaging in homosexual ritual sex in Pagan temples: Leviticus 20:13 calls for the death of both parties.
Other passages from Hebrew Scriptures:
One of the Ten Commandments: Exodus 20:14 states: "Thou shalt not commit adultery." This passage is sometimes cited as a general condemnation of sexual activity by single people. However, it actually refers only to a man engaging in sexual intercourse with a woman who was either married or betrothed to another man.
Another Commandment: Exodus 20:17 says: "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." This might be interpreted as condemning sexual activity by singles with a man's sons and daughters. Coveting is often a prelude to sexual activity. A man's house, wife, slaves and children were generally considered to be his property.
Passages in the Christian Scriptures:
There are 32 verses in the Christian Scriptures that contain the word "pornea" in the original Greek. It is normally translated into English as "fornication." It is derived from the Latin word fornix, which meant a vault, or an arch. "The term also referred to a vaulted cellar or similar place where prostitutes plied their trade." According to the Strong's Concordance "pornea" means harlotry, including adultery and incest. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, "it is more frequently used in a symbolic than in its ordinary sense. It frequently means a forsaking of God or a following after idols." However, the English term "fornication" has expanded in meaning to include sex before marriage, orgies, masturbation, oral sex, fetishes, anything to do with pornography, 'improper' thoughts about the opposite sex, homosexuality, and just about any other sexual sin you could think of. While some of these things are sin...this is a gross misuse of the word fornication.
Even though many biblical references to fornication seem to discuss adultery, incest and idolatry, it would appear that some condemn sexual activities by single people.
The Bible appears to be strongly opposed to sexual activities by singles. There are a number of reasons why the Bible might have condemned type of behavior:
It leads to the rapid spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Recall that in biblical times, there were no effective methods of preventing the transmission of STDs, as there are today.
STD's can lead not only to sterility, but to death. In biblical times there were no effective treatments to cure STDs, as there are today.
Sexual activity by the vast majority of singles -- the heterosexuals in the society -- will often lead to pregnancy, childbirth, and single parenthood. Optimum raising of children in most cases requires two parents.
Sexual activity on the part of single women lowered their value to their owners -- their fathers.
As described elsewhere, the Bible is silent about loving, committed homosexual relationships. In 1st century Palestine, the only same-sex behavior of which Paul was most likely familiar with were orgies in Pagan temples, and sexual molestation of children and youth (often slaves) by abusive male pedophiles. In 1 Corinthians 7:2, he wrote: "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband." (KJV). Those are fine alternatives to celibacy for a heterosexual man and woman. However, they were not applicable for gays and lesbians. So, we have to infer from passages on other topics what our belief and practice should be about committed, same-sex relationships.
Genesis 2:18 describes God as saying: It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." This would seem to imply that humans should form loving, permanent relationships. For heterosexuals, this would be limited to partners of the opposite gender; for homosexuals, this would be limited to spouses of the same gender.
The Bible:
Does not condemn sexual activity within a heterosexual committed relationship, even when it is abusive and involves rape.
Is silent on gay marriage.
Does condemn certain forms of abusive, blasphemous, and non-consensual behavior, whether same-sex or opposite sex. Specific passages involving these same-sex behaviors condemn rape, sex in Pagan rituals, and prostitution.
Paul wrote about heterosexual ex-Christian men and women who went against their basic nature and engaging in same-sex Pagan orgies. See Romans 1:26. One could argue that this passage would also prohibit homosexual men and women from violating their basic nature and engaging in heterosexual sex.
The Bible contains many passages proclaiming the beauty of sex within a loving, committed relationship. Most dramatic of these is the of Song of Solomon. The Bible is silent on similar same-sex committed relationships, probably because they were not known to exist by the authors of the Bible.
The first two chapters of Genesis stress that Adam and Eve and the other life forms on earth were to be fruitful and multiply. In this way, the world would be filled with life. That theme would seem to condemn same-sex relationships, because they would not have produced children, in ancient times. However, it is doubtful that this argument is still applicable today. One of today's most serious problems is overpopulation. The world cannot supply its current population with a decent standard of living. Couples having a high birth rate is no longer an advantage; it is over-stressing the environment.
There are many types of formal relationships described in the Bible, apparently without condemnation: the standard nuclear family, polygamous marriage, levirate marriage, A threesome involving a man, woman and slave, marriages involving concubines, a male soldier and a female prisoner of war, a male rapist and his victim, and a forced marriage between slaves. It would seem reasonable that if all of these forms of marriage were acceptable to the writers of the Bible -- even though some of them involved rape and abuse -- then a non-abusive, loving, homosexual committed relationship would also be acceptable.
The benefits of encouraging gays and lesbians to marry or form other committed relationships can be observed today, in the form of increased quality of life, reduced promiscuity, and social stability -- exactly the benefits reaped by heterosexual marriages.
Many religious liberals feel that the freedom to marry the person that they love should not be restricted on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other genetically determined factor.
Celibacy: The Bible generally promotes celibacy, for the minority of humans who can experience a complete, fulfilled life without sex .
Sexually active singles: The Hebrew Scriptures contains very severe penalties, including burning alive and stoning and for sexually active single women. Some passages in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures condemn sexual behavior by both single men and single women.
Committed relationships are strongly supported throughout the Bible, from the Song of Solomon to Paul's epistles. Although not specifically mentioned in the Bible, same-sex permanent relationships would seem to be as beneficial and holy for a gay couple as they are to a heterosexual couple. It benefits society as well, in terms of lessened promiscuity and greater social stability. As of mid-2001, only gays and lesbians who are residents of the Netherlands can actually marry. Americans and Canadians can only register a civil union in Vermont, U.S. or as a domestic partnership in Nova Scotia, Canada. This situation is bound to change in the future.
A religious liberal might thus conclude that gays and lesbians are called by God to either remain celibate or to enter into committed, loving, supported relationships -- exactly the same lifestyles as God expects of heterosexuals.
Copyright
© 2001 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2001-JUL-1
Latest update: 2001-JUL-7
Author: B.A. Robinson
This article was contributed to Inspiritus by Marion. The original article has been changed by Inspiritus. Its original form can be found on http://www.religioustolerance.org
