etrehumain-deactivated20110306 asked: Does "the biblical viewpoint" mean that you don't approve of homosexuality? I just ask because there could be many interpretations of homosexuality in the Bible.
To start with your second sentence, I can’t say that I agree there. Leaving aside the laws of the Old Testament by which Christians are not constrained, I still find a very clear biblical statement that homosexuality is wrong (see here and here, for instance). So while I hesitate to say that I don’t approve of homosexuality, because it’s not ultimately a viewpoint original to me, yes, that’s basically the case.
However, I’d contend that this isn’t the stopping point of the biblical viewpoint on love and, by extension in this question, on homosexuality.
Here’s why: The Bible’s clear that no sin is worse than another; it says if you’ve broken one law, you’ve broken them all. So homosexuality, for instance, is no worse than lying. Or dishonoring one’s parents. Or even simply being rude or curt. And I’ve certainly done all those things, hundreds of times over.
Moreover, Christians are commanded to love others. It doesn’t say “love people…oh, except the gays.” Or “oh, except [anyone],” actually. Just “love your neighbor” (and your enemy, actually, though despite the best efforts of some organizations — no links, just suggestive coughs here — I find it very difficult to believe that gays are my enemies).
Love him if he’s a lying, cheating, stealing, altogether despicable straight man.
Love him if he’s a sweet and caring gay man.
Love him if those adjectives are reversed. It’s a blanket command, and it doesn’t give credence to any objections about how unpleasant we might find that neighbor.
So yeah, I think homosexuality is wrong. But I don’t think it’s any more wrong than how I gossiped about an acquaintance of mine today. And I don’t think that someone choosing to engage in this particular sin gives me any right to treat them any differently than I would anyone else; we are all equally at fault. And, for the record, I entirely condemn the heart-breaking and vile activities of supposedly Christian “churches” and political groups who spend all their time fighting, deploring, and alienating gays when in reality they are so clearly and simply called to love them.
And that, I’d say, is the biblical viewpoint. (As for my political view, we’ve discussed that before.)
