Scriptural Witness of Life: Day 22
Author: Andrew Comiskey
November 04, 2020
‘The objective of this
book is to demonstrate two main points. First, there is clear, strong, and
credible evidence that the Bible unequivocally defines same-sex intercourse as
sin. Second, there exist no valid hermeneutical arguments, derived from either general
principles of biblical interpretation or contemporary scientific knowledge and
experience, for overriding the Bible’s authority on this matter. In sum, the
Bible presents the anatomical, sexual, and procreative complementarity of male
and female as clear and convincing proof of God’s will for sexual unions. Even
those who do not accept the regulatory authority of Scripture should be able to
perceive the divine will through the visible witness of the structure of
creation.
Thus same-sex intercourse constitutes an inexcusable rebellion
against the intentional design of the created order. It degrades the participants
when they disregard nature’s obvious clues, and results in destructive
consequences for them as well as society as a whole…
The focus of this book on
same-sex intercourse or homosexual practice, as opposed to homosexual
orientation, is a reflection of the Bible’s own relative disinterest toward
motives or origination of same-sex impulses.’
(The Bible and Homosexual
Practice, pp. 37, 38)
‘
A major aim of this
book is to lift up in a more rigorous and scholarly way then has been done
until now the argument of the complementarity of male and female in material
creation as a key argument in early Judeo-Christian opposition to same-sex
intercourse.’ (The Bible and Homosexual Practice, p. 40)
There you have it:
Gagnon’s thesis. It is crystal clear, supported by his scriptural exegesis,
which is a ‘more rigorous and scholarly’ exercise than I have read previously. Co-humanity
in its unitive and procreative aspects becomes his interpretive key for
understanding God’s will for our sexual humanity. Notice how positive his
thesis is: it is grounded in the good, true, and beautiful of man for woman and
woman for man. Specific references that prohibit homosexual practice are
understood as rebellion in light of what is obvious--our bodily witness
(remember TOB?) as two distinct parts of one whole humanity.
‘The visible witness of
the structure of creation’ matters to the Creator. He does not like it when we
allow our feelings to determine our sexual destiny more than allowing Him to
determine it. His way is clear. ‘Our bodies are Bibles’ (C. West), telling us
the truth, even when our hearts deceive us. Gagnon interprets the empirical
evidence of destruction in the lives of the homosexually active to counter the
view that Scripture should be overridden because of what we know now about the
positive dimensions of homosexuality. Gagnon cites a host of factors to the
contrary. For him and for us, Scripture still guides us. To forsake the way of
the Creator in our sexual humanity invites destruction.
His somewhat awkward wording
on the ethics of ‘homosexual intercourse’ relates to the fact that he is
majoring on sexual acts, not the issues surrounding inclinations, feelings,
etc. Gagnon helps us to understand Scripture in its many contexts. We cannot
impose our social scientific categories of the 20th and 21st centuries upon the Bible. Instead, Scripture deals with concrete actions, and
so must we.
‘Jesus, help us to lead
out with what is beautiful about Your design when examining thorny
prohibitions. Might we rejoice in how we bear God’s design, authentically, in
our unique frames? Grant us clarity and compassion for persons who currently
cannot imagine co-humanity as blessed. Thank You for how You are continually aligning
our vision of humanity with Yours.’
‘Jesus, show us Your way
through the uneven, deeply divided ground of our nation. Please compose and restrain explosive
hearts. Use us as instruments of Your
peace. “O blood and water which gushed
forth from the heart of Savior Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us, we trust in
You.”’
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