Reconciling JudeoChristian Traditionist Thinking GLBTS New thinking for

Reconciling Judeo-Christian Traditionist Thinking & GLBTS New thinking for a new millennium! by Rev. Joseph Adam Pearson, Ph. D. President, Christ Evangelical Bible Institute http: //www. cebiaz. com Pastor Emeritus, Healing Waters Ministries

Proviso These Power. Point Presentation slides for Christianity and Homosexuality Reconciled! (Copyright 2000, 2010) by Rev. Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson are intended to accompany his book by the same name and to facilitate group discussion for those who are reading and studying his book. These Power. Point slides cannot be altered or modified in any way. Certainly, alternative views relative to this work may be considered during group discussion, but alternative views or changes cannot be embedded in the copyrighted Power. Point presentation itself nor can slides be added to, or deleted from, this presentation.

Dr. Pearson’s E-book is Available! Read Dr. Pearson’s free e-book, entitled Christianity & Homosexuality Reconciled! Click on the following URL: http: //www. dr-joseph-adam-pearson. com/CHR. pdf

New Audio Series Available! Listen to Dr. Pearson’s seven one-hour mp 3 broadcasts of “Christianity & Homosexuality Reconciled!” Click on the following URL: http: //www. christiangays. com/articles/joe_pearson_audio. shtml

My assumptions for commonalities in this room: 1. Acceptance and confession that Jesus Christ is: the only-begotten Son of God, Lord, the promised Messiah, the only Savior of the world, our own personal Savior. . . 2. Beliefs that God hates idolatry, dishonesty, sexual immorality, arrogance. . . 3. Other

Truth “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ” John 8: 32 (NKJV) “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. ” John 8: 36 (NKJV)

Our Lord has opened doors for this seminar and workshop in. . . Mesa, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona Scottsdale, Arizona Tucson, Arizona Berkeley, California Long Beach, California North Hollywood, California Sacramento, California San Francisco, California San Jose, California Vallejo, California Tampa, Florida Atlanta, Georgia Indianapolis, Indiana La Porte, Indiana Michigan City, Indiana St. Louis, Missouri

Atlanta Advertisement for seminar on January 4, 2003

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What might be an impetus for traditional evangelical churches to become more open, accommodating and accepting of GLBTs? 1. To reach GLBT Christians and their loved ones who might conclude that God does not desire to have a relationship with them. 2. To reach GLBT nonchristians and their loved ones who might believe that accepting Christ is not an option for them. 3. To better minister to GLBT people and their loved ones already in congregations.

What might be an impetus for traditional evangelical churches to become more open, accommodating and accepting of GLBTs? 4. To more effectively demonstrate Christian love and inculcate morality. 5. To more effectively utilize the spiritual gifts God has given to GLBT people and their loved ones. 6. To continue to meet the needs of the changing landscape of the church (relate to 1 Timothy 2: 11 -12 as well as Matthew 5: 32).

What might be an impetus for traditional evangelical churches to become more open, accommodating and accepting of GLBTs? 7. To help heal and unite the Body of Christ.

The role of conflict in the church “God [reveals] His Word for all people in the crucible of conflict in the church. ” C. Gene Wilkes in Paul on Leadership Servant Leadership in a Ministry of Transition Copyright 2004, Lifeway Press, Nashville, Tennessee

Kampala, Uganda

Mbeya, Tanzania

Brazil!

The Bible. . . • Is authored by the Holy Spirit (i. e. , inspired or “God-breathed”) • Is inerrant in its original languages • Is written in narrative form (recounts experiences)

The Times: Kings & Queens of The British Isles, Times Books, London, 2002, page 138

When studying the Bible. . . • We need to hold the whole Bible while simultaneously attending to its various parts. • We need to understand context, both literary and historic: “to proof text without context is pretext!” • We need to remember that “pure religion” 1 does not contradict true science and that true science does not contradict pure religion. 1(James 1: 27) • We need to remember that studying the Bible requires correct application of its verses.

When studying the Bible. . . • We should never translate, interpret or apply individual Bible verses in isolation!

When studying the Bible. . . 1. 2. 3. 4. The three most important considerations for correct interpretation: Context If we could include a fourth most important consideration, it would probably be: Context

The Importance of Context The various segments of the Holy Bible are framed by the contexts in which they were written: historical, social, cultural, political, literary, and linguistic contexts.

Example #1 “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. ” Leviticus 19: 28 KJV

Example #2 “Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. ” Leviticus 25: 44 NIV

Example #3 “Observe the requirements of the LORD your God and follow all his ways. Keep each of the laws, commands, regulations, and stipulations written in the law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. ” 1 Kings 2: 3 NLT

Example #4 “Doth not nature itself teach you that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him. ” 1 Corinthians 11: 14 KJV

CONTEXT 1. 2. Historical a. To whom was it written? b. Why was it written? c. What was the intended meaning? Literary a. What is the etymology (origin) of a word? b. What did the word mean when written? c. What does a word mean in context? d. What is the immediate context? c. How do cross references bear on meaning?

Pronunciation and Meaning b-o-w How do pronunciation and meaning of Hebrew words relate to context?

Historically Controversial Human Rights Issues in Judeo-Christian Traditions Include: 1. Judaization and the rights of Gentiles

Acts 10: 15 b (NIV) “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. ” At that time, Gentiles were considered by Jews to be unclean “dogs. ” (Consider the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15: 22 -28)

Galatians 2: 11 b (NIV) What the Apostle Paul said about the Apostle Peter: “I opposed him to his face, for he was clearly in the wrong. ”

Historically Controversial Human Rights Issues in Judeo-Christian Traditions Include: 2. Anti-Semitism and the rights of Jews

Hatred Knows No Barriers

Galatians 3: 28 (NIV) “There is neither Jew nor Greek [Gentile], slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ” No ethnocentrism! No racism!

Historically Controversial Human Rights Issues in Judeo-Christian Traditions Include: 3. Slavery and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities

Galatians 3: 28 (NIV) “There is neither Jew nor Greek [Gentile], slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ” No preferred socioeconomic status! No social distinction!

Historically Controversial Human Rights Issues in Judeo-Christian Traditions Include: 4. Female rabbis, female priests and female pastors and the rights of women

An enlightened view of gender includes an understanding of: “For when they shall rise from the dead, they will neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels which are in heaven. ” Mark 12: 25 Also, consider the role of these prophetesses in the Holy Bible: Miriam (OT), Deborah (OT), Huldah (OT), and Anna (NT).

Evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman said “If God can speak through a donkey, then He certainly can speak through Kathryn Kuhlman!” This statement refers to Numbers 22: 28 -30, when an angel of the LORD spoke through Balaam’s donkey.

Galatians 3: 28 (NIV) “There is neither Jew nor Greek [Gentile], slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ” No sexism! No gender preference!

Galatians 3: 28 (NIV) “There is neither Jew nor Greek [Gentile], slave nor free, male nor female. . . for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ” “Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved!” Acts 2: 21 Is there a need to justify one’s salvation to others?

Acts 10: 34 (NIV) “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. ’” “no partiality” = “no respecter of persons”

1 Samuel 16: 7 (NIV) When Samuel evaluated the sons of Jesse, Eliab was first. . . “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. ’”

Historically Controversial Human Rights Issues in Judeo-Christian Traditions Include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Judaization and the rights of Gentiles Anti-Semitism and the rights of Jews Slavery and the rights of African-Americans Female rabbis, female priests and female pastors and the rights of women Sexual orientation and gender identity and the rights of GLBTs.

The Bible addresses male same-sex behaviors only in the context of: • Rape and violent intent • Idolatrous practices • Prostitution • Pagan orgies

The Bible addresses female samesex behaviors: Never! (Listen to Part Seven of Dr. Pearson’s audio series. )

Revisiting Sodom • Abraham bargains with the LORD God Almighty (Genesis 18) [50→ 45→ 40→ 30→ 20→ 10] • Men of the city of Sodom seek to have sex with two angelic visitors (Genesis 19)

Genesis 19: 4 (KJV) Masoretic Hebrew Text But before they lay down, the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: טרם ישכבו ו אנשי העיר אנשי סדם נסבו על־הבית מנער ועד־זקן כל־העם מקצה׃

Revisiting Sodom TASK (using handout): Compare Genesis 19 with Judges 19 and Judges 20: 1 -5 Note any similarities between the two narratives by underlining the similarities in the texts.

Parallels between Genesis 19 & Judges 19 Sodom Gibeah two visitors or travelers: two angels Levite & concubine cautioned not to spend night in town square: by Lot by old man demands of group sex by men of the city and two women offered instead: Lot’s virgin daughters old man’s daughter & concubine same Hebrew word used in: Genesis 19: 5 Judges 19: 22 & 25

ayin dalet yod ya-daw’ 1. To know intellectually 2. To know carnally (between two consensual adults) 3. To rape

date 1. Day of the year 2. Innocent prearranged social engagement 3. Sexual encounter between a prostitute and customer

ayin dalet yod ya-daw’ 1. To know intellectually 2. To know carnally (between two consensual adults) 3. To rape

Concubine (definition will be useful later) 1. Purchased bed partner with no legal rights. 2. Secondary spousal partner of inferior condition with few or no legal rights. 3. Member of a “harem” of women.

The Bible addresses male same-sex behaviors only in the context of: • Rape and violent intent • Idolatrous practices • Prostitution • Pagan orgies

1 Kings 14: 24 “And there were also sodomites in the land; and they did according to all the abominations תועבת of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. ” (King James Version: 1611)

Deuteronomy 23: 17 “There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel. ” (American Standard: 1901)

Shin Dalet Qof kaw-dashe’ • “A (quasi) sacred person, i. e. (tech. ) a (male) devotee (by prostitution) to licentious idolatry” Hebrew dictionary, word 6945 from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (1890) • The term means “pagan priest (i. e. , intermediary)” or “male temple cult prostitute, ” not “homosexual”

Deuteronomy 23: 17 “There shall be no קדשה of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a קדש of the sons of Israel. ”

1 Kings 14: 24 “And there were also sodomites in the land; and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord [had] cast out before the children of Israel. ” (King James Version) “And there were male prostitutes in Judah. . . “ (JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh)

1 Kings 14: 24 “And there were also perverted persons in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. ” (New King James Version) “There was homosexuality throughout the land, and the people of Judah became as depraved as the heathen nations which the Lord drove out to make room for His people. ” (Living Bible)

1 Kings 14: 24 St. Jerome (c. 320 – 410 AD) translated “qadeshim” as “effeminati” in the Latin Vulgate version of the Bible (published in 405 AD) effeminati = transvestite male temple cult prostitutes “effeminate” is an archaic English word for transvestite and has its origin from effeminati. Hence, the use of the word “effeminate” as a translation for malakoi in the 1611 KJV.

1 Kings 14: 24 If Martin Luther could correctly translate “qadeshim” as “die Tempelhurer” (male temple whores) in 1534, why haven’t all modern translations been as accurate?

Leviticus 18: 3 (NIV) “YOU MUST NOT DO AS THEY DO IN EGYPT, WHERE YOU USED TO LIVE, AND YOU MUST NOT DO AS THEY DO IN THE LAND OF CANAAN, WHERE I AM BRINGING YOU. DO NOT FOLLOW THEIR PRACTICES. ” “practices” = pagan, barbaric and idolatrous practices

Leviticus 18: 3 (Amplification) “YOU MUST NOT DO AS THEY DO IN EGYPT, WHERE YOU USED TO LIVE, AND YOU MUST NOT DO AS THEY DO IN THE LAND OF CANAAN, WHERE I AM BRINGING YOU. DO NOT FOLLOW THEIR PAGAN, BARBARIC OR IDOLATROUS PRACTICES. ”

Mediterranean Cultures

Fertility Gods in the Bible 1. Molech 2. Baalim 3. Ashtoreth Ashtaroth “Asherah” = wooden or stone phallic emblem [totem] Ishtar (Babylonian “Queen of Heaven”) Astarte (Greek, Roman) Easter (Scandinavian derivative)

Worship of Fertility Gods Incorporated: 1. Sacrificing children (Leviticus 18: 21; Leviticus 20: 2 -5) 2. Sex with temple cult prostitutes (Leviticus 18: 22; Deuteronomy 22: 5; 23: 17 ) 3. Sex with temple animals (Leviticus 18: 23) 4. Mutilation of external genitals, including castration (Deuteronomy 23: 1 ) 5. Pagan orgies and anal intercourse with both female and male temple cult prostitutes (Romans, Chapter 1 )

Example #5 “He that is wounded in the stones [testicles], or hath his privy member [penis] cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. ” Deuteronomy 23: 1 KJV

Example #5 Amplification & Paraphrase “Transvestite male temple cult prostitutes who have made a covenant to their false gods by castration shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. ” Deuteronomy 23: 1

Scripture Explains Scripture! Who were the overseers of all three of the activities in Leviticus 18: 21 -23? The answer comes from 1 Kings 14: 24 : The qadeshim, the so-called “sacred ones” or “pagan priests” of the fertility religions. It was because of the idolatrous practices of these so-called “holy ones” that the Lord cast the nations out of Israel’s promised land. (Show phallic cult slides. )

The Expositor’s Bible New York, Funk and Wagnalls, 1900, pages 387 -388 “The inconceivably unnatural crimes prohibited in vv. 22, 23 were in like manner essentially connected with idolatrous worship: the former with the worship of Astarte or Ashtoreth; the latter with the worship of the he-goat at Mendes in Egypt, as the symbol of the generative power in nature. ”

The Expositor’s Bible New York, Funk and Wagnalls, 1900, pages 387 -388 “What a hideous perversion of the moral sense was involved in these crimes, as thus connected with idolatrous worship, is illustrated strikingly by the fact that men and women, thus prostituted to the service of false gods, were designated by the terms qadesh and qadeshah, ‘sacred, ’ ‘holy. ’”

The Expositor’s Bible New York, Funk and Wagnalls, 1900, pages 387 -388 “No wonder that the sacred writer brands these horrible crimes as, in a peculiar and almost solitary sense, ‘abomination, ’ ‘confusion. ’”

Tanakh, Leviticus 18: 22 תועבה toevah “idolatrous practice, ” “pagan practice, ” or “ritual uncleanness” Translating toevah as “abomination” is just not good enough. Toevah is an idolatrous custom/idolatrous practice/idolatrous activity/idolatrous thing.

Deuteronomy 18: 9 -12 9. When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations תועבת of those nations. 10. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. 11. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12. For all that do these things are [an] abomination[s] unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Deuteronomy 32: 16 16. They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations תועבת provoked they Him to anger. For the record: שקץ of Leviticus 11: 10 is not תועבה

Review Levitcus 18, 20 1 Kings 14

Why Should Christians Read, Study and Comprehend the Old Testament? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. To understand the origin of the universe. To understand the origin of mankind. To learn the history of mankind since Adam and Eve as well as to learn the origin of iniquity and sin. To understand the promises of God to mankind concerning the Jewish Messiah, who is the only Savior of the world. To understand the prophecies of God that have already been fulfilled, that are being fulfilled, and that will be fulfilled at a later time. To learn from the journey of the Children of Israel and how it mirrors the personal journey of individual Christians. To learn basic spiritual principles and apply them to daily living today. To better understand Old Testament quotations and imagery used throughout the New Testament. Christians should NOT read, comprehend and study the Old Testament in order for them to follow Levitical Law!

Ezekiel 16: 49 -50 “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom; she and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen. ” (King James Version) “did detestable things” = “committed toevah” “detestable things” = idolatrous practices

Hey, Jude! 7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. heteros sarkos = “strange flesh” 6. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Torah! Were the rules, regulations, and ordinances detailed in the first five books of the Bible written for Christians to follow? No! Why not? The Nation of Israel and the Church of Christ are two distinctly separate entities.

Torah! Why were the rules, regulations and ordinances of Torah laid down? To help a stiff-necked, rebellious and primitive group of people come to understand that in order to become a holy people, they had to learn to separate themselves from barbarous customs and idolatrous practices, discipline themselves, and offer all of their activities up to God as proof of their willingness to be His people. To teach them the concept of sin and the need for repentance. To indicate to others that God had a chosen people.

Torah! Does this mean that we should throw out the Ten Commandments? It means we should pay attention to what Jesus said were the greatest commandments and the “sum” of the law.

Torah! What happens to people who use Levitical Law as a holiness code to measure other people? Because they are measured by God with the same standard that they use to measure others, they are cursed by God. Why “cursed? ”

Torah! “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the book of the law [Torah]. ’” Galatians 3: 10

Torah! Why would any Christian want to put himself or herself in such jeopardy?

Cursed by God? “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ” Galatians 1: 8 KJV accursed = “anathema” (Greek ἀνάθεμα) = “excommunicated”

What the Holy Spirit taught me to say if anyone says that I am cursed: “If I am cursed, then I am joined to my Master, who was cursed of all men. In this, then, do I rejoice that I am cursed of men, for in that curse I receive the blessing of God wherewith I am received into the body of Christ: rejected by man but accepted by God and delivered by Him from the hand of my own iniquity and sin. ”

Christ Jesus Himself was cursed by the letter of the Law of Moses “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law [of Moses] by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. ’” Galatians 3: 13 (NIV)

Christ Jesus Himself was cursed by the letter of the Law of Moses “YOU MUST NOT LEAVE HIS BODY ON THE TREE OVERNIGHT. BE SURE TO BURY HIM THAT SAME DAY, BECAUSE ANYONE WHO IS HUNG ON A TREE IS UNDER GOD’S CURSE. YOU MUST NOT DESECRATE THE LAND THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GIVING YOU AS AN INHERITANCE. ” Deuteronomy 21: 23 (NIV)

Law versus Grace We are not under the law [of Moses] but under grace. Romans 6: 14 See also the discussion of circumcision in Galatians Chapter Five.

Titus 3: 9 (NLT) “Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These kinds of things are useless and a waste of time. ”

1 Corinthians 1: 27 -29 (KJV) “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory [boast] in His Presence. ”

What was common during the lifetime of the Apostle Paul? 1. Male-male sex between statutory minors and the elite and powerful Statutory minors included the conquered, slaves, and pubescent boys Eros was the god of pederasty paiderastes/philerastes (Greek) philetor/eromenos (Greek)

What was common during the lifetime of the Apostle Paul? 2. Male prostitution in male brothels Male prostitutes were taxed in both Greece and Rome April 24 th was the legal holiday for male prostitutes in Rome

What was common during the lifetime of the Apostle Paul? 3. Ambisexuality The Roman historian Cato said of Julius Caesar: “He is every woman’s husband and. . . every man’s wife. ”

What was common during the lifetime of the Apostle Paul? 4. Fertility Mother goddess cults attended by castrated and/or transvestite priests who engaged in same-sex practices: Cybele Aphrodite Hecate Artemis Magna Mater Anaitis Ma Astarte

What was common during the lifetime of the Apostle Paul? In The Life of Constantine, the Church historian Eusebius Pamphili (c. 260 -360 AD), Bishop of Caesarea, indicates that the effeminate priests [i. e. , “effeminati”] of the goddess Cybele still engaged in temple cult prostitution in his own time.

What was common during the lifetime of the Apostle Paul? Same-sex practices = Pseudo-sacred ritualistic sexual offerings with male temple cult prostitutes (some transvestite, some not)

What was common during the lifetime of the Apostle Paul? The Apostle Paul did not know any Christian homosexuals. The Apostle Paul did not know any monogamous homosexual partners. The Apostle Paul did not write about what he did not know.

1 Corinthians 6: 9 malakoi arsenokoitai

1 Corinthians 6: 9 malakoi Classical Greek word that literally means “soft ones” Translated by St. Jerome as “molles” which is a synonym of “effeminati” (transvestite male temple cult prostitutes)

1 Corinthians 6: 9 (& 1 Timothy 1: 10) arsenokoitai Koine Greek word Translated by St. Jerome as “masculorum concubitores” (“masculorum concubitoribus”) which means “the purchased male sex slaves of men”

The Bible addresses same-sex behaviors only in the context of: • Rape and violent intent • Idolatrous practices • Prostitution • Pagan orgies

Context of Romans, Chapter One Sex between and among pagan idolaters A. Sex for the purpose of worshipping fertility gods and goddesses B. Plural sex (group/orgiastic sex) C. Sex for the sake of sex (“inflamed lust”) D. Anal sex with both female and male temple cult prostitutes

Romans 1: 22 -23 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible [incorruptible] God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts [tetrapodon: mammals], and creeping things [herpeton: reptiles].

Romans 1: 22 -23 Professing themselves to be wise, the pagan idolators became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible [incorruptible] God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts [tetrapodon: mammals], and creeping things [herpeton: reptiles].

Romans 1: 24 -25 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between [en: among] themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Romans 1: 24 -25 Wherefore God also gave the pagan idolators up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between [en: among] themselves [i. e. , the pagan idolators]: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Romans 1: 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural [phusiken] use into that which is against nature [phusin]: [Going against nature could include ritualistic sex with animals or objects other than the male penis or even anal intercourse. Regardless of what it is referring to, this is not referring to intimacy between two lesbians. ]

Romans 1: 26 For this cause God gave the pagan idolators up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural [phusiken] use into that which is against nature [phusin]: [Going against nature could include ritualistic sex with animals or objects other than the male penis or even anal intercourse. Regardless of what it is referring to, this is not referring to intimacy between two lesbians. ]

Romans 1: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural [phusiken] use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with [en: among] men working that which is unseemly [äskhā-mo-sü'-nā: “indecent, ” “of one’s nakedness” or “of a female’s pudenda”], and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Romans 1: 27 And likewise also the male pagan idolators , leaving the natural [phusiken] use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with [en: among] men working that which is unseemly [ä-skhā-mo-sü'-nā: “indecent, ” “shameful, ” “of one’s nakedness” or “of a female’s pudenda”], and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

The Bible addresses same-sex behaviors only in the context of: • Rape and violent intent • Idolatrous practices • Prostitution • Pagan orgies

Romans, Chapter One the Greek word “phusiken” translated as “natural” also means “instinctual” which meaning permits our investigation into developmental biology and cognitive psychology as they relate to sexual orientation

What is “natural”? 1. Either the term natural only refers to what the Apostle Paul understood of nature (a limited understanding) or it refers to all of nature, for all time, in all situations and circumstances and, therefore, includes today’s scientific understanding of nature through cognitive psychology and developmental biology (an all-inclusive understanding).

What is “natural”? 2. Many (if not most) Bible scholars and theologians would say that a Bible word’s meaning is limited to the definition of the word at the time that it was used.

What is “natural”? 3. If natural only refers to what the Apostle Paul understood of nature, then it cannot be all-inclusive and, therefore, must not include homosexuals. (For example, Paul was not a naturalist and, therefore, not aware of animals who exclusively court and sexually couple with others of the same sex. And, the Apostle Paul simply did not know any homosexuals. )

What is “natural”? 4. However, if natural is all-inclusive, then it still opens the door for the traditionally-inferred meaning in Romans 1: 27 to be counterbalanced by modern scientific contributions to the meaning of sex, gender, and sexual orientation through an understanding of developmental biology and cognitive psychology.

God made. . . Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve nor Ada and Eve!

1 Corinthians 11: 14 The Apostle Paul opened the door for students of the Bible to see what nature has to teach us when he stated: “Does not even nature [phusis] itself teach you that. . . ”

Nature What does nature have to teach us about genital identity, gender identity and sexual orientation?

Intersexual Definition of an intersexual (n): A person whose biological sex is ambiguous at the biochemical, genetic, chromosomal and/or anatomic levels.

Intersexuality is a biological prototype to help us gain insights about the brain and sexual orientation. (i. e. , BIOLOGICAL MODEL REPRESENTING GENDER ANOMALIES)

Eunuch The eunuch is a Scriptural prototype for deviations from the norm. (i. e. , SCRIPTURAL MODEL REPRESENTING GENDER ANOMALIES) (The Prophet Daniel was probably a eunuch. )

Eunuch {19} Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, {20} Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones [testicles] broken. . . Leviticus 21: 19 -20 KJV

Eunuch “He that is wounded in the stones [testicles], or hath his privy member [penis] cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. ” Deuteronomy 23: 1 KJV

Isaiah 56: 3 -5 (NIV) “Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, ‘The LORD will surely exclude me from His people. ’ And let not any eunuch complain, ‘I am only a dry tree. ’ For this is what the LORD says: ‘To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant — to them I will give within My temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. ’”

Acts 8: 26 -37 Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.

Concerning Eunuchs, Jesus said: “Some eunuchs are born that way [made that way by nature], some eunuchs are made that way by man [through castration], and some choose to be eunuchs for the glory of God [in that they are elected to celibacy]. Whoever is able to accept this should accept it. ” Matthew 19: 12

What words best describe the use of Bible passages against homosexuals? Mistranslation Misinterpretation Misapplication

Concerning entering into the Kingdom of God Jesus said: “And note this: Some who are despised now will be greatly honored then; and some who are greatly honored now will be despised then. ” Luke 13: 30 (NLT)

A Message from Jesus Christ To GLBT Christians Though members of My Church have rejected you, I have not rejected you! Though you have been persecuted unjustly by members of My Church, I ask that you forgive them for their trespasses against you. Since you have accepted me as your Savior, Lord and Sovereign King, then reflect Me in all of your daily social and sexual attitudes and behaviors! Hold tightly to the faith and righteousness you have in Me, for I am returning soon. At that time, all things wrong will be set aright.

LAST AND FINAL CALL Are You Prepared?

Use what God has given to you! Minister to the brokenhearted in the Name of Jesus Christ!

Question From a New Testament standpoint, when are sexual acts between two people immoral? When they take place outside of a committed, covenant-based monogamous spousal relationship (God’s “ideal”).

Man, this really hurts! Like the Apostle Paul and his evangelistic team, GLBT Christians are “genuine, yet regarded as impostors. ” 2 Corinthians 6: 8 NIV

Matthew 16: 6, 11 (KJV) Christ Jesus said: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees!” leaven = yeast leaven = doctrine of legalism Religious legalism pollutes true spirituality!

What Hearing Requires “Who hath ears to hear, let [them] hear!” Matthew 13: 43 (KJV) “They may hear, and not understand. ” Mark 4: 12 (KJV) Real “hearing” requires: 1. the capacity to understand 2. the willingness to understand 3. questioning what one has been taught