Biblical teaching on homosexuality stands
By Becket Gremmels
I don't hate gays — never have, never will. I have no fear of a gay man hitting on me. Some of my friends are gay, some of my family are gay, and I still talk to them. However, in no way does that mean I agree with or accept homosexuality.
Joe Muto's attempt to disprove Biblical teaching on homosexuality in his Sept. 25 column is neither correct nor convincing. He failed to take into account that some teachings are stronger and more binding than others.
The two teachings in Leviticus that Muto cited are inherently different. It is considerably worse to "lie with another man" than to wear a garment wove with more than one fabric. Also, the infamous "garment argument" doesn't hold sway with any Christian.
Christ came to fulfill the Old Covenant. In doing so, the universal teachings were kept and expounded upon while those which were temporal, those not necessary in the New Jerusalem, passed away. Jesus himself said not to "hold fast to the traditions of men" (Mark 7:8). The garment is such a tradition.
Homosexuality, on the other hand, is not. If it were, wouldn't the Apostles have known this? Yet they spoke just as firmly against homosexuality as Leviticus, if not more so.
St. Paul condemns homosexual acts as sinful in Romans 1:26-32. He does so twice more in 1 Timothy 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 6:9, where he equates homosexuality with theft, kidnapping, murder, greed, fratricide, lying and lawlessness. These are St. Paul's words, not mine. It's quite obvious that Biblical condemnation is not even remotely limited to Leviticus.
Muto does make a good point about not dwelling on "the sexual relations of people you've never met." Truth be told, I normally don't give them a second thought, but some things must be responded to. After all, Jesus did tell us, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." God didn't drop the ball on this one; He took it to the basket.
Becket Gremmels
sophomore
Alumni Hall
Sept. 26
All Viewpoint Stories for Friday, September 27, 2002
