February 19, 202

     A few years ago, an article appeared in the Owen Sound Paper in which the author indicated that the New Testament does not condemn homosexuality. Then more recently I heard one writer talk about what he calls red letter Christians. These, he says, base all of their beliefs on the words of Jesus (those in red in some older translations). The reason they do this is that Jesus says nothing directly about homosexuality and so they feel they can follow him as practicing homosexuals. 

     For the most part those I am in regular contact with don’t spend much time discussing this issue. That’s because on one side those who are strong advocates of gay rights don’t care a thing about the Bible or the God it describes. Then on the other side are those who simply accept all of scripture as inspired by God and seek to live according to his will revealed in the New Testament. These take the teaching of Romans 1, I Corinthians 6, I Timothy 1 and accept that homosexuality is a sin along with many others. 

     So there are really only a few who want to accept, advocate, or practice homosexuality while at the same time claiming to follow Jesus. First it’s important to point out that anyone who gives any thought to the teaching of Jesus and wants to apply it to their life is engaged in a worthy effort. Second it must be pointed out that there are many who claim to follow Jesus while being unwilling to submit to his teaching on any number of issues. 

     Now to the crux of the discussion, the first important point that needs to be made is that someone who claims to follow the words of Jesus is only doing that if they follow the whole of New Testament teaching. Jesus explains the process of inspiration by saying that there is more he has to teach but that it will come later by the work of the Holy Spirit. He goes on to say that the Holy Spirit will reveal not his own message but Jesus’ message “He will take what is mine and declare it to you (John 16:12-15).” So, when we read what the New Testament writers have written we are reading the words of Jesus, just as if he were speaking them himself. Paul later reminds us of this point when he says “If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.”

     So point one we can’t claim to be following Jesus teaching if we are making a distinction between the gospels and the rest of the New Testament. 

     However there is another important point that is often overlooked. Jesus did speak to the issue of human sexuality, including homosexuality. I would urge the reader to look at Jesus teaching in Matthew 5:27-32, 19:1-12 and parallel passages. Jesus here teaches that marriage between a man and woman for life as the only acceptable place for sexual activity to take place. Jesus then does in fact teach clearly on human sexuality both in his full revelation contained in the New Testament as well as during his earthly ministry recorded in the gospels. 

~ Kevin Cleary