The Sin of Sodom

There is presently a bill before the City Council in Jacksonville, having to do with the issue of discrimination against the LGBT community.  I understand that many business and civic leaders helped develop this legislation and support an ordinance to protect all citizens, not just a few.  Since we know the bottom line is the altar where the free market worships I would imagine the movers and shakers in town believe this legislation to be good for business. 

It has been my observation that those who come forward and publicly oppose this legislation due so, on some belief that allowing homosexual citizens to just be themselves is an offense to God.   Some even say the bill will undermine their faith.  I do not understand how allowing someone to pursue life, liberty, and happiness in their own way is a threat to people’s faith.  Honestly, the church really should be careful of the stones that they cast.  They have enough to atone for as it is.

The church has never spoken with a unified voice.  Historically, the church has been on both sides of nearly every major social and moral issue throughout America’s past.  I mean the list of things the church was for, before it was against them, is quite lengthy, considering empire building through war, slavery, misogyny, and racial equality, for starters.  We can throw in plenty of sexual scandal too, but our civic leaders have the nerve to pass judgment on others as living a deviant lifestyle.

Even the Apostles disagreed on what it meant to be a Christian; but the leaders of the Jerusalem Council compromised and determined that new Christians need not follow all the Mosaic Laws.  Dealing with the Divine is simply too personal to have a one size fits all religion.    

I will not attempt to use the Bible to support same sex marriage.  I think that is a difficult argument to make.  However, if a person or a group wants to use the Bible to condemn homosexual activity, there is enough scripture to support that position.  So if you hold a religious view that says being gay is a sin, don’t be gay.  Isn’t that what the religious right says, homosexuality is a choice.  If it offends you, just don’t be gay.  Go ahead, hold your religious views about the LGBT community, but for me, I will not sacrifice basic civil liberties for another person’s religious belief.  

People should be free to practice religion in a way that suits them, as long as they do no harm to others.  However, they should not be free to impose their interpretation of religion on anyone else. 

The religious right cites the ancient city of Sodom as an example of God’s disapproval of homosexuality; however, they have not bothered to read the entire story.  Abraham’s nephew, Lot, lived in Sodom with his wife and daughters, Abraham had the audacity to plead with God over the fate of Sodom, and God was willing to negotiate.  Additionally, Lot offered up his two virgin daughters to the crowd outside his home so that they could have their way with them.  Nice example of fathering, but for some reason we do not get upset about that.  The biggest problem with using Sodom as an example of God’s response to homosexual behavior comes from the prophet Ezekiel who called himself “The Son of Man”, the same title Jesus claimed for himself many times.

 Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.  She was proud and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out, as you have seen.  (Ezekiel 16:49-50 NLT)  Sodom’s sin was her treatment of the poor and needy.

If someone wants to find some Bible verses to build their life around and be worked up over, may I suggest Matthew, chapters 5-7.  Finally, if allowing the LGB T community full citizenship undermines your faith then I am sorry for you, you have a very small faith.