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A Non-Hypocritical Perspective

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A majority of non-Christians have increasingly negative views of Christians. Surveys by the Barna Group and LifeWay Research put numbers to how Christians are seen by those outside the church:

How Christians are seen:
Insensitive to others (70%)
Hypocritical (85%)
Judgmental (87%)
Anti-homosexual (91%)

Since it's the largest percentage, let's address the claim that Christians are anti-homosexual first. After all, the reason behind that actually ties closely into the other complaints about Christians.

As anyone who counsels those who have been bullied and abused can tell you, someone's sexuality comes up a lot as a justification on the part of the one doing the bullying. Not being straight is often a reason given for abuse, but why?

Part is just being different, but another part is specific to Christian bullies and abusers: the idea that the Bible says homosexuality is a grave sin, so grave in fact that nothing done to homosexuals could ever be as bad as being homosexual. It's been the justification for insults, attacks, rape and murder for centuries.

You can see this belief at work even just when looking up collections of verses online where Christians vote on their relevance to the topic. No matter what the topic, from marriage to how to treat the poor, anti-homosexual verses will always be rated as relevant.

Yet, the truth is that the Bible is not "filled with anti-gay verses". It took biblical scholars generations to find the six verses that are said to condemn being homosexual. Some only made the list after English translations modified them. Here they are:

Verses that condemn homosexuals:

Homosexual sex:
Leviticus 18:22 (traditionally seen as anal sex between men)
Leviticus 20:13 (the death penalty for above)
1 Corinthians 6:9 (in original Greek literally "male-bedding" boy sex slaves, but possibly the active and passive partners in anal sex)
1 Timothy 1:10 ("male-bedders" again, this time with kidnapping instead of boy sex slaves, which undermines the active and passive partners interpretation)

Homosexual rape:
Genesis 19:1-38 (attempted gang rape of angels, the one and only source of connecting homosexuals to Sodom)

Homosexual lust:
Romans 1:26-27 (punishment for turning from God)

Homosexual love:
(no condemnation)

You've probably heard it all before: "God destroyed Sodom for being a homosexual city and Leviticus says they should be put to death, so they don't deserve to live." This is why some Christians looked the other way when AIDS took the lives of gay people in the 1980s. But, as the reactions after the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting reveal, most Christians condemn violence against people based on sexuality. In fact, many of those who stood in line to donate blood were Christian.

Still, there remains a large percentage of Christians whose belief that being homosexual is a grave sin has led them or their children to mistreat people for not being straight. However, does that reflect on Christianity as a whole or on those individuals?

The answer can be found in the fact that the exact same careful process of selecting verses and ignoring context could be used to condemn heterosexuals too. Let's take a look:

Verses that condemn heterosexuals:

Heterosexual sex:
Leviticus 15:18 ("leaking" during sex)
Leviticus 18:19 (sex with your wife during her monthly cycle)
Leviticus 18:6 (incest by blood)
Leviticus 18:7 (incest by blood)
Leviticus 18:8 (incest by marriage)
Leviticus 18:9 (incest by marriage)
Leviticus 18:10 (incest by marriage)
Leviticus 18:11 (incest by marriage)
Leviticus 18:12 (incest by blood)
Leviticus 18:13 (incest by blood)
Leviticus 18:14 (incest ny blood)
Leviticus 18:15 (incest by marriage)
Leviticus 18:16 (incest by marriage)
Leviticus 18:17 (sex with a woman and her daughter)
Leviticus 18:18 (incest by marriage)
Leviticus 18:20 (adultery)
Leviticus 20:10 (death penalty for adultery)
Leviticus 20:11 (death penalty for incest)
Leviticus 20:12 (death penalty for incest)
Leviticus 20:14 (burned alive for marrying a woman and her mother)
Leviticus 20:17 (excommunication for sibling incest)
Leviticus 20:18 (excommunication for having sex during a woman's monthly cycle)
Leviticus 20:19 (unnamed punishment for incest)
Leviticus 20:20 (death penalty for incest)
Leviticus 20:21 ("childless" for incest)
Leviticus 21:14 (having sex with a non-virgin)
Genesis 38:24 (sex before marriage)
Genesis 39:9 (adultery)
Exodus 20:14 (adultery)
Exodus 22:16-17 (sex without the bride's father's permission)
Deuteronomy 22:20 (death penalty for not being a virgin on your wedding day)
Deuteronomy 22:22 (adultery)
Deuteronomy 22:23 (sex with a girl promised in an arranged marriage to another man)
Deuteronomy 23:17 (prostitution)
Deuteronomy 27:20 (incest by marriage)
Deuteronomy 27:22 (incest by marriage)
Deuteronomy 27:23 (incest by marriage)
Proverbs 6:32 (adultery)
Proverbs 23:27 (prostitution and adultery)
Ezekiel 16:38 (adultery)
Ezekiel 22:10 (having sex during a woman's monthly cycle)
1 Kings 15:12 (prostitution)
1 Kings 22:46 (prostitution)
2 Kings 23:7 (prostitution)
Jeremiah 3:1 (remarrying)
Matthew 5:32 (remarrying)
Matthew 15:19 (adultery)
Matthew 19:9 (remarrying)
Mark 7:21 (adultery)
Mark 10:12 (remarrying)
Luke 16:18 (remarrying)
Hebrews 13:4 (adultery)
1 Corinthians 5:1 (incest by marriage)
1 Corinthians 6:9 (literally heterosexual sex, assumed outside marriage, and adultery)
1 Corinthians 6:16 (sex with a prostitute)
1 Corinthians 7:1 (any form of heterosexual sex)
1 Corinthians 7:8 (marrying someone of the opposite sex)
1 Corinthians 7:27 (an unmarried man marrying an unmarried woman)
1 Corinthians 7:28 (marrying someone of the opposite sex)
1 Corinthians 7:32 (a man marrying a woman)
1 Corinthians 7:33 (a man marrying a woman)
1 Corinthians 7:34 (a woman marrying a man)
1 Corinthians 7:38 (not remaining single for life)
1 Corinthians 7:39 (not remaining single after the death of a spouse)
1 Timothy 1:10 (literally heterosexual sex, assumed outside marriage)
Romans 7:3 (adultery)
Galatians 5:19 (orgies)

Heterosexual rape:
Genesis 34:2
Genesis 34:27
Deuteronomy 22:25 (death penalty for heterosexual rape)
Isaiah 13:16
2 Samuel 13:14
Zechariah 14:2
Judges 19:25 (gang rape)
Judges 20:5

Heterosexual lust:
Proverbs 6:25
Proverbs 7:22
Job 31:1
Matthew 5:28
Mark 7:21
1 John 2:16
1 Corinthians 7:9
Colossians 3:5
Galatians 5:16
Galatians 5:21
Romans 13:13
1 Peter 2:11
2 Peter 2:14
1 Thessalonians 4:5

Heterosexual love:
(no condemnation)

There are many Christians who point to a verse about rape or lust between people of the same sex and call it "homosexuality" and use it to condemn all homosexuals. Yet, would those same people ever point to a verse about rape or lust between people of the opposite sex and call it "heterosexuality" and use it to condemn all heterosexuals? No, and that there is a double standard and hypocrisy.

Imagine if Christian parents told their heterosexual children that they were wicked and perverse for having a crush on someone of the opposite sex and used Leviticus or Deuteronomy to justify kicking them out of the house as they would a gay child. Yet why isn't the Bible used that way?

It can be argued that heterosexuality is God's original intention (Genesis 1) and the fact that some people are born never to be attracted to the opposite sex (Matthew 19) is a product of the fall from grace that led sin and death to enter the world (Genesis 3). Yet, some people are born with biological parts of both sexes (intersex) or with Down syndrome. Do we condemn them as evil sinners for being part of an imperfect world? No, that would be cruel. So, how does condemning homosexuals as more sinful than heterosexuals represent the Bible or Christianity?

It doesn't represent Christianity. It represents hypocrisy.

As humans, we are all naturally hypocritical. Christians certainly don't hold a monopoly on hypocrisy. We all want to hold ourselves to a different standard than we hold others, but the Bible and Christianity itself are not hypocritical.

The Bible is incredibly clear that everyone is a sinner and no one is righteous:

Verses that condemn everyone:

Everyone is a sinner:
Psalm 14:3
Psalm 51:5
Isaiah 64:6
Jeremiah 17:9
Matthew 15:18
Mark 10:18
Mark 7:20
John 3:19
Acts 10:34
1 John 2:2
1 Peter 2:22
Ecclesiastes 7:20
Ephesians 2:3
Ephesians 2:9
Romans 3:10
Romans 3:23
Romans 5:12

Everyone needs forgiveness through Christ:
Matthew 6:15
Matthew 9:6
Matthew 20:28
Matthew 26:28
Mark 10:45
Mark 16:16
John 3:16
John 3:17
John 3:36
John 10:10
John 10:28
Acts 2:21
Acts 4:12
Jude 1:24
1 John 1:7
1 John 1:9
1 John 5:10
1 John 5:12
1 John 5:13
1 Peter 1:19
1 Peter 3:18
2 Peter 3:9
2 Timothy 1:9
1 Corinthians 1:18
1 Corinthians 15:3
1 Corinthians 15:22
2 Corinthians 5:15
2 Corinthians 5:19
Ephesians 1:7
1 Thessalonians 5:10
Colossians 1:20
Colossians 1:22
Hebrews 7:25
Hebrews 9:14
Hebrews 9:15
Hebrews 9:22
Hebrews 9:28
Hebrews 13:12
Philippians 3:20
Titus 2:11
Romans 1:16
Romans 4:25
Romans 5:6
Romans 5:8
Romans 5:10
Romans 6:10
Revelation 1:5

The truth is that the Bible doesn't single homosexuals out, but reveals that we are all imperfect and have sinned. It also reveals that the laws written in it were an impossible standard to show we couldn't make ourselves righteous.

There is one thing we all need: God. And Christ is the way to God (John 14:6).

How do we know which laws to follow? Not working on Saturday is actually part of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 31:15). What about women wearing pants (Deuteronomy 22:5), eating shrimp, crab or lobster (Leviticus 10:10–11), wearing fabric blends (Leviticus 19:19), getting a haircut or shaving (Leviticus 19:27), getting a tattoo (Leviticus 19:28), occasionally overeating (Proverbs 23:2), not cutting your hair (1 Corinthians 11:14), braiding hair, wearing jewelry or nice clothes (1 Timothy 2:9), female teachers or leaders (1 Timothy 2:12), or any number of other prohibitions?

The answer is revealed in the truth at the heart of Christianity: God is love (1 John).

This means how we are to live our lives is simple: in everything we do, do it out of love:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Colossians 3:14)

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8)

"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Galatians 5:14)

"Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs." (Proverbs 10:12)

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7-8)

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law."
(Romans 13:8)

"For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,' and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." (Romans 13:9-10)

Would wearing mixed fabrics defy love? No. Would murder defy love? Of course. Similarly, would adultery or other sexual sins lead to someone being hurt because they are motivated by selfish rather than loving reasons? Yes. It's that simple. In fact, the Bible repeatedly commands love:

Verses that command love:
Deuteronomy 6:5 (for God)
Leviticus 19:18 (your neighbor)
Proverbs 10:12 (general)
Proverbs 21:21 (general)
Matthew 5:44 (for enemies)
Mark 12:30 (for God)
Mark 12:31 (your neighbor)
Luke 6:31 (for others)
Luke 6:35 (for enemies)
Luke 10:27 (for God and others)
John 13:34 (for others)
John 13:35 (for others)
John 14:21 (for God)
John 14:23 (for God)
John 15:12 (for others)
John 15:13 (sacrificial love)
1 John 3:11 (for others)
1 John 3:16 (sacrificial love)
1 John 4:7 (for others)
1 John 4:8 (God is love)
1 John 4:11 (for others)
1 John 4:12 (God is love)
1 John 4:16 (God is love)
1 John 4:20 (brother and sister)
1 John 4:21 (brother and sister)
1 Peter 4:8 (for others)
2 Peter 1:5-7 (general)
1 Timothy 4:12 (general)
1 Timothy 6:11 (general)
2 Timothy 1:7 (general)
Galatians 5:6 (as the highest law)
Galatians 5:13 (for others)
Galatians 5:14 (your neighbor)
Galatians 5:22 (general)
Hebrews 13:1 (for others)
Ephesians 3:17 (as the highest law)
Ephesians 4:2 (for others)
Ephesians 4:15 (general)
Ephesians 5:2 (sacrificial love)
Ephesians 5:25 (for your spouse)
1 Corinthians 10:24 (for others)
1 Corinthians 13:1 (general)
1 Corinthians 13:2 (as the highest law)
1 Corinthians 13:3 (as the highest law)
1 Corinthians 13:13 (as the highest law)
1 Corinthians 16:14 (in every action)
Colossians 3:14 (as the highest law)
2 Thessalonians 3:5 (general)
1 Thessalonians 3:12 (for others)
Romans 12:10 (for others)
Romans 13:8 (as the highest law)
Romans 13:9 (your neighbor)
Romans 13:10 (as the highest law)

Some may say, "I could live up to all those laws." But, as the Bible says, you can't follow laws to make yourself righteous:

"For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it." (James 2:10)

“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” (Galatians 2:21)

"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." (Galatians 5:18)

"For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” (Galatians 3:10)

"Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." (Galatians 2:16)

That's right, by works of the law, no one will be justified.

It's no coincidence that the number one sin Christ condemned was hypocrisy. Claiming to be righteous or better than others, as the Pharisees did, just makes someone a hypocrite, since no one is righteous by their works alone. They condemned others for violating the laws of God but failed to uphold the greatest law of all: to love others as yourself, not as "other" or less than.

In another study by the Barna Group, half of all Christians surveyed identified with the beliefs of the Pharisees Christ condemned as hypocrites and not with the teachings of Christ Himself.

"Christian" behaviors condemned by Christ:
Judging others when you are imperfect
  (Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 6:37, John 8:7, John 8:15-16, James 4:12, Romans 2:1, Romans 14:1-13, 1 Corinthians 5:12)
Not associating with sinners
   (Matthew 9:11, Luke 7:36-50, Romans 12:20)
Looking down on others
   (Matthew 23:1-39, Luke 18:10-14, John 9:1-41, James 1:19-22, 1 Peter 3:8, Romans 12:16, Colossians 3:12-15, Philippians 2:1-4, Ephesians 4:1-6)
Not forgiving others
   (Matthew 6:14-15, Mark 11:26, Colossians 3:12-15)
Condemning or insulting others
   (Matthew 12:36-37, James 4:11-12, 1 Peter 2:1, Ephesians 4:29, Titus 3:2-7, 1 Peter 3:9)
Believing you are righteous or better
   (Mark 7:1-37, Luke 20:46-47, James 1:26, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Galatians 2:16)
Praying so others can hear
   (Matthew 6:5-7)
Bragging about being charitable
   (Matthew 6:2-3)
Believing in vengeance
   (Matthew 5:38-39)
Believing faith is more important than love
   (Matthew 7:21-23, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8)

Christ was God's way of making us perfect, eternal beings that live with Him after this life. Christianity is about Christ, who taught us to love others and not judge hypocritically. Christianity isn't about getting together and making each other feel comfortable in each other's sins while condemning those with different sins.

To be a Christian means accepting Christ and following His example. But, you may say that's impossible. Christ taught to love everyone, even those who hate and abuse you. Are homosexuals supposed to love those who hurt them?

"But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" (Matthew 19:26)

God didn't just make the ultimate sacrifice though His Son so we can live forever, but also so that we can love each other.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7-8)

The truth is we're all hypocrites and judge others unfairly sometimes. There are times we may even misjudge love. If half of all Christians follow beliefs Christ condemned, the other half follow Christ.

Sometimes we don't recognize love. There are times when someone warns us about something because they love us. For example, if something we are doing is selfish, hurtful to others, or not what they believe God wants for us. So, be open to listen to the concerns of others. For the most part, Christians are loving.

And, even when some Christians call others to be more loving but are not loving themselves, that doesn't mean being more loving is wrong just because they're hypocrites. Sometimes even us hypocritical humans can encourage others to be better, more loving people. Maybe it does mean placing some restrictions on your actions, if those actions are selfish or hurt others or yourself.

For some, that may even feel anti-homosexual, but only if you believe being homosexual means the same thing many heterosexuals believe, that anything goes. But, just as not everything you eat is healthy and therefore not loving to your body, the same can be true for some activities that end up hurting you.

The only thing that relationships really need is love as God defines it, not the world. Will people still end up hurting others? Of course. But, with God through Christ, we can have the love necessary to rebuild relationships, no matter what we've done or they've done to us.

Part of coming to Christ is giving up our old, sinful hypocritical ways, but we are still in flesh bodies that will desire to sin. Salvation renews our spirit and, through that, if we let Him, God can help us have new desires, desires to truly and deeply love others God's way. After all, God is the source of love according to Christianriy and that love is transformational.

The Bible condemns homosexuals and heterosexuals equally as sinners in need of Christ. There isn't someone less or more in need of the redemption found in Christ. No one is more or less mortal and prone to death because of sin, regardless of sexual orientation or lack thereof. No, the Bible calls us all to accept a higher purpose.

In the end, Christianity isn't about being anti-homosexual, judgmental, hypocritical, and insensitive to others. It's about God's love for us in that, while we are hypocritical sinners, Christ died so we could live forever in love. :heart:

More on this topic:

Christianity Is About Love

God Loves LGBT People And So Do Christians

God Is Love

The Golden Rule

Speak Truth In Love: Can Christians Be Loving and Oppose LGBT Rights?

The Heterosexual Agenda: A Message To Christians About Homosexuals
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liampixels's avatar

just because were all sinners doesn't mean it's right. if i steal a car then say "oh i'm a sinner and god forgives me" its suddenly ok?