“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination…”(Leviticus 20:13)

When confronted with these Biblical commands, the LBGTQ (lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, queer) community responds as one would expect. They cannot dismiss these commands flatly; the Scriptures speak too clearly to the issue. To legitimize their homosexual lifestyles, they must overcome the obvious meanings of these verses. To deny the application of these Biblical texts to the present day the homosexual community employs several methods. These methods fit into three categories.

Orientation

According to the homosexual community, these verses appeared in an age void of scientific knowledge. The progress of recent science, they say, gives rise to a new classification of humans. Homosexuals cannot help themselves, proponents state. They have a physically inherited condition, called orientation, which causes them to manifest same sex desires. The LBGTQ people describe it this way, “God made me this way,” thus overcoming these verses and legitimizing their homosexual behavior.

Despite continued efforts, however, no legitimate scientific discovery confirms the claims of a “gay gene.” In fact, numerous studies reveal no existence of a “gay gene.” These studies reveal a host of factors that could influence a person to homosexual behavior. However, research has not yet found a “gay gene.” (1)

As we all know, genes direct many physical manifestations in our bodies: eye color, height, color of skin, and a multitude of other features. Further, many gene anomalies cause birth defects, e.g., Toy-Sachs disease, Angelman Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Sickle Cell Anemia, and a long list of other defects. Whether the genes produce normal or abnormal effects, they do not determine ethical behavior. No “gay gene” forces particular sexual behavior. (2)

Even if scientists do discover some physical factor that influences one to experience same sex desires, the force of these verses remains unchanged. Every person on earth experiences the “uncontrollable” urge for sin(s) that plague them. Rapists, murderers, thieves, and adulterers, to name only a few sins, describe their behavior in the same fashion as homosexuals: uncontrollable urges that compel their behaviors.

Simply stated, the LBGTQ community cannot overcome these verses with a physical explanation that science has discovered since the time of the writing of these verses from Leviticus. Furthermore, an uncontrollable urge does not legitimize any behavior. Nor does it prevail over the directions of God's commands.

Meaning of the texts

In its attempt to overturn these verses in Leviticus, homosexuals reject the meaning of the practices described there as applicable to them. They claim these references depict the behavior of cultic temple prostitutes. Further, they say it includes pederasty. Or, they claim it refers to violent homosexual patterns existent solely in those days. In any event, the LBGTQ people assert these verses do not describe their behavior: loving, consensual same sex relationships.

Contrary to these conclusions, the peoples of the era of Leviticus practiced the same kinds of homosexual practices prevalent today. In fact, research from non-Biblical sources describes the prevalence of homosexuality in that time. Middle Assyrians, Egyptians, Canaanites, Mesopotamians, and inhabitants of the ancient near east indulged in same sex behavior without restrictions.

They had “gay parades” similar to those present in our day, even having cross-dressing males portraying childbirth. Their homosexual practices included loving, consensual, faithful relationships between same sex partners, a preview of same sex marriage in our day. Society of that day included open, free homosexual behavior without legal restraint. Societies of that day accepted it. (3)

Therefore, homosexuals have drawn false conclusions regarding the era of Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13. Sadly, the same sex preferences exhibited by many today mimic the behavior of ancient days. The exclusion of these texts by the homosexual community fails to dismiss the present relevance of the texts. Factual evidence contradicts their conclusions.

Please see Parts II and III for continuation of exposition, conclusion, and references.