Understanding Jesus’ Teachings on Homosexuality
In a 2012 article, Will Oremus sparked a debate by asking if Jesus was a homophobe. This question arose from a story about a gay teenager who was prohibited from wearing a T-shirt that read, “Jesus Is Not a Homophobe.” While Oremus focused on the accuracy of the statement, his argument raises concerns about Jesus’ views on homosexuality.
Jesus’ Silence on Homosexuality
Oremus suggests that since Jesus never explicitly mentioned homosexuality, he must not have been very concerned about it. However, this assumption is problematic. Jesus’ silence on the issue does not necessarily imply a lack of concern. In fact, there are many ethical issues that Jesus did not explicitly address, such as abortion and same-sex marriage.
Jesus’ Teachings on Sexual Immorality
While Jesus may not have directly addressed homosexuality, he did speak about sexual immorality in general. He denounced immoral behavior (Matthew 5:28; 15:19) and defined marriage according to Genesis 2:24: “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh” (Matthew 19:5). Jesus affirmed the covenanted union of one man and one woman as the only normative expression of human sexuality.
Contrasting Jesus and Paul
Oremus contrasts Jesus’ attitude with that of the apostle Paul, who denounced gay sex as unnatural in Romans 1. However, this contrast is misleading. It implies that Jesus and Paul have fundamentally different views on ethics, which is not the case. In reality, both Jesus and Paul taught that sex was created by God for his glory, and that it should be expressed within the context of a monogamous, heterosexual marriage.
The Authority of Scripture
The debate over Jesus’ teachings on homosexuality highlights the importance of understanding the authority of Scripture. Those who stage a “hermeneutical cage match” between Jesus and Paul undermine the New Testament’s claim to be a normative basis for ethics. Instead, we should approach Scripture as a unified whole, recognizing that both Jesus and Paul spoke with authority on matters of ethics and morality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Jesus may not have explicitly addressed homosexuality, his teachings on sexual immorality and marriage provide a clear framework for understanding the issue. Rather than pitting Jesus against Paul, we should approach Scripture with a unified understanding of its authority and teaching on matters of ethics and morality.
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