Burnishing Bigotry - 3rd edition

°Clobber Passage E) 1 Corinthians 6 … This is another passage frequently used by
conservatives to rationalize judging homosexuals to be ―sinners‖. It states in part that,
―Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards,
revilers, robbers—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.‖ (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) … Here,
once again, I can understand why someone biased against homosexuality would feel justified in
using this verse to sanctify their condemnatory agenda, and yet – as is so often the case – a
closer examination of the Scriptures reveals quite a different story … Consider first of all that it
is not homosexuals or homosexual couples (or even homosexual desires) that are condemned in
this passage, but rather arsenokoites – a Greek word (translated as ―sodomites‖ in some texts – and
incorrectly as ―homosexuals‖ in others) that literally means ―a male who is engaging in samegender
sexual activity‖ (see Strong‘s #733) … As such, once again, we here have a verse that does
not apply whatsoever to homosexuals who are not actively engaged in homosexual sex,
and thus a verse that does not apply at all to the original image of Oliver Clyde Allen
and his husband that started this conversation – and thus a verse that cannot be used to
rationalize not going to hear Oliver preach the Word of God on Sundays!
Secondly, these two verses have Paul listing quite a few other equally ―wicked‖ sins that
also keep those committing them from entering the Kingdom of God – among them adultery,
greed, drunkenness, slander, and swindling. Especially in light of Jesus redefinition of adultery
to include all those who even so much as fantasize about sleeping with someone other than their
husband or wife (see Matthew 5:27-28), these other, primarily heterosexual transgressions are far
more common and indeed far more insidious than homosexual sex is or will ever be. And
as such, it is a clear expression of bigotry (and for most, a clear expression of hypocrisy as
well) to focus solely on the latter one at the exclusion of the former many …
(Refer as well to 1 Corinthians 6:13-18 – where Paul focuses not on gay sex or homosexuality at
all, but rather condemns all forms of fornication as the sin that all of us should first & foremost avoid. In
addition, Galatians 5:19-21 has Paul also blasting the sins of hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish
ambition, dissensions, factions and envy – many of which are committed by conservative Christians every
time they themselves condemn homosexuals!)
Thirdly & finally, and for this thread most importantly, while 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 does
include ―sodomites‖ in a list of those who will not have a part in God‘s Kingdom, verse 11 goes
on to say, ―Such were some of you; but you
were washed, but you were sanctified, but you
were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ and in the Spirit of our God.‖ And this
verse is very important for the following
reason: this thread is not about gays in general,
but is specifically about two Christian gays
(one of them an ordained minister, no less). As
such, according to this very verse, Oliver Clyde
Allen has already been appropriately ―washed‖,
―sanctified‖ and ―justified‖ – and this, even
according to conservatives‘ own interpretation
of the Scriptures! For this reason alone, any
fellow Christian should feel able to humble him
or herself and go listen to him preach!
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