This subject can be very sensitive. Mac and I discuss the issue of homosexuality in the church. Mac comes from a Roman Catholic viewpoint and I from a general Christian viewpoint.
Before you read further and watch the video I believe I should mention something. Whatever we do or say as Christians we should do it from a position of love. Jesus, John, Peter, and Paul all emphasize this. Jesus also admonished us that we will be judged with the same “measure” that we use to judge others. Matthew 7:2
In the Mac and Mike video, I said I would link to the argument from the homosexual community. The last thing I want to do is set up a straw man argument. If you find other arguments for homosexuals in the church then feel free to put those links in the comments section.
Here is a link to a website called The Reformation Project. The main argument is all the passages in the Bible and especially Romans 1:26 thru 27 are addressing lustful or wild behavior in contrast to a committed homosexual union.
Romans 1
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Another position taken is that Paul, writing in Romans, was speaking about a local culture rather than all people everywhere.
These positions are not without merit for consideration. There are certainly times that a specific cultural thing is addressed that does not apply to all places and at all times. One example is where Paul says it is a shame for a man to have long hair. 1 Cor 11. This is thought to be a policy for that place and time. We know that it is common in history for men to have shorter hair than women but not always.
Without getting into the details I would only note that 1 Corinthians does not mention the word “sin” in relation to the discussion of coverings or hair. Rather, the word “tradition” is used. See 1 Cor 11:2: “I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.”
Breaking a tradition is not the same as committing a “sin”. In Romans 1 the word “sinful” is used: “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.”
As for the argument that Romans 1 and other passages only refer to the “wild, forceful or rape” types of homosexuality I disagree. Not only does the full context seem to put the subject to rest but so does early church history. Also, consider that lesbianism is also directly mentioned. Lesbians are not known for violent sex, generally speaking.
As I considered the homosexual point of view I asked myself a question. Did the early church writers aka fathers address the subject? The answer is yes. Starting with Justin Martyr around 151 AD thru Augustine 400 AD we find it discussed. They go into much more including pedophilia, abuse of children, and other things such as prostitution. See this web link for details.
I have much more to say on this subject but will reserve it for a post on TheBibleAnswers.net. Feel free to comment.
Well written and great points made.