What God has Joined Together? : : a Christian Case for gay Marriage

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Call Number: 261.835 My
On Shelf At: Downtown Library

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The great divide -- The longing for belonging -- The state of our unions -- A newer world -- Understanding sexual orientation -- Changing sexual orientation -- What the Bible does and doesn't say -- What God has joined together? -- Gay marriage.
An intriguing Christian argument for why same-sex marriage strengthens the institution of marriage.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Whose Truth? submitted by pkooger on August 24, 2010, 9:06am I had the privilege of meeting David Meyers and hearing him speak at Calvin College a few years ago. He’s a very interesting man and quite a skilled orator. I haven’t read this book yet, but I look forward to revisiting his thoughts on the place of committed, loving, healthy same-sex relationships in God’s kingdom.

Ms. Codrington, I certainly agree with your point about the Old Testament’s clarity on the sinfulness of homosexual practices. The Israelites were very clear in their laws regarding who could and could not sleep together. They were also very clear in their laws regarding who could and could not be enslaved, as well as how long you could keep a person in slavery.
“Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. You can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.” Leviticus 25:44-46.

As a gay man and a Gentile, I would have had a tough life in ancient Israelite society. At least as a man I could have worked towards my own emancipation, a luxury not given to slave women.

But we’re not talking about the correct way to own another human being as property without sinning. We’re talking about whether or not there is a place for same-sex relationships between Christians.

I don’t think the issue is nearly as black and white as you make it out to be. If every word of the Bible is infallible truth, then we have the slavery issue to worry about, as well as the appropriate role of women in the church, divorce, which foods are sinful to eat, etc. etc. If the Bible as we know it is a collection of documents from myriad authors over centuries and centuries of time, then the words of scripture must needs be placed in their cultural context to be fully understood. Some biblical scholars say that several of the infamous “seven passages” regarding homosexuality in the Old Testament have to do with ritual purity. Consider that it was also a crime worthy of exile for a menstruating woman to have sex.
“If a man lies with a woman during her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has exposed her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from their people.” Leviticus 20:18.

This is just one argument, and I’m probably not giving it very well. I know that I’m not going to convince you of anything new, especially if David Meyers couldn’t, but thanks for listening. This is an issue that will continue to be debated for years to come.