Lee Harmon's Blog, page 21

Hosea 6:6, Jesus and Animal Sacrifice

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

//Hosea is among the first writing prophets, back in the 8th or 9th century BC. At a time when animal sacrifice seemed common, Hosea opposed this practice, as seen in this verse. Hosea foresaw a day when mankind and animals would live in harmony:

In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and b...

Book Excerpt: Revelation: The Way It Happened

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Sometimes overlooked in our zeal, two millennia [after Jesus died], is the insistence of early teachings that Jesus would return pronto. John begins the book of Revelation by affirming that the time nears. As David Chilton puts it, “Not once did he imply that his book was written with the twentieth century in mind, and that Christians would be wasting their time attempting to decipher it until the Scofield Reference Bible would become a best-selling novel.” Commentators on Revelation often me...

Leviticus 20:13, Homosexuality and the Bible, Part VIII of VIII

If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them … are to be [stoned].

//Let me wrap up this topic with a nod of approval to the State of Washington. With only this one Old Testament law still in the way of accepting gays as our brethren in Christ, Washington has found a loophole.

They legalized gay marriage and marijuana on the same day.

Mark 9:42, Homosexuality and the Bible, Part VII of VIII

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

//Question 5 of 5: Does the vast preponderance of teachings about compassion and acceptance toward the marginalized outweigh the scripture which seems to teach against homosexuality?

In the last four days, we have examined four issues regarding the one (!) reference in the Bible to homosexuality outside an outdated law code. The...

Matthew 8:5-7, Homosexuality and the Bible, Part VI of VIII

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

//Question 4 of 5: What did Jesus think about same-sex partners?

I promised that today I’d discuss what Jesus himself has to say about homosexuality. The answer is…

Nothing. Jesus has nothing to say at all. Yet there is one event which might actually shed light on how Jes...

1 Corinthians 7:25, Homosexuality and the Bible, Part V of VIII

Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.

//Question 3 of 5: Did Paul mean for us to take this anti-gay teaching (1) literally, (2) in our day today, and (3) as the words of Jesus? Even if we believe that Paul was teaching against homosexual sex in general, should we take his words literally and at face value? Read today’s verse again, written by Paul.

So Paul himself cautioned us about believing that...

Romans 2:1, Homosexuality and the Bible, Part IV of VIII

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

//Question 2 of 5: Why does Paul then contradict his teachings on this topic, in this same letter to the Romans?

Yesterday, I introduced the one verse in the New Testament which seems to speak against homosexual relationships. It’s in the letter of Paul to the Romans. Oddly, immediately after this, we find today’s verse at the start...

Romans 1:25-27,Homosexuality and the Bible, Part III of VIII

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

//Question 1 of 5: Could we be reading the one N.T. reference to homosexuality wrong?

Yesterday, I pointed out that there are two, and only two, places in the Bib...

Jude 1:7, Homosexuality and the Bible, Part II of VIII

In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

//Yesterday, I introduced a week-long series on the topic of homosexuality within the Bible. It actually shouldn’t take that long … we have only two places in the Bible which speak against homosexuality: The Holiness Code of Leviticus, and the letter of Paul to the Romans. While conservative Christian...

Leviticus 20:13, Homosexuality and the Bible, Part I of VIII

If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

//The greatest challenge today for the Church may be our struggle to overcome a bias against homosexuality, yet I don’t think I’ve ever put my research down in words here. Well, I’m on a week-long vacation, so I’ve queued up this series to cover me while I’m relaxing. So, here we go, on an eight-day investigation.

In the Old Testament,...