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Seven Gay Texts: Biblical Passages Used to Condemn Homosexuality

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Seven Gay Texts: Biblical Passages Used to Condemn Homosexuality BiBlical Theology BulleTin Volume 45 Number 2 Pages 68–87 © The Author(s), 2015. Reprints and Permissions: http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0146107915577097 http://btb.sagepub.com Seven Gay Texts: Biblical Passages Used to Condemn Homosexuality Robert K. Gnuse Abstract There are seven texts often cited by Christians to condemn homosexuality: Noah and Ham (Genesis 9:20-27), Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-11), Levitical laws condemning same-sex relationships (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13), two words in two Second Testament vice lists (1 Corinthians 6:9–10; 1 Timothy 1:10), and Paul’s letter to the Romans (Romans 1:26-27). The author believes that these do not refer to homosexual relationships between two free, adult, and loving individuals. They describe rape or attempted rape (Genesis 9:20-27, 19:1-11), cultic prostitution (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13), male prostitution and pederasty (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:10), and the Isis cult in Rome (Romans 1:26-27). If the biblical authors did assume homosexuality was evil, we do not theologize off of their cultural assumptions, we theologize off of the texts we have in the canon. The author attempts to introduce some new arguments into this long-standing and passionate debate. Key words: homosexuality, cultic prostitution, pederasty, Isis Cult in Rome, Sodom, Noah, Ham, Lot, Levitical Laws, Vice Lists, Paul, letter to Romans Within recent years passionate debates have been carried the ELCA because of their perception that the ELCA was on within American Christian denominations over the issue of too tolerant of homosexuals. With my presentation, I probably accepting homosexuals as members in good standing within would have caused those churches to leave even sooner than congregations and accepting actively practicing gay men and they did. It is a passionate issue for many. women as clergy. A number of years ago I offered to address the regional convention of voting lay and clergy delegates in the denomination to which I belong as a clergyperson (Tex- Robert Gnuse, Ph.D. (Vanderbilt University, 1980) is the as-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran James C. Carter, S.J., Chase Bank, Distinguished Professor of Church of America) on the topic of what the Bible says about the Humanities at Loyola University New Orleans, 6363 St. homosexuality. I was told that it would be wise for me not to Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118. E-mail: rkgnuse@ do so, for although the clergy would understand my presen- loyno.edu. He is the author, most recently, of Misunderstood tation, it would cause distress for the laity, especially since I Stories: Theological Commentary on Genesis 1-11 (Eugene, would advocate that individual biblical passages do not direct- OR: Wipf & Stock, 2014) and No Tolerance for Tyrants: The ly condemn homosexuality between two loving, free adults. In Biblical Assault on Kings and Kingship (Collegeville, MN: the years that followed several congregations in that synod left Liturgical Press, 2011). 68 BIBLICAL THEOLOGY BULLETIN • VOLUME 45 • 2015 26 What the following article contains is a discussion of be Canaan; lowest of slaves shall he be to his brothers.” He those passages used by Christians to condemn homosexual also said, “Blessed be the Lord my God be Shem; and let Ca- 27 behavior. I am not addressing how the later Christian tradi- naan be his slave. May God make space for Japheth, And let tion interpreted those passages, nor am I discussing signif- him live in the tents of Shem.” icant church pronouncements on the topic, such as Roman Catholic Canon Law. Nor can I discuss the diverse range A common interpretation of this passage is that Noah became of opinions of the many scholars who have commented upon drunk and undressed himself, or perhaps Ham undressed these passages. Either quest would turn this essay into a large him, then Ham had anal sex with his father to humiliate him book. What I am presenting here are my observations and and make himself the master in the relationship, and then some of my own particular theories about these biblical texts. Ham either called to his brothers outside the tent or went Whether my ideas are compelling is for the reader to decide. outside the tent to tell them what he had done to Noah in There are seven biblical texts oft quoted by those theo- order to establish his supremacy in the family. When the text logians and laity on the theological and the popular levels says that Noah realized what Ham had done to him, it must of discussion to condemn homoerotic behavior of both men imply a physical action, such as rape. The reference to “see and women. These seven texts include the story of drunken the nakedness” of someone can mean to have sex with that Noah and his sons, the famous story of Sodom and Gomor- person. To “uncover the nakedness of someone” also means rah (which everyone alludes to with absolute certainly that to have sex, and our passage may imply that Ham uncovered the men of Sodom are homosexuals), two sentence-long pro- Noah and then raped him. Hence, the Jewish and Christian hibitions in the book of Leviticus that condemn men having traditions have often assumed that actual sexual intercourse sex with each other, two words that describe some form of occurred. People then conclude that we have a homosexual homoerotic behavior used in two lists of vices in the Second act that leads to the curse on Canaan, the son of Ham. Testament, and the condemnation of idolatry and homosex- If Ham actually had sex with Noah, we are talking about uality by Paul in his letter to the Romans, the only text that rape, an act designed to humiliate and subordinate someone. perhaps mentions same sex activity by both men and wom- The same humiliation and subordination occurs in heterosex- en. What we need to do is look at these passages to observe ual rape, but we do not thereby condemn heterosexuality, a whether they really condemn homosexual behavior between point that is overlooked by critics of homoeroticism (Pizzuto: two consenting, free adults, or whether some other form of 165–66). Nor does Ham’s action tell us if he is by our modern activity is being described. defnition a heterosexual or a homosexual; it tells us that he used sex as an act of power to humiliate his father. Sometimes Noah and Ham heterosexuals rape someone of the same sex for the sake of domination, as in prisons, and it does not mean they are ho- Some people believe that the sin of Ham in Genesis 9 was mosexuals. In the ancient world those men who are penetrated a homosexual act perpetrated against Noah, and they refer to would be equivalent to what we might call “gay,” but those the curse on Canaan as being so drastic because the sin was a who penetrate might be seen as equivalent to what we might homosexual act. The text reads as follows in Genesis 9:20–27: call heterosexuals (Carden: 83–96). The latter would have sex with men, women, or animals because they were manly “men.” 20Noah, a man of the soil, was the frst to plant a vineyard. Ham also committed an act of incest. Dominating rape 21He drank some of the wine and became drunk, and he lay and incest are suffcient to warrant the curse that comes upon uncovered in his tent. 22And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw Canaan; we do not have to conclude that it is homosexuality. the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. Thus, this passage does not address the issue of homosexual 23Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their love between two free adults, even if it does describe homosex- shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of ual activity. But it may not actually do even that. their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see Critical scholars often maintain that Ham did not actually their father’s nakedness. 24When Noah awoke from his wine and rape his father. When Shem and Japheth came in backwards knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25he said,“Cursed to avoid looking at Noah, we suspect that inappropriate look- 69 Gnuse, “Seven Gay Texts” “ 18 ing was the actual action of Ham. If simply covering Noah from?” He answered him, “We are passing from Bethlehem was the solution to the problem, then the offensive action must in Judah to the remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, from have been viewing Noah’s nakedness. The use of the verb “to which I come. I went to Bethlehem in Judah; and I am going to 19 see” in this passage is not the usual way of speaking about my home. Nobody has offered to take me in. We your servants sex. More likely we would read, “uncover the nakedness” (Lev have straw and fodder for our donkeys, with bread and wine for 18:6; 20:18) or “lie with” (Lev 20:11–12). So sexual activity me and the woman and the young man along with us. We need 20 may not be the sin. The sin may be twofold: viewing a close nothing more.” The old man said, “Peace be to you. I will care relative naked, which is a purity violation, and failing to help a for all your wants; only do not spend the night in the square.” 21 parent in distress, a social violation, which for a kinship society So he brought him into his house, and fed the donkey; they 22 was an extremely egregious sin (Westermann: 484, 488–89; washed their feet, and ate and drank.
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