Meaning and Interpretation
February 19, 2008
I’m only telling you what the Bible says…
The Bible couldn’t be more clear in its condemnation of homosexuality.
This isn’t my view, it’s Gods.
Homosexuality is a sin. God said it, I believe it, that settles it.
Any of these sound familiar? Did you hear them from a family member? A friend? A pastor? The view being expressed in all these statements is that the Bible speaks, we listen, and receive the truth. When we don’t hear the same thing as the person making these statements then it can only mean one of three things to them. We either know they’re right and we’re just lying, we’ve been deceived to believe a lie, or we’re simply denying what we really know to be true in our hearts in an attempt to justify our sins. They’re right because they’re just saying what the Bible says and we are wrong because we’re living a life in opposition to what the Bible says (to them).
Simple. Case closed.
Let’s be really clear about something. The Bible doesn’t say anything. The Bible doesn’t mean anything. The Bible, like all books sacred and secular, divinely-inspired or humanly-composed contain words; a body of text we read, study, ponder, and ultimately interpret, giving the words of the text meaning.
In and of itself the text doesn’t have meaning but gains its meaning through the process of interpretation. All text is interpreted, none is “taken literally just as it says.” How we as humans interpret and thus find particular meaning in Scripture is influenced by a number of factors; we don’t come as empty vessels. We’re socialized to find certain meaning in the scriptures. We have pre-existing ideas, convictions and prejudices. No one reads the Bible and finds it’s meaning without bias. We’re influenced by our upbringing, by the people who comprise our social circle, by our political leanings, by our social location, race and ethnicity.
Even when we come to the scriptures with a whole set of biblical study methods and tools in place we still come with us and that includes those who claim a literal reading of the Scriptures. People will make a text mean what they want it to mean even when they’re unaware they’re doing it and all of us do it. Individual people and entire churches will see in the text what they want to believe because they already believe it.
We look at the text and see our own reflection. And that includes GLBTQ Christians just as it includes those who oppose homosexuality. We need to acknowledge that in reading the Scriptures and finding meaning there we read it not only having been influenced by our evangelical and conservative leanings (if that’s our background), but that we read the scriptures now as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. It’s that double-perspective that creates the struggle for so many of us.
Why is this important to acknowledge? Because it’s honest. I’m a particular race, class, gender, sexual orientation and all of those contribute to the meaning I find in Scripture. This isn’t a bad thing. Without bringing ourselves to our reading of the Scriptures, the Word is flat and without life. If we don’t engage with the Living Word through our own lives and experiences then it’s only a book. But just as we acknowledge this truth for ourselves, we recognize the same is true for everyone else. No one has a less bias reading of the Scriptures and therefore no one can offer you a “more accurate” interpretation of what a passage means. This is why you need engage personally with the Scriptures by going into its pages for yourself. Don’t base your life on anyone else’s interpretation of Scripture. Trust that you have just as much possibility for knowing truth that will guide your life as you would to any of the other voices attempting to tell you what the Bible is really saying. It’s more than about trusting yourself. It’s about trusting the presence of God’s spirit within you; the same Spirit of God that lived in Jesus is now alive in you and will guide you in all truth (John 6:12).
I encourage you to listen with an open heart to the collective wisdom of others and to weigh honestly all that you bring into your understanding of the Scriptures, but in the end there’s one voice alone to consider when it comes to your life and that’s the voice of the Spirit of God dwelling within you. No other voice, no matter how convincing the words, will bring you certain peace and direction for where you go from here.
[Recommended Reading: Sex and the Single Savior by Dale Martin, Chapter 1: The Myth of Textual Agency]
Posted in Biblical Authority, Email Outtakes, The Bible and Homosexuality
Sweet Hope Cookies
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:15 am
This is really well said. thank you.
January 29th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I’m not sure how I missed this last year.. but now was good timing to read it. Thanks AC
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:05 am
While I agree with you that we can bring our own baggage to the table in our attempts to interpret Scripture, I do not agree that Scripture doesn’t mean anything until we interpret it and give it meaning. All words have meaning, regardless of any attempt we make to interpret them. When you wrote this post, you meant to say something, and what you meant to say remains the same, no matter who reads it. Even if other people don’t understand what you wrote, that does not change the meaning or intent of your words. The same goes for Scripture. When God inspired those words to be written, He meant to tell us something. The point of our attempts to interpret Scripture is to know and understand His meaning.
February 24th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
April–>I don’t see that we’re really saying anything different upfront. Yes, words have meaning whether those words reside in a book that has never been read or a book that is being read every moment of the day by millions of pairs of eyes. But April, it seems you and I fundamentally disagree on how those words were given to those who wrote them. I do not believe God transcribed words to the writers and they received them as empty receptacles who wrote each word on paper as it came. I believe God spoke to their hearts (just as God does in your life and mine) and they put what they heard through their understanding onto paper. These were real people living at a certain time among a particular community with a specific understanding of the world.
And now you and I come to the Scriptures after centuries of these words being told in oral tradition before ever being put down on paper at various moments in history and then copied and copied century after century, And when we read those words today, you and I, two separate people with two different life histories, priorities and influences, grapple with what the words meant to those who originally wrote them (and God who inspired them) and what they mean to us today.
There are millions of Christians on this earth April and at various places in the Scriptures equally devoted Christians have understood parts of the Scripture differently (if that weren’t the case there would be no denominations but one great church) but I don’t accept that because someone has a different understanding than myself that they are wrong because I am right. All we can do is listen to one another, continue to search the words of Scripture, our God and our hearts and In the end live most true to what we hear God speaking to us through His Word.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:23 am
Hello, I had a hard time with scripture until I got to just the words attributed to Jesus. I figured if I could not believe everything, I could at least listen to just Jesus. So I got my redletter edition and read the most loving words I ever heard that God said. When I went back and then read my Bible the whole puzzle just came together for me. Jesus died and rose again for ALL sin. Whatever name anyone wants to put on that sin does not matter. Jesus loves me and always knew I would be homosexual. I know God loves me and everyone! God wants us to love like God loves us. For many people that is very hard to do. So, my response to this thread…reagrdless of what anyone “thinks” the Bible says, Jesus set the example of loving people when he touched the “untouchables” that even the religious leaders of his day would not touch. God is love. God forgives. And we need to love and forgive also. Thanks for your site! Keep it up! Much love, Your sis in Christ!
September 24th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Can anyone suggest a book that reflects your article? This is the situation; my mother walked into the room while my 15 year old brother was receiving oral sex from another teen boy. She would be aghast had it been a female but this was more than she could comprehend. She told me she had said it is immoral but she still loves him.
Our mother was so (insert pretty much any negative feeling here) that she couldn’t even tell me what had happened for many weeks, nor would my brother. I never pushed but asked my brother if there was anything he wanted to talk about he could come to me. Now, I am 38 and much more open minded than my mother. My fiance and I had already had an idea that he was gay. I am looking for a way relieve some of the stress for both of them without doing more damage.
We were raised Catholic and I want our mother to understand that God isn’t shunning homosexuals. He wants all his “children” to be happy. So I am trying to find a book for her to help encourage understanding and acceptance.
Thanks so much,
Andrea
January 27th, 2011 at 9:43 pm
I realize this thread is more than a year old, but I appreciate it still being up. After hearing the same old, same old, “you are in sin” verses from a particular individual, I find myself having to get my wind and stand up again. I know that I belong to the Lord and I know that I am gay. I try and love those welding the clobber verses, but it is so hard sometimes.
Anyway, to add one point to the original post, I was privileged to go to a Christian college and have a teacher there who was very wise and yet humble. He was neither pro-gay or anti-gay. He only wanted us to know what the Bible said. He read from a Hebrew, Aramic and Greek Bible…basically, the Bible in its original languages (yes he knew all those languages among others). That allowed for a deeper defining of certain words. The American English is a very limited language. For example, the word “love” in an English bible comes up as several different words (various forms of love) in the Greek. Anyway, the Amplified Bible is a good one that tries to expand on the original meaning of our English words.
July 20th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Oh my goodness, I don’t know this site at all but, as a 17 year old who has been raised in faith but is sure she is a lesbian, this is one of the most helpful and relieving things I have ever read. I have always wondered why my church tells me that GOD says being gay is a sin even though the bible was written by imperfect men. Anyway; thank you so much. I’ve tried to open up to trusted christian adults but all they ever tell me is that they are “praying for me” and “want god to show me the way.” And honestly; what is that? God did show me the way.
I mean, I feel like sin is a deliberate act. If you lie, cheat, steel, adulterer, etc. you are choosing to do so. But I’ve never chosen to like women, it’s just the way I am. Thank you so much!
July 21st, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Tana, thank you so much for posting and I’m so glad to know that you found something on SisterFriends helpful to you. You sound like an amazing young woman who despite what others may say, has been able to stay anchored in your relationship with God and assured of God’s love for you. I sure do hope you continue to visit us here