I'm sure it's just a coincidence that Pastor Joel Osteen declared homosexuality a sin the same week we learn that former leading evangelical pastor Ted Haggard says that he is bisexual. Think of the ratings had Piers Morgan had them on together!
Osteen told Morgan, "The Scripture says it's a sin ... I don't believe homosexuality is God's best for a person's life." As a religious leader, I am always suspect of those who believe that they alone know God's will for all of us. Osteen surely knows that there are a growing number of religious leaders and faith institutions who affirm that sexual and gender diversity is part of God's gift of creation and that all of us -- bisexual, lesbian, gay, straight and transgender -- are created in God's image.
There is no arguing that the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures present four to seven verses that condemn sexual behavior between two men -- what we call the "clobber texts" -- but Osteen conveniently ignores that there are many verses that condemn or uphold practices that conflict with contemporary ethical insights. As we move toward a more just society, we approach our texts and traditions with fresh questions and new understandings. For example, biblical texts that condone slavery, regard women as property, forbid divorce or equate disease with divine retribution are no longer regarded as authoritative by any contemporary religious body. We honor instead those hundreds of scriptural messages that invite us to welcome the stranger, love our neighbor as ourselves and view all people as created in God's image.
We cannot rely exclusively on scripture or tradition for understanding sexual and gender identity today. The word or concept for "homosexuality" did not even exist when the Bible was written, and many religious historians understand those "clobber texts" as denouncing ritual prostitution. An increasingly large body of scientific research demonstrates that adult sexual orientation and gender identity in all their complexities are probably formed by a combination of genetic and prenatal influences, and are neither a choice nor a preference.
Mr. Haggard presumably realizes this as he discloses his own struggles in the GQ interview. He says, "I think that probably, if I were 21, in this society, I would identify as a bisexual," and then goes on to say he is choosing to be monogamous now in his heterosexual marriage. Surely we know that many people who are bisexual fall in love with a person and make a successful commitment to not have sexual relationships outside of their primary relationship. In Mr. Haggard's case, we can hope that his compulsive sexual behaviors are now in the past.
But I'm struck by what Mr. Haggard didn't do in this interview, which is to disavow his words and his calls for discrimination against people who are not heterosexual -- words that were often far more inflammatory that Pastor Osteen's on Wednesday night. To my mind, the sin is never homosexuality, but heterosexism and homophobia -- the denigration and denunciation of others because of the gender and genitals of whom they love. Surely Mr. Haggard knows that words such as his from clergy have disparaged and in some cases destroyed people who were sharing his struggles coming to grips with their sexual orientation and in some cases even have led to violence, suicide and murder.
As I finished this piece, I was shocked to read of the brutal murder of Ugandan LGBT rights defender David Kato. His name had been recently published on a list of "Top 100 Homosexuals in Uganda" with an appeal for their deaths. Ugandan activist Jose Ortiz puts it well: "[People] must wake up and realize that horrible acts of inhumanity invariably follow hateful and bigoted rhetoric ... especially when the rhetoric is clothed in religious, 'pious' fervor."
I wish that Haggard's lamentation had been followed by acceptance of the diversity of sexual orientation. I wish I could sit down with Pastor Osteen and former pastor Haggard and tell them stories of the faithful LGBT persons and the clergy throughout the world who understand that sexual and gender diversity is a blessing. Mr. Morgan, I'm ready.
Follow Rev. Debra Haffner on Twitter: www.twitter.com/revdebra
Joel Osteen: 'Homosexuality Is A Sin'
Pastor Joel Osteen: Homosexuality is "a sin"; Elton John is a ...
Pastor Joel Osteen's Sugar-Coated Homophobia | Gay Rights | Change.org
Ted Haggard Rebuilds Family and Starts New Church, Leaving Sex ...
Ted Haggard: I'm Probably What The Kids Call 'Bisexual' | TPMMuckraker
David Kato, Gay Rights Activist, Is Killed in Uganda - NYTimes.com
This is true of a very small and very liberal sect of "Christianity." It does not come anywhere near representing the majority of all Christians.
I was disappointed to see how misleading you are in this article. You are correct, homosexuality as we know it was not a part of Jewish culture during Christ's ministry. This is more than likely why Christ never specifically addresses this. However, Christ does establish that marriage is between male and female (Matthew 19:4-6) and establishes the validity of Mosaic Law (John 5:45-47) which condemns homosexuality.
However, homosexuality as we know it was very much a part of the Roman culture during this time. And in writing to the Romans, Paul specifically addresses this (I Corinthians 6:9; 10 and Romans1:26-27) and is very clear that it is not acceptable.
I do not think the Church should persecute those in the LGBT community. But to gloss over scripture, keep what you like, and create your own gospel is patronizing to all members of the LGBT community. Tell them the truth about the Bible, if it isn't what they want to hear there are many other religions they can choose to follow.
The issue is inciting and justifying acts of violence or abuse toward individuals just because they are gay/not Christian/not Muslim/not Wahabi Muslim/pagan/Republican/Democrat/whatever.
We're also talking about the tendency of the Christian Right to condition people to believe that winning a 'fight' against abortion and gay issues will restore American society to some sort of golden age, resulting in this myopic worldview of what it means to be a good Christian.
Christianity sprang up in an environment in which pagan temple prostitution was rife. While they were not to partake in sexual sin, neither were they instructed to waste their time trying to reform sexual behavior in ancient Rome.
But what's worse is that even with this lack of education, so many people look to him for answers. He COULD be a wonderful prophetic voice. Instead....
In the interview with Piers Morgan, Joel kept saying, “I just have to follow what the Scriptures say.” Well, that's not what the Scriptures say. Unlike Joel, I've studied Scripture in the original languages - I did go to seminary. The word “homosexual” didn't even exist until 1869 and didn't appear in biblical translations until 1958. It is certainly not in the Bible.
As a Christian minister, I have to say that the most important thing in all of this is that God loves everyone equally.
Time to go back to seminary, pastor. I have also studied Scripture in the original language, and this verse speaks very clearly as to God's view of homosexuality.
The fact remains that we don't know what the original writer(s) intended by most of these passages - and we never will. One should add to this fact that we also don't even know who wrote them. To continue to use these passages to excuse bigotry, hatred, beatings and murder - is a Human failure. Any Human on the face of the planet that claims to know any gods will is simply a liar.
Still, I remember that when I was coming to terms with my sexuality and my spirituality, calling myself "bisexual" was a step in a positive direction. While I couldn't yet admit I was gay because of my perceptions of what that meant, saying I was bisexual allowed me to test the waters, so to speak. I was admitting my true desire yet holding on to what was socially acceptable. Of course, there are many people who are bisexual and maybe Haggard is one of them. Still, at some point, if you wish to be in a long-term relationship, a choice does have to be made as far as how you will express your sexuality. Yes, you might be attracted to anything that breathes and moves, but you can't act on that and maintain a healthy relationship with someone else.
He's still in denial about his sexual orientation, so there's no reason to believe that he's overcome his denial about the destructiveness of xianity.
I'm pretty sure that, if he was 21 today, he'd stop lying and identify as *gay*.