There are many laws in the book of Leviticus that we no longer obey today – why should the laws about homosexuality be any different? Wasn’t Paul against homosexuality just because he was unfamiliar with loving, caring homosexuals? Aren’t homosexuals just doing what comes natural for them – the way God made them? Since Jesus didn’t condemn homosexuality, why should we? As our culture becomes more and more accepting of homosexuality, shouldn’t we accept this and become more tolerant?

Ever ask any of these questions? Ever been asked some of these questions? These are important issues, aren’t they? Why not take a few minutes and read what Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon, Associate Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has to say on the subject in his article The Bible and Homosexual Practice? These are some of the questions Dr. Gagnon addresses:

• Q: Could you outline the principal passages in the Bible that you believe are the basis for prohibiting homosexuality?
• Q: What would you say to modern-day skeptics who reject Leviticus?
• Q: How are these prohibitions reflected in the New Testament?
• Q: You have argued that Paul had the creation stories in Genesis 1-2 in view when he rejected all homosexual practice. How does his argument that homosexual practice is “against nature” fit into this?
• Q: What about those who argue that “we now know” today that people are born with homoerotic attraction and thus it is a “natural” phenomenon?
• Q: Many people are willing to concede your point that both Paul and the authors of the Levitical prohibitions were unequivocally against all homosexual practice. But they would counter-argue that same-sex intercourse is not much of a concern to Scripture because it receives so little attention. What is your response?
• Q: Speaking of Jesus, some argue that because Jesus said nothing about the matter that it was not an important issue for him. What do you think?
• Q: Some would still argue that the teaching against homosexuality is related to cultural and social conditioning. Now that society is more accepting of homosexuality, why shouldn’t Christianity change its position? In other words, why is this teaching inalterable?
• Q: We live in an age of “tolerance.” What does the Bible say about how we should treat homosexuals? And how can Christians oppose homosexuality in the public square without falling into extremism?