
Are You a Homosexual Offender?
Rev. Turner:How do you respond to I Corinthians 6:9 NIV?? It says that homosexuals are going to hell, there, in black and white!! The following verse does mention cleaning, but for those that WERE, not ARE. How do gay Christians respond to that verse?
John
Dear John,
For the sake of the readers let me quote the scripture you raise the
question about.
First, while I am a homosexual I am not an offending one. I have been with
my partner in a monogamous relationship for 18 years (married). I feed the
hungry, cloth the naked, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick and
imprisoned. But actually this isn't your question is it? But I did want
you to know I wasn't an offender of homosexuality.
However, with all that said--the writers of the NIV (New International
Version) have made a translation error. The term "homosexual offender" is
an updated phrase from the King James version of the Bible that used the
term "effeminate abusers" which is the translation of the Greek word
"malakos". According to Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament
Words this word means:
So, my child of God, my response to I Corinthians 6:9 is this: It says
nothing about homosexuals who have loving, committed relationships and those
versions of the Bible which use the word "homosexual" are wrong, their translation is in error. Sad to say the error has not been corrected because
it gives credence to a cultural and religious bias, of which you seem to
have fallen prey.
God Bless,
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor
adulterers nor male prostitutes nor HOMOSEXUAL OFFENDERS..." I Corinthians
6:9
"soft, soft to the touch (Latin; mollis, English,
mollify, emollient, etc are from the same root), used (a) of raiment,
Matthew 11:8 (twice); Luke 7:25; (b) metaphorically, in the bad sense, I
Corinthians 6:9, "effeminate" not simply a male who practices forms of
lewdness, but persons in general, who are guilty of addiction to sins of the
flesh." [Emphasis mine]
If you are seeking guidance and pastoral care on your journey to fullness as a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered person, please contact Pastor Paul directly at pastorpaul@whosoever.org.