Is the Bible God’s Word?
Is the bible inspired and the only infallible rule for gayness?
Traditionalist Evangelicals believe that the Holy Spirit inspired certain writers to pen scriptures without error in the original manuscripts — and serve as the only true, trustworthy, and sufficient definitions for Christian practices.
Thus, the Christian bible (in its various interpretations) provides sufficient rules about gay behavior and gay marriage.
Such is the belief of traditionalist Evangelical Protestants. And such is not the case for progressive Mainline Protestants.
Traditionalist Evangelical Protestants
The National Association of Evangelicals declares,
“We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only, infallible, authoritative Word of God.”
The largest Evangelical denomination in America is the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). It maintains that:
“The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.”
The largest SBC seminary is the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. It holds that:
“The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.”
Saddleback Church was the largest Evangelical Protestant church in America. It asserts:
“We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice.”
The majority of Evangelical Protestant denominations ascribe to the principle of “sola scriptura,” which states:
“The Bible is the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice.”
In summary, all of these primary sources for traditionalist Evangelicals assert that the Protestant bible is inspired in the original manuscripts and therefore declares God’s Word. Additionally, they believe their bible to be infallible (i.e., trustworthy, authoritative, totally true, and sufficient in explaining proper human behaviors).
Progressive Mainline Protestants
In contrast to Evangelical Protestants, some Mainline Protestants have a different viewpoint of their Christian bible. For example, they may believe that the Holy Spirit uses the original text to inspire the reader to personalized interpretations applicable today. Thus, the bible may shift in meaning over time, culture, and individualized revelation — and yet endlessly remains a holy, valuable set of writings.
For example, the United Church of Christ is one of the largest Mainline Protestant denominations that affirm gay marriage. Here is their belief about the bible:
“The Bible, though written in specific historical times and places, still speaks to us in our present situation.”
The United Church of Christ would not believe that the text of the bible is inspired nor infallible.
Furthermore, many Mainline Protestants do not believe in the infallibility of the bible and the sola scriptura principle (i.e., that scripture alone is sufficient and authoritative). Rather, they believe that various additional streams of truth are always at play. Such streams include scientific findings, personal experience, the personalized revelation of the Holy Spirit, traditions, and universal virtues.
For example, Mainline Protestants may believe that a certain type of human behavior (described in the bible) primarily applies to a certain culture at a certain time but not necessarily to today’s cultures.
In addition to the bible, scientific discovery may clarify the right behaviors.
Also, trustworthy codes of conduct can be learned through personal experiences (e.g., some behaviors bring pain; others produce goodness).
Additionally, the Holy Spirit may convict two Christians to do exactly opposite behaviors, depending on how the Spirit leads (e.g., to drink wine or abstain).
Furthermore, some forms of human behavior are wise because it is an effective tradition that has held sway throughout time (e.g., prayer).
Finally, correct human behaviors can be learned through key virtues across cultures and time (e.g., providing loving mercy to the marginalized is always good; raping someone is always bad).
Applying These Differing Beliefs to Gayness
· Is same-sex attraction an enduring form of attraction (perhaps assigned by God at birth), or is it a choice?
· Is homoerotic foreplay between two single gay people an acceptable practice? What about heteroerotic foreplay between two single straight people?
· Is anal intercourse between two married gay men the same ethic as vaginal intercourse between a married straight man and his wife?
· Is gay marriage the same as straight marriage (i.e., a legal union of permanence between two people who declare their love and fidelity to each other)?
· Can gay men be qualified for church leadership, or is that only reserved for straight men?
· Can gay men be baptized?
· Can a married gay couple baptize their child in an Evangelical church?
· Can two gay men receive pre-marital group counseling alongside straight couples?
All of these questions beg an answer.
And somebody will answer all of these questions based upon one’s source of truth.
When Christians Collide
What happens when two Protestant Christians apply different sources of truth in deciding the proper rule of behavior?
The traditionalist Evangelical Protestant would be inclined to search the bible for the most relevant verse. Then, armed with that verse, declare the behavior “right” or “wrong.” Thus, the decision is simply a dichotomous, black-white decision: what does the Christian bible say about this subject?
The progressive Mainline Protestant may argue that such a verse was intended for a particular audience, in a specific culture, at a certain point in history. Further, there may not be a specifically relevant bible verse that applies for today’s culture. Therefore, this kind of Protestant may appeal to scientific discovery, personal experience, and universal virtues — all of which are additional sources of truth.
How do such different Protestants ever discuss civilly when their worldviews differ?
They seek to find commonality in their perspectives. In other words, they discover something that they both can agree to.
For example, let’s say that some Protestant believes that God affirms gay marriages (i.e., a union that seeks to emulate Jesus’ marriage to His spouse). And let’s suppose that the other Protestant believes that his bible clearly states that marriage is only between one man and his wife. How do they treat each other with dignity and love?
The first Protestant may agree that marriage is a very important institution and that love must be present.
The second Protestant may agree that marriage is a very important institution and that love must be present.
Thus, both Protestants may respect each other’s similarities and personal dignity without trying to convince the other person that he is wrong.
Closing
One’s understanding of his bible must produce love as its outcome.
And regardless of one’s belief about gayness or any topic, the fruit of the interchange must result in reciprocal dignity and love.
Dr. Mike Rosebush (Ph.D., Counseling Psychology; he, him, his;) is the creator and editor of GAYoda, plus a writer for Backyard Church. Somebody may contact him at mikerosebush75@gmail.com.
