Understanding and Using the Bible
A Guide for LGBT and LGBT-Affirming Christians
The Bible is one of the main sources of authority for Christians and is the source for all we know of Jesus, his apostles and the earliest Church. The Old Testament is also sacred scripture for the Jewish people.
Often the Bible is used against LGBT people and so we have prepared these resources to help you understand:
- a different way of understanding the passages often used against us,
- how to respond (in a fun way) when the Bible is used as a weapon against you
- and some pointers to some Biblical passages which many find read in an affirming way for our people.
The resources on developing a different understanding of the Bible's authority and the passages often used to condemn LGBT people were written by our pastor, the Rev Andy Braunston. As part of his MA studies in Contextual Theology he wrote a paper looking at the Romans 1:26-27 passage. It's a long, academic essay but is summarised in the pages to your left on Romans, Roman Patterns of Sexuality, and Idol Worship and Slaves. Feel free to read the essay itself by clicking on the link; it will appear in a new window as a pdf.
Why bother with what the Bible says?
For many people the Bible is not a book they want to read, or give authority to. Even for many Christians the Bible is just one source of authority which must be taken into consideration along with tradition, personal conscience and reason. However, the Bible is seen as one of the major sources for our culture, based as it is on the thoughts and principles of Judaism and Christianity.
During the debate to lower the age of consent for gay men in February 1994 in the British House of Commons, the Bible was cited by many speakers. For many Christians from evangelical or conservative backgrounds the Bible is a major cornerstone of their faith, and a great stumbling block when trying to reconcile spirituality and sexuality. It is still used in public discourse about LGBT people and many people think they know “what the Bible says” on this issue.
For these reasons it is essential to know that the Bible does not have to be seen as a book of condemnation for us. We can argue back with those who seek to condemn us and use their own arguments and methods to win. We can also come to a deeper understanding of the nature of the Bible and the authority that is given to it.
Follow the link on the left to read on to "The Bible's Authority".