Who knew that people had list of passages condemning people who weren’t heterosexual? Different sources may count the verses in various ways, but there are essentially six passages:
Genesis 19 - the story of Sodom and Gomorrah
Leviticus 18 and 20 - passages on a holiness code to differentiate Israelites from the people in Egypt and other idolaters
Romans 1 - the only reference that might include women
1 Corinthians 6 and 1 Timothy 1 - references within two listings of vices.
I spent enormous amounts of time reading the verses, using different translations, looking up the words in Greek and in Hebrew and reading the texts in context, not isolated forms. Over time I also found that many non-affirming believers paid a lot of attention to the saga of creation in Genesis 1 and 2.
In the end, it was the breadth of scripture and who Jesus reveals himself to be that convinced me that all LGBTQ individuals are created in the image of God - wonderfully and perfectly made - and that covenantal monogamous civil unions or marriages are well within the righteousness that we strive for.
Still, I needed to better understand the ammo that was being shot at me. In the next few posts I will share my summaries of each of these verses along with links to my notes from the many sources I read. To equip yourself, don’t simply read what I write, although it is a starting point. Do your own wrestling.
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