Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday April 27, 2007

Wouldn't you know it? Now a gay group is twisting the scripture wildly stating by implication that Jesus Christ was gay, or at least, to use their word, "affirming" of homosexuality. The billboards this group placed in our beloved capital city, Indianapolis, home of the Super Bowl Champion Colts, assert that this affirmation of the gay lifestyle is found in Matthew 8:5-13. I found this interpretation surprising as when examined in line with context it actually could imply that Jesus did something for someone who may have been bi-sexual, or outright gay. Stay with me and you will see the bind into which the gay billboard places the Sodomite community.

The Bible states in the referenced verses that a Centurion asked for prayer for his servant. Jesus noted the faith of this Gentile and but spoke and the servant was healed of his grievous palsy, with all of its torment. Bible believers of course assume, perhaps correctly the Centurion was straight. The Sodomites assume he was gay. A glance at the history of the Roman Army would not lead anyone to deny the absolute depravity of the Army. Swindoll mentions the sucking house, a place where infants were placed until teething, for the pleasure of Roman Soldiers. The list goes on. At the very least depraved bi-sexuality was rampant. I am willing to say for the sake of argument the Centurion may have worn light sandals. If you accept this as a gay, you then have enormous contextual problems.

Matthew 8:1-4 records a leper who came to Jesus and was healed. Matthew 8:14-17 records the healing, the curing of a fever which had taken hold of Peter's mother in law. I know this is a bombshell for some, but there it is, in black and white. In Matthew 8:28-34 Jesus delivered two men from devils; he healed them from what modern psychologists would call their "inner demons."

The context affirms one of two things. For the gay billboard, the Centurion and the servant were "sick" with the disease of Sodomy and Jesus healed. Or the servant "merely" suffered with palsy. I think the latter, but I am glad that at least some who attempt to twist the scripture are owning up to the need of homosexuals to seek healing from Jesus Christ.

That gays need and can receive healing is testified to in the scriptures, as any human deviation from God's moral norm can find healing and restoration. 1 Corinthians 6:8-11,

8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

I personally think the use the Matthew passage for "affirming a gay couple" is a real stretch, but if you will make the honest change to "healing a gay couple" I could at least respect your Exegesis, instead of casting aside your Eiesegesis. Exegesis means to "bring out" the truth in a word or passage, Eiesgesis is the practice of "bringing in." To bring in simply put, is the practice of putting something into a passage something that is not in the passage. I understand this is not good Bible teaching as the proscription against adding to the Word carries severe penalties.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit

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