Some essential facts. Homosexual, Sodomy, and Sodomite
Text taken from “Gay AND Christian? Yes! It IS Possible! A Beginner’s Guide”
There is no word in biblical Greek or Hebrew that is the equivalent to the English word homosexual. The 1946 Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the New Testament was the first translation to incorrectly use the word homosexual (in I Cor 6:9). There is no word in biblical Greek or Hebrew for sodomy.
A Sodomite was simply an inhabitant of Sodom, just as a Torontonian is an inhabitant of Toronto. It was not until after the rise of the hierarchy in the institutional church that the story of Sodom and Gomorrah was inaccurately equated with homosexuality and the word sodomite came into use. Any translation using the words homosexual, sodomy, or sodomite are interpretations and are not faithful representations of the original scriptures.
What Did Jesus Say About Homosexuality?
Jesus had nothing to say about homosexuality. Society and the church perceive it to be a sin worthy of ostracizing family and friends but Jesus never mentioned it! He talked about money, adultery, idolatry, divorce, greed, inhospitality, and many other subjects but he never mentioned homosexuality.
Rather neglectful of him IF being gay were such an abomination — another word usually linked to homosexuals — which has also been mistranslated. The correct interpretation of the word abomination refers to impurity and is usually linked with idolatry, not sexuality.
On one occasion Jesus was asked, “Master, which is the great commandment of the law?” He answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second i s like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” ~ Matt. 22:36 – 40
Jesus made it clear that the only law is LOVE. If what you have been told does not agree with Jesus’ Great Commandments then what you have been told is wrong. God’s love is for ALL, especially gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people! Jesus was the first to reach out to the rejected of society.
Jesus reaches out to us now.
