September 2012

The “gay theology”

Photo 1 IMG_0759

Tim presents gospel to children at Potrero Hill housing project.

Dear Christian friends,

Over the past 40 years, there has been an attempt by homosexuals to reinterpret the Bible to make same-sex behavior appear not to be sinful. In 1968, a licensed Baptist preacher named Troy Perry started the Metropolitan Community Church, which now has 300 congregations in 18 countries, and advocated the “gay theology” – that same-sex intercourse is not sinful.

The “gay theology” involves a reinterpretation of the various Bible passages that speak about homosexuality. Today, many homosexuals have influential positions in Bible seminaries, and have written numerous papers and books to advance this position. Many seminaries and denominations no longer teach that same-sex intercourse is sinful.

Romans 1:26 talks about how “even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature, and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another…” Those who advocate “gay theology” say that this scripture is talking about people who are not born homosexual engaging in same-sex behavior, which is unnatural for them. They claim that it would be equally unnatural for a person who is “born gay” to engage in heterosexual behavior. Of course, there is no scripture to support the concept that anyone is “born gay” or that homosexual behavior is natural for anyone.

The “gay theologians” have the hardest time with 1 Cor. 6:9-10: “Do not be deceived, neither fornicators….nor homosexuals (Greek: arsenokoitai) will inherit the kingdom of God.” (The word is also used in 1 Tim. 1:10.) Normally they will say that the Greek word refers to homosexual prostitutes or men who have sex with boys. Some will say that the meaning of the Greek word is unknown.

Here is one such argument, made by the leader of the “Gay Christian Network”: “I think that it’s fairly safe to assume that the arsenokoitai of Paul’s day were men engaging in some kind of homosexual behavior. But what kind of behavior? That’s pretty much impossible to know for sure….The most likely explanation is that Paul is referring to a practice that was fairly common in the Greek culture of his day – married men who had sex with male youths on the side.” According to this man, those who engage in a certain kind of behavior will not inherit the kingdom of God — but it is impossible to know what kind of behavior will keep us out of Heaven!

So what does the word mean? First, some background. The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Old Testament made from 350-132 BC. It was reputed to have been made by 72 Jewish elders and was highly regarded by Jewish leaders. When we read Old Testament quotes in the New Testament, the wording is often different from what we find in the Old Testament. Usually, this is because our English translation of the Old Testament is based upon the Hebrew Masoretic text, which was first published in 1482 AD, much later than the Septuagint. The exact wording of Old Testament quotes in the New Testament almost always agrees with the Septuagint, but much less frequently agrees with the Masoretic text.

Paul, of course, knew Greek and almost all of his Old Testament quotes are in exact agreement with the Septuagint. Also, Paul used 179 Greek words which he apparently coined, since they are not found in earlier Greek literature. Often, he combined two Greek words to form a new word.

The word arsenokoitai is a combination of two Greek words “arsenos” (male) and “koitai” (to bed, to have sexual relations with) that is found twice in the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament (and nowhere else in Greek literature before Paul’s time):

1, Lev. 20:13: “kai os an koimēthē meta arsenos koitēn gunaikos bdelugma epoiēsan amphoteroi thanatousthōsan enochoi eisin.” “‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.“

2, Lev. 18:22: “kai meta arsenos ou koimēthēse koitēn gynaikos bdelygma gar estin” “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.”

Not all of the Mosaic laws apply to Christians today. However, when one of the Old Testament laws is repeated in the New Testament (such as commands not to steal, commit adultery, worship idols), we can be sure that it applies to Christians.

I think it is pretty obvious that Paul is deliberately using the word “arsenokoitai” to make it clear that the Old Testament condemnation of sex between men is still valid in New Testament times.

On the Streets

On July 19, Eddie and I joined the Open Air Campaigners for their Sketchboard Training. That afternoon, we witnessed with them at Powell & Market and later at the Potrero Hill housing project. They drew a large crowd to hear the gospel at Powell and Market. However, when we arrived at the housing project, there was nobody around. They set up their sketchboard and puppets anyway and walked around the project, knocking on doors and announcing their ministry. By the time we started, about thirty children and some of their parents had joined us. They listened intently to the gospel presentation.

On July 14 and 21 we held outreaches at UN Plaza. Machaira played on July 14. Four churches brought their worship groups on July 21 – Promised Land Fellowship (Treasure Island), Word International Church (Newark), Vida Nueva (who sang worship songs in Spanish), and Bridgepoint Community Church (Pacifica), who put it all together.

As we were putting up our banners on July 14, Dave noticed a young woman nearby was crying. He stopped and began talking with Monica, 24. Her boyfriend, a heroin addict, had gotten her pregnant and left her on the streets with nothing. Dave ministered to her and prayed with her. I met Victor, who wanted to be free from drugs, and referred him to Teen Challenge. Eddie witnessed to Abraham, who heckled him while he was preaching, and ended up asking “what must I do to be saved.” Eddie shared the gospel with him and believes he was genuinely saved that day.

In early August, I went to Washington DC to attend my niece’s wedding and visit with my three brothers, their wives and children. My niece Janet is an Orthodox Jew but the rest of my family does not attend a synagogue.

My return flight on Thursday was cancelled so I didn’t arrive until Friday night. Larry DuBois picked me up at the airport and we went straight to 16th St. and Mission. Burt stopped to listen to our preaching and later spoke with Dave and Eddie. He stayed around all evening, and was quite receptive to the gospel. Allan witnessed to a man who had been an elder in a church but turned away from God because of a church scandal.

On Saturday Tim Moon ministered with us at Fisherman’s Wharf. Dave witnessed to a Mexican woman and her teenage son and daughter. She had been attending Victory Outreach, but didn’t seem to understand the gospel. Dave explained it to them and answered their questions.

Later, we went to Union Square. The band “Factor 11” played and I preached twice. Dave witnessed to Virgil, a Filipino Catholic who listened to the gospel and took a gospel tract. He and Eddie witnessed to a young skateboarder who was addicted to drugs. After they shared the gospel with him, he said, “I’ve never heard it put that way.”

Coming Events

Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 282-5629 to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Friday September 7, 14, 28 7:30 – 10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. September 1 and 29 12-5 PM U N Plaza (7th St. and Market)
Sat. September 8 and 15 11 AM – 4 PM San Francisco Outreach, Fisherman’s Wharf (Jefferson St. near Mason)

Ministry Needs

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. Our tract supply is quite low after the SOS outreach and we need to print some more. So far, the best price quote I’ve received is $1450 for 80,000 tracts. This should be enough tracts to last us about a year. We have received about a third of the funds we need.

I hope many of you will join us for an outreach this next month. If you don’t live in this area, please pray for us and ask God to give you opportunities to share the gospel with others in your own community.