alan1941. First, your assumption that there have been misstranslations of the bible is simply off base. You don’t point to any example and claim a specific misstranslation. You only declare what the bible say is presumtively incorrect.Overall, biblical experts have determined that the texts we have today at more than 99% accurate.
(See Habermas, “Recent Perspectives on the Reliability of the Gospels”at
garyhabermas.com/articles/crj_recentperspectives/crj_recentperspectives.htm citing John Wenham, Christ and the Bible (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1984), 186-187.)
The homosexual conduct prohibition is repeated quite a few times in the OT and the new. Jesus himself affirmed “the law.” There has been more scrutinization of the bible than any other text, I dare say, in human history. Saying the texts are probably messed up so the homosexual life style is probably oK is like wishful thinking. It’s unfounded. So, your premise is erroneous. Citing these many verses isn’t “interpretation” at all.
Regarding old rules, many were superceded. Circumcision was an absolute mandate for the ancient Jews but after Christ gave Peter the authority as the Rock to continue his church with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, the early chruch decided circumcision was unnecessary for Gentiles. The Levitical dietary prohibitions Christ declared as not pertaining to morality. (Acts 10:13-17) Christ specifically stated marriage was not to be put asunder, despite Moses allowed divorce). Christ never addressed homosexual conduct specifically but he affirmed the law. There is nothing in scripture which could even tend to view homosexual conduct as OK.
see also the Catholic Catechism, sections 2357-2359. These are harsh facts, indeed. Those who point to these responses to the homosexual movement are interpreted as hateful. It’s not hateful. It’s just the way it is and the community doesn’t like it so they shout in response. The homosexual movement is in extreme denial, an outgrowth of the feel good 60’s I think. It is an incredible burden to “be” homosexual and come to terms with these facts. I would also point you to read the stories of formerly active homosexuals and how they talk about their conversions. There was a fascinating one on the “Journey Home” TV program some time ago. They’re all available online too. I coudn’t find it but there are many out there. It took years for the one man to see that the homosexual life style is emotionally and spiritually empty.
It is a complex thing to discuss. It’s a moral issue, a religious issue (Christianity and natural law), a legal issue, an historical issue. The movement response to any claim that homosexual conduct is immoral is immediate dismissal. This is strikingly similar to how militant the pro-choice people were and some still are. You couldn’t even have a discussion at all which included the possibility that abortion should be made illegal. Now many years later, with advanced science and technology, many see that upon the joining of male and female cells there is a human life begun with human DNA. You don’t hear the argument any more that it’s just a lump of tissue. That was a main argument 30 years ago. There is an ackowledgment of life, although, they still claim a right to abort. The homosexuality issue, is similar. I think there will be gay marriage, lots of gay adoption and I won’t live long enough to see the beginning of the roll back of it all in about 30-50 years. If the world is still here, I think there will be a return to nuclear families. This is not to diss gay people. Sorry, for carrying on so long. Points needed to be made.
